As the time passed by Zhiyi woke up only to find Yan Cheng fall asleep beside her, the night was still dark and a little moment from her woke him up.
"Zhi Zhi, are you good?" His eyes stared at her with concern, to make sure she was okay.
"Yan Brother, I am good. Why are we in our home?"
"Let's talk about it later. You should rest now"
"No, it's our wedding night, how can I sleep?" she froze as she spoke.
Her face became as shy as a tomato, knowing what she had just said.
Her words made him shy but she turned him on "Its you who has started it"
An innocent smile appeared on her face which obviously knew what he meant. His lips teased her with his gentle touch and she couldn't resist but kiss him back.
Both of them kiss very passionately and Zhiyi's hands touch his bare chest feeling his heat.
"Zhi Zhi, let's do it another day. I promise I won't hold back" He says as her touch starts to make him irresistible.
He then covers her with the blanket gently and Zhiyi is embraced in his arms.
Both sleep peacefully while someone has been kneeling the entire night praying for her love's safe return.
It's only a few minutes before the sunrise and both families were heartbroken at not seeing Yang Jin.
Just then Yang Jin returned in triumph with the Moon flower in his hand but his face was still sad and his body was covered in bruises.
He then kneels beside Shu tang in front of the Moon Goddess and keeps the moon flower in her hand as if handing his life to her from now on.
The Old Priestess is shocked to see the moon flower in his hand. She has only seen it in the old paintings and it is even more majestic than that.
She understood something which made her head nod.
Shu Tang couldn't hold her tears anymore and hugged him in her arms and let her tears roll down.
Yang Jin hugged her back and consoled her by wiping her tears.
She smiles looking in his eyes and then turns back to offer the flower to the Goddess.
As she offers the flowers, the Sun starts to rise which makes them complete the ritual just in time.
"Clean them up and bring them back for the Wedding vows" the Old Priestess tells them in a cold tone. The Old priestess accepts their wedding.
Both families feel relieved and they rush back to their homes to arrange for the wedding.
They were so happy that they didn't notice the look on Yang Jin. His expression became pale.
As soon as they left her expression changes instantly, panicking, she is looking for something among the scrolls in the temple's study.
"Eldest Priestess, how can you forgive them so easily for their sin?" her disciple asked cautiously, a mix of doubt and respect in her voice.
"Are you sure it's truly the Moon Flower? What if he's just brought some wildflowers to deceive us?"
The priestess's eyes darkened with seriousness, her voice heavy with concern.
"No — something grave has disturbed the balance. The Moon Flower's appearance is a warning, a sign that this unrest must be resolved. It would never bloom here unless there was a pressing need."
Her face looked scared as if something had happened and she discovered a scroll. After looking at the scroll, the revelation made her lose her grip.
Her Disciple picked up only to get shocked on what had been written in the scroll about the Moon Flower.
***
As the sun rose, the Queen's palace lay in ruins, consumed entirely by flames. Only her jewels remained untouched—among them, the emerald necklace gifted by the late King.
It gleamed with an eerie light, as if something unseen yet powerful dwelled within it.
****
10 years ago.
It is the 35th year of The Great Han Dynasty and the current emperor Han Lei is ruling the Empire. He established the Han Dynasty when he was 28 years old and has ruled the kingdom in peace and prosperity.
Soon Vultures started to eye his throne as he had no heirs until the prince Han Jun was born when he was 46 years old. Han Jun is the only male heir of the emperor and is the youngest among his children.
Before he came of age the eldest daughter Han Yi Ying managed most of the palace affair.
She is married to the Duke Chu Yuan Zhou and had a child Chu Yi Chen who is also named as an heir and prince for the Han Kingdom to preserve the family line of succession as Han Jun is the only heir.
But in reality the Duke wanted to steal the throne and wanted to make his son the next King by removing Han Jun from his path.
He schemed with many palace officials to make his own son as the heir, in the name of preserving the royal blood line.
Han Jun is made the crown prince when he is 15 years old and Chu Yi Chen is 3 years younger than him and was made a prince after Han Jun is titled as crown prince.
Han Jun is a handsome prince who got his mothers beautiful appearance and his fathers martial arts which helped him in surviving the tyrannic palace deaths of the heirs.
His own sister Han Yiying hated him for being born as she can become the heir and the future Empress if at all he isn't born.
He never felt much love apart from his father who showed his love by making him learn martial arts for him to survive and one day rule the Han Dynasty.
It's just when he turned 17, many officials asked the king to let the crown prince marry their daughter and take them as consorts and concubines.
This stirred jealousy in Yichen who always felt Han Jun as a stepping stone in his path.
The Duke has arranged a Royal hunt after Han Jun's 18th birthday and tries to assassinate him during the hunt but their plan has failed.
Han Jun escaped their claws but got lost in the forest only to be found by a wild girl named Hua Yan.
Han Jun is injured with a knife wound in his abdomen while he fought the assassins and an arrow pierced on his back while he tried to escape them.
As he is unconscious a girl passing though the forest she saw an injured man in a golden black robe which made her realise his special identity.
As she approached him, she saw a young man who was unconscious with wounds. But in the midst of despair he looked very handsome to her.
"What a beautiful young lad, I have never seen someone so handsome" His handsome appearance caught her eyes and most importantly he seemed familiar, she took him back to her house to treat him.
She then gently removed his clothes to disinfect him, though he is young he trained very well and he got a good muscle build up which caught her attention even more.
She couldn't help but touch his chest gently feeling his muscles. Han Jun moans in pain as her hands touch his wounds. She then treats his wounds but couldn't help but look at him.
She looks at him as if she wants to have all of him. She then transfers some of her spiritual energy to treat his wounds faster.
The next day he woke up to find himself in a bed and a beautiful woman staying beside him waiting for him to get up.
As he woke up, she extended her hands to touch his face gently. She then brings him a bowl of medicine for him to drink.
After drinking he finds that his wounds from yesterday were almost healed which aroused suspicion in her identity.
"Thankyou for saving my life, can I know who you are young lady"
"I am a disciple of the Divine Medicine Sect and my name is Lu Hua Yan" she responds.
Her gentle voice and her beautiful appearance caught his eyes and he couldn't help but feel attracted to her.
He admired her appearance in his heart as he looked at her.
The Divine sect is a very powerful medical society filled with young women for more than a century and they rarely come out.
They hold a very powerful place among many dynasties as even the kings couldn't get them easily until they showed up themselves.
He feels indebted to her for saving his life " I am the crown prince of Han Dynasty and my name is Han Jun. I can give you anything to repay your kindness. Please feel free to ask anything you make like"
Though he doesn't want to let her go, he is still indebted to her which he needs to pay.
"Han Jun, It's a nice name just like your handsome face" she smiled as she heard his name.
She couldn't help but stare him into his eyes, her gaze filled with affection and more importantly admiration.
"Then I won't be polite to your highness, marry me and take me as your Noble Consort"