The tranquil night at the outskirt of Xianyang was shattered once a loud thump resounded. A dark steed galloped through miles while a young man in dark brocade clad rode it. Upon seeing a small cottage nearby, he reigned the steep to a stop then entered the cottage.

"I've been expecting for this time to come. Finally, you found me." a man in white robes stood up from his seat. He faintly smiled and his gentle disposition emitted a deity-like temperament from him.

"Enough nonsense." the man in dark armor waved his hand. He remained standing by the shadowy corner to cover his appearance. "I came here for a request."

"This One knows." he ignored the latter's arrogance and went over a stack of book. "What do you desire to accomplish in this lifetime?"

"Unify the Seven Warring States." after answering, the man in white robes burst into laughter.

"After two centuries of war, finally." he said after laughing. "Before I complete your request, I must warn you. I met many monarchs that asked for my help however, they ended up failing. The reason, I can't tell why. I have something to say so keep this in mind. An empty heart can cause thousands of catastrophes."

"I had long since forgotten how to be merciful. What is there to lose?" the man in dark brocade clad chuckled.

"Your choice. Come on in and let the ageless dream turn into a reality."

---

He looked expressionless. Slowly raising his empty hand and touched my cheek. The cold sensation made me tremble as his hand caressed down till my chin to make me raise my head.

"You came back." his hand stopped around my neck. I expected he still loves me, hoping that he is no longer angry.

"I... Ying Zheng-" my eyes rounded. His hand wrapped tightly around my neck. I was unable to understand why is he hurting me.

"Five years, you disappeared for five years. Where were you that time? In chu? In Chang'an? Tell me!" his eyes went scarlet red as a roof of his extreme hatred.

"Ying Zheng! Wait, listen first!" I ignored the painful feeling from my neck. He flung his arm, making me fall down from the force.

"Listen? You expect me to listen? Dong Li Hua, after I begged for you for so many times that you should stay here, you kept leaving! Now you are telling me this?" he harshly said and turned his back.

"You don't understand! Ying Zheng, I came from the future and risked my life to see you again! I didn't know this happened. I really... I really love you." I muffled a sob and bit my lip.

"Out of all reasons you can come up with, you expect me to believe this? What do you regard me as? A fool?"

Without another word, I tightly embraced him but he struggled. "Ying Zheng, I cam back for you. I want to be with you. You told me you love me, you said Im your only wife, you promised to cherish me for our lifetime and in more to come. Why are you chasing me away? I don't want to be separated from you again! Im sorry, Im sorry I left..."

"You promised. You told me yourself, even without a child, you'll still love me? Ying Zheng, you said that, right? I wont leave you anymore. I will stay right beside you, we will have a family, a son, a peaceful life in Qin. It doesn't matter if you're an emperor or not, I don't need Qin Shu Huang, I want Ying Zheng. That man loves me more than himself. I also love him which caused me to be selfish. I want him, I need him back."

Pleading endlessly, where has his promise gone to? Where did his persevering love went? We both promised underneath the heavens, with the perfect blossoms of plums. As I thought, plum blossoms mirrored perseverance but there will be a day they will wilt away. Just like his love? His empty promises?

Ni hao ma, ai ni duzhemen (hello, my dear readers)! Its your fourteen-year-old Author Lee. Some part of the story are from the history and maybe half of it are from my genuine imagination. I was inspired to make this book because of the manhua Pharaoh's Concubine, kyaah! Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ

This is an original story, not translated. It came from half imagination, half ancient records. Thank you for your time and enjoy~

Nee Lei, out!

(⌒.−)＝★

"Your tyrannical reign will end, Ying Zheng!" a young man in refined white robes shouted, holding an ice sword while riding on a steed, facing thousands of the emperor's army.

"Xiang Yu, that's quite a-"

"Hey!" Dong Li Hua glared at her older sister who just turned the tv off. The xianxia drama she is watching is about to reach its peak but her elder sister blew it up.

"Get dressed. Do you want Dad to see you like that? Li Hua, when are you going to act like a real lady? You are about to meet your fiance but why are you lying on a couch doing nothing for preparation?" Dong Zhenzhen crossed her arms.

"Fine, fine." Dong Li Hua gave up and grumbled as she went to take a bath. She never wanted to get engage to a man she doesn't know anyway. Its all Dong Zhenzhen's fault! Why does she have to leave their family? Now, Dong Li Hua was the one who took her place and is engaged to the first young master of the Zhao family.

After dressing up with a sleeveless knee-length blue dress, Dong Li Hua applied a simple makeup and she already looked stunning. Her father is a feminine handsome man while her mother is a fragile beauty. With their blood running through her, Dong Li Hua inherited their features that formed an innocent little beauty. Not only was her figure better with an alluring face, it was her eyes that can enchant anyone. Under the shade of green jade color and almond sized eyes, it often flickered with lights that make her look innocent and cute.

"That young master of Zhao family will fall head over heels for you." from her mirror, Dong Li Hua saw her older brother, Dong Zhenzhen's twin, Dong Chun Wu.

"Hopefully, he finds me ugly so he can cancel the engagement and look for someone else." she lightly snorted as Dong Chun Wu ruffled her hair. "Oi! I spent hours combing it!"

"Li Hua, don't forget this!" suddenly, Dong Zhenzhen rushed in. She is holding a small velvet box that was opened, inside the box is a silver lace bracelet with miniscule red ruby plum flowers that are hanging around.

"Oh? Isn't that bracelet part of Zhao family's betrothal gifts?" Dong Chun Wu's eyes brimmed with lights, amazed at the simple yet exquisite silver lace bracelet.

"Yeah. What's so surprising about this?" Dong Li Hua nonchalantly asked. Her older siblings are four years older than her with the aim to become an archeologist, even her father and late stepmother are the same but she wants to become part of the.military instead. Seeing Dong Chun Wu show that much of interest, Dong Li Hua knew the bracelet must have some sort of history.

"What's so surprising? Don't you even know this bracelet is rumored to have belonged at the Seven Warring States Era?! There has been a clan of Zhao where your fiance came from. This bracelet was well-preserved and is priceless! Also, this bracelet  has been passed down for generations by every first son of the main branch in Zhao family. The first son will gift it to his fiance, no, more accurately, assured wife. This means you can no longer escape the engagement!" Dong Chun Wu explained enthusiastically.

"And if Li Hua were to return it?" the silent Dong Zhenzhen asked.

"That means the Zhao family will no longer be our family's acquaintance. Worse, that is the first son of the main branch so they have enough power to crush Dong family." he glanced at Dong Li Hua, giving her a warning.

"But I don't want to marry him! I barely know that guy and I hadn't seen what he looks like!" she argued, furrowing her brows in anger.

"That is why Dad called us three to have a dinner with Zhao family's main branch. Your fiance will be there, his parents and sibling will come too." I should go out first. You two come down after getting calm. Chun Wu, watch over her."

"Why did Sister Zhenzhen left us for five years? Why do I have to be the one to be sacrificed here? I'm not even a legitimate daughter." Dong Li Hua asked as she watched Dong Chun Wu place the trinket around her wrist. He faintly smiled then  gently rubbed the top of her head.

"Zhenzhen left because she wants to escape this engagement too. But if you were to do that, Zhao family will think we hate them and is disgusted. You don't want Dad to get in trouble, right?" he asked while she slowly nodded. "Xiao Li, even if you are not a daughter of a legal wife, you are still our little sister. See? We have the same blood running through as though both of us are not born with the same mother. Since Dad arranged your identity, you are now a legitimate daughter of our family."

Once she calmed down, Dong Li Hua and Dong Chun Wu went downstairs to meet their father and Dong Zhenzhen. The travel towards Zhao family's manor is not quiet. Dong Xu, their father, kept reminding Dong Li Hua to act more noble since he knew hoe reckless she is. Though he is strict in raising them, Dong Xu treasured them specially Dong Li Hua.

Upon arriving at the manor, Dong Chun Wu offered his arm to her as they entered. Its extravagant and modern designs were suffocating her since she prefers more simple places to be in. Their party was guided in by a butler until they reach the main hall. Zhao family members are already waiting there, the second son and both parents of her fiance. However, the man she is supposedly to meet is still not around.

"This is your second daughter?" Jia Fu Rong asked, assessing her stepson's fiance. "Brother Dong raised such a beautiful girl. Their might be many men who were enchanted by her." she lightly smiled but behind her words of flattery is a treacherous meaning.

"Madame is jesting." Dong Li Hua returned a pure sweet smile but her green jade eyes showed a cold light. "Why should I enchant men? I don't need flashy jewelries and a thick makeup to catch a man's heart. With one look, they instantly fall in love." she leaned on Dong chun Wu, staring at Jia Fu Rong.

"Hmph!" Jia Fu Rong was enraged. She is exactly wearing jewelries with a heavy makeup. Never had she expected such innocent looking girl knows how to use words with hidden meanings.

The head of the main branch, Zhao Yue Heng cleared his throat. "I apologize but my first son will come late. He lives far from Xi'an and he rarely visits us." he apologetically said.

"Its understandable." Dong Xu who had been observing, replied politely to his old friend. Inside, he is secretly satisfied at how Dong Li Hua stood up for herself.

"Why don't we chat first? Hu Jiu, bring us some wine and tea." Zhao Yue Heng ordered a butler as he gestured for them to sit down. "You raised such beautiful daughters and handsome son, ah. How enviable..."

"Not likely." Jia Fu Rong suddenly chimed in,glancing at Dong Li Hua before leaning on the couch. "Beauty can also be dangerous. Such as Zhao Ji of the Qin State. She used her body to seduce men. There is someone I know whose mother has done the same."

"Excuse me first." Dong Li Gua abruptly stood up. She cant stand it amy longer while her emotions grew unstable. Its for the first time she felt how strong her grief and anger are. Getting inside a comfort room, Dong Li Hua tightly held unto the sink. She looked up to the mirror to meet her green jade eyes. This eye color is what she hated the most. Every time she sees this, her mother's visage would enter her mind. Summer Basch is her mother.

Summer Basch came from US, her grandfather is a Chinese man who lived in Shaanxi Province and there she met Dong Xu. He is a widower that time with the three-year-old Dong Zhenzhen and Dong Chun Wu. As a single man again, there are many people who tried prying on him by marrying their daughters to Dong Xu. In a twist of fate, Summer Basch had a trouble marrying a Chinese man her grandfather introduced. Thus, she left her home and met Dong Xu who offered her a job.

They should have been a normal master and attendant but Dong Xu fell in love to Summer Basch. Hiding their relationship, as soon as she gave birth to Dong Li Hua without marriage, she was criticized by the Dong family since Summer Basch is a foreigner. Dong Xu is willing to rake responsibility and marry her however, a Dong family member threatened her life until she was forced to leave China and return to US. With such a wide country, even when Dong Xu went to find her, he cant. She purposely erased her traces by not contacting her previous friends and family. Probably still afraid to die.

Dong Li Hua's eyes went teary. Her green irises mirroring Summer Basch's. Sometimes she questions herself, why her mother didn't take her away? Why did she leave her behind? Why didn't she come back or give any sign she cared about her daughter? All these questions remained unanswered for fifteen years.

She raised her hand to wipe her tears when the bracelet scraped her face. Her annoyance grew further that she have the thought of removing it when it gave off a soft tinkling sound. "Huh?" Dong Li Hua's eyes widened but a bright flash happened.

"Is she awake?" a childish voice reached her hearing. Dong Li Hua's sight was misty but all she can see now were dark and brown colors with a mix of white light. She looked around until her gaze went clear.

"Where... Where am I?" she furrowed her brows, seeing an ancient styled room. Dong Li Hua turned her head to the side, only to meet a pair of curious large eyes staring at her.

"Green eyes?!" the young boy who stood by the bedside staggered back upon seeing her eye color. He has never seen such strange eye color before but he admits, it was enthralling.

"A kid?!" Dong Li Hua sat upright and leaned on the cold wall. She assessed the young boy, possibly in his thirteenth age. He wore an ancient dark robe with golden dragon embroideries. His hair was tied upward into a scholarly bun that showcased his cute round face. "S-so cute..." Dong Li Hua thought and lowered her guard. She frowned seeing his strange outfit but when she looked around the ancient styled room, it was like a lightning bolt struck her head. It couldn't be... She time travelled?

"Miss, how did you enter the palace?" the young boy asked, stepping forward when he noticed her lost expression.

"Palace? I... I don't remember." Dong Li Hua cant recall what happened. She just went inside a comfort room and now she woke up in a different place! No one will believe such experience. Who ever heard of a person getting inside a comfort room then travelling through time?

"Oh." he let his gaze wander around Dong Li Hua before raisin a brow. "Im Ying Zheng, you are?"

"Ying Zheng?!" Dong Li Hua cant almost believe her ears, wondering if spitting blood now can show how she was unable to believe what she heard. This young cute boy before her is the future fat bearded face tyrant Ying Zheng? He looks harmless though with a playful smile on his jadeite white face. "Im... Im Dong Li Hua. A-are you sure you're Ying Zheng?"

"You don't know me?" the young boy finally concluded she is not a spy nor an official's daughter who sneaked into the inner court. Since she is a clueless person, he knew he is safe around her.

"No. I guess?" she whispered the last two words, looking to the side awkwardly. At least she didn't meet the brutal Dragon Emperor yet, at least it was his younger self...