Central Palace

Yìfēi sat by ShuîYuê's side and slept peacefully. She's been sleeping peacefully for two whole days now while people who cared about her were scared to death. Yìfēi had gone back to the Wudu Palace to inform them about her. Rong Pei was so worried about it that she had not eaten anything for the past two days, Souxin kept on crying as well.

Yìfēi sighed she was tired too, that day After getting treated she went back to her palace and came about a few hours later to find Jīnyú sleeping by the door she woke up the poor boy and sent him back to his room, Xiàn Fèng his own Palace he was injured too but he got by easily because he didn't pull that arrow so he didn't lose that much blood.

Heavens were quiet since the ghost festival day, and people wept as the dead soldier's bodies were sent back to their families if they could be recognised, that is. Yìfēi felt someone shaking her hand. When she woke up, she looked to her left to see YueYue shaking her hand weakly, and she instantly got up. "YueYue! Are you fine? Does it hurt?" she asked, worried.

ShuîYuê stared at her. "Everywhere," she murmured gently.

"I'll call the doctor." she got up.

"Yìfēi...don't...leave," ShuîYuê said softly, trying to get up.

Yìfēi ran back to her, "What are you doing ? Lie down! You need to rest." she scolded, not letting ShuîYuê get up.

"Are you fine? Is everyone okay?" Water Master asked weakly.

"I look beautiful as ever, and everyone's fine too." Wind Master answered, smiling.

ShuîYuê smiled as well, her eyes half open and half closed. "Sanbao! Where's Sanbao?" she asked, worried, suddenly remembering about him. Yìfēi bit her lips, "Yìfēi, Where's Sanbao?" she asked again carefully. Yìfēi shook her head, tears around her eyes. "Yìfēi, why are you crying? Where's Sanbao?" she asked, getting up; Yìfēi helped her to sit.

"YueYue, he- h-" Yìfēi struggled to speak.

"He what?" she asked as Wind Master broke into a puddle of tears.

"He didn't make it." Yìfēi sniffed as she cried.

Water Master stared at her, not believing it. "You are lying!" she accused, weakly pushing Yìfēi who didn't even more from the slight push.

"He didn't make it, we found his body that day." Yìfēi cried, holding YueYue by the shoulders who bit her lips as tears flowed from her eyes. Yìfēi hugged her gently as Water Master cried.

Yìfēi called the doctors later to check on YueYue, who said that she should rest in the palace for a few more days before she could be shifted to the Wudu Palace. Wind Master and Jīnyú kept her company most of the time, and Xiàn Fèng would show up as well as he tried to lighten up the mood, which never seemed to work.

It's been around a week since she's been here, she was finally allowed to leave today, Yìfēi would come to take her back to the Wudu Palace soon, Water Master sat in her room alone thinking about the things that happened during the past few days, Sanbao's death was a major shock to her he's been by her side since she became the Water Master, 'He was her Chief guard who dropped of Wind Master every single time she visited saying, he needed to pick up something as an excuse. He chose all the guards in the Wudu Palace, no one less than perfect was allowed he was strict and fair, he didn't have anyone in his family he was an orphan who fought in a battle and ascended as a martial guard, and he was assigned to her by Ling Wen when she took Water Master's title. He was.' Water Master thought, 'He was.' as tears escaped her eyes she buried her face in her left palm.

GuānYû entered the room in which ShuîYuê had stayed for the last nine days, he hadn't gone to visit her, he simply didn't have the heart to, but she would be leaving today this was the last time he'd be able to see her unless Jun Wu summoned the elementals which it seemed he wasn't going to for the time being. So here he was, the door was already open, and Water Master was leaning against the window, her back to him; he knocked at the door.

ShuîYuê quickly wiped her tears, Yìfēi was finally here to take her back. "Yìfēi, let's leave; I don't like this place at all," she uttered, trying to put on an extra robe. It was cold outside, and she wasn't feeling good either.

"Water Master?" she stopped and turned around. Crown Prince stood by the door staring at her. Anger filled her as she looked at him. He was partially at fault for all this mess if he could only make an excuse and get his crowning postponed. Nothing like this would ever happen. She didn't reply and was about to leave when he grabbed her hand gently, "How are you?" he asked softly.

She pulled her hand away, glaring at him.
"Perfectly fine, can't you see! I have a broken wrist. My ribcage had a minor fracture, and my arm had a huge cut on it, which hasn't healed yet. Other than that, I am great." she snapped.

GuānYû sighed. "Water Master please let me see," he asked softly.

"What do you want to see?" she asked enraged.

"Your hand, please let me see." he requested gently, grabbing it and observing which was covered in bandages, and a wooden stick was inserted to support the wrist bone.

ShuîYuê stared at his face, confused. He looked hurt for some reason. "Does it hurt too much?" he asked, looking down into her eyes; her forehead was also covered in a bandage. He recalled there was a wound there, too.

"Why? Does it hurt you?" she asked him instead of answering.

"Of course, it hurts me; it pains me to see you in this distress," he said softly.

She pulled her hand back in fury which only caused her more pain, stepping away from him. "Does it not hurt when you heard those innocent people screaming in agony as their sons, fathers, and brothers died brutally in the battle? Does it not hurt to see those people who are homeless because their homes were burnt? Does it not hurt to see everyone suffering!" she asked, miserably.

The Crown Prince was indeed hurt. He loved his people the most. He sacrificed so many things to be what he is today, but how could he let someone know that he gets hurt, too? "Soldiers die in battle," he stated simply.

ShuîYuê couldn't believe it; this was the same person who would do anything in his power to save the common people. Was this the same person she looked up to? Was he the Crown Prince who worked hard for ten years without asking to be crowned? The simple answer was no. Power spares no one. It corrupts the most innocent people into monsters, and this was one in the making.

"Of course, soldiers die. That's what they sign up for when they join the army, right? But isn't it your job to make sure no casualties or the minimum ones occur in battles?" she asked, disappointed.

"It wasn't like I didn't care. I do care, but the ghosts were too ruthless." he voiced out, trying to explain himself.

"They are ruthless, that's what they are supposed to be! They have been broken so badly that they find joy in others' agony. Aren't you supposed to create a place for everyone to feel safe?" she asked, hurt.

"That's why I need to be in power; I can't oppose my father without some authority; you think I didn't protest when he announced the crowning on Ghost Festival Day? I wasn't even aware he had said that until I heard maids talking about it," he said firmly.

"You could do something else, you could pretend to be sick, anything... anything,"  she mumbled as she found it difficult to speak.

He grabbed her shoulders gently, careful not to touch the cut on her right arm. "Water Master," he called, Water Master was far too distraught to think. "Trust me, I tried my best, but my father won't listen," he added gently.

"Can't you do something? Can't you be the Emperor?" she asked, his eyes widened.

"You aren't?" he asked; she nodded her head and cupped her face in his hands.
"Water Master don't! Don't you ever think of doing this! He won't spare you." he shook his head, worried.

"Why not? You can be the Emperor, then?" she asked; GuānYû shook his head; she was too innocent to know the reality of his Father.

"No, you don't understand. I can't be the Emperor without his protection!"

"Why not? Aren't you the second best in Heaven? He's old too, can't you fight him?" she asked genuinely, confused.

"Water Master, I...I am not the illustrious ...Crown Prince everyone thinks I am," he claimed, sitting on the bed as he buried his face in his hands.

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Word count: 1535