My Royal Flower [Yizhan]
CHAPTER 1
A stream flowed serenely, its water glistening under the bright morning sun.
With the start of the spring season, blossoming buds could be seen scattered around, creating a beautiful sight in the gardens of the Xiao palace.
Against a certain tree was a teenager with doe eyes and a mole painted to the corner of soft lips, puckered into a small pout as he focused on the canvas in front of him, trying to capture the garden’s ethereal beauty.
His hands moved deftly across the canvas, the strokes of brushes creating a small rustling sound that echoed alongside the happily chirping birds.
And yet the boy couldn’t help but feel frustrated.
As much as he loved the gardens, he had already painted, sketched, and seen every inch of it.
He couldn’t help but be selfish and want to see more — to paint more. To see a beauty that went beyond the palace’s walls.
But ever since that fateful day, he had been banned from ever stepping foot outside.
It had been a normal day.
A normal day for a ten year old Xiao Zhan to be walking with his maid and two guards across the path leading to the bazaar he loved to visit. He loved to see the small toys on offer and the last time he had visited there was an adorable bunny carved out of wood.
He hadn’t had time to buy it, with the guards saying it was getting late and time to go, but Xiao Zhan was determined and he put on a sweet face to get his mother to allow him to go back the next day.
When she had said yes, Xiao Zhan had beamed, his eyes sparkling as he ran to hug his mother’s legs, all royal etiquette forgotten.
It had taken a cough from his father to remember his manners, so he pulled back with a shy smile and bowed. His father had only shaken his head and laughed along with his wife, who also was laughing quietly.
When he walked into the bazaar, he ran straight for the stall, his guards shouting after him to slow down without calling his name — his identity was to be kept secret after all and whenever he went out, the guards would change their outfits from the obvious deep red uniform to plain outfits, whilst also keeping their swords hidden in their scabbards.
Xiao Zhan had successfully navigated his way through the busy crowds and found the stall, his face lighting up at seeing the small wooden bunny still there.
Xiao Zhan (10-years-old)
“Jiejie! Can I have that please?”
He pointed excitedly to the bunny, his smile wide and bright.
The woman smiled at Xiao Zhan’s enthusiasm and the fact that he seemed to resemble the carved bunny tremendously, and nodded, gently bringing down the wooden object.
Sellswoman
“That will be five silver coins, young man.”
Xiao Zhan (10-years-old)
“Here!”
Xiao Zhan fished out his pocket five gold coins and held them out happily for the woman to take.
Seeing the gold coins, her eyes widened and she shook her head, closing the little hand full with coins.
Sellswoman
“That’s too much.”
She let out an awed breath, silently thinking to herself this boy’s parents must be rich.
Sellswoman
“I’ll save the bunny for you if you come back with silver coins.”
Xiao Zhan puffed out his cheeks and frowned.
Xiao Zhan (10-years-old)
“No, take it.”
He said defiantly, looking at the woman with a pout.
Upon seeing the adorable expression, the woman wanted nothing more than to squeeze his cheeks that looked as soft as the clouds, but she refrained from doing so.
Seeing that the woman wasn’t saying anything, Xiao Zhan looked up at her with wider eyes as he spoke.
Xiao Zhan (10-years-old)
“I don’t have any silver coins with me.”
Xiao Zhan (10-years-old)
“Please take it.”
The woman couldn’t help but snicker at the little boy’s stubbornness and nodded.
Sellswoman
“I’ll take it, but you have to take something else.”
Sellswoman
“Is there anything else you want?”
Xiao Zhan’s eyes sparkled as he heard the woman’s words and he nodded eagerly, pointing to the carved wooden lion that had been placed beside the bunny.
Sellswoman
“Excellent choice.”
She smiled, setting about to wrap the wooden objects carefully in paper.
Once she was done, she gratefully took the coins from Xiao Zhan and handed him the wrapped goods.
Sellswoman
“Be careful with them, my mother carved these, if they break her ghost will haunt you.”
She teased, chuckling at the startled expression of the boy.
Xiao Zhan (10-years-old)
“I, Xiao Zhan, promise that my bunny and lion will stay safe and together forever!”
He finished with a three finger salute and he dashed away and back into the crowd with a soft laughter.
The woman was left stunned at the boy’s words, at 𝘟𝘪𝘢𝘰 𝘡𝘩𝘢𝘯’𝘴 words.
She had heard Xiao Zhan’s name only too well and she could only smile widely.
Sellswoman
'My prince, may you have eternal happiness.'
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CHAPTER 2
Xiao Zhan walked for a while, but soon he started getting tired so he found an empty bench and set the bag of his toys down as he stretched his little legs.
Not even a moment later the disguised guards and his maid came rushing, their expressions looking as if they had just gone through war.
Xiao Zhan realised what he had done and he looked at them regretfully, his head hanging low.
Xiao Zhan (10-years-old)
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
Guard
“Your Highness, please stay close. What matters most is your safety.”
One of the guards said in a hushed tone.
Xiao Zhan looked up and nodded obediently.
Suddenly, movement came from his left and before anyone realised what had happened, a figure had come as quickly as he left, snatching the bag with him.
Xiao Zhan (10-years-old)
“Hey!”
Xiao Zhan instantly got up and ran after the man, going as fast as his legs could take him.
Xiao Zhan (10-years-old)
“That’s mine!”
He shouted angrily to the man, running faster and faster as he tried his best to catch up, his breaths getting heavier as he felt his stamina begin to waver.
The man however, for some reason began to slow down, but Xiao Zhan didn’t think much of it and he managed to finally close the distance between them, not realising where he had ended up.
Xiao Zhan (10-years-old)
“Give it back!”
They were in some alleyway and the man looked around, a seemingly frustrated expression on his face.
What Xiao Zhan didn’t know was that it was all just an act.
Someone
“Fine, come and take it.”
He sneered, holding the bag out in front of him.
Xiao Zhan squinted his eyes and took a cautious step towards him, and another one, and another, until the bag was just an arm’s length away from him.
Just as he was about to grab the bag, shouts from the guards came from behind and suddenly Xiao Zhan felt his body being turned forcibly as an arm wrapped around him, caging him.
Then Xiao Zhan felt his blood run cold as a sharp metal pressed against the side of his neck, making any attempts to struggle futile — Xiao Zhan was frozen to the spot, not even wanting to breathe for fear of the knife cutting him.
Someone
“Give me everything you have.”
The man said coldly, but it was distant to him as fear coursed through his body.
He vaguely heard voices. Voices from the guards, the cold voice from the man terrifyingly close to him—
And then he gasped when the knife cut deeper and he shut his eyes, tears clinging to his lashes as the small sharp pain from his neck greeted him. He felt a warm wetness trickle down his neck and Xiao Zhan knew it was his blood.
He wanted to cry out, to shout for his mother and father, but he knew there was no point in doing so. He also knew that if anything were to happen to him the guards and his maid would never be forgiven, and they would at best be banished. Xiao Zhan didn’t want that so without a second thought, he tried his best to regain control of his senses and stomped hard onto the man’s foot.
The moment the knife lost contact with his skin Xiao Zhan felt as if he could breathe and he ran forwards to the safe arms of the guard, wanting to sob but knowing he had to keep his composure.
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CHAPTER 3
Xiao Zhan didn’t remember how he got back to the palace that day. All he remembered was crying into his mother’s shoulders after some medicine had been applied to his neck along with a bandage, clutching to the bunny and lion figures that had been miraculously brought back.
His father had been furious, threatening to strip everything the guards and his maid owned and forbid them from ever stepping foot into the country again, but Xiao Zhan had looked at his father with shiny eyes and begged him not to.
He had grown to love the two guards and his pretty maid, who always gave him desserts she had sneaked from the kitchen.
Xiao Zhan was allowed to eat whatever he wanted, but there was a strict limit on how much he was allowed.
He would sulk if he didn’t get his daily osmanthus cake, but his maid, Xu Yan, had always made sure he could get a small piece every evening.
If it had not been for Xiao Zhan’s desperate pleas, the guards and Xu Yan would have lost their jobs and after his father reached a verdict of forgiving them, Xiao Zhan was elated.
That elation didn’t last long though as it came with the final decision that he would never leave the palace again.
Five years later, Xiao Zhan threw the canvas onto the ground and got up, burying his hands into his pockets as he groaned in frustration.
Five years of not being allowed to see the outside world, of not being allowed to see any changes.
Was the bazaar he loved so much still thriving? Were the foods from the stalls still smelling as aromatically?
Xiao Zhan had been desperate to know for years, and his current fifteen year old self was even more stubborn and rebellious, so he wanted nothing more than to defy the order his father had set for him.
He went to his bedroom earlier that day, with Xu Yan asking him if everything was okay.
Xiao Zhan
“I’m just sleepy.”
He stretched his limbs and covered his mouth as he put on a fake yawn.
Xiao Zhan
“Please don’t disturb the room until morning.”
He said through seemingly tired eyes as he sat onto the soft bed. The mattress was so soft he always sank down on it.
Xu Yan
“Of course, Your Highness.”
Xu Yan lowered her head and backed away until the soft click of the door closing emphasised her exit.
Xiao Zhan got up instantly, already feeling guilty at having lied to her, but the prospect of potentially seeing life outside of the palace was too much and a wide smile adorned his features.
Getting a small bag, Xiao Zhan stuffed hidden snacks he had sneaked from the kitchens earlier, as well as a bag of golden coins. He only had the night and part of the morning to explore, and then he had to be back here before anyone realised he was missing.
He knew it was definitely easier said than done but Xiao Zhan didn’t mind. He was going out of the palace tonight and nothing was going to change that.
Once night had befallen with there being nothing else but the soft candlelight flickering around the room and the moonlight filtering in through the grand windows, Xiao Zhan made his way to his desk and smiled softly at his wooden bunny and lion.
He grinned, patting them gently on their heads before rushing to the other end of the room and unlatching the window open.
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