A Love Written In The Stars

How could I smile at my betrothed when my heart was secretly lost to another?

———

"It is good to see you again," Cheng greeted princess chàn juán politely as she arrived at the manor, however, inside he felt conflicted.

Since their last meeting, he had found himself increasingly distracted by thoughts of Mei, he hadn't seen or heard from her. Yet here was his intended, clinging to his arm and chattering as if unaware of his lack of enthusiasm in their union.

Cheng walked closely with the princess in the gardens, hoping the beauty of the flowers might lift his mood but Princess chán juān prattled on about the wedding plans, her doting affection felt more stifling than warm.

Palace maids passed by, bowing respectfully and offering polite greetings.

"Such a striking pair," one maid said.

"Like a painting come to life," another agreed, glancing back at the pair.

Cheng tried to tune out the whispers around him, concentrating instead on preserving a calm bearing as he walked alongside Chán Juān.

But then he saw her.

Mei stood under the flowering trees, the sunlight catching threads of her hair and casting a soft radiance around her. She moved with an understated grace, her every step as natural as the wind that lifted her hair.

There was no pretense, no effort to be seen—yet Cheng could see nothing else.

"Cheng," Princess Chán Juān's voice broke through his reverie. She pulled gently at his arm, her delicate fingers tightening just enough to reclaim his attention. "Are you even listening to me?"

Caught off guard, Cheng blinked and turned back to her. "Apologies, Your Highness. I was... distracted for a moment."

Princess Chán Juān's smile flickered just a fraction, but she quickly regained her composure, her tone airy. "Distracted by what? Surely not the trees?"

Cheng forced a smile, choosing not to respond as Mei vanished behind the trees, but in his heart, the image of her remained.

Meanwhile,

Xuan's fingers moved deftly, plucking the delicate jasmine blossoms one by one. Their soft petals brushed against his skin, their fragrance curling in the cool air, awakening memories he couldn't quite silence.

Chàn Juán.

He could almost see her now, her fingers tracing the edges of a flower, her smile serene and fleeting.

He gathered a few more, cradling them carefully like they carried more than their physical weight. In their simplicity lay a chance, however small, to bridge the distance between them.

When he reached the guest wing, Xuan stopped outside Princess Chàn Juán's door. Concealing the flowers behind his back, he lifted his hand and knocked lightly.

After a moment, the door creaked open to reveal her maid, Qian, who bowed respectfully.

"May I see the princess?" he asked gently.

"Forgive me, Your Highness," Qian replied, apologetically. "But my lady is not at home at the moment. Might I assist you in her place or deliver a message on your behalf?"

Xuan hid his disappointment, clasping the jasmine sprig more tightly. "There's no need, thank you." He replied, already turning to make his way back.

He slipped quietly into the garden, wondering where she could have gone. As Xuan wandered back in a slow loop, he stopped short, catching the faint cadence of voices floating from the far corner of the garden.

Two figures strolled through the garden, pausing here and there to admire the flowers. Xuan edged nearer and there, was Chàn Juan's beside Prince Cheng himself.

He backed away unseen, his heart fracturing with every step. He had always known, deep down, that Chàn Juán's kindness toward him was no more than the courtesy of a friend, a polite veneer devoid of deeper affection. Yet he had clung to a fragile belief, convincing himself that if he only tried harder, gave more, he might someday win her heart. But now, faced with the undeniable truth, he understood—every effort, every sacrifice, would be in vain.

———

Princess Chán Juān couldn't help but notice Prince Cheng's wandering focus as they strolled through the garden. Though he answered her questions and replied to her comments, his mind felt distant. More than once, her curiosity led her to follow his gaze—always to the same spot, where she sat quietly beneath the canopy of blossoming trees.

"You seem preoccupied," she said gently. "Is all well?"

Cheng sighed. "Forgive me. There is much on my mind of late."

He had no desire to be impolite, yet he could not bring himself to feign the same enthusiasm for their betrothal. Mei, catching sight of them from under the trees, fixed her eyes on Cheng for a long moment. Observing this, Princess Chán Juān gently placed her hand in his, but he withdrew it, pretending to adjust his robes.

She frowned. "Have I displeased you somehow? If there is an issue we must discuss, I hope you will confide in me."

What could he say? That his heart had turned traitor, drawn to the woman now watching them from afar? Cheng could only smile in apology. "You have done nothing wrong. I only have the kingdom's burdens to carry."

Princess Chán Juān knew it was a lie, yet she refrained from pressing further.

At dusk, a coldness crept into their conversation, one that no flowers or elegant words could dispel. At last, Cheng took his leave, while she stood there, watching him stride away, her doubts had grown too large to ignore.

In the courtyard, she spied Yìzé and called out to him.

"Yìzé, a moment of your time," she said. "I must ask—is the prince's heart still true to our union?"

The bodyguard shifted, uncomfortable with her line of questioning. "My lady, the prince cares for your welfare. But these are matters best discussed with him."

She frowned. "I have discussed them, to no avail. He evades me at every turn. If he is no longer interested, I must know."

"I cannot say what is in the crown prince's heart. Perhaps you could find peace through understanding, not accusation."

"Very well, then who was the lady seated under the tree?"

"I'm not sure I know who you are referring to" yizé replied.

Princess Chán Juān released Yìzé with a wary glance, then strode away. Yìzé let out a quiet breath as he watched her go, hoping her growing suspicions wouldn't stir up trouble.

That night, after Cheng had completed his duties, Yìzé made his way toward him.

"Your highness, there is a matter I must report. Princess chàn juán approached me earlier, she questioned the devotion of your heart. She believes lady meiying has caught your eye."

Cheng exhaled wearily. "I have given her no cause, other than my own distracted mind."

"If I may, my advice is that you should set things right with Princess chán juān before rumor takes root. But I ask that you be careful—her suspicions seem deeply set. It may take more than words to reassure her."

"I also noticed the way you look at lady meiying, even your eyes can not deniel your feelings for her, i think you should do well to avoid her for now. It's for the best."

———

Over the next few days, Mei made it a point to avoid Cheng like the plague. Every time she caught a glimpse of him from a distance, she made sure to turn her head the other way.

The discovery of Cheng's impending engagement and watching him with Princess chán juān had delivered a harsh reminder of their stations. There could be no future for them beyond what brief moments friendship allowed within palace walls. It was time to crush these fanciful feelings.

She spent her hours in the company of yú yuè, talking and laughing with her dear friend. While yú yuè did not know all the tumultuous depths of her feelings, her easy companionship proved a balm.

In those first few days of avoiding Cheng, it seemed fate continually conspired to cross their paths. Whenever mei caught sight of his taller frame slipping through a corridor or crossing a courtyard, she whipped her head in the other direction, pretending not to notice.

She could sense Cheng's eyes boring into her back, feel the pressure of unsaid words hanging between them. More than once, she caught the glint of his robes from the corner of her eye as he made to approach. But always, some interruption prevented their meeting.

Whether a gaggle of chattering ladies surrounding mei, or an official calling cheng away on some matter of state, circumstance ensured they never had a private moment.

One morning, Mei made her way through the palace, lost in her own world. Up ahead, she spotted Cheng marching towards her. With a feigned look of surprise, she turned, flashing a dazzling smile to a passing lord. "Lord Jin, isn't the weather simply divine? I can't help but wonder, how's your wife handling these scorching months?" engaging in empty pleasantries.

As they made small talk, she noticed from the corner of her eye, cheng had stopped just a few feet away, his eyes eager to talk to her.

Cheng noticed she had been avoiding him. He contemplated approaching mei but fearing she would immediately retreat, he hesitated, holding back. Her deliberate attempts to avoid him left him confused, and, if he was honest with himself, hurt. Hadn't they moved past the issue of his hidden identity? He thought they had.

What had caused such a dramatic change in their relationship in such a short time?

That evening

Cheng sought out Princess chán juān in the guest palace. "Princess chán juān, might we speak in private?"

She followed him and they sat in the courtyard. "Princess chán juān, I truly care for you but I can't focus on the marriage now due to political reasons. Perhaps we have moved too hastily in planning our union."

The princess stopped. "What do you mean? We are to be wed on the summer solstice, as was arranged."

Gently, Cheng took her hand. "Much has changed. I only ask that we delay matters, there are some issues to be attended to."

Her eyes met his. "This is not about your duties to the empire, is it?"

"This is about that woman, Meiying." chàn juán said as she stepped closer to him.

"I saw the way you looked at her the other day, Cheng." Her eyes bore into his, but Cheng averted his gaze.

"I won't let you push me away, you know how much I care for you."

"I can't stand by and let you chase after something so fruitless."

Cheng took a step back. "I had hoped to avoid hurting you. But I cannot marry without conviction. Please, give this time for clarity before commencing on the union."

But princess chán juān turned from him. "You will not sway me, Cheng. You need me if you ever want to be emperor. I'm not one you easily push aside, you know me better than that given our history together" And with that, she stormed off, leaving Cheng alone with the blossoms and his troubled thoughts.