1 Chapter 0 : The Pillow of my Demise

Flower petals drizzle down like rain, combining with the dust and debris the wind was harshly blowing about. They dance in the wind as the sun shines behind the marketplace like a ball of flaming fire. Many people occupy the stalls, selling goods and buying wares. "Thief!," a mass of soldiers suddenly bellow out in unison as they chase a young man, their swords flashing with the urge to draw blood. Zhihuan swears under his breath as he furrows his eyebrows in annoyance. People yell as they quickly try to remove themselves from the incoming chaos.

Dust billows around him as he skids across the dirt, taking a sharp left. He maneuvers around the large mass of people and loose chicken occupying the streets, finding it a very difficult task. Gah! First the harsh wind and now chickens. He scowls as he almost trips over a frantic chicken in his efforts to escape the soldiers lunging after him like starved dragons. The gods above must be laughing at him as they put another obstacle to make his life harder.

Out of breath, he once again takes a sharp turn, jumping through a market stall selling dried fish. Zhihuan ignores the angry cries of the stallholder as he furiously ponders the current situation. Why is this happening?

"Capture that man!" they shout, the emperor's soldiers hot on his trail. Soldiers which had in fact sworn loyalty to him, the emperor's son. Glancing at a vegetable stall ahead of him, Zhihuan grabs a handful of bok choy.

"I'll pay you back mam," he shouts to the owner as he barrels onwards, not waiting for her angry protests. Why, one might ask? Why exactly was the emperor's son, the crown prince being chased by his own soldiers, as well as being labeled a thief?

He scowls angrily, the bewitching woman's face coming to my mind. All because of that snake of a woman. Using his anger as fuel, he pelts various bok choy at the soldiers behind him as he continues to run. He smiles as they soar through the air valiantly like a bird before landing on the soldier's face with a whack.

Their cries sounded like music to his ears. What an innovative weapon. As he runs, the anger surges inside of him. 'Just wait, wait till I get my hands on you,' Zhihuan vows, thinking of a certain woman with fiery red eyes.

***

-2 Hours Ago-

"Crown Prince, Crown Prince," a voice nervously calls out. Zhihuan turns in the bedsheets, trying to shut out the annoyingly nasally voice.

"A few more minutes," he mumbles, half asleep. He was in the midst of having the most beautiful dream with a charming lady. Her black luscious hair shone, contrasting with her plump red lips. She places her small hand on his chest as he cradles her petite figure, causing her to let out a cute gasp in surprise. He dances his fingers around her neck before cradling her cheek, causing it to turn a bright shade of red.

"Um, Crown Prince?'" she mutters out in her sweet voice. Or so he had hoped. Instead, an out of breath, deep nasally voice enters his ears, causing his sleepy eyes to fly open. He makes out a blurry figure in front of him, a figure whose face he was cradling ever so gently with his palm. Blinking a few times, his vision clears to show his head eunuchs face staring down at him with embarrassment. Wait a second. He looks at his palm and then his eunuch's face and then his palm again.

"Gahhhhhh!," he shouts in surprise, jumping back and toppling off the bed, sending embroidered pillows flying. His head hits the marble tiles, as he let out a series of curse words not appropriate for a prince to mutter. He covers his mouth, a slight blush tainting his lips. What a shameful dream!

"My deepest apologies crown prince! Please behead me to ease your suffering," his head eunuch yells, bowing his head against the marble floor over and over again. The sight makes the pain deepen, causing Zhihuan to wince every time his head met the floor.

Rubbing his sore head, he gets up. "That is enough Lan Min. What business did you need with me to wake me up so early?" Lan Min slowly rises, fixing his headpiece as a flash of fear quickly appears on his face before vanishing. Zhihuan frowns, raising one of his eyebrows in suspicion.

"Ah well.. You see.." he begins hesitating, sweat beginning to pool on his forehead.

"Out with it!" he barks, losing his patience as he furrows his eyebrows, causing him to jump.

"Empressdowagertoldmetoinformyouthatprincesschangyingisarrivingtodayandtowearyourb-"

"Lan Min!" Zhihuan's eyes flash, causing him to stop his endless stream of words. "One more time. Slowly this time, understood?" Lan Min slowly exhales before taking in a deep breath.

"Empress mother has informed me to tell you that... Uh... Princess Changying will be arriving today. She has asked you to... no ordered you to wear your finest clothing and join them for tea today as it is very likely she will be your future wife and one-day empress when you become emperor in the future." he ushers out quickly, awaiting his reaction.

As Zhihuan registers what he had just heard, horror fills his expression. No, not that pig of a woman! He will never settle down, especially with the likes of her! Lan Min comes forward with a luxurious hanfu made of the finest silk, embroidered with golden dragons, representative of royalty.

"Please do not disobey her again, or I will be the one having to face her fury. I will come when the time is right to dress you for the meeting. I will leave you to yourself until then. Call me if you need anything," Lan Min says nervously with a bow before leaving. Fear begins to fill Zhihuan as he begins to think about his last encounter with her. An encounter where she practically threw herself at him, staining his clothes with lipstick stains!

How pathetic. And to think mother wants him to calmly drink tea with her, a woman who will no doubt oggle him and strip him with her eyes as she tries to seductively drink her tea. He shivers, already imagining how the scene will play out. Impossible! He must escape.

Rushing towards his dresser, he takes out the simplest clothing he owned, something that unfortunately would still be defined as luxurious amongst commoners. The hanfu consisted of black silk material with blue patterns on the cuffs and sleeves with a light blue smock to wear over the top.

Zhihuan brushes his long raven black hair down before braiding one side and tying it into a high ponytail, leaving his fringe aside. Tying a piece of cloth around his forehead, he grabs his sword, for protection of course and stares at his reflection, taking in a deep breath. Striking a few poses in the mirror, he sighs, fanning myself.

Why was he so handsome. Smirking to himself, he quickly writes a letter so Lan Min does not send a whole army in search of him when he finds out he had disappeared, leaving it on the table. He then happily grabs a small bag containing his favourite foreign delicacy, chocolates.

He smiled gleefully like a little kid when he picked up the bag. To others, Zhihuan was someone fierce, strong and easily angered. Little did they know he was like a little kid when given sweets. What he was holding right now was a very rare delicacy that he had finally attained after almost 6 years since he last ate it! He could enjoy it on the journey back, already imagining himself savouring the delicious and unique flavour it had. Zhihuan then proceeded to exit through the opening in the side that let the sunlight in. A perfect escape. Or so he believed before he went plummeting onto the floor with a crash, a series of curse words once again coming out. He looks angrily for the source of his demise, only to see a pillow which he had caused to fall earlier on the ground.

"Crown Prince!? Are you okay? I'm coming in," Lan Min's worried voice calls outside the doors.

"NO!," he bellows out, wincing at how suspicious that sounded. 'No Lan Min." he continues. "It is fine, I was merely.. uh. practicing some dance movements to impress the princess today and had a little stumble. I am not injured so do not come in or you will be punished!" Zhihuan informs him, thankful that he did not ask any more questions.

Lan Min smiles happily, believing the prince had finally decided to showcase his affection towards the princess. Zhihuan glares angrily at the pillow, picking it up and flinging it across the room. This mere pillow had almost ruined everything.

Only until the tea ceremony was over will he come back, giving him a few hours to go on an adventure. He had already told Lan Min not to disturb him, so no one should know of his departure unless Lan Min decides to enter his quarters. He could already imagine his eunuch's frantic face. Smiling gleefully to himself, he ventures outs, jumping over the side of the castle walls that were unoccupied, before beginning his journey to the markets. A short journey he believed that would involve much fun. Something he truly believed before he met her, that is.