The Meeting by the Waterfall
The silence between them broke when the young man finally spoke.
Prince Long Hua: "Who are you? And what are you doing here?"
Caught off guard, the princess stammered,
Princess Xiao Yufan: "Huh… wh–what?"
Before she could say more, the dragon mark on the prince's neck began to shimmer with a golden light. A surge of divine energy rippled through the air. Then, suddenly — the prince collapsed.
His loyal attendant, Shuitan Shan, rushed forward and carried him away. Moments later, Crown Prince Li Chou of the Hujie Kingdom arrived. He was the son of Emperor Lilan's first concubine, known for his cunning and arrogance.
Crown Prince Li Chou: "Your Highness, what are you doing here?"
Startled, Yufan stepped back.
Princess Xiao Yufan: "You almost scared me to death!"
Crown Prince Li Chou: "My apologies."
Princess Xiao Yufan: "It's all right."
He smiled faintly, his tone turning softer — yet strange.
Crown Prince Li Chou: "Yufan… you still remember, don't you? How much I've loved you since we were children?"
Princess Xiao Yufan: "Huh? Wh–why are you bringing that up all of a sudden?"
Before she could move away, Li Chou gripped her shoulder, his eyes darkening. But before anything could happen—
Prince Yulong: "Brother! What are you doing?"
Li Chou released her at once, forcing a smile.
Crown Prince Li Chou: "It's nothing. We just met and were talking. What brings you here?"
Prince Yulong: "I came—"
Before he could finish, Princess Lilong appeared.
Princess Lilong: "Yulong! What are you doing? I told you to bring them back! Princess Yufan, His Majesty has been looking for you."
Princess Xiao Yufan: "Let's go."
The Celestial Banquet
They entered the grand hall, glittering with heavenly light. Yufan took her seat beside her parents — Emperor Xiao Yuqing and Empress Xiao.
Hong Daren, the emperor's attendant, announced loudly:
"Today marks a special occasion — the two-hundredth birthday of Prince Long Hua! A celebration held only once in a century!"
The great doors opened, and Prince Long Hua entered the hall.
Princess Yufan froze.
It was him — the man from the waterfall.
He smiled gently at her as he took his seat across the hall.
One by one, guests presented their gifts. When it was Yufan's turn, she stepped forward and offered a sword — the Dragon Blade, a weapon forged five thousand years ago and known as the strongest in all four realms.
Prince Long Hua: "Thank you, Princess."
The moment their hands brushed, the phoenix seal on Yufan's forehead and the dragon mark on Long Hua's neck began to glow with radiant light. The hall fell silent as their eyes met — bound by a mysterious force neither understood.
But before anyone could speak, a soft voice cut through the air.
Princess Lin Zhang of the Green Demon stepped forward, holding a glowing blossom.
Princess Lin Zhang: "This is the Demon Flower — it blooms only once every thousand years."
Long Hua thanked her politely, but his gaze never left Yufan.
Feeling uneasy under his stare, Yufan quickly rose and vanished from the hall in a burst of light. Long Hua followed.
From their seats, Lin Zhang and Li Chou exchanged a dark look — jealousy flickering in their eyes.
The Garden of Heaven
Yufan reappeared in the back gardens of the Heavenly Palace — the most beautiful place in all four realms, filled with celestial flowers and shimmering ponds.
Overhead, the Jade Emperor Donghua announced to the gathered guests,
"After two hundred years, my eldest daughter, Princess Meiling, will wed Prince Xiao Yusong of the Shuilu Kingdom!"
Far from the noise, Prince Long Hua found Yufan among the flowers.
Princess Xiao Yufan: "Wh–what are you doing here?"
Prince Long Hua: "Hmm… what do you think?"
She turned away, spotting a rare flower glowing under the moonlight.
Princess Xiao Yufan: "It's beautiful! What's it called?"
Prince Long Hua: "It's called Hua. It only blooms once every hundred years — on my birthday."
Before she could answer, her maid and sword companion, Long Feixiang, appeared.
Long Feixiang: "Your Highness, it's time to return to the kingdom. The emperor and empress have already departed — and your brothers as well."
Princess Xiao Yufan: "I see… Thank you, Your Highness Long Hua. I must go now."
A faint sadness touched his expression.
Prince Long Hua: "You're welcome. But before you leave… may I know your name?"
She smiled softly.
Princess Xiao Yufan: "I am Princess Xiao Yufan of the Shuilu Kingdom."
And with that, she vanished into the night — leaving Prince Long Hua standing alone beneath the glowing Hua blossoms, her name echoing in his heart.
To be continued...