Capital of the Xiang Empire, 1479

"Grandfather! Grandfather!" Sixteen-year-old Lihua

cried, a grin spreading across her face as

she quickly slid the door open and hastily stepped

inside. She was completely soaked from

head to toe, her long wet hair sticking to her flushed

cheeks. Her old clothes, which were made

specifically for men, clung to her slim body. Her face

was decorated with tiny scratches and

covered in little bits of mud. Her dirty boots stained

the precious straw carpet that her strict aunt

had worked her hands to the bone while making.

The Great Zhao Lin was sitting near the cracking fire

on a mat, peacefully sipping his green tea.

Well, not so peacefully now that the troublemaker

has arrived. The elderly man had a long,

straight white beard, and bushy eyebrows. His tired

eyes flickered to the drenched, panting girl

and he let out a heavy sigh.

"What did you do now? Threw eggs on the guards?

Smacked people on the heads and started

fights? Stole rotten meat and put it in some lady's

bag?" He grumbled with a small frown forming

on his wrinkled face.

But before Lihua could answer, Aunt Biyu walked

inside the room with a tray of food.

"Grandfather, dinner is ready. You must eat a lot, for

your health"Her eyes landed on her

niece and she gasped loudly, "aigoo!" She exclaimed,

placing a hand on her mouth in surprise.

Lihua flinched. She knew what was coming

"You crazy girl! How many times have I told you not

to go out in the rain?! My goodness! And

you're wearing men's clothes again!! You"

"T'll go bathe now." The girl interrupted with a

nervous chuckle, before rushing out of the warm

room.

Aunt Biyu's jaws dropped and she yelled, "yah!

Yah!! Come back here, you little"

"Leave her." Zhao Lin mumbled, taking another sip

of his tea.

"Gosh, that girl is utterly insane. She cannot be

tamed! She is disobedient, loud, and obnoxious!

She never acts like a proper lady. I pity the man who

marries the brat. She is ruining your

reputation, grandfather. You must discipline her."

The middle-aged woman spoke

disapprovingly, placing the wooden tray of food on

the carpeted floor and sitting down on a mat.

The old herbalist shook his head slightly but did not

answer. He grabbed the chopsticks and put

a steaming dumpling in his mouth, chewing silently.

Meanwhile, Lihua had finished heating water in

the medium-sized basin. She stripped and lowered

herself into the water, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

Her tense, aching muscles relaxed,

and she closed her eyes. She absolutely loved

bathing. She bathed every other day, or as often

as she could.

After she was done, she dried her body and hair andd

got dressed in plain linen robes. Although

her grandfather gained a decent amount of money

from being a skillful herbalist, her family still

wasn't able to afford rich silk clothing or incredible

food. But Lihua didn't mind, nor did she ever

complain. She loved her grandfather and aunt very

much, and enjoyed this quiet, pleasant life.

She made her way to the main room, and found her

family eating.

"You guys are eating without me?" She suddenly

said, startling them both. Zhao Lin remained

emotionless and quiet as always, while her aunt

gave her a firm look. "Goodness, don't do that.

You scared us."

She smiled and sat down, grabbing chopsticks and

grinning at the sight of dumplings and small

bowls of rice. She inhaled the amazing smell and

began eating.

"And no one even thanks me for my hard work."

Aunt Biyu muttered under her breath.

"I have something to tell you," Zhao Lin spoke up

after a few minutes of silence, making the two

ladies look up curiously. He stroked his long beard

for a moment before saying, "I have to go

early in the morning tomorrow to deliver some

herbs to the palace."

"Oh my goodness.. Are you sure you are able to go?"

Aunt Biyu questioned, raising a brow. "I

mean-"

"No, grandfather!" Lihua interrupted her once

again, looking at the old man. "You can't go.

You're ill! What of your health? What will happen to

you? I will not allow this"

"Wu Lihua!" Aunt Biyu suddenly snapped, her voice

raising. The girl flinched, biting her lower lip.

She slammed her hand onto the round table and

yelled, "do not interfere with your grandfather's

work. You must stay silent and let him do what he

needs to do. If he is needed in the palace,

then that is his business. Why can't you understand

that?"

"But"

"Lihua," the herbalist said softly, his wise voice

ringing in the small room. "I will be okay. Do not

worry. I will deliver the herbs to the palace, then I

will return immediately" He calmly drank his

tea.

"Let me go."

Zhao Lin and Aunt Biyu looked up at her in shock.

Tll go to the palace instead of you."

"Lihua..!" The middle-aged woman exclaimed.

"Please, grandfather," Lihua pleaded. "Your health is

not at its best, and you will not be able to

go to the palace. Let me go instead."

Heavy silence fell upon them. Zhao Lin looked deep

in thought. Aunt Biyu, clearly despaired,

looked at both of them. "Dear god!" She whispered,

"don't tell me you're actually considering it!"

"Alright." He finally said after what felt like hours.

Lihua grinned while her poor aunt's jaw dropped in

shock.

"G-Grandfather!! You can't possibly be serious..!"

Aunt Biyu cried, her eyes wide.

The girl only smiled, "I won't let you dowm,

grandfather. I'll behave myself and do my best, I

promise you that

Little did Lihua know, setting foot in the palace

would change her life forever.

And not in a good way.

Aigoo - it's a Korean term, used when you are in

shock, pain, suffering, or when you cannot

believe something. It can also be used to express

disapproval or disappointment. This type of

OMG is used towards a more negative oriented

situation, though it is sometimes used with a

comedic tone.

Aish- also a Korean term, can be used to express

frustration or anger.

Yah an expression used to call someone or get

someone's attention like the word 'hey'.

Capital of the Xiang Empire, 1479

The next morning, Lihua was woken up early by her

aunt. The first rays of the sun had begun to

appear, casting a pale golden light over the rich,

green lands. The sky had softened to a baby

blue, and the clouds could be seen with a shy blush.

A mixture of light pink, white, and blue was

painted on the canvas of the sky, and it was truly

beautiful. Not many people were awake. Some

were still asleep, drowning in their very own

dreams and enjoying the warmth of their small

houses, while others had waken up to attend to their

duties.

She got dressed in a simple pink and white hanbok,

along with a silver belt that loosely hugged

her lower waist. The belt used to belong to her

father, and although it's been ages since

someone last wore it, it was still nice and firm. It

had the symbol of a dragon on it, and for some

reason, it made her feel safe and gave her a little bit

of confidence.

Aunt Biyu had somehow managed to convince

Lihua not to wear men's clothing for today,

having used the excuse that the people in the palace

would not take her seriously. A woman of

decent rank and respected household donning

men's attire? Her family wouldn't hear the end of

it. Gossip and filthy whispers would circle around in

the village like a vicious shark in the sea,

and as if Lihua hasn't worsened their reputation

enough with her reckless actions and

inappropriate behavior, it would be completely

ruined this time.

Lihua took two strands of her long, black hair from

each side and gently pinned them back with

a plain red hair pin while leaving the rest of her

hair falling down her back. Unlike any other

woman who actually had the chance to meet the

emperor, who would've caked her face with

makeup and wore priceless jewelry, this girl didn't

do any of that. She didn't wear any precious

hair pieces, nor did she wear any expensive clothes

or jewelry. And almost no makeup, only

applying a very faint pink color to her lips.

Meeting the emperor?

She snorted at her unrealistic, childish thoughts.

As if that's ever going to happen.

She stared at her reflection and a satisfied smile

graced her fair face. She stood up and walked

out of her room, heading to where her grandfather

and aunt were.

She stepped inside and found them eating breakfast.

Zhao Lin didn't even look up. He

continued sipping his fresh tea silently, gazing

outside at garden and anyone passing by. A cool

breeze, reminding them that it's a new day, crept

inside and hit their warm cheeks.

Aunt Biyu gasped softly, "oh my!" She smiled

proudly, staring at her niece with obvious

approval. "You finally look like a proper lady! It

looks stunning on you!" But she then muttered,

"well, except for the belt, that one doesn't really go

nicely with the dress."

Lihua only huffed, clearly not thinking the same.

"It's uncomfortable! The fact that I'm not

wearing pants is making me feel exposed. Plus these

sleeves are heavy, and it feels like my

skin cannot breathe! Nearly every inch of it is

covered-"

Oh hush!" The middle-aged woman rolled her eyes,

waving her hand in a dismissive way.

"Quiet and come eat. You must hurry, otherwise you

will be late and most likely miss your

meeting with the emperor."

She almost choked and looked at her aunt like she

just grew three heads. "The emperor?

Surely, you are jesting Just because I am going to the

palace, doesn't mean I'm going to meet

His Majesty. Plus even if I had the chance, I wouldn't

have the desire to. According to all the

rumors about him, he's a bloodthirsty killer who

wouldn't hesitate to put a dagger in your

heart"

"Silence!" Zhao Lin suddenly yelled, his booming

voice startling the two women. "Do not speak

that way of His Majesty. You should be helping your

aunt with her work and acting like a lady

worthy of your rank, not listening to indecent gossip

and disgusting rumors. I have raised you

better than this." He spat.

Lihua was hurt. She knew she spoke way too much

sometimes, and she knew that her behavior

and just her in general were intolerable. She was

stubborn, careless, and hot-headed. She was

fairly aware of her worst flaws, but this was the first

time he'd snapped at her this way.

"But it's just what I hear when I visit the village. It's

not my intention to listen!" She argued.

"For goodness' sake, Lihua! Be quiet and eat. Don't

talk back and don't waste any more time."

Aunt Biyu says, handing her chopsticks. Lihua grits

her teeth angrily. Her appetite was lost, and

all she ate was a few pieces of rice and tooka small

bite of the dry bread.

"Is that all you're going to eat?" Her aunt

questioned, "you're going to need your strength, you

know." She added. The girl gently pushed the plate

of food away, shaking her head slightly. "T'm

not very hungry." She mumbles and stands up,

before slipping her shoes on.

"The herbs are over there," Zhao Lin said, pointing

to the corner, where an old bag made of rags

lay. She looked at it and spotted little plants peeking

out, making her smile slightly. She picks it

up and almost gasps at the heavy weight.

Aunt Biyu chuckles like a witch and says, "we can't

afford a cart, so you're going to have to carry

that on your back the entire way. I hope someone is

kind enough to help you. Maybe a guard,

perhaps." She takes a sip of her green tea, ignoring

the glare her niece sent her.

Lihua winces at the sudden pressure on her back

but manages to stand straight as she walked

out of the house, stumbling a bit. "Tll do my best,

grandfather." She sent Zhao Lin a cheerful

smile, a bright look in her eyes. He slowly looked up

at her and his grip tightened on the glass.

At that moment, he saw not his granddaughter, but

his son.

The same optimistic attitude, the same happy smile,

the same cheerful eyes. gazing right at

him, full of hope and twinkling with life

He looked away without saying a word.

As Lihua walked away, Aunt Biyu placed a

comforting hand on Zhao Lin's shoulder, a dejected

look on her face. "Do you really think she will be

okay, grandfather?" She asked hesitantly.

Silence.

Then, with a heavy sigh, he finally answered, "I

don't know."

Capital of the Xiang Empire, 1479

The capital was quite noisy today, a little more than

usual. People filled the streets like a flowing

river, and the markets were open, their owners

yelling for others to come see and selling their

goods. Some argued over prices, but the ones

wealthy enough to pay gladly handed the money

over. Laughing children pushed through, running

around and playing their fun games. The sky

was a clear blue, with only few fluffy clouds here

and there, and the day was sunny and a bit

hot.

Lihua groaned slightly with each step she took.

"Aigoo.!" She whispered, stopping and looking

around, before letting out a huff of disbelief. No one

had even bothered to help her! What kind of

people are they? Are they not usually supposed to

help when they see a lady struggling to carry

something? She began muttering very colorful

curses-which she'd learned froma sailor or two

while buying some fish from the dock-and

continued her tiring walk. A careless kid suddenly

bumped into her and she said, "watch where you're

going The boy, who looked around

seven or eight, stuck his tongue out and made an

ugly face at her, then ran away.

"Yah! Come back here!" She yelled, and stomped her

foot like a child. She huffed again, and

just as she turned around, a masculine voice spoke

from behind her.

"A lady shouldn't be speaking that way."

"Huh?" Lihua blinked, and turned to face whoever

was behind her. Her eyes landed on a man. A

very attractive one. Dark, dangerous eyes, sharp

jaw-line, soft-looking lips curled up in a

devilish smirk, hair darker than the night-

She shook her head slightly, snapping out of it, and

gave him a glare. No! She refused to be

attracted even in the slightest toa stranger.

Someone she didn't even know! But could you

blame her? The man looked like he was carved by

the Jade Emperor himself! Apparently, her

hostile face expression caught him off guard slightly.

She realized she wasn't the only one who

was startled by him. She could hear women squeal

and giggle as they stared at the handsome

man.

But what she didn't notice, was that he too was

scanning her appearance, memorizing every

small detail.

His smirk fell.

His piercing eyes studied her from head to toe. Pale

skin, long thick dark hair, plump pink lips

and a round face. There was this fire, along with a

glimmer of innocence, in her doe eyes, a fire

refusing to die down. A fire that awakened the

sadistic beast inside of him.

At that moment, he wanted to break her.

He didn't understand what this strong urge was. The

urge to ruin her, to see that feisty flame in

her diminish and her innocence stolen-

"Who are you? And why don't you mind your own

business?" Her angry voice yanked him back

to reality and he tilted his head slightly, before

frowning in distaste. "Honestly, people these

days! They never seem to realize that some things

are none of their concern. Don't go sticking your

nose in other people's business, alright?" She sighed,

pointing a finger at him and tsking.

She will pay for her words later, he thought darkly,

ignoring what she said. "What is your name?"

His smooth voice sent a small chill down her spinne.

It wasn't a pleasant one.

"My name?" Lihua raised a brow and crossed her

arms defensively, "yah, just what are you

trying to do? I don't give my name to strange men."

She tsked. Then realization hit her and she

gasped. "Oh my! Oh my goodness! I shouldn't be

here speaking with you. I have to go.

Grandfather is gonna kill me.. I might as well write

my will now." She mumbled the last part

under her breath and walked away, completely

forgetting about the man.

He just stood there, watching her as she walked

away.

Another man walked over to him and bowed

respectfully, before asking, "are you alright, Your

Majesty?"

"Yes." He said softly, watching as the girl

disappeared into the crowd. "Yes. I'm alright"

Lihua soon found herself standing in front of the

open palace gates. Nobles and officials went in

and out, few of them bumping into her and not even

apologizing or sparing a second glance.

The nerve of them! How dare they? She kept her

mouth shut, even though all she wanted was

to give them a piece of her mind and teach them

some manners.

She was about to walk in when one of the two

guards stepped forward and asked, "who are

you, and what is your business here?"

I am the one who will shove a shoe down your

throats and my business is my own.

But of course, she had to make a good impression

for her grandfather so she spoke calmly, "my

name is Wu Lihua, and I am the granddaughter of

Wu Zhao Lin. He is ill at the moment, so I

have come to deliver the herbs instead of him."

The guards looked at eachother for a moment

before looking back at her, and giving her way.

Lihua proudly walked through the wooden gates

and looked around in amazement. People were

everywhere. Not commoners, but important, rich

people of course. Court ladies, nobles,

ministers.. anyone with a high rank or anyone who

works in the palace.

"Wow." She whispered.

Although she was amazed, she felt lost. She didn't

know who to ask or who to give the herbs to.

Damn, I should've asked grandfather. Or that man.

Surely, he would know. Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!

Biting her lower lip, Lihua spotted a busy-looking

man writing down notes and counting money.

She walked over to him and said, "excuse me." he

didn't look up. She cleared her throat and

repeated, "excuse me." He still didn't look up.

She frowned and snapped, "yah!"

"Eh? The middle-aged man looked up at her and

raised a brow. Is he deaf or something?! She

cleared her throat again and spoke, "I am Wu Lihua,

granddaughter of Wu Zhao Lin. I have

come to deliver the herbs"

"Ah yes, yes. It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Wu. I

am Official Chun. I take care of most

palace matters around here." He forced a small

smile, "just put them over there, and the

servants will take care of them." He pointed to the

wall and Lihua nodded and did as he said. She

groaned slightly as the weight of the herbs was

finally lifted. She stretched her arms and

aching back. "Ah." she sighed in relief. "I have

survived. That was hell." Her work was done

here. "Now I can finally go back home. I bet Aunt

Biyu has made some delicious lunch!" She

grinned and giggled to herself, walking to the gates.

Then she heard Official Chun call her.

"Miss Wu! Wait!"

She froze a little, slowly turning around with a

confused look. "Excuse me?"

"Forgive me for calling you in such an improper

manner," what? "But I just remembered. Your

grandfather, Sir Zhao Lin, was supposed to meet the

emperor, but since he is not here, you are

required to meet His Majesty instead." He explained

nervously.

Oh, screw my life.