A Love Written In The Stars

The morning sun painted the horizon in gold, but my gaze was drawn to a peculiar scene below.

———

Prince Xuan's Pov:

I stood by the window of my chamber, staring at the distant horizon, when my focus was drawn to the scene unfolding below.

In the gardens, a young maid bent over a bed of flowers, her fingers deftly working to remove wilted leaves. Each careful snip of her shears brought out brighter colors, and something about her meticulous work held me transfixed.

I had seen many tend the gardens, yet she moved with a certain liveliness, a cheerful manner that elevated the tedious chore. I leaned against the windowsill, watching as she worked as though she spoke to the flowers. A subtle smile appeared on my lips—until her eyes lifted, meeting mine.

Her smile was immediate, bright as the morning. "Good morning, my prince." She brushed the soil from her hands, her bow fluid but unhurried, "How may I assist you?"

Her manner was polite, and carried a sort of confidence that caught me off guard. I stood there, momentarily unsure of how to respond. What had I expected—fear, nervousness? Instead, she seemed completely unfazed by my presence.

I returned her smile and let my gaze shift to the flowers. "Your hands bring life to the garden," I remarked softly. "Please, don't let me interrupt."

She bowed her head briefly, then turned back to her task.

I stood there longer than I intended, the calmness of the moment drawing me in. The garden always brought me peace, but today, it seemed different. It was she who infused the air with a serenity I hadn't realized I needed.

All too soon, the spell was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps. Deming appeared beside me, her expression as composed as ever. "My prince, the court meeting is fast approaching. The elder advisors have called for an urgent session, and your attendance is required."

I shot another glance at Deming, who seemed to have materialized out of thin air to ruin my moment of peace. Her face, as usual, was as expressive as a brick wall—stoic, unmoving, the kind of expression I'd expect from a man who had been told to stand guard. Her body was rigid, frozen in place, like some ancient statue that had long been forgotten.

"Would it kill you to smile?" I muttered, hoping to rattle her. She looked up at me, her eyes moving in a way that made it seem like she was reading instructions off a scroll. No change in her face, of course—she might as well have been made of stone.

"You're a woman, are you not?" I asked, just to see if it would even register. Her posture stiffened for a moment—though she did nothing to show it—but then she took a step back, her knees hitting the ground with an audible thud.

"Pardon me, Your Highness, if I've done anything to offend you," she said, her voice as dry as ever.

I let out an exasperated breath. No hope for this one, really. "Thank you for informing me." I said, clearly irritated. "I was just... lost in thoughts of—" I paused, briefly considering whether I should share what had actually been on my mind.

"Never mind that," I muttered, turning away, eager to rid myself of the absurdity of the moment. But as I glanced back, I froze. She was gone. Just like that.

I scanned the area in confusion, where had she gone? It wasn't like I'd looked away for long. But then, it dawned on me. The maid had likely carried on with her work, slipping away unnoticed while I was distracted.

I felt a strange, unexpected disappointment but shook it off, my gaze snapping to Deming. I straightened my posture and motioned for her to lead the way.

———

"My love!" Yu Jin cried out when she finally spotted Li Wei's cell, she rushed toward the bars.

He looked up slowly, and her breath caught in her throat at the sight of his disheveled, exhausted face. Without thinking, she reached through the bars to take his hands in hers, her eyes brimming with tears. "What is happening? Why have they done this to you?" she asked.

Li Wei gently squeezed her hands. "Calm down. It's okay. I'll be fine."

"But this doesn't make any sense!" Yu Jin said, her voice shaking. "One day, you're a respected commander, and the next, you're in prison? Please, help me understand!"

Li Wei, struggling to move, reached out and wiped her tears. "It's just a misunderstanding. That's all you need to know for now."

Yu Jin grabbed his hands tightly. "A misunderstanding?"

"You're locked up for life, and all you say is it's a misunderstanding? Stop hiding the truth, Li Wei! I need to know everything. Your name is ruined and only the full story can save you."

Li Wei gave her a sad smile. "Some truths might put you in danger, too. Trust me, everything will be clear in time."

She tried holding back her tears but she felt her chest tightened with fear. "Jiayi and Jie are at home waiting for their father to come back.... the neighbors are avoiding them. They're too young to even understand what's going on."

"I... I lost my job at the teahouse....and worst of all, seeing you hurt and like this—I don't even know how long you'll last. Tell me, how can I not worry?"

"I'm sorry," Li Wei said, leaning against the cell gate. "You don't deserve any of this."

"What do we do now? How am I supposed to go on?"

"Do you know any information that could help you? Anything at all? I can't stand seeing you like this," she pleaded, but her words trailed off as she noticed Li Wei subtly shaking his head, his eyes flicking toward the guard who was now paying close attention.

He leaned in, gripping the bars tightly, "Please, don't do anything," he whispered, his breath close enough for Yu Jin to feel its warmth. "Take care of our treasures, as you always have."

Yu Jin shook her head. "No… I can't just stand by while you're suffering."

"Yu Jin, listen to me!" Li Wei whispered firmly. "Now is not the time to be stubborn."

"But—

"I'll be fine, my dear," Li Wei said gently. "Stay vigilant. Don't act rashly. Stay close to our children and keep your head low."

Yu Jin reached out and touched his face. "I'll come back to visit you. Please, take care."

Li Wei pressed a soft kiss to her fingers. "No, don't," he murmured.