The bird's melodious voices on a beautiful spring morning never failed to hit the perfect note. To complement the enchantment brought by the avian song, the breeze felt tranquil, pleasant and invigorating. But then no matter how beautiful the nature's deity tried to paint today's spring morning, in the Yan's dining table, it had only been deemed an abominable irony.

The only audible sound, aside that of the birds', where the hiss brought by the dancing lanterns on the ceiling outside the windows. As what had always been, just like in a stringent military formation, Unit Commander Yan Bao Rong and his daughter ate their breakfast in rigid silence.

During the entire duration of the meal, Yan Mei Ling had eaten with her head slightly bowed down, like she was avoiding looking straight to her father. Her thoughts, at that moment, were occupied; her dilemma was difficult but then she had her resolution - and the latter weighed more than the former.

She slowly lifted her head to finally stare at her father but the moment she did, she only felt dwarfed by the sheer authority she sensed in him as the imposing ornately-decorated heavy armor he wore above his long-sleeved black silk robe. The empire's dragon dynastic emblem carved on the armor looked as powerful as he was. Yan Mei Ling started to feel her resolution waning faster than she thought deeply about it yesterday - doubts and fears had loosened her resolve.

The Unit Commander stiffly excused him self from the table and stood.

"Bà," she softly called him before he turned his back.

The Unit Commander remained standing in his place to look at his daughter. He merely regarded her with an impassive stare.

"Uhm," Yan Mei Ling awkwardly faltered but then she must say what she wanted to say. "May I come along with you on your way to the Imperial Palace? I need to visit Li Lei Shuang."

The Unit Commander remained silent as he continued staring at his daughter stolidly. "I will not come back home tonight. I will not be able to accompany you back here."

"Yeng can go with us," Yan Mei Ling suggested - desperation was evident in her voice.

The Unit Commander remained unmoved and started to turn his back.

"Bà, please," she called again. "If you won't come back tonight, then please allow me to stay at the Imperial palace. Surely, I will be safe there."

At Yan Mei Ling's last words, her father faced her again and said, "Yes, you can go with me."

Yan Mei Ling felt extremely ecstatic with her father's consent that it took a lot of her strong will to control the urge to hug her father but then she managed to say, "Thank you, bà."

°°°°°

"Oh, Yan Mei Ling, I am so happy to see you!" Li Lei Shuang exclaimed delightedly the moment Yan Mei Ling entered her room. She rushed to embrace her best friend. "I was so worried about you. How the thought of you being ill had distressed me so much, and it pained me that I was not there to take care of you. But I am so happy that you are here - I miss you so much, Yan Mei Ling."

Yan Mei Ling went rigid with what her best friend said to her. She felt guilty for ignoring Lei Shuang. The truth was she did not want to stay away from her best friend but then her feelings had plagued her so much. She was in denial from the time that she realized the extent of her feelings, and thought at first that staying away would purge whatever she felt but, unfortunately, it did not. In the same way that her feelings intensified, her guilt had escalated.

After a moment of rigidity, Yan Mei Ling returned Li Lei Shuang's embrace - trying to fight the awkwardness that threatened to swallow her being. Surely, this cannot be wrong when being in her arms feels so right?

"I am very sorry, Li Lei Shuang," Yan Mei Ling said remorsefully when she tore herself from her best friend's embrace. "I was ill and I don't want you to be afflicted with it." She lied and even pinched her nose for added emphasis. "But now, I feel perfectly fine. I.. I miss you too."

"I'm happy to hear that," Li Lei Shuang beamed.

Yan Mei Ling smiled back and could not help but notice how utterly beautiful Li Lei Shuang was. Her best friend was majestic and beautiful beyond any words. Her best friend was also good and kind. But no matter how great the extent of her feelings for Lei Shuang was, she knew only too well that the love she felt could be reciprocated in a way that a friend would to her friend.

She could love her best friend but only in silence for she would never have the guts to tell Li Lei Shuang the depth of her feelings - such feelings were unheard of. She was afraid that her best friend might alienate herself from her. It would certainly kill her if Li Lei Shuang would spurn their friendship.

Yes, that was it. Love Li Lei Shuang in silence would be the most sensible thing to do. At least, despite the unrequited love, she still had a consolation - Li Lei Shuang's friendly affection.

"Oh, I truly miss you, Yan Mei Ling." Li Lei Shuang said and embraced her best friend again as if she was afraid of letting her go.

Yan Mei Ling's heart fluctuated nervously that she was afraid that Li Lei Shuang might hear the thumping inside her chest. She almost tore herself from her best friend's embrace again but when she felt something hot and wet soaked through the silk on her shoulder, she she tightened her arms around Li Lei Shuang.

"Please remain in my arms, Yan Mei Ling. I am very lonely."

"Is there something wrong, Li Lei Shuang?" Yan Mei Ling asked in wonderment.

Li Lei Shuang remained silent but the tears from her eyes never ceased from falling.

Yan Mei Ling reluctantly removed herself from her best friend's embrace after a moment. She stared at her best friend and saw the great sadness that was lingering in them - a sadness that she could not decipher the cause of; a sadness that curiously made her feel guilty.

"Was my absence for a few days the reason why you are crying, Li Lei Shuang? If so, I am really sorry. I will never leave you even if I am ill."

"No, it is not the reason, Yan Mei Ling."

Yan Mei Ling stared at her best friend trying to figure out the reason behind her best friend's sadness. Her heart clenched painfully when, apparently, she did not know at all. She felt utterly helpless to comfort her best friend.

For years, Li Lei Shuang had been the one who always guided and lectured her. Her beloved best friend was always the one who was there whenever she felt sad, and even consented to her childish follies despite the fact that her best friend did not always agree with all of them.

Li Lei Shuang was her happiness. But now that the tears in her best friend's eyes were dimming the happiness she had always seen in them, it was her turn to make Li Lei Shuang happy.

"Please stop crying, Li Lei Shuang. I will never leave you even if all of the black strands from my hair would turn snowy white." Yan Mei Ling said lightheartedly.

"I love you so much, Yan Mei Ling, but you must know that not at all times that we are going to be together. But if I will be granted with just one wish, I want to be with you forever."

Yan Mei Ling was confused with Li Lei Shuang's words. Suddenly, she felt a sense of foreboding - as if those words were another way of telling her farewell.

"Of course, I love you, Li Lei Shuang!" Yan Mei Ling blurted out. When she realized what she had just said, her heart shuddered guiltily that she looked at her best friend, expecting for a look of condemnation. When she saw none, she continued, "I mean, yes, I truly love you, Lei Shuang - you are my dearest friend. If you are happy, I am happy. If you are sad, I will also feel sad. So, tell me the reason why you are crying, we will try to sort that out together so that you won't cry anymore."

Li Lei Shuang was touched by what Mei Ling said that she took her best friend's face between her palms and tenderly kissed her best friend on the forehead.

Yan Mei Ling almost leapt at Lei Shuang's gesture but then she knew that it would only be foolish. Li Lei Shuang kissing her on the forehead had never been unusual for that was her best friend's gesture of affection for her. Reacting differently would only give birth to suspicions. But everything is different now.

"The Hsien clan plans to attack my father's empire." Lei Shuang finally said - her voice was full of agony and fear. Her eyes were greatly swollen from the tears that were destined to perpetually flow.

"Didn't the Hsien clan come to the Imperial palace banquet several weeks ago to discuss about a peaceful alliance between your father's empire and theirs?" Yan Mei Ling asked; she was enraged by what she heard. "Now, my instinct about those ugly pigs was right - they could never be trusted."

"It is not the only reason, Yan Mei Ling." Li Lei Shuang sobbed brokenly. "Oh, I never felt so strangled and helpless in my entire life."

"What is the other reason?"

"Lord Hsein Mao Dong, the head of the Hsein clan, won't push through with the war if I consent to be his wife."

Yan Mei Ling entire body froze. If Lei Shuang would marry the old pig, then he could be next to the Emperor or, worst, become the next emperor. And what had become of the places that he ruled? Chaos and fear ruled! No, it could not be! Something came to Yan Mei Ling that made her want to kill Lord Hsein Mao Dong - was this what they call blood lust? She would never let that ugly pig have her best friend. She would rather have a war to take place.

A memory of the Hsien clan's visit came to Yan Mei Ling:

'His most radiant Son of Heaven has such a splendid empire,' Lord Hsein Mao Dong said meaningfully to the emperor then he turned his avid gaze to Lei Shuang. His eyes were looking at her with longing. 'And an equally exquisite daughter'

Now, everything was clear to Yan Mei Ling. The way Lord Hsien Mao Dong looked at Lei Shuang only mirrored his avarice to possess the empire. The thought was unthinkable and obscene - he was an extremely lecherous pig!

"What did Son of Heaven say about Lord Hsein Mao Dong's demand, Li Lei Shuang?"

"My father said that he would rather have a war to take place than give me to Lord Hsien Mao Dong." Lei Shuang sobbed brokenly. "Oh, Yan Mei Ling, I am so afraid. You know that I hate war, the violence it brings, and the lost of innocent lives as a result of it." The tears from her eyes never waned. It was as if that all hopes had been pointed out and ended up as nothing. "I don't want the war to happen especially if there is a way to prevent it. If I have to marry Lord Hsien Mao Dong for the peace of the empire, then I will even if it means compelling myself to a lifetime of misery."

Upon hearing Li Lei Shuang's decision, Yan Mei Ling's stomach reeled that she felt sputtering with disgust. This was too much. No, this was utter insanity. Seeing her best friend being married to the devil himself was disgusting beyond any words.

"Peace?" Yan Mei Ling asked in furious incredulity because she could not help it. "Do you want me to enlighten you once again as what happen to the places that the Hsien clan ruled? There is no peace there - only fear and cruelty! Do you want it to happen to your father's empire; to your people?"

"Yan Mei Ling it was the -"

"No, I will not allow you!" Yan Mei Ling shouted angrily interrupting whatever Lei Shuang was about to say. "Do not do it, Li Lei Shuang," she whimpered softly as if she was exhausted from extreme desolation. "Do not do it. I beg you, Li Lei Shuang. If a war will take place, then so be it. You are far too precious to wed that morbid swine. Oh, you are so special to me. Please do not."

Li Lei Shuang embraced her crying best friend, comforting her. "I love you so much, my dearest friend, but I could not always think of my own welfare - that would be selfishness on my part. I have a duty, and my duty is to protect the empire and its people."

"You are not being selfish by not consenting to marry that vile swine." Yan Mei Ling cried in explanation. Her heart was breaking, breaking into fine pieces. "I told you: if you marry that pig, fear and cruelty will surely reign. Listen and try to understand what I am telling you; marrying him will only hasten up the degradation of the empire! Please trust in Son of Heaven's army, they will win. Fear not of violence, for being married to Lord Hsien Mao Dong is worst than the most lurid violence. Fear no more, I will never leave you; I will protect you. You can always count on me."