Chapter 1 : Caged Childhood, Memories.
1607 Words
Sun Family's Mansion, Beijing.
Under the rule of the Hongxi Emperor, the Ming Dynasty was prosperous and thriving. Despite the countless mansions inside the Capital City, the Sun Family's Mansion is one of the best.
Despite their humble ancestry, they are well known to be great businessmen and military commanders. Inside the exquisite Mansion, within the tall walls and large gates lies the elegant and exquisite courtyard and pavilions.
In one of the large courtyards, with flowers blooming everywhere. Here resides the famous and noble first daughter of the Sun Family. The future First Princess.
Under the pink hangings up on the ceilings, by the mahogany dressing table sat a breathtaking beauty. With Her slender fingers under Her white chin, She can't help but think absentmindedly while watching the beautiful weather from Her window.
Inside Her beautiful head, She's reminiscing Her past. Especially the ups and downs She experienced this few days until She finally got engaged to Her childhood sweetheart, the first prince.
Despite Her noble origins, Mingxia never wished to become a mere Wife.
Since She is able to read, She often peaked at the classes Her older brothers attended.
She often disguised Herself to escape from the tall walls and large gates for a night of freedom.
Unfortunately, the year She turned 14 Her grandfather told Her there is a powerful noble that is arranged to marry Her the coming year. Which shattered Her dreams , despite Her maturity and talent shown to Her elders She still need to marry.
Under the heavy expectations from Her parents, She was trained harder then before in etiquette as the groom is a popular heir to a Marquis.
From breakfast till the evenings, there are different kinds of classes that needs to be attended by Her making Her chances of sneaking outside harder and harder.
For the whole year, She barely got Her chances to exit the large Manor. Finally, three days before the engagement She was granted a day off.
With Her entourage and a few guards dressed in common clothes, She visited the tea houses and had fun by the nearby lake.
Unknowingly She met an old woman selling used items by the side of the road. Finding a few good silver wares, She decides to spend a few of Her penies for them.
As She was about to take the items, the old woman gifted Her a thin book.
" My Lady, please read this later. " seeing the kind old lady, She can't help nodding even though She felt a lot of questions inside.
Back at Her boudoir, She curiously opened the book. Even though its covers are worn out, She carefully inspected the covers.
Finding no title to Her surprise, She softly opened the book.
Finding a familiar start, the few first paragraphs are describing Her Family's Manor? While after flipping to the next page, She saw a familiar name.
Jiang Lili, who's a distant cousin of Her’s living near Her Grandmother's courtyard. Yet the words inside the book are describing of the girl's experiences inside the Manor. Where the servants could bully Her at will, and Her helplessness treated as a servant despite Her status as one of the daughter's inside the family.
Where the words were of surprise for Her, She continued reading the next page.
Finding the supposed hate Her cousin had towards Her? And the next page was even more outrageous, as Jiang Lili was doing an errand a few weeks ago outside the Manor, and unexpectedly met Her future fiancee on the road.
Seeing Her poor cousin, Her fiancee was extremely affectionate as they talked happily for the whole day. And Her fiancee even delivered Her distant cousin back to the front gates.
Despite Her lateness, Her distant cousin wasn't blamed as the guard by the gates of the Manor could naturally see Her fiancee dressed cleanly despite His humble clothing.
So the two of them frequently met, and from the continuous meetings they have finally made promises to each other. They planned to switch the brides two day later, and She will be drugged to sleep while Her distant cousin will marry Her fiancee.
Seeing the absurd texts, She felt Her heart suffocated by anger. With Her head full of thoughts, She decisively decided to ask one of Her close maids to come inside.
" Autumn! " She called out, a lovely girl comes inside hurriedly after She called.
" Eldest Miss, is there any orders? " the maid called Autumn asked softly, pulling the young Autumn to Her side.
She whispered " Autumn, tell Eunuch Han that I want to meet the Prince tonight, at the same place. " Hearing the daring words Her Young Mistress said, Autumn was firstly indignant as She shook Her head gently staring straight to Sun Mingxia's jasper stary eyes.
After a few seconds seeing Her Young Mistress's strong stance, She finally went away.
With Autumn leaving, Mingxia can't help walking to Her dressing table.
The exquisitely crafted silver mirror perfectly reflected the young beauty's breathtaking appearance.
With Her skin whiter then snow, red lips and bright starry eyes. Her oval face, willow lead eyebrows and slender willowy waist.
Seeing Her appearance on the mirror, She can't seem to find any reason for Her Fiancee to betray Her. With a distant cousin that doesn't have a direct relation with Her Sun Family.
After all, from Her various years of learning, She also understands a noble position will never allow one to choose their own spouse.
Despite Her messy thoughts, after some twists and turns in the road the young Autumn sucessfully reached the nearby courtyard. While the courtyard is small and inconspicuous among the large mansions around it. It's owned by one of the most honorable person under the Emperor's rule today, the First Prince.
Seeing the familiar Autumn, the sleepy guard by the gates hurriedly opened His eyes wide and opened the heavy gates.
Entering the simple courtyard, Autumn dared not take another look and hurriedly approached the familiar garden in front.
After a few steps, She finally reached to the middle of the garden. Under the covers of the lush trees, an old yet handsome middle aged man with powder on His face cautiously bend over respectfully to the handsome man sitting.
Seeing the both of them, She hurriedly kneeled down. Making a sound amidst the silence.
Hearing the sound, the old man or Eunuch Han looked back. While the handsome man barely moved from His dazed state.
" Miss Autumn! " Eunuch Han exclaimed softly, with His old yet powdered face shocked. Hearing the name, the handsome man can't help looking over as well.
Despite Eunuch Han's surprise and the handsome man's focus, the young Autumn bravely said Her Young Mistress's message " T-the Young Miss a-asks for a meeting tonight. At t-the same place. " yet even She can't help stuttering because the words are truly absurd after all considering the situation.
Hearing the words, the handsome man can't help smiling bitterly. Eunuch Han watching this scene can't help but sigh for His Young Master.
Despite His head full of thoughts, seeing the kneeling Autumn, He can only say.
" Alright, Autumn go back for now. We'll meet again tonight. " the handsome man said after a long silence.
With the smell of wine wafting from the handsome man, Autumn obediently bowed before leaving.
With a bitter smile the handsome man can't help saying apologetically to Eunuch Han, " Old Man, it seems Bengong needs a hot bath. "
Eunuch Han seeing this can only simply nod before leaving the handsome man alone, yet the man's mutters can still be heard intermittently by His old ears,
" It seems even the strongest wine can't let Bengong forget You... ".
That night, with a decision inside Her heart She decides to ride a horse carriage after sucessfully escaping from Her courtyard.
On the bumpy carriage, there is only Autumn as the driver. With Her heart beating rapidly, She can't help breathing unevenly.
After a few twists and turns, the carriage finally arrived by the nearby enclosed cave.
Eunuch Han and a few other guards seeing the carriage hurriedly took over the reins from Autumn, with Her brows furrowed Autumn let go of Her guard before alighting from Her driver position.
With the biting cold wind, She opened the curtains and alighted with Autumn's help. After approaching the familiar wooden door, " Autumn, stay here. " She ordered softly.
While Autumn's young face was full of indignance, She opened the wooden door.
With the door opened, a burst of familiar precious sandalwood came through Her nose.
With the bright candles inside, She softly closed the door before walking forward.
After passing by the familiar tunnel, with the help of the candles She finally arrived. Finding the man's figure by the corner with His wide back facing Her.
" What do You want? " the man's familiar voice echoed softly inside the cave.
With Her face burning red, tears falling from the corner of eyes She softly as She stands there silently, as their past memories rolling like a movie in Her head.
With His head sober, the famous and powerful first Prince can't help feel sad and nervous inside. Hearing nothing from the familiar beauty, He can't help turn His head.
Seeing the cheerful and positive beauty crying until Her eyes turned red, a trace of anger rushed inside Him. With worry mapped clearly on His handsome face, He hurriedly approached the beauty.
Before the familiar handsome man could coax Her, She throw Herself to His warm embrace.
- Writer
