For The Time Being....

Crown Prince Ye Hua returned from his slumber. He reunited with his beloved Qian Qian and their son Ali.

"Are you back Ye Hua, am I not dreaming?" Qian Qian asked

"Qian Qian I'm finally here standing in front of you, touching your beautiful face, we are together and this time forever." Yehua was wiping Qian Qian tears from her face. She was scared that it was another of her dreams. She was hoping this time it was for real.

Seeing her doubting about his return, Ye Hua kissed her passionately until she was out of breath.

Qian Qian break the kiss and touched Ye Hua's face staring at his beautiful dark brown eyes. They embraced each other gazing each other with love and adoration.

Ali was happy that his parents were finally reunited.

Crown Prince Ye Hua return news reached all realms. Everyone was thrilled to know that the Crown Prince will soon marry his beloved Qian Qian. The wedding edict was proclaimed, and preparations soon followed. This was going to be the event of the century. The Qing Qui region was honored. Everyone wanted to honor their former queen. They offered everything that was needed to the Bai family as a gesture of their way of blessing the heavenly couple.

While wedding preparations started, another important event was taking place in Qing Qui...

Coronation Day

Feng Jiu was pleased that her coronation ended. But she was battling internally to endure the big banquet that was organized after. She was not in the mood to socialize with no one. Her coronation was a huge event, the Bai Clan extended an open invitation, so all the realms were welcome to attend. Bai Zhi and Bai Yi were so proud to showcase Qing Qui's beauty, of course the most precious of all was their new queen, Bai Feng Jiu. Her beauty was the center of all male immortals of all ages and status. She was showered with gifts, attention, admiration. Everyone seem to be having a good time, but Feng Jiu was looking for a familiar face in the crowd to escape the group of young immortals competing for her attention. They were taking turns to talk to her, to attend her needs, the sight was just pitiful. She reminded herself that she needed to be polite now that her status was of a queen. So, she tried to act queenly enough for everyone.

Her grandfather and father were happily watching from a distance to glance a list of potential suitors. Zhe Yan could not help to notice Feng Jiu anxious face. He knew her so well, he smiled at her and she pouted as signal for him to help her get out of this situation. She was a beautiful young woman, but she always acted like a spoiled little girl, he dearly loved her. She knew how to get out of almost every situation. Her family could not deny her anything. Everyone dotted her. Feng Jiu knew how to use her tricks to induce her will over everybody. Unfortunately, tonight was not her lucky night.

"Please great uncle Zhe Yan, do something, help me!" She telepathically begged him.

"Now, now Xiao Jiu, you know the drill, just play it nice, it will be over soon" Zhe Yan replied, while chuckling and turning away from her.

Feng Jiu was getting annoyed with all the attention she was getting, deep down she suspects that her father hand is at play to get her involved with a potential suitor. That really infuriated her. Enough was enough. Knowing that nobody will come to her rescue, she abruptly announced that she was not feeling well, and then she proceeded to walk out of the great hall. She hardly could contain her tears; her emotions were out of control. She decided that she needed a break from all and everyone.

Her family stayed behind and were staggered at her demeanor but at the same time they worried about her but decided to let her be in the meantime and continue with the festivities. The Bai Clan cared too much about reputation. For them reputation was key to gain powerful political alliances. Her father made a mental note to talk to her about her behavior, she needed to act more like a queen and a ruler so he and his father Bai Zhi came up with an idea to send her to training to enhance her cultivation. She had not ascended yet; they were worried that she will get stuck at her current level. They did not raise their women to be feeble girls. The Bai women were beautiful, confident, strong, capable, and very independent. They were adamant to transform Feng Jiu into the ideal ruler for Qing Qui.

Feng Jiu locked herself in her room; and was glad that she was by herself. She was at the brim of losing her temper, something that she could not afford to do.

"Finally, some peace and quiet." She said, while taking her crown and shoes off and throwing herself to her bed.

Although it was noiseless in her room and that was what she desires, her mind had many thoughts and many emotions that she was not able to express in front of others. She automatically started to change her clothes and while she was doing that, her mind drifted away. While she was removing her makeup, Feng Jiu saw her reflection in her vanity mirror. She took off the mask of someone that she was not ready to be. She was thinking about the heaviness of responsibility that was bestowed upon her shoulders once the crown was placed on her head. All of Qing Qui people now depended on her, she was their new queen. She needed to mature and live up to the expectation of a ruler's life. Those were big shoes to fill. She sadly stared at her crown.

It was nighttime and she loves to see the stars. Tonight, was a starry night. A cool breeze was coming in thru her room window, she closed her eyes and inhaled the fragrances that the wind carried. Her fox senses sharpened. Her nose was able to identify a small hint of white sandalwood fragrance from the distance, with her eyes closed Feng Jiu remembered the time that Dijun told her that he would have liked her if he did not removed his name from that stupid rock. She touched her birthmark; she could still feel his cool touch against her skin. She opened her mind eye to seal this scene in her memory bank. Feng Jiu was determined not to forget the time she spent with her beloved Dong Hua Dijun. She would love him even from a distance, no matter how cruel time will pass. Her love for him was deep as all the oceans in all realms. She yearns for him so much, her heart aches at the thought that they are apart and cannot be together. Feng Jiu starts to verbalize what came to her mind:

What is Love?

Love is to make special memories of moments you love to recall; of all the good things that sharing life brings. I do not know what it is about you that closes and opens; only something in me understands the voice of your black eyes is deeper than all roses nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands. I am not yours, not lost in you, not lost, although I long to be lost as a candle lit at noon, lost as a snowflake in the sea. You love me, and I find you still a spirit beautiful and bright, yet I am I, who long to be lost as a light is lost in light. Oh, plunge me deep in love—put out my senses, leave me deaf and blind, swept by the tempest of your love, a taper in a rushing wind. Love is the greatest of all.

What is Fate?

Fate followed our foreseen immutable road. Immortals' hopes and longings build the journeying wheels. That bear the bodies of our destiny and lead our blind will towards an unknown goal. Fate within that shapes our acts and rules. Its face and form already are born, its parentage is in our secret souls: Here matter seems to mold our bodies' lives and the soul follows where its nature drives. Love and Fate compel our free-will's choice. But greater spirits this balance can reverse' and make the soul the artist of its fate. This is the mystic truth our ignorance hides.

"Si Ming was right" She said, "he knew how deep I fell for Dijun." Feng Jiu snorted and sadly smiled. Feng Jiu took out the small wooden box from a drawer that contain the bells and the arrowhead. She looked at them and sighed. Tears formed from her eyes. It was a sour memory. That memory will too be in her memory bank forever. It was from their time in the mortal realm when they were together as husband and wife. She will always treasure those intimate moments that were gifted to her. There is no other man that she could love.

"You promised me that you will not forget about our time together, but I guess it was another lie. You turned around and returned these to me. How could you be so cruel? I gave you the most precious thing that I possessed and yet it was not enough."

Feng Jiu at this point was bawling. Her heart was in so much pain, she could feel a sharp pain in her chest like her heart was being stabbed. "I guess this is what it feels to be broken hearted" she said while holding her chest in pain, "then I welcome it in full throttle."

In Tai Chen Palace

Dijun was restless, he was having some type of dream, he saw himself holding a baby girl in his arms. She was attentively staring and giggling at him. She felt so at ease in his arms. It was the most adorable creature that he ever held before. She had dark brown hair and big brown doe eyes; her rosy skin made a gorgeous contrast with a rare birthmark on her forehead. She was heavenly. Her tiny hands grabbed a chunk of his silvery white hair, while he was talking to her. It was the most endearing thing. He felt a special bond when she grabbed a chunk of his hair and saw himself sweetly smiling at her, he lost himself in her beautiful eyes. He had never felt like this before. She was making baby noises like if she was responding to him. He felt a sense of peace with her, he wanted to protect her with his life. He could stay with her forever like this. Then suddenly the baby disappeared from his arms, he desperately searched and searched for her and was unable to find her. Darkness encircled him and something came and attacked him.

Dijun suddenly woke up. This recurring dream felt more like a memory, it felt so real. He was sweating and his chest was hurting so bad to the point of being stabbed. He could not understand what was going on with him. He felt sad, hurt, hopeless. He was trying to identify all the conflicting feelings; to understand why he was having the same dream over and over. Dijun closed his eyes and tried to enter into restorative meditation. He was starting to lose control of his emotions. He sensed that something was wrong with him but could not pinpoint what was it.

Then suddenly a soft breeze came thru his bedroom window that he left semi open, he deeply inhaled the faint fragrance of peach blossom and heard Feng Jiu's faint voice calling out to him: "Dijun."

"Jiu'er?" he responded. "Jiu'er?" he waited for her response, but everything went silent. He sighed again and placed his hand in his chest.

It has been 300 years since the last time he saw her. He was trying so hard to bury his feelings. Her face, her hair, her smile, her innocence, her boldness, her scent. He could not forgive himself for sending her away the way he did. That day it took almost all his will to not lose control to embrace and kiss her. In his long existence nobody made him lose control like she did. He was wrapped on her tiny finger, and she was unaware of how much power she had on him and his will. Insanity was creeping in, he felt it.

He conjured a small silver mirror in his hand and automatically his mind sensed his Jiu'er, her image came to his mirror. He did not like what he was seeing. Feng Jiu was crying alone in her bedroom. Her hand was holding her chest. She looked like she has been crying for a while. Dijun was outraged with himself. He was battling the urge to go and see her to comfort her. His Jiu'er was hurting so bad. Her eyes were red and swollen, she was holding the bells and the arrowhead, then he realized the reason for her pain. Her tears were being shed because of him. It hurt him to know that she was hurting so much.

"How long has it been, and she stills has me in her heart?" Dijun thought. He could not believe that she was still holding on to him. He did not deserve her love. He could not let her be in this condition. But at the same time, he could not give her false hopes. If he appeared again in her life, he could not guarantee his control over his feelings and emotions. He could not afford to lose control. He realized that he needed to be strong, so he put the mirror away and concentrated in meditation instead.

"Jiu'er, I'm so sorry, please forgive me."