The king of Gi threw a lavish celebration in honour of the crown prince, to celebrate the victory of their armies over Jin. On that one night, the usually dull and dour palace was transformed by a sea of lights into a lively, festive sight. In the middle of the lake in the imperial gardens, a circular stage had been set up so dancers could provide entertainment with their graceful moves. The royal family and court officials laughed and chatted with one another while they indulged in good food and wine that flowed in a neverending stream.

On this special night, even most of the palace maids and manservants had been given leave from their duties and were gathered at the far end of the lake, watching enraptured as the dancers twirled and spun under the moonlight.

"The lead dancer right in the middle is quite the little minx, isn't she?" Yuehwa remarked to one of the palace maids who happened to be standing beside her. She purposefully licked her lips in a lascivious manner. "You would think that she's trying to seduce the crown prince with the way she's throwing him those alluring glances all the time. Even I wouldn't be able to resist that! Looks like someone's in for a good time tonight."

The palace maid looked at her in disgust. "Stop saying things like that! Do you want to get yourself punished for speaking of the crown prince in that way?"

"In what way? I'm just stating the facts!" Yuehwa chuckled, giving the girl a cheeky wink that made her scurry away. She liked teasing the palace maids because all of them were so straight-laced and boring—they needed some excitement in their lives from time to time.

Yuehwa parked herself under a huge cedar tree, leaning against its sturdy trunk. She was among the palace servants, on the opposite end of the lake from where the actual banquet was taking place. Naying had wanted to prepare a seat for her at the royal feast, but she had politely (or actually, rather violently) rejected because she didn't want to be bored to death having to engage in small talk with a bunch of people who didn't mean what they said.

Naying was a couple of days shy from completing her full dose of medication, which also meant that Yuehwa was a couple of days away from freedom.

"There's just one thing I'm going to miss about this place," she remarked.

The food, Ember replied, rolling his eyes.

"You know me so well." Yuehwa laughed. She reached for her plate of barbecued meats, taking a deep breath to inhale the delectable aroma of her umpteenth plate of food. "Nothing better than an unlimited flow of free food."

She was enjoying her chicken drumstick while watching the performances on stage when a frenzy of chirping distracted her from what she was doing. Looking up at the branch above, she spotted a ball of white perched beside Ember, wings flapping agitatedly as she spoke.

"Cloud?"

The white canary immediately flew down from the branch, landing on the patch of grass beside her. Ember followed suit, perching himself on Yuehwa's right shoulder.

"Did something happen back at home?" Yuehwa asked, her brows furrowing up into a frown.

Cloud belonged to her brother's wife, Yi'en, and would never leave her side unless there was an absolute need to. Seeing Cloud here, tens of miles away from where she should be, could only mean that something serious had happened.

You need to return home right now, Cloud immediately cut to the chase. Your brother is gravely ill and his condition is worsening each day. We must leave now, there is no time.

"You're kidding!" Yuehwa scoffed in disbelief. "My brother has always been perfectly fit and healthy, and he's still in his prime! There's no reason for him to have fallen ill. Is this some sort of a joke? This is his idea of tricking me home so that he can matchmake me with some spineless wimp, isn't it? Well you can go back and tell him that his clever little sister saw right through his ploy."

Cloud did not look the slightest bit amused.

This is not a joke. If you dally any longer, you might not even get to see him for the last time, and when that happens you will regret it for your entire life, that I can guarantee, she said.

Yuehwa tried to smile, a part of her still waiting for the moment when Cloud would admit that it was all some sort of joke, but that moment never arrived. The smile slowly faded from her face.

"Cloud, it's not possible. He's only thirty. That's far too young for anyone to be dying."

He has just been good at hiding his problems away from everyone, so that you wouldn't need to worry for him. His health has been failing for quite some time but the physicians have been artificially extending his lifespan with all sorts of herbs and medications—we've come to a point where nothing works anymore. You know that Yi'en wouldn't send me unless it was an emergency.

The fireworks had started going off in the night sky and all around her the palace servants were ooh-ing and ah-ing at the colourful display of explosions taking place overhead, but Yuehwa could see nor hear any of the festivities around her. Scrambling to her feet, she said, "Let's go. If we ride non-stop, we should be able to reach in six days at most." She ripped a strip of cloth from her skirt and used the gravy from the barbecued chicken to write a short message, handing it to Ember. "Take this to Naying so that she knows that I've had to go. She's only got a few more days of medication left and the imperial physicians already know what to do, so they should be able to manage even without me around."

Ember nodded his head, flying across the lake to deliver the message to the princess.

Yuehwa left the imperial gardens, making her way hastily back to her quarters to pack her belongings. Her mind was so pre-occupied with the fear of losing her only brother that she didn't even hear her name being called several times as she rushed towards the stables to find a horse. It wasn't until someone grabbed hold of her shoulders to stop her from rushing on that she realised there was someone behind her.

"Yuehwa?" Baixun turned her around, looking at her with great concern. "What's wrong? Where are you going? I've been looking all over for you."

"I need to leave," Yuehwa said quickly, squirming to free herself from his grip. She didn't have the time to entertain his questions because every minute she spent here was a minute wasted. Her brother might not be able to wait that long. "I'm sorry, Baixun, but I don't have the time to explain. I need the fastest horse that you have, which one is it?"

Baixun pointed at a black horse that was kept at the far right corner of the stables, following behind her as she dashed towards it. "I can come with you," he said.

"Don't be stupid," she said dismissively as she tossed a saddle onto the horse and untied it from its wooden post. "This is not something that you can help with. You belong here, Baixun. Naying needs you and you've been away from her long enough."

Before she could mount the horse, Baixun caught hold of her right hand, holding her back.

"Let go of—"

Yuehwa found her words abruptly cut off as Baixun pulled her into his arms and silenced her with his lips. Stunned by his sudden actions, it took her a couple of seconds before she could react, and when she did she pushed him away with as much force as she could, sending him flying against the stable wall. She glared at him with anger, disgust and the reflection of tears in her eyes.

"Yuehwa, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you," the prince said quickly, taking a couple of steps forward.

Without a word, Yuehwa quickly mounted the horse and yanked hard at its reins, taking off into the night. She had already wasted enough time on Baixun and if she returned home minutes too late because of him, then she would never forgive him for as long as she lived.

#

Yuehwa rode non-stop for five days and five nights, cutting across plains and forests until she reached the familiar city walls that she had not seen in over three long years. As she approached the gates, she raised her sword high in the air, the blood red pendant dangling from the sword's hilt for all to see. The city gates immediately swung open, allowing her horse to gallop straight into the capital.

She stopped in front of the palace gates, dismounting the horse in one swift motion.

"Stop right there." One of the guards who was on duty stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "Where do you think you are going?" he barked, eyeing her suspiciously.

Sweeping her fringe away from her eyes, she held out her sword in front of his eyes, saying, "It's only been three years and you've already forgotten who I am, Commander Ung?"

The guard's eyes widened in surprise as he stared at the red pendant, his gaze darting between the pendant and her face. When he had gathered his senses about him, he quickly dropped to his knees. "Your Highness!" he burst out. "You've finally returned!"

"How is the king?" Yuehwa asked. Seeing the commander of the royal guards kneel down in front of the mysterious newcomer, none of the other guards dared to stop her as she walked straight through the gates and into the palace. As she passed them by, all of them could not resist but take a second glance, curious as to who she actually was.

The commander picked himself off the ground and quickly followed behind her. "The king has been bedridden for days, Your Highness." he said truthfully, "In the initial days we tried to seal the news from everyone, including the ministers of the court, but word managed to get out somehow. We've increased the palace security in anticipation of any potential strife while the king is incapacitated. Thank goodness you've returned!"

Yuehwa frowned, increasing her pace as she continued making her way towards the king's chambers. It had been a long while since she had been back, but nothing much had changed—she knew this entire place like the back of her hand. As she wound her way from the eastern gate to the heart of the palace where the king's chambers were located, she could sense the sombre mood that hung thick in the air. Even the palace servants who walked past her failed to notice her unfamiliar presence because they were hurrying about their chores with such haste, staring only at their own feet as they moved from place to place.

The king's steward was pacing in front of the doors of the king's chambers anxiously when she came marching up the stairs. When he caught sight of her, his eyes lit up with a mixture of joy and relief. Running up to her, he bowed down and cried, "Your Highness! Thank the heavens that you're back! The king has been asking for you day after day, we were beginning to worry that you weren't going to return."

Yuehwa didn't have time to listen to the steward. She pushed open the doors to the king's chambers and walked in.

"You should have sent for me sooner. How long has the king been ill? Have the imperial physicians not been able to do anything about it?"

"The king had been having headaches since last spring, but it only occurred from time to time so we didn't think much of it, but a few months ago his condition suddenly took a turn for the worse. His headaches became more frequent, and at times they would be so bad that he wouldn't be able to eat a single thing and he would throw up everything that he consumed," the steward explained. "Recently he's hardly been able to take in any sort of medication, which is why his condition has deteriorated even further."

Yuehwa came to a stop in front of the doors to the inner chambers, her fists clenched tightly by her side. From where she was standing, she could already see the king lying asleep on his bed, the queen sitting by his side reading softly to him with her gentle, soothing voice. Hearing the sound of footsteps entering the room, the queen paused, turning to see who it was.

"Yi'en," Yuehwa called out, tears brimming in her eyes as she looked upon the queen.

The queen could not be considered a great beauty. Unlike the queens and concubines of other kingdoms, she never adorned herself with fancy jewels and accessories to make herself stand out from the crowd. But despite her simplicity, she had always been elegant and graceful, and most importantly, she was kind—and that was where her beauty lay. That was how Yuehwa remembered her to be, yet the woman sitting by the king's bedside right now seemed frail and worn, with a tinge of melancholy in her previously bright eyes.

As she looked at Yuehwa, a warm smile appeared on her face. She stood up and held her arms open.

"Yuehwa, where have you been? We've missed you so much."

Yuehwa ran straight into those arms like a little child, burying her tear-streaked face against the queen's shoulder. Yi'en always smelled like lilies, and the subtle fragrance that tickled her nose reminded her that she was finally home. While she was out roaming the world in search of new adventures, she didn't realise that she actually missed home too.

Straightening herself up, she wiped the tears away from her cheeks. "How is he?" she said softly, careful not to wake her brother from his fitful sleep.

"He's better today than he was yesterday," the queen replied. "At least the headaches haven't come on and he's managed to take some medicine. He didn't manage to get much sleep last night, so it's a good thing he's getting some rest now. He'll be so happy to see you when he awakens."

"You look tired too," Yuehwa said, giving Yi'en's hand a tiny squeeze. "Why don't you go get some rest? I'll stay here with him. We can speak later."

Nodding her head, the queen gave her another hug before she walked slowly out of the room, disappearing down the corridor.

Yuehwa sat down by the king's bedside. As she looked down at the man lying asleep on the bed with his emaciated frame and sunken cheeks, she couldn't believe that this was the same older brother who had waved her off at the palace gates three years ago. Her brother was a king, a wise and magnanimous king who had a bright future ahead of him. If the heavens were to take him away now, it would be the most cruel thing they could possibly do.

She picked up the towel and dipped it into the basin of warm water that one of the palace maids had just brought in, using it to gently wipe off the beads of cold sweat that had gathered above her brother's brow.

He began to stir.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

The king slowly opened his eyes, and when he saw her face on front of him, he smiled. "I'm not dreaming am I?" he asked, reaching out his hand to stroke her cheek. "Yuehwa, have you finally found it in you to come home? Always running around outside like some wild child. If Mother ever saw you like this, she would have my head." His words seemed to be chiding her, yet there was nothing but affection in his tone.

Yuehwa nodded her head, wrinkling up her nose to stop herself from tearing up once more. She helped her brother sit upright on the bed, bringing him a cup of water to soothe his throat.

"I know you don't like living in the palace, Yuehwa, and if I had a choice I wouldn't want to have to clip your wings and force you to come home," the king sighed, "but there's no one else I can trust to do this."

"What is it?"

"Yang-yang is still a child, and Yi'en is too gentle and trusting to be able to protect him on her own. When I die—"

"Don't say that! You're not going to die!"

The king shook his head, taking hold of his sister's hand and patting it gently. "Everyone dies, it's just a matter of whether it is sooner or later, that's all," he said. "When I die, I hope you will be able to look after Yang-yang and Yi'en for me. Keep them safe from those who would seek to harm them. Already there are some who have begun making their moves, and they will only become more brazen when I am no longer around. Jin has already fallen to Gi—it's only a matter of time before Gi points its arrows towards us."

He beckoned towards the steward, who brought over an intricate rosewood box and placed it in the king's hands. Inside the box lay a phoenix that had been carved out of the same blood red jade that Yuehwa's pendant was made from—the royal seal of the kingdom. He lifted the heavy seal out of its box and handed it to Yuehwa.

"If you had been born a boy, father would have passed this seal to you, not me," he said with a wry chuckle.

"No he wouldn't. He always said I was too volatile and rash." Yuehwa laughed, feeling the warmth of the jade against the palm of her hand. When she was a child, she often stole the royal seal to play with when her father wasn't looking—but now, it felt so much heavier than she remembered. "I can't do this," she said.

"If there's anyone who can do this, it's you, Yuehwa," the king said, looking at her sadly. "All I ask is that you watch over Yang-yang until he is of age. Train him to be as strong as you are, and when he is ready, the decision to stay or leave is yours."

Yuehwa could not say no, not when she knew that her brother had pinned all his hopes on her. She was the only other family that he had.

When she nodded her head, the king looked towards his trusted steward, who was already ready with his ink and brush to draft the royal edict.

"By royal decree, I," the king dictated, "hereby appoint Princess Lee Yue of Hwa as regent of this kingdom from this day forth, until a point in time where I am able to resume my duties to the crown, or when Crown Prince Lee Yang comes of age—"

It had been naïve of her to have thought that she could just abandon everything and roam the world like a carefree nomad. Because she had been born as Lee Yue, daughter to a king, sister to a king, and princess of the kingdom of Hwa, and with that came the burden that she would now need to bear.