Xiu Juan got up before sunrise to go fishing with the Liang and Wong family. Inside the boat with Mrs. Liang, Mrs. Wong, Luli and her mother, Xiu Juan spread out the net across her arm and tossed it out into the water. Whenever she pulled it up, she got an abundance of fish.

“You’re good at that!” Mrs. Liang, surprised, complimented on her skill of fishing.

“Thank you,” Xiu Juan smiled, “I used to do this all the time with my brother and Ying-tai.”

When dawn approached, Xiu Juan gazed at the sunlight that leaked through the clouds behind the mountains as she rolled up the fishnet from the water. The beam of the sun poured down the hills and onto the rice fields. Soon the light touched the waters and everything else in Qin. Xiu Juan’s daze was interrupted by Luli’s shriek when a fish smacked her hand.

“I can’t get it out of the net,” she squealed, “the fin is caught on it!”

Xiu Juan turned around and spit out a laugh at the sight of her face. She got up and headed toward Luli and grabbed the net from her hands. When she laid her eyes on the fish, she gasped when she found it was a goldfish.

“Luli, how did you manage to catch this little guy?” Xiu Juan asked as she uncoiled the net around the gold fish. “He’s a pretty little one.” She looked at the fish that was fighting to get back into the water when she untangled it from the net and had it cupped inside her hand. “Here. Run home, buddy. Be free,” She softly said as she lowered her hand gently into the water until it was submerged. The little gold fish swam in a circle twice before descending.

“Did you know it’s lucky to catch a gold fish?” Luli’s mother commented.

“I did not,” Xiu Juan said while she smiled as the fish swam away.

“Ah, it’s only a superstition,” Mrs. Liang said.

Xiu Juan patted her wet hands on her garment and bent down to pick up her fishnet. “Hmm, lucky indeed. Lucky for him.”

A few boats drifted nearby and they hollered toward them.

“Ying-tai has returned home!” They announced eagerly to each other.

Mrs. Liang and Mrs. Wong greeted a couple families as they floated by.

“Ying-tai has returned!” They shouted happily to them.

“Great to hear!” Mrs. Liang, Mrs. Wong, and Luli’s mother replied.

Some young women on other boats giggled when they heard the news and whispered excitedly to each other.

“Ying-tai is home! We should hurry back and go see him!” They said.

“They said he is on his way visiting the village!” One squealed.

“Who said? And for what reason?” Another chirped.

“A woman?” One teased and they all giggled. While they drifted to the docks, Xiu Juan listened to them sing happily back to land to see the hero of Qin.

“Xiu Juan,” Luli started.

“Yes, I’ve heard. He’s back. He’s probably here on business.”

The older ladies looked at each other and then smiled.

“Well, it’s about time we head back,” they said.

“So soon?” Xiu Juan asked.

“Just in time actually,” Luli’s mother said as she was getting everything in place, “We have to open our market soon.”

Xiu Juan nodded and exhaled heavily. Still not fully recovered, she closed her eyes and placed her cold hands on her head to soothe the dizziness.

“Xiu Juan, are you okay?” Luli asked as she put her hand on her shoulders.

“You don’t look well at all, child. You need to rest when we return,” Mrs. Wong ordered motherly.

“I’m okay. The chill is just getting to me,” Xiu Juan said.

“You are pale. I will make you some soup and herbal medicine when we get back home,” Luli’s mother insisted.

“Oh, no. Don’t bother, please,” Xiu Juan pleaded.

“You won’t be able to stop Mother when her mind is made up. It’s best to just go along with it,” Luli informed Xiu Juan.

Bo, Luli’s father, and the men of the Wong and Liang family rowed their boat by them and waved their hands at them. The ladies waved back and followed them back to the docks. When they arrived, mostly everyone was already there and unloading their boats.

“Thank you for helping us so early in the morning to gather fish for our market!” Mrs. Liang and Mrs. Wong thanked Luli’s family and Xiu Juan.

Mrs. Wong and Mrs. Liang turned to Xiu Juan and handed her a sack containing a few fish she caught that morning.

“Here, princess. It was such a blessing to have you go on a fishing trip like this with us commoners. Sorry we can’t give you anything in return, but here are a few fish for you to take so you can have a wonderful stew with them,” Mrs. Wong said as she and Mrs. Liang bowed to her.

“Please,” Xiu Juan smiled, “don’t thank me. I had the most wonderful time with you. I look forward to doing it again.”

“You coming with us this time had brought us luck! Thank you!” Mrs. Liang beamed as she placed the sack into Xiu Juan’s hand.

Unloading their stuff onto the pier, they heard a commotion coming from the opposite end. A lot of men and women were gathering at one spot and chattering. Xiu Juan and the others looked over to see Ying-tai standing before the people. Trying to hold her composure, Xiu Juan looked away and continued to unload the boat.

“Princess, we got it from here,” Mrs. Wong said.

Xiu Juan shook her head, “No, I insist.”

They could hear girls giggling as they flirted with Ying-tai and Xia. Huian noticed Xiu Juan and turned to Ying-tai to point her out to him, not knowing he already had his eyes on her since the moment she arrived at the pier. Ying-tai nodded and turned his eyes to the young ladies in front of him.

“Excuse me ladies, but I’m afraid I will have to part from you now,” he smiled and bowed his head. They all sighed and pouted and watched him walk toward the pier.

“Ah! Lord Ying-tai is heading this way!” Luli exclaimed.

Xiu Juan, in her commoner’s clothing, widened her eyes and turned her face around.

“Don’t tell him I’m here!” She turned, flustered. Bo and Luli walked in front of her and covered her. Luli’s mother, Mrs. Wong, and Mrs. Liang smiled and shook their heads. When Ying-tai arrived, he greeted them and they lowly bowed to him. He turned to Luli.

“Hello, Luli. How have you been?” Ying-tai smiled warmly.

“Oh, me? I-I’m doing very well! Just, you know, visiting family,” she stammered, blushing from his warm gaze.

“Ah, I see,” he nodded as he glanced over to her parents. He looked behind her, “Princess Xiu Juan did not come here?”

“No, she did not,” Bo butted in.

Ying-tai turned his eyes and fixed it on him. Luli quickly chimed in to cover him up.

“I’m sorry, Lord Ying-tai. Excuse his manners. He is new. He just recently started working as Princess’s servant.”

“Oh,” Ying-tai nodded his head, his eyes still glued on to him. “Bo, was it?”

Bo, surprised Ying-tai knew his name, raised his eyebrows. “Yes. And who are you exactly?” He growled.

“Hey, that’s not how you speak to Lord Ying-tai,” Xia jumped in aggressively.

Ying-tai stopped Xia and smiled at Bo’s unawareness. He walked up closer to him and spoke in a low voice, “I am the ‘friend’ Princess Xiu Juan came to help change your life.”

Bo’s eyes widened and he gaped at the man Xiu Juan praised of so often.

“You’re THE Ying-tai,” Bo exhaled.

“Ah, good! We all know each other!” Ying-tai’s face lit up. While everybody laughed the tension off, Ying-tai discreetly glared into Bo’s eyes, “Just to be clear, I don’t know whether or not you should be trusted yet. So, though I may have been the one to grant you a new life, if you ever hurt Xiu Juan I will kill you.”

Bo glared back, “Lord Ying-tai, just to be clear, I am indebted to Princess Xiu Juan. Therefore, I owe her my life. So if you ever hurt her, I will not let you off easily.”

Luli noticed the awkward situation and broke it up. “Okay boys, that’s enough,” she laughed nervously.

Ying-tai stepped back and Huian asked Luli and Bo, “Luli, Bo, where is the princess?”

Luli stuttered, “I-I don’t know.”

Huian furrowed his brows lightly, “Why would you lie to me, Luli? I’m not stupid.”

Luli’s shoulders dropped and she was about to cry. “I didn’t mean it that way,” she pouted and turned to the side to reveal Xiu Juan only to find she had already long snuck off.

“She’s…NOT here?” Luli panicked.

“Luli! She was right behind you!” Bo pointed, also panicking.

Luli’s eyes welled up with tears, “Lord Ying-tai, don’t be mad! She was really right behind me! I-I don’t know where she left off to!”

While everyone was looking around, Ying-tai’s face was calm. “It’s fine. She probably just took off. She shouldn’t be far,” he consoled. “Huian, Xia, come with me,” he ordered as he bowed his head to the elders and quickly left. As he strode off quickly to find Xiu Juan, plenty of younger women looked at him and tried to greet him but with the lost princess on his mind he refused to let them stall him.

Xiu Juan was just about to step off the last wooden board of the long pier when she heard her name. She turned her head to the side and lifted her hand up to cover her face while trying to pick up her pace. Before she could make it any further, she felt a familiar touch grab her and turned her around. In her presence stood Ying-tai looking directly into her eyes, holding on to her tightly.

“Aya!” She whispered to herself as she shut her eyes tightly and shook her head, disappointed she didn’t make it away in time. She felt un-presentable in her state.

“Princess Xiu Juan,” he breathed her name out heavily, his heart pounding in exhilaration. Everyone turned to look when he said her name.

Xiu Juan’s cheeks turned warm looking at his face and at the thought of being close enough to breathe the same air as him. Ying-tai snapped out of his daze and quickly slipped his hands off her wrist. He bowed lowly to her.

“What are you doing here?” He asked when he raised his head.

“Fishing, duh. We are at the pier. I like to fish. You should know that,” Xiu Juan replied.

“No, I mean what are you doing out here, outside the palace?”

“I like it here. If you’re here to bring me back, I’m not going,” Xiu Juan huffed as she tried to walk away but Ying-tai stopped her.

“I’m not here to bring you back, Princess,” he said warmly.

Xiu Juan turned to look at him, confused. “Then why are you here if not for business? Is it for fish? I already have some here. You can make it for us later if you are so eager for fish,” she said as she threw him the sack. He caught it with one hand and passed the sack of fish to Xia, who sniffed at it, and continued to follow her.

He observed her clothes, “Where did you get those?”

“I borrowed it from Luli,” she said while walking.

“Why didn’t you tell anybody about your whereabouts?”

“I didn’t want people following me.”

“Everyone is worried. You could’ve at least told Ms Shu. Aren’t you afraid someone might try to harm you outside the walls?”

“I can defend myself,” Xiu Juan asserted, “And I will trust in my people until it happens.”

“Where are you going now?” Ying-tai asked as Xiu Juan approached her horse.

“Back to Luli’s parents’ home,” she answered while she adjusted the saddle on Shan. Xiu Juan then spun herself around, “Stop asking me questions!”

Ying-tai stepped back and gave her some space. He noticed she was breathing heavily and her movements were becoming weak.

“Princess, are you okay?” Ying-tai was concerned.

Xiu Juan sighed and leaned against her horse. “I’m fine. Why would you care?” She rolled her eyes.

Ying-tai approached her.

“Don’t touch me,” she snapped, glaring at him.

“What’s wrong with you?” Ying-tai sighed.

Xiu Juan returned to focus on her horse, ignoring his question. “Shouldn’t you be at the palace taking care of some business there?” She asked him.

“There’s nothing to be done at the moment,” Ying-tai replied, going along with her question.

“Oh, there’s much to be done. Especially now,” Xiu Juan corrected him. She grabbed the reins and started to walk off. Thinking about her brother made her bitter.

Ying-tai went up to her and grabbed her to stop her from moving forward. “I came to find you to see how you were holding up, Princess,” he said softly.

Xiu Juan clenched her jaw and tightened her grip on the reins. “Fine. Just fine,” she replied, her throat getting tight.

“I know why you’re here. That’s why I’m not yelling at you for sneaking out of the palace,” Ying-tai informed.

“Stop acting so nice to me, Ying-tai,” she said as she lowered her head.

“What do you mean?”

“Stop trying to be nice to me. All of your words of condolence won’t change the fact that you have hurt me. I only had one person who showed me true kindness,” her eyes welled up as she lifted her head to look at the sky, “and now he’s gone.” She turned her wet eyes to Ying-tai, “How could you possibly understand me?”

Ying-tai understood all too well but he did not respond.

“Where were you whenever we both needed you?” She glared at him. “How will I live inside those walls now that I have nobody to turn to? Ying-tai, I—I—“ She felt herself tire out and blacked out.

Ying-tai quickly grabbed her before she fully collapsed, “Princess!” He felt himself feel panic. Huian and Xia jumped forward as soon as they saw their Princess collapse. Ying-tai placed the back of his hand to her head. She was burning up. He swept her up into his arms and mounted her onto her white horse and climbed on right after. Luli, Bo, and everyone else saw what happened and also quickly ran toward them.

“Luli! Show me to your house now!” Ying-tai shouted, holding onto Xiu Juan in his arms tightly.

Luli nodded, shaking, and she and Bo mounted on to their horses to lead the way.

“Xia and I will follow you with Luli’s parents,” Huian said. Ying-tai nodded and whipped Shan who neighed and sprinted away.

At Luli’s parents’ home, Luli quickly prepared pots, water, and medicinal herbs while Bo prepared the fire. Ying-tai carried Xiu Juan in his arms and laid her down on the bed lightly. He carefully took off her outer coat and hung it to the side. Then with his hands, he gently brushed her hair strands from her face and looked at her tenderly.

“Luli,” he called, not taking his eyes off of Xiu Juan.

“Yes!” She blurted.

“How long was she sick?” He asked.

“Ummm, since after the funeral,” she answered.

“That long?” Ying-tai furrowed his brows. “Bring me a cold towel. Her body temperature needs to be stabilized,” he ordered.

Luli quickly found a clean towel and soaked it in the cold water. She scurried over to Ying-tai and handed it to him. He took it from her and dabbed the cold towel around Xiu Juan’s face and neck.

“Why do you push yourself so hard?” He whispered to her.

When Luli’s parents arrived with Huian and Xia, Luli’s mother quickly headed her way to Xiu Juan to tend to her. Ying-tai got up and removed himself out of the way while Luli’s mother stripped off Xiu Juan’s layers to cool her down and dabbed the cold towel down her back.

“I did not know she was this sick,” Luli’s mother sighed as she stroked Xiu Juan’s head softly. She laid her back down and pulled the blanket up to cover Xiu Juan. She then went to take over Luli and Bo with the medicine so they could prepare dinner for their guests.

Ying-tai knelt by the resting Xiu Juan and reminisced of the time he was sick and she took care of him till he fully recovered, only to leave her soon after. Ying-tai grew sad thinking of all she went through for him only to have him reject her in the end. He lowered his head, disappointed in himself.

Lulis’ mother came by and handed him a cup. “Here. Give this to Princess when she wakes up,” she said softly.

“Thank you, auntie,” Ying-tai thanked with a warm smile.

“Don’t worry. She will be fine. Come and sit by the table and eat with us. Luli just finished making dinner,” Luli’s mother told him.

“No, I’m not hungry. You guys go ahead and eat without me,” he replied.

“Are you sure?” Luli’s mother was concerned for them.

“Dear,” Luli’s father called to her mother. He looked at her, his eyes telling her to leave the two alone. Luli’s mother understood and made her way to join them.

Later that night, Xiu Juan finally woke up to the sound of laughter and clinking of cups. She moved to the side in an attempt to get herself up. Ying-tai heard and spun around to her.

“Princess!” His eyes lit up, “You’re finally up!”

“I’m thirsty,” she said in a weak voice.

“Ah, yes,” Ying-tai responded and gave her a cup of cold water. She drank the whole cup and handed it back to him. After placing the cup away, he pulled the blanket up to cover her. She was only in her undergarment.

“You should cover yourself,” Ying-tai said softly, looking away.

Realizing this, she quickly grasped the blankets and covered herself up.

“Thank you,” she muttered, her face glowing red. “How long was I out?”

“For a bit,” Ying-tai replied, his kind eyes fixed on her warmly.

Xiu Juan’s breathing heaved at his gaze. She quickly looked away. “Uh, can you hand me my robe?”

“Of course,” Ying-tai answered as he reached for her white robe. He turned away as she wrapped it around her. She fixed her hair and her posture before telling him to turn around again. When he turned, he remembered the cup of medicine and handed it to Xiu Juan.

“Auntie said for you to drink this when you wake up,” he informed. “I’ll grab you your soup in the meantime.”

Xiu Juan took the cup from him and he walked out. Luli later came in and sat by Xiu Juan.

“Xiu Juan! I was so scared! I thought my head was going to get cut off for being unaware of your health!”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. I’m fine now,” Xiu Juan laughed. “How did I get here anyway?” She wondered.

“Oh, Ying-tai took you here. He carried you onto your horse and rode his way here. He also carried you inside,” Luli responded.

“Ying-tai carried me?” Xiu Juan’s eyes widened.

“Yup! You should’ve seen your unconscious face!” Luli blurted out laughing, mimicking Xiu Juans’ unconscious face.

Xiu Juan frowned and punched Luli’s arm. “That’s not funny.”

“It kinda is,” Luli tried to hold in her laugh. “Ow. That hurt, though,” she pouted, rubbing her arm.

“Ah, you asked for it.” Xiu Juan crossed her arms.

“Hmmm well he did not leave your side,” Luli announced to her. Xiu Juan turned her eyes to Luli as she continued, “He wouldn’t eat or drink.”

“He didn’t? Since this morning?”

Luli nodded.

“That idiot,” Xiu Juan whispered to herself, though deep inside she was touched.

“But anyway, how are you feeling now?” Luli asked.

“My head is dizzy. Other than that, I’m better,” Xiu Juan answered.

Ying-tai walked in with a hot bowl of soup for Xiu Juan and placed it on the small stand by the bed.

“You need to eat to gather your strength back,” Ying-tai said as he sat down by her.

“Thank you,” Xiu Juan thanked softly as she extended her arms out to receive the bowl.

“No, allow me,” Ying-tai gently placed his hand on one of her arms. “It’s the least I can do after all you’ve done for me before,” he lowered his head.

Not saying a word, Xiu Juan lowered her arms and obliged. She watched him dip the spoon inside the bowl of hot rice porridge and blew on it to cool it down. Then he brought the spoon to her lips and she opened her mouth to receive it. This continued on quietly with Xiu Juan’s eyes following Ying-tai’s eyes that were avoiding hers. When the bowl emptied, Ying-tai gently wiped Xiu Juan’s face with his handkerchief.

“It’s nice to see you having a healthy appetite,” he smiled warmly.

“I just didn’t want that moment to end,” she replied.

Ying-tai looked at Xiu Juan when she said that and his eyes brightened. He got up to leave but she stopped him.

“Don’t leave,” she pleaded in a voice that was almost a whisper. “Luli will come and grab it.” In which Luli did.

“Luli,” Xiu Juan called, her eyes still on Ying-tai.

“Yes,” Luli answered.

“Please bring me Ying-tai’s dinner,” she ordered.

Luli smiled brightly, “Yes! I will bring it quickly!” She skipped away and left the two alone in the candle lit room.

“Sit,” Xiu Juan ordered Ying-tai and he obeyed.

“You didn’t have to bother Luli to do that,” he said.

“Actually, I did,” Xiu Juan said as she shifted herself in the bed. “You shouldn’t deprive yourself of things because of me. There is no need for that.”

“You don’t need to worry,” Ying-tai responded.

“But I do,” Xiu Juan replied. “I do, Ying-tai.”

“A princess like you should not be concerned about a mere soldier like myself,” Ying-tai said as he lowered his head.

“Ying-tai, you are more than a mere soldier. My father took you in and we loved you. Everyone loves you. Look around. You are more loved than my brother. You are the future of Qin. My father believed in you. I believe in you,” Xiu Juan expressed.

Ying-tai did not reply.

“Father was proud of you,” Xiu Juan said while tears built up in her eyes. “Now with his presence gone from me too, I don’t know who I will yearn for more.”

Ying-tai clenched his fists. “I miss him dearly,” he expressed.

Xiu Juan looked at him, wiping her tears.

“He gave me a second chance at life and I will never be able to repay him. He showed me a world well worth protecting. He showed me you,” he spoke softly as his eyes rose to meet Xiu Juan’s. They shimmered against the candlelight from the buildup of tears. “I wasn’t even there when he passed. Now I’ll never be able to show him my gratitude,” he sighed as his shoulders dropped.

Xiu Juan cried, “I don’t want to be alone, Ying-tai. I don’t show it, but I’m deathly afraid of what my brother will do next,” she wiped her tears with both of her hands as she wept, “I just feel so alone!”

Ying-tai got up from his seat and sat by Xiu Juan on the bed. He pulled her in and held her ever so tightly, his long white sleeves enveloping her.

“You are not alone, Xiu Juan. I will protect you. Whatever it takes, I will protect you with my life. I promise,” Ying-tai whispered to her as he closed his eyes and pressed his face against her neck and buried himself into her long hair.

Xiu Juan pushed herself against his chest and wept. She inhaled in his scent and immediately calmed down. Ying-tai pulled back and placed both of his hands on her cheeks and wiped away her tears. She raised her hands up and cupped his face and pressed her forehead against his. She rubbed her cheek against him while gripping onto his head. Subsequently, Ying-tai’s lips ran gently down her face as he cupped her face with his hand. He slid his hand down to her back and tugged at her robe, making it slip off her shoulders slightly. He placed his lips onto her soft skin at the nape of her neck and down to her shoulders and inhaled in her scent of plum blossoms. He stayed there, resting his head on her bare skin while Xiu Juan held him, combing her slender fingers through his long hair. She hummed to him lightly and he held her tighter, never wanting to let go of her and return to any battlefield.

When Luli came back with a tray of food and knocked on the doorway, they invited her in. After she placed out the dishes and left, Xiu Juan grabbed the chopsticks from Ying-tai’s hand.

“Please, allow me,” she smiled warmly. She sat by the edge of her bed and leaned over to grab the bowl of rice. She placed the side dishes inside the rice bowl with the utensil she had in her hand and offered pieces to Ying-tai. He accepted it blissfully.

After the meal, they quietly drank tea while Xiu Juan sang softly. Ying-tai fondly gazed at her face that the candlelight warmly glowed against, and her long, dark hair that hung over her shoulders carelessly. His heart was about to burst from the affection he had toward her.

Ying-tai placed his cup down and Xiu Juan turned to look at him. His kind eyes interlocked into hers.

“May this kettle of tea never empty,” he prayed, “that way I could keep this moment forever.”

Xiu Juan smiled at Ying-tai who returned her very own words to her. In bliss, she began to sing.

Oh thee dear willow tree, Oh dear willow tree

Your branches sway in harmony with my heart

Whether in sorrow or delight it may be

Our thoughts never seem to differ much apart

In the breeze, you softly reach to stroke my cheek

As I tell you of my love with my sataer

But oh dear willow tree, why do you weep?

“A true god given speaker of hearts you are,

But there’s one thing you are blind to that I see.

A man, a man! He weeps by this cold stone yard!

And thy name is which his lips so dearly speak!”