Love-In-The-Mist

The afternoon sun bounced off King Tiān's golden sculpture.

The Palace compound was filled with officials. They stood under the decorated cypress tree, conversing.

"How do you think the festival will go?" One official said, holding up his tablet.

"Only if the crown prince shows up at the festival." Another replied, smiling.

"Surely, His Majesty is benevolent."

"Thank you for your faith…." He perceived a royal aura.

They spun.

The officials mumbled to each other.

What if the king is angry?

"Her Royal Majesty." They bowed as a decorated jade chariot passed.

A figure appeared as the king allowed him in.

"Your Highness, Her Royal Majesty is here." A royal messenger kowtowed, delivering his message.

King Tiān Lóngxuān dismissed all attendants with a single gesture.

They rose from their seats, bowing low, dissolving in the air as the palace's mighty door cracked open.

Queen Yù Yuè entered gracefully, her gown sweeping the marble floor.

She climbed the throne stairs; she bowed as her gaze fell upon her king's face.

 "My lord," she released her locked fingers.

He rose from his throne, descending, and his aura cutting off her words.

Her breath caught.

He held her chin high, immersed in her scent.

"My lady is more beautiful than in her youth."

A smile curved her lips. "Your Highness… I'm flattered."

He released her chin, turning to his throne.

A timid breeze blew her gown; she gasp raising an arm.

She laughed softly, finding herself on his thigh.

Her face turned red, butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

She panted, resting on his broad chest.

His hand tightened around her waist.

"Your Highness… Our son." She bit her lip, tolerating his touch. "Did you… Your Highness."

His fingers trailed her body as her scent released fully; he buried his face in her neck.

"Did you notice our son's scent changed?" She forced the word completely.

The palace was shut and vacant.

They disappeared.

 A dark cloud circled the crown prince's quarters; it blurred as it hovered over the military zone. A domineering aura flared from Prince Tiān Jùn as he perceived a strange scent.

A thrilling breeze tugged at his curtain; he rose from his meditative cushion.

His fore-eyes opened, scanning the environment.

"Hmm… strange."

He stood before his window, hands clasped behind his back, watching the sky slowly shift hues of dusk.

He perceived a familiar scent awaiting his approval.

"Lǐng?" His quarter's gate opened.

Yán Lǐng entered, and the gate shut behind him.

What a powerful aura!

He appeared in the Crown Prince's chamber. He bowed low, perceiving the changes.

"My lord," he said, straightening. "I did the ancestry check—Mò Lián is from an ordinary lineage."

For a moment, Tiān Jùn said nothing.

He recalled her behaviour, smiling.

How could she perceive my scent? Hmm.. so clever.

Relief loosened his curiosity; a breath he hadn't known he was holding finally escaped. His shoulders eased, just slightly.

"That's good," he murmured. "Get me an antidote to suppress my cultivation."

Yán Lǐng's eyes shone in surprise, falling to his knees.

"Your Highness… Please take back your order." He lowered his head, holding his locked fingers out.

A wild breeze tugged the curtains as the crown prince ceased from sight.

The breeze died down, returning the room to calm.

"Your Highness… forgive my disobedience." Yán Lǐng raised his head.

Where did he go?

He rose to his feet, dissolving into the air.

Tiān Jùn arrived near the Sì Tiān region by dawn, careful not to release his ethereal energy. The road wound gently downward toward the coast, moonlight silvering the stones beneath his horse's hooves.

The shoreline where they once met lay empty.

Waves brushed the sand in patient rhythm, retreating and returning as if waiting for something that never came. The windy breeze tugged his hair behind as memory replayed like choreography.

She wasn't there.

Still, he did not turn back.

He sat at the shore.

The air thickened as a presence materialized.

"Come out." He said softly, watching the water tide.

"Your Highness." A figure stood before him.

"Yán Lǐng… when did you learn to keep company?"

Yán Lǐng noticed the balance in Tiān Jùn's power, bent sitting beside him.

"When did you become a sweetheart?" He turned to Yán Lǐng, who was seated quietly facing his locked fingers.

His lip curved as the breeze tugged his cloak, "I can perceive your secret… My Lord."

 Tiān Jùn turned to him, laughing.

"I still can't understand why." He took a deep breath, resting on the sharp soil.

"It's daybreak, my lord; you need an imposter face." Yán Lǐng said, tilting his head.

"Where do you think I can find her?"

"It's very easy, but my lord prefers the safety of his people." Yán Lǐng smirked.

 Tiān Jùn laughed out, sitting up.

"Yes, my Lord… I would love to." Tiān Jùn said in a mocking tone.

They both laughed out, rising to their feet.

Tiān Jùn waved his fingers in the air, and his horse ran, stopping at their front.

The sun rose as it beamed, brightening the sky.

"I'm now a commoner, pursue my footsteps," he said, hopping on the horse.

Yán Lǐng smiled, bowing low as Tiān Jùn's horse moved forward. His scent faded as he ceased.

The morning breeze caressed his face, blowing his dark, long hair from his shoulder; his horse moved at a controlled speed.

"What direction should I follow? Hmm… This should lead to the market." He nodded after the thoughtful guess.

It was early morning, yet the street was bustling with commoners on foot.

He slowed, wandering through the streets.

 He stopped at the market, watching the busy stalls as his gaze fell on the notice board.

"This is the morning market," he said, entering. "Monks should come to the morning market… Maybe I will notice her." He smiled, remembering her significantly nonchalant behaviour.

 The hum of voices increased gradually as he entered the market.

The tall buildings were filled with goods, and the sellers were attending to their customers.

They didn't even notice him; most women were busy arguing, others explaining.

He kept moving, looking left and right, until he got to the main square. The less busy merchants smiled, waving for him to purchase their goods. He noticed he was already in another section: the fabric station. He just passed the lacquer section.

"Young lord, how about you stop at my stall?" A woman commented.

He got off the horse, holding its rope as he walked the straight road, then cornering to another section. He stopped mid-step, looking around; the stalls were mostly herbs; he took a deep breath as his gaze fell on a flower; he smiled, holding his horse reins tighter.

"Such a sweet scent." He remembered Lián.

He continued scanning the stalls.

He noticed a piercing gaze, and someone was following him from behind.

"Yán Lǐng?" he mumbled, smiling.

He smirked, I don't expect you to still perceive my presence.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***