Lady Chen was upset. In the week that she had been here, 8^th-Prince Yifan had barely glanced at her. And she was to be his future wife! Instead he was spending all that time with that palace maid who was serving the Emperor but temporarily allocated to her for the time being. She had tried her hardest to ignore that Zitao but it was becoming increasingly difficult when she kept coming between her and the 8^th-prince. Lady Chen was starting to suspect that there were perhaps something more than a prince-palace maid relationship between the two.

The spying trips she started to go on definitely confirmed that.

Lady Chen almost felt herself feeling sympathetic for the 8^th-prince. It was frustratingly obvious that the 8^th-prince fancied that Zitao girl and Zitao was so oblivious to it. Her sympathy soon died down, squashed by her logic. If the 8^th-prince was into that palace maid, then what about her? What was she going to do? She couldn’t very well go home, her father had practically kicked her out of the house to marry the prince. If it weren’t for her high standing, and the fact that a daughter was very useful in climbing ranks, he would have probably kicked her out onto the streets years ago. After all, she wasn’t nearly as well-mannered and… obedient as her other sisters. Lady Chen hissed at that word. Her 2 elder sisters were like dogs, as obedient and conceding as ever. Her father had married them off to men more than double their age. They were older than her father! But there were held incredibly high class positions, and they wanted ‘fresh’ concubines.

People like that disgusted her.

So she had jumped at the opportunity to marry the 8^th-prince. He was her age after all, and her father was happy that there was someone willing to take his least impressive daughter. Even if Lady Chen was not loved, her life would be much better than if she had become some old pedo’s new toy.

But really, Zitao was ruining the life that she had so carefully planned.

Lady Chen started pacing around her room thinking long and hard. What had her father done when things were in his way? Well, it wasn’t any good to be thinking of him as a proper role model anyway…but she had to agree with his methods sometimes.

“Removed them.” She said out loud, finally reaching her answer. Her father removed them, passed off their deaths as accidents. No one could contradict him save for the Emperor and his kin, after all he was pretty high ranking.

And no one would protest the death of a measly palace maid. Even if she was perhaps the highest ranking one there. But nonetheless she was still no more than a lowly palace maid. Now it was the matter of who to get to do it…

No it had to be done herself. If someone else did it, they could rat her out. But no one would ever think to accuse her of doing such ‘unladylike’ things.

***

“Hello?” Zitao called out, unsure. An anonymous letter, though clearly from a fellow palace maid had asked her to meet her at the top of hill, where the pagoda was. It was a popular place to visit, as from that high up, it had a beautiful view of the Forbidden City.

“Is anyone here?” Zitao tried again. He walked around the pagoda, pausing when he saw the shadow of a person. She walked out, Zitao instantly stooped into a bow, as it was Lady Chen.

“You called, Lady Chen?” Zitao said, lowering his head though he hated having to kneel in front of a person like her. She didn’t even tell him to rise! Even the Emperor doesn’t let his people kneel for longer than a few seconds, unless they had done something wrong.

“Do you know why you are here, Zitao?” Lady Chen started.

“No. Maybe if you let me stand up, I can think properly.” Zitao remarked sarcastically. Lady Chen stopped moving and let out a low hiss before relenting and allowing Zitao to look her in the eye.

“What is your relationship with the 8^th-prince?” Lady Chen said.

Zitao was surprised. That hadn’t been the question he had been expecting. “We’re simply… palace maid and prince… my lady…”

The next thing he knew his left cheek erupted in pain, his hip complaining as well. She had slapped him hard enough to cause him to fall to the ground. Well that wouldn’t normally happen but he wasn’t expecting it, he hadn’t gotten into his wushu mode.

“You lie!” Lady Chen hissed.

Zitao raised an eyebrow, his anger erupting. “Well,” he drawled glaring daggers at her. Screw the hierarchy system. “I think he would like me a lot better than you anyway.”

Lady Chen’s eyes flashed and she moved to kick him. But Zitao was prepared this time, spinning out of the way and getting up onto his feet, in a ready stance.

“Really Zitao, you’re making things difficult for yourself.” Lady Chen tried to make her voice come out steady but a shake of anger ruined the image.

“Is that so?” Zitao replied coolly.

“Unfortunately.” She didn’t sound the least bit remorseful. “Do you know what happens to people in the way?”

“Enlighten me.” Zitao drawled.

Lady Chen didn’t reply and Zitao at first thought that she was stumped by his response. But suddenly she whipped her hand out and Zitao could see the flash of silver.

A dagger.

It was funny, how the dramas seemed to be right at this point. When you are about to die, time slows down. The dagger made its way oh so slowly towards Zitao turning as the sun reflected off the shiny surface. And it was funny, how even though he was conscience of the fact that there was a knife aimed at his heart, he couldn’t move. His feet were rooted on the ground as he stared at the object that would ultimately be the end of him.

Another amusing thing was the other drama cliché which was happening to him right now. A force knocked into his side, and Zitao crashed onto the ground painfully resting on his side. A muffled cry of pain, as if the person was trying not to scream, reached his ears, Zitao twisting upwards to face the sound. The first thing he saw was Lady Chen’s horrified face. He followed her line of vision and another scream filled his ears. The scream was full of shock and pain, and he tried to block his ears to stop the horrific sound.

Until he realised that it was his own voice. He was screaming at the sight of the 8^th-prince with the knife buried in his back. His mouth was open the cry of pain no longer coming out. Yet again, the world was in slow motion as he fell forward.

The muffled thump was loud in the heavy silence. Zitao crawled into his knees, as his legs were too shaky to support him right now. The 8^th-prince had fallen off the hill. And it was the tallest hill in the Forbidden City! At least it wasn’t a cliff, but the impact of a body being rolled down a hill, was it not enough to send the knife buried deeper into the 8^th-prince’s body?

Zitao stared at his body in mute horror, frozen in place. His body didn’t seem to be obeying his commands. Lady Chen let out a strangled cry and Zitao felt his anger boil. She caused it! She didn’t have the right to cry for the 8^th-prince. Her tears were undeserving for the 8^th-prince. He clenched his fists, glaring with pure hatred at Lady Chen, the woman flinching but not backing down under his intense gaze.

“You caused this.” Zitao’s voice came out in a low, angry hiss.

Lady Chen stood her ground, a defensive look coming over her face. “I didn’t mean to hurt him. The 8^th-prince wasn’t supposed to save you.” She sneered. Zitao let out a roar of rage, lunging forward his hands going for . They both fell to the ground Zitao having a firm grip on his grip tightening. Lady Chen clawed at his hands on , trying to pry them loose but failing.

“Do…” Lady Chen gasped, struggling to form words as her air supply decreased rapidly. “…you… really want to… kill… me…?”

Zitao froze, Lady Chen gulping in lungfuls of air. The consequences for killing Lady Chen were horrendous. Though no one would argue that she deserved it, but the fact that Zitao would be her murderer…it was a blemish on his record that one did not look upon favourably. Though she would be executed for treason in attempted murder on a prince anyway.

Did Zitao really want her to die now? To die a quick death? It hardly seemed a fitting sentence for what she had done. No, Zitao wanted her to suffer. He wanted her to be punished, to be tortured beyond sanity. A cruel, vicious smile tugged at his lips and he released his grip on , his eyes focused on the unfolding scenario in his head.

“I’ll spare you on one condition.” Zitao said coldly. He wasn’t even aware he could be so cruel. Lady Chen struggled but to no avail, Zitao’s weight had her pinned down. She silently glared at Zitao, and he took it as an indication to continue.

“I’ll let you live on the condition that you turn yourself in and tell the truth. The truth being that you threw that dagger at the 8^th-prince.” Zitao pleasantly stated. Lady Chen’s face contorted in fury before she broke out into slightly hysterical laughter.

“Do you think of me as stupid? I know the consequences of turning myself in.” She barely got the words out when Zitao had a death grip on again.

“Don’t you want to live?” Zitao remarked casually as he squeezed her neck. “True, your life will be much… different. But it’s still a life. Surely… you don’t want to die?” Zitao was gambling with the fact that most humans fear death. He hoped it applied to this woman as well. And he was correct. As Lady Chen’s face started to turn purple, she gave a quick curt nod.

“So you agree?” Zitao asked.

“Yes.” She stiffly said.

“To what?”

Lady Chen hissed. She had been hoping to use the loophole, to say that her agreement was that she didn’t want to die. “To..” the hand tightened. “To turn myself in and admit that I tried to kill the 8^th-prince!” she said quickly.

Zitao smirked in satisfaction standing up and dusting imaginary dust off his uniform. Lady Chen saw this as a chance to escape, getting up and trying to make a break for it. But she was stopped by eunuchs. Unknown to her, Junmian had found Zitao when she was going to same destination, and had overheard the conversation between Zitao and Lady Chen.

“Junmain-jiejie… thank you.” Zitao smiled, weary after all the work.

Junmian gave a gentle smile. “It was nothing.” Her gaze hardened as she looked at the captured Lady Chen. “Take her to the Emperor’s chambers.” She said sharply. Junmian turned her attention back to Zitao. “You’re worried right? Go. I’ll explain everything.”

Zitao felt himself tearing up and he managed only a small nod in her direction before speeding down the hill, almost tripping to reach the 8^th-prince. There were eunuchs gathered there already, lifting him onto a (rather bad quality) stretcher. Zitao nearly facepalmed when they almost lay him on his back. Could they not realise that that would make it worse?

But thankfully, the 8^th-prince was breathing. Unconscious but breathing. Zitao could see the small but nonetheless it was there, rise and fall of his chest. It calmed him down greatly; strangely he hadn’t realised just how much he had been panicking before. The sense of relief that washed over him was almost overwhelming accentuated by the rapid dropping of his heart rate. Zitao followed the eunuchs into the 8^th-prince’s chamber, no one would protest his being there, being the second most powerful palace maid. And he would rather not see Lady Chen ever again after that ordeal.

***

3 days later, the 8^th-prince still hadn’t woken up. Zitao was going crazy. He realised why, obviously medicine in the Imperial times was far behind those of the modern 21^st century. He realised that the 8^th-prince was lucky to be alive, as that amount of blood loss would have almost always resulted in death. But the 8^th-prince was royalty, and this the best doctors had been called in for that.

Zitao was suffering from lack of sleep. He had point blank refused to leave his bedside and the Emperor had conceded, deciding that leaving the 8^th-prince in the hands of his most respectful palace maid was safe, and that Zitao wouldn’t try to finish the job that Lady Chen had started. Thinking of the former 8^th-Duchess to be brought a vicious smile to his face. She had tried to evade the promise she had made to Zitao, but Junmian had been there and shot down her argument pretty quickly. Not even her high standing or the Emperor’s fondness for her, and his close relationship with her father could save her. It was treason, to attempt to kill a prince. Normally, one would be executed for that, but Zitao decided that death was too mild a punishment for her. So he had suggested that she be stripped of her title, her name changed to ‘dog’ and be sent to live in an exile camp. The Emperor agreed wholeheartedly, and Lady Chen… no it would be more right to called her dog now nearly fell apart when he had relayed the sentence back to her.

Zitao hadn’t realised how wrong it had been for him to be relishing in her pain until later. But he had perfectly good reason to be feeling sadistic anyway.

A small groan brought Zitao out of his little thought bubble. He whipped around, so quickly he nearly got whiplash. The 8^th-prince was still, and Zitao was beginning to question whether he had heard the sound in the first place. But as he watched on, the 8^th-prince moved, a small twitch of his fingers first before he brought his arm to his head.

Zitao ran faster than Bolt from where he had been standing by the window to the 8^th-prince’s bedside. He was alive!

“8^th-prince?” Zitao hesitantly asked, hardly daring to believe it. His question was met with a moment of silence.

“…bright…” the 8^th-prince finally muttered. Now Zitao realised that his arm had been used to shield his eyes from the glare of the harsh afternoon sun. Zitao jumped onto his feet, and moved to close the windows before returning.

The 8^th-prince stared at Zitao for a while, before a weak smile broke out on his face. “Hey, you’re alive.” Zitao’s jaw dropped.

“That’s all you can say?” Zitao said lowly. “DO YOU KNOW HOW STUPID THAT WAS OF YOU TO DO THAT?! You could have died! I don’t want you to risk your life for me! I was so worried for it how can you be so selfish? What am I going to do if you actually did die? Did that thought ever occur to you? You can’t leave me alone! I would rather die than let that happen! Why are you so selfish?!” Zitao choked off with a small sob. He hadn’t even realised that he had gotten this emotional. He rubbed furiously at his eyes, stopping with Yifan placed his hands over it.

“’You can’t leave me alone’?” Yifan quoted, a smirk spreading across his face. Zitao froze, re-running or attempting to re-run what he had blurted out in his emotional state.

“So tell me, Zitao.” Yifan shifted, wincing slightly at the pain the movement caused his wound. He moved his face closer to Zitao, his hand still on Zitao’s. “Tell me.” He breathed, his face now incredibly close to Zitao’s. “What exactly does that mean?”

“I-I…” Zitao stuttered, his face heating up as he looked everywhere but at the 8^th-prince. “I… WHY ARE YOU SITTING UP LIE RIGHT BACK DOWN AND DON’T AGGRAVATE YOUR WOUND!” Zitao pushed the 8^th-prince back down hard, face burning even harder now. Yifan wasn’t daunted, lying down and pulling Zitao down as well, surprisingly he still had a grip on the palace maid’s hand. Zitao landed on top of the 8^th-prince, though not on his wound.

“That’s not an answer.” Yifan said in amusement. It was entertaining to watch Zitao being less than composed and looking like a tomato, though a very cute on in the 8^th-prince’s eyes. Zitao flushed, trying hard not to make eye contact.

“So Zitao,” Yifan said conversationally. Zitao breathed a sigh of relief at the 8^th-prince’s casual tone. “What would you say to marrying me?” Zitao nodded absently.

Silence ensued.

“Wait, what?!” Zitao shrieked at the same time that Yifan let out a triumphant whoop. “Hey, I didn’t agree to this!”

“Oh but you did.” Yifan chuckled, cluthing at his sides to keep his laughing from becoming full-blown or it would rip his wound right open again.

“No.” Zitao shook his head furiously, though the pleased look forcing its way onto his face betrayed him. “I can’t.”

Yifan raised an eyebrow. “Is this about how you’re a male? Because I already know.”

Zitao froze, before laughing nervously. “W-What are you saying 8^th-prince? T-That’s a funny j-joke…”

Yifan ignored Zitao, continuing as if he hadn’t been interrupted. “See Zitao, when I realised that I had fallen in love with you out of all people, then realised that you were a guy, for some reason, I wasn’t turned away by that. It’s against what society deems is acceptable, and I did try to reason why I felt such a way. Thankfully it’s not with other… males, just you. Maybe it’s because you look so feminine anyway.”

“Hey!”

“And you crossdress as well. Maybe that’s why you’re the only guy who looks like a girl that I’m attracted too.” Yifan started to ramble, nervous after practically confessing to Zitao. It was now his turn to be shy, waiting, his eyes lowered for Zitao’s response.

“See 8^th-prince… royalty tend to divide their heart between numerous people. That’s hardly believable.” Zitao pointed out. Yifan sighed.

“It’s not like I wanted you to be my concubine. I want you to be my consort, and stand by my side as the 8^th-Duchess.” Yifan said.

Duchess. 8^th-Duchess. That was a spot that usually was taken by a high-standing woman, and used to gain power and influence. They were rarely marriages of love. And yet Yifan was asking for Zitao to be the 8^th-Duchess? That wasn’t something that one would joke about, and Zitao knew that.

“Need more convincing?” Yifan said with a slight smirk. He grabbed the back of Zitao’s neck, bringing the younger down to press their lips together in a kiss. It was short but sweet, and left Zitao with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. Yifan raised an eyebrow, waiting for the palace maid’s reaction.

A playful smile played around Zitao’s lips. “You call that a kiss?”

Yifan let out the breath that he hadn’t realised he had been holding, bringing Zitao down for their lips to connect again. “I take that as a yes?” He said once they pulled away. Zitao simply rolled his eyes in response, ducking his head down again.

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A/N: I know, you want Taoris to date before they get married. But the concept of dating... doesn't really exist in Imperial times. Not many marriages were ones of love anyway. They can have their lovey dovey moments later. Yes Lady Chen is already out. She wasn't meant to be a big character anyway. I know lots of people wanted Xiiuchen... but do not despair. It will happen... later... Ooo now you're curious aren't you? *oh I'm curious yeah!* Of course, I had to do the cliche way of injuring one. After all, you never know how much you love somthing until it's gone.

Until next time! I uploaded this chapter earlier than I intended because the next 2 weeks are going to be crazy. Because i live in Australia, and they just got rid of School Cert for yr 10, I now have 2 weeks of in class assessments that count towards the Board of Studies. Oh joy, I cannot screw this up, so yes, after 2 weeks (or earlier if I need to write to work off me stress) I will update again!