The Fifth Prince of Jia Kingdom was born a safe birth and spoiled. The Emperor Jin Hu had made Jia Dynasty expand and continued his expeditions or sometimes simply commanded his army as he played with Kai Yin when he visited.

Kai Yin was charming child and played with the princes and princesses of different mothers without discrimination. As fifth in line for throne he was no threat, and the older princes and princesses all played with him. That is, other than the crown Prince.

Jin Long, his older brother, was a sickly boy. People said with sighs if only the two boys switched places. Once they hit twelve people were even more bold. Kai Yin was athletic, tall, and full of justice and good morals. He was kind to everyone and cared not for positions. Ever since then his brothers' attitudes changed when they matured.

Jin was whispered behind his back as the Sickly Prince. Not only was his sick with fevers but he had an awful temper and threw tantrums. In this manner they thought of him mentally sick. He hissed at advisors and tutors and played vicious pranks.

The second prince had no grasp on war and was burdened by his mother, the Empress, to do well and surpass Jin Long. Instead, he gave up and occasionally appeared but mainly had his fun.

Third Prince was not always a womanizer, but with his good looks at puberty he began always sleeping around, and maidservants avoided him or were be banished once the Third Prince slept with them.

Fourth Prince Yisha was born by a foreign mother who was a low ranked concubine to begin with. He faced bullying by his older brothers and prejudice by people in the palace and maintained a low profile.

Kai Yin, younger than them by five or more years, watched as his brothers transformed before his eyes. He had the tightest bond with Fourth Prince Yisha, and learned important things, such as never defying Jin Long and what to do.

"Never draw more attention to yourself then Jin Long. He will never fall, he will keep getting up for revenge," Yisha had said.

"But I want to help First brother when he is Emperor," Kai Yin said. The princes met daily to play go or take a walk, always with their guards, and that day the two sat in a pavilion with tea.

"I think First Prince hates you more than anymore," Yisha whispered, head down.

"What? Why?"

Kai Yin was fourteen or fifteen, and his brothers were adults and rarely dropped by. They were all married, including Yisha.

"Does Yisha-gege not like First brother?" Kai Yin asked.

"I do not care for Jin Long; he has told me to never call him brother, and I never will." Yisha looked at Kai Yin, his wide, foreign eyes conveying hidden fury.

"First brother can be rash, but I think Jia kingdom needs more than one person to carry the burden," Kai Yin declared. Yisha smiled.

"Then you can be that person. But know this—you're his greatest enemy."

***

The conquest ended. The tribe had submit to them a few days after Kai Yin realized what his brother was doing. In fact, Kai Yon got off his horse and with only Wei Jing by his side, spoke to the tribal elder.

The man understood only part of his language but hearing how they had all their food routes blocked and would suffer while they had their protection if they joined Jia Kingdom persuaded him.

The generals of Jia Kingdom cheered, and even some of the families in the tribe seemed to honor Prince Kai Yin and lined up to shake his hands and thank their elderly patriarch.

Finally allowed to go home Kai Yin's head was splitting from the pain cause by lack of sleep, the cold, and all his worries. He feared being betrayed by his brother, but the day was already there.

He was nestled in thick blankets in the carriage as their horses pulled him away, their tent of sheepskin rolled up and tied on their backs. With sadness he closed his eyes and fell asleep, feeling the chill in his body even the blankets couldn't warm.

Back at Jia Palace, the Emperor was negotiating with the leaders of a strange country that rivaled theirs. Their country was in a desert but had a good trade system with Jia Kingdom, and this distant country, comprised of many tribes held in high esteem, said they themselves had many lovely princesses.

The leader, Rahmi, spoke to the translator they had, a man of a tribe in the Jia Kingdom.

"He has offered you a princess for marriage into the Jia Kingdom's bloodline," the translator said.

Rahmi smiled, old but wise, posture straight and yet feet apart in casual confidence. He didn't bow and the turban on his head was long and embroidered. The sash on his inner gown had a strange emblem and outside he wore a flashy bright green gown similar to their kingdom and the Emperor smiled in interest.

Shaka Lan and the Crown Prince Jin Long was out of question, the Second Prince was devoted to his wife, Third Prince was a philanderer—then Kai Yin came to mind. The Emperor's smile widened as he spoke to the translator to speak to Rahmi.

"Give me, then, your most beautiful princess! And to my fifth son and second biggest war hero she shall be wed, my good man."

As Rahmi heard the translator he laughed and nodded and spoke.

"She shall be beautiful, I'm honored you would have her marry your fifth prince."

"My pleasure. I had not imagined him camping for a season away and succeeding. He will be be awarded with your princess."

"I will have a teacher teach my daughter your language."

"As it should be. You are dismissed."

Eunuchs and generals who were in the royal hall were astounded. Rahmi left with his men to stay in the west wing in the palace, but all the maids and servants were enchanted.

The entourage of different and colorful clothes, as well as their faint fragrance from foreign flowers, and even their taller men and women drew attention. Generals quickly announced amongst themselves soon Prince Kai Yin would be married to a foreigner!

What a disgrace, they thought, but then they were assured it would be a beautiful princess, and they did have attractive faces and people began wondering how their children would look like.

By the next day, rumors had reached Peony Palace.

Rahmi and his men came to visit, and most of the girls were called to dance and fill their cups with wine.

Shui Lian who was kept inside his room wandered the halls, wanting to at least look at them from his floor. He finally snuck to the hallway.

The men grew out large beards or even with their hats their thick and heavy hair was visible. Their jawlines were prominent and their eyes were strange. They sunk into their skulls, Shui Lian thought. He tilted his head down as he stood at the stairs like the other female onlookers. The servants girls at the bottom ran up and tapped the other girls, mainly courtesans.

"What?"

"You'll never believe it, Rahmi is king of his country. The one in green."

"What of it?"

"Today His Majesty promised his princess will marry Fifth Prince?"

"Oh no, what of him?"

All the eyes were on Shui Lian and he couldn't understand those words.

Who was marrying Kai Yin?

No, it didn't matter. The day he dreaded had finally came.

Jin Long's words were in his ears.

"...he will leave you one day..."

"...he will forget you..." 

Shui Lian ran to his room, afraid of his tears showing—he still held on to what measly pride he had. He sobbed against the door, vision blurring but most of all, that fear.

Kai Yin could go on and live, married to a princess from a foreign land. Just like now, he would be off to the army and what the Cruel Prince said was true!

Kai Yin will be happy and Shui Lian, a temporary replacement, would be left there without anyone to love him. Like Ming Yu.

Shui Lian hugged his own body in the dark room, feeling how cold he was for the first time, and how much he missed the warmth of skin. He closed his eyes tightly.

He had not bid Kai Yin any sweet farewells, he never showed his appreciation for Ai and Miao, and now he would lose his world. All that he knew of since he was fifteen—being a courtesan in Peony Palace, losing sense of his self, and now finally someone who reached out for not his body but his soul. Now they were only memories that chained him down, unable to tear away the good from the bad. He was sure it'll only hurt more.

Now the snow was melting, spring would arrive in a month. It'll all end.

Ah, Shui Lian thought, curling up in his bed, eyes still closed. What will happen to me now?