**

"You useless slave! Don't think I won't dare to beat you to death. Your life is less than dust in front of her Highness."

Sakura bit her lip shut, her eyes ablaze with firm loyalty, ignoring the stinging pain on her cheek.

Watching the fire burning in the 8th prince TianZheng's courtyard where her mistress had ran off to. Even though her heart thumped with worry, she would not betray her mistress.

"There! Follow her! Get her back here no matter what!"

A captain ordered as they chased after the lady on horseback. Her small figure grasped tightly onto the horse as they galloped as fast as the wind from the back of the burning courtyard.

Watching the men scramble and chase, the Royal Consort* Fu returned to her palace with her entourage of lady-in-waiting and eunuchs. The foreign maid bounded and gagged in tow.

'Hmp! If they failed to catch her, at least this maid could be the scapegoat.'

Sitting atop her lounge chair, Royal Concubine Fu's sneered,

'the palace is so wide and guarded. One measly girl can't possibly escape.'

Her deep thought was broken by a familiar voice.

"Send the maid to the prison!"

A rough guard obeyed and came forward, proceeding to drag the foreign maid out.

"Son, what are you doing? If she escapes who will take the blame?"

A condescending smirk appeared on the 6th Prince JunZhan's face.

A handsome visage with fair skin and thick eyebrows. His eyes a deep brown that burned with desire for power. Clasping his hands behind his back as he elegantly made his way towards his mother.

"What's important is that we catch that woman. Without a doubt, our plan will succeed, mother has no need to worry."

Turning to her son, a cunning smile curled upon her face, the royal consort Fu asked with a hush tone, leaning closer to her son.

"Is it done?"

6th Prince JunZhan, nodded his head, a evil smile appearing on his face.

"I've confirmed it myself. He died cold as ice. Truly that poison is one of a kind."

Junzhan licked his lip as he thought back to how the 8th prince clawed at his throat. How the blood curdled in his eyes and fell red stream of tears. Choking and gasping until he fell cold to the floor. His skin a purplish hue as though tainted by vile disease.

His brother had always won him in every aspect. To see him fall like that satisfied his rage and jealousy. Unable to hold back the wide smirk on his face, he turned to meet his mother's eyes.

"Father Emperor has no choice but to let me succeed him now."

Just imagining the glory and power he can attain. Even now he could already hear the shouts of his people calling his name. A line of women in his inner palace all reserved for him. Who wouldnt need to bow before him.

But as he smirked to himself, his mind drifted to a certain lady they were racing to capture. He wanted her for himself.

'Mei...Han...Yu...'

Just the thought of her name could send him shivers, the swish of her hair as she walk, the smell of her fragrance as though her body made out of flowers. Skin as white as snow and elegant figure with curves that show and the supple red cherry lips that takes his breath away with every song or poem recited.

The lady whose destiny was foretold by the wise prophet to have a Phoenix's Blessing. So much so that his Father Emperor who had a strong belief in fate and destiny decided to get on her good side and gave her a blank edict. To which she wrote that she has the right to chose her own partner.

But she chose him*. Now that he's dead she could belong to him.

"Reporting, the Lady Mei HanYu has been captured."

Prince JunZhan perked up a sly smile on his face. Before his mother could speak up, he stood up and left leaving her the few words,

" I'll deal with this. Mother don't interfere, this woman will be mine. We can just blame the incident of assassin's that disappeared into the night. "

------

In a prison cell cramped with straws and mud. The two woman huddled together. Covered in blood and scars, dirty from mud.

"My lady, are you ok? "

Sakura whispered, trying not to attract the guardsman's attention. Her mistress faintly responded.

"I-im ok.."

Helping her lady up to sit comfortably. Her body had been drugged with a drug that restricts movement. She could barely speak. Her small face pale and filled with sorrow.

"Little bird, look at the state you're in."

A voice echoed through the prison.

Sakura couldn't hide her contempt for the man in front of her. Her mistress was in this place, in this state because of him.

They plotted and killed the 8th Prince Tianzheng before the Emperor could announce him as the crown prince.

Her mistress was also suppose to be announced as his Princess Consort, yet here she is behind these bars in front of this despicable man.

Now the only one able to succeed the throne is him, the 6th prince, JunZhan.

"Little bird, if you chose to be with me, I will spare your life. No... I will even make you my Empress. Riches and Palaces will all be yours, you just have to submit yourself and be mine."

'Hmph which woman will say no. Even you are nothing more than a woman interested in money and power.'

Seeing no reaction from her, Junzhan's fury grew. His eyes fell on the foreign maid who wrapped her arms around her mistress, protective of her.

A sly smirk appeared on his greedy face,

"I did not want to do this but you are being stubborn. Boys, that foreign bitch, you can have her."

The prison guards were speechless, although they had no intention to do anything to the maid, obeying the commands of the prince was better than drawing on punishment.

One guard from the other side came over, an apologetic and regretful expression on his face as he grabbed Sakura and yanked her out of the prison cell. Sakura struggled to break free but the guard was too strong for her.

"Touch her and I will make sure your entire family burns to the ground."

Finally after staying silent the entire time, a spring voice that held a trace of anger and authority resounded. Eyes cold and full of murderous intensity stared straight at the guard prompting him to quickly release his grip.

Mei HanYu still couldn't move, barely able to straighten her back. But she kept her chin up. Now that Tianzheng was not here she could only protect them herself. Shifting her eyes to the man in front of her she continued,

" JunZhan, we've know each other since childhood. Let my maid go, she will continue to serve me and I will obediently...be yours."

While her eyes remained resolute, she couldn't help but hesitate slightly before finishing her sentence. Praying that he* was watching over her from the heaven's and that he would forgive her for breaking her promise to him.

"Hahaha! Well said, I knew you were a smart woman. You have a deal."

Junzhan roared with laughter, if anything he knew that the maid was the way to get HanYu's attention. The little bird who couldn't bare to see starving children would always conduct a food service for the poor.

The guard internally breathed out a sigh. He himself had a family ah why should he rape a girl unwillingly?

"Take them to the Phoenix Palace and wash her up. Make sure she's worthy of this crown prince."

"T-the Phoenix Palace? Your highness that place is-"

A cold stare shot straight at him from the 6 prince, sending shivers down the old Eunuch's spine. Quickly retreating two steps, he bowed deep before ordering a group of maids to help HanYu and Sakura out.

Prince JunZhan grabbed onto HanYu's chin as she was supported pass him,

"Tonight I will taste the best wine and delicacies before I indulge in something better."

His eyes burned with desire like that of a lunatic, while HanYu's once gentle eyes had turned cold and distant but she clenched her fist, nails digging into her palm. Maintaining her composure as she walked away from the laughing madman.

-----

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