After her morning tea, Princess Zhao Yuyan headed to her bathing chamber. Her maids bathed her with perfumed lotus water, once she was dried, they oiled her skin with sweet plum essence, then dressed her in her training attire, a robe of pale silver and a bit of sky-blue, fitted for movement compared to the heavy silk she usually wore. Her long pink hair was drawn into a high ponytail with silk cords, a few strands flowing freely down her back and some framing her face.
Outside, the training ground was filled with the sound of clashing swords from training soldiers. She stepped into the stone-floored courtyard, her eyes scanned the whole place, searching for her master. But he was no where in sight.
Instead, Zhao Leng Yue, her thirteen-year-old brother who is the crown prince was in the middle of the yard, practicing alone with a wooden sword. He was a lot skilled for a boy his age.
Yuyan approached, raising a brow. "Where is Master Jun?"
Without pausing in his movements, Leng Yue replied, "Father summoned him, he said it's for something important."
Yuyan sighed. "Hmm, In that case, how about we spar a little, you and I?"
Leng Yue stopped mid-strike and turned, his lips curving in an amused grin. "Are you sure about that, Jie? You don't want to get hurt, do you?"
She rolled her eyes and stretched her arms. "Oh please, don't get cocky. You just got lucky last time, I've been training harder lately."
He smirked and walked toward her with his sword slung over one shoulder. "You mean you've been 'training,' or just diving into that weird book Father gave you?"
She froze, her eyes narrowed. "What? How do you know about the book?"
He shrugged casually. "I know everything."
His words sent a chill through her. Suddenly, memories came flooding in, how he could beat her easily despite being much younger, how he always seemed to know where she hid things, what she was thinking, what she planned to do before she even did it. There were countless small things over the years. Moments where he would guess her thoughts or secrets accurately. He was the definition of creepy.
She stared at him, her heart racing. Who exactly was this little brother of hers?
They began to spar. At first, the match was even, neither of them was winning. But the more she moved, the more her distracted she became, her mind was flooded with thoughts.
The dream, the man by the stream playing a flute, he was... beautiful, she hadn't seen his face, but the Aura she felt from him, so farmilar. And that melody he played, she felt like she has heard it from somewhere before, but she couldn't tell exactly where.
She blinked, losing focus.
That's when Lingyun paused. He lowered his sword slightly, tilting his head.
"What's the problem? Thinking about the handsome man in your dream?"
Yuyan froze, eyes widening in disbelief.The wooden sword slipped from her grip, falling to the ground.
She had never told anyone, not a soul. The only person who even knew she had a dream was her maid Mei, and Mei didn't know the details. She hadn't mentioned anything about seeing a man in her dreams.
Her voice trembled slightly. "Wait... how did you know that?"
Leng Yue smirked, already stepping backward, raising his sword. "It's written all over your face."
"No!" she snapped. "You're acting weird! It's not normal! You keep knowing things! You always know things!"
She swung her sword at him, irritation bubbling over into real frustration. "You always beat me, you always guess my thoughts, you always know where I hide things. You're thirteen!"
He blocked each strike effortlessly, a cocky smirk plastered on his face. "Maybe you're just easy to read."
"Don't play with me!" she shouted, striking again. "You're not that smart! You're not, this isn't normal!"
He twirled and avoided her final swing, laughing. "You're just too predictable that's all."
They locked swords again, her breath was heavy from her hard she was swinging her sword, sweat streaking her forehead
Just then, a voice broke through the tension.
"That's enough. My lady, it's time for your real training."
Master Jun stood at the edge of the platform, arms folded in his dark training robe, his expression calm but stern
Yuyan turned to him, still catching her breath. She looked back at her brother with a glare.
"You're lucky, you little urchin. If Master hadn't shown up, I would have flattened you like steamed buns!"
Leng Yue laughed, brushing his sleeve. "Sure, Jie. But try not to get folded by Master first."
She gave him a dangerous smirk. "Watch your mouth, or I'll tell Father you've been sneaking into my dreams."
His expression instantly turned stone cold. Yuyan raised a brow, surprised, was that all it took to wipe that cocky smirk off his face?
---
Moments later, Yuyan stood, sweating profusely...her breath came out in heavy gasps as she used her hand to fan herself, desperately needing any form of her that'll take away this suffocating feeling.
Across from her, Zhao Lang Yue was wiping sweat from his brow, looking as calm and confident as ever. His short, dark hair was pulled back in a tidy knot, but his lips was curled into a slight smirk.
They had sparred for nearly half an hour now, yet she hadn't had a single victory, she seemed distracted throughout. Her eyes often drifted toward her brother, not with annoyance or amusement, but with confusion. There was something different about him, something that kept bugging her mind. It was like, he could read her mind. No that wasn't possible, right??
Her sword hovered midair as she stared at him again, brows knitting tightly together.
Lingyun paused, tilted his head, and raised a brow. " Wow!. Calm down, Sister. If you keep staring at me like that, I'll start thinking I've grown another head."
Yuyan blinked, startled. "Says the one who's acting more spooky every day," she muttered, lowering her sword.
"Princess, you are here in body, but your mind is floating in the clouds." The master interrupted.
Yuyan snapped her head toward him, realizing too late that she'd been standing still and forgotten about the training.
"If your heart is not steady, training becomes a danger," the master continued. "Perhaps we should continue later. Go inside and take some rest."
Relief flooded her face, though she tried not to show it. She bowed slightly, muttering a quick "Yes, Master," before turning away from the court.
Behind her, Leng Yue laughed in a mocking tone, "Don't think I'll go easy on you next time, Sister. Train your mind, not just your arms."
She ignored him, he was always like that, and she was used to it by now.
—
Back inside her chambers, Mei had already prepared her lunch, steamed buns, sweet lotus soup, and fragrant tea. Yuyan ate slowly, she didn't have appetite so she didn't eat much.
Afterward, she lay on her bed, arms folded beneath her head as she stared at the painted ceiling above. She closed her eyes, trying to recall the man from her dream, his face, but it was always hazy.
Could Leng Yue have dreamt the same dream? Has he suddenly develop supernatural powers like the vampires or witches in the story the emperor gave her. At a time she started talking to her self as Mei watched her in amazement. After a while of watching Yuyan, Mei approached her.
"My lady!. You seem to be overthinking. How about we take a walk in the garden
That always works for you. " Mei asked