Chapter 2

Upon returning to the palace, Xian Hu settled down in the inner courtyard, her face clouded with sadness.

At that moment, Lady Liu's attendant approached her.

"My lady, why are you so sad? Today is the Lantern Festival, and it is also your elder brother's birthday."

"Lady Liu, tell me... what is so good about marrying someone you do not love?" Xian Hu asked, her voice filled with sorrow.

The maid raised an eyebrow in surprise before answering quietly.

"I cannot say that I know for certain, but there are some advantages. Your family will always be wealthy, and you will always have many people around you."

"But I do not want to marry someone I do not love-or even know," Xian Hu said, lowering her gaze to the ground.

"My lady, do you know who your future husband is?" the maid asked, surprised by the turn the conversation had taken.

"That is exactly the problem. I know only his name-Prince Chen Shang Xian-and nothing else... Perhaps you could tell me something about him?" Xian Hu asked.

"I am sorry, my lady, but I have never met Prince Chen Shang Xian myself. I only know that he always visits a certain tavern during the Lantern Festival," Lady Liu's attendant replied as she took the freshly washed clothes from the line.

"Thank you so much, Lady Liu!" Xian Hu exclaimed.

Without another word, she turned and ran out of the palace.

"Ah... My lady! What am I supposed to tell your father and brothers?"

"Tell them I went to buy mooncakes for everyone!" Xian Hu shouted back, already disappearing beyond the palace gates.

The city was filled with people, all eagerly awaiting the Lantern Festival. Colorful lanterns glowed everywhere, bathing the streets in a magical atmosphere.

"Where is the tavern?" Xian Hu wondered, trying to calm herself. She had lost her way in the crowd.

Not far from her stood a tall tavern. The delicious aroma of freshly prepared mooncakes drifted through the air.

Xian Hu decided to buy an entire basket of them.

A handsome young man stood in line behind her, a lantern in his hand.

"Two baskets of mooncakes, please!" he said.

"Your Majesty, you look as wonderful today as you always do. Prince Chen Shang Xian, why do you always come to buy mooncakes from me during the Lantern Festival?" the tavern keeper asked in surprise as he handed the baskets to the young man.

"Yours are different. They taste as though there is some kind of magic in them," the young prince replied before stepping outside and closing the tavern door behind him.

"That is Prince Chen Shang Xian!" Xian Hu exclaimed silently.

She hurried after him, trying to catch up.

How old is he? He looks about twenty...

The prince noticed the young woman following him and stopped.

"My lady, do we know each other?" he asked softly.

"What? Ah... no. I am simply going in the same direction," Xian Hu replied, trying to change the subject.

"I feel as though I have seen you somewhere before," the young man said, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully.

"I doubt it. I spend almost all my time inside the palace. The Lantern Festival is the only time I can come outside and enjoy some freedom," Xian Hu replied.

There I go. I think I just gave myself away...

"The palace? You are from the palace?" the prince asked in surprise.

Xian Hu nodded, trying to disappear into the crowd without drawing attention to herself.

"What is your name?" the prince asked, looking directly into her eyes.

"My name..."

At that very moment, Prince Liu Jin emerged from the crowd.

The moment he saw his sister, he hurried toward her.

"Xian Hu! What are you doing here?"

"Brother Jin, how did you find me?" Xian Hu asked in surprise.

Jin glanced at the young man standing beside his sister. His expression immediately changed.

He bowed anxiously.

"Your Majesty, it has been a long time since we last met," he said, taking Xian Hu by the hand.

The prince stared at the girl in disbelief.

"So you are... Xian Hu? My future wife?"

Prince Chen Shang Xian stepped back in surprise, visibly shaken.

Jin shot his sister an irritated look.

"Brother Jin, I bought a basket of mooncakes!" Xian Hu quickly said, trying to calm him down.

Jin bowed once more, took his sister by the hand, and led her into the carriage.

The horse suddenly broke into a gallop, and the carriage began rattling noisily along the road.

"How did you meet Prince Chen Shang Xian?" Jin asked sternly.

"I was standing in the tavern, buying mooncakes, and he was standing right behind me," Xian Hu replied, gazing out of the carriage window.

Jin fell silent.

He had no idea how he was going to explain this to their father.

The promise had been broken.