Fated to be queen

Fate’s direction

Lady Yun and her daughter, Xiaoliang, made their way gracefully toward the empress’s side with the carefully wrapped jars of aromatic tea leaves. The crowd around the royal table respectfully stepped aside. One of the palace maids stepped forward, took the basket from Lady Yun’s hands with a bow, and whispered that she would place it in the empress’s chamber.

Just as they bowed to leave, the empress’s eyes caught Xiaoliang’s face. She tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing with pleasant curiosity.

“Wait,” she said softly. “Lady Yun, who is this young lady beside you? Your daughter?”

Lady Yun quickly bowed again. “Yes, Your Highness. This is my daughter, Mei Xiaoliang.”

Prince Yu Chen, who sat beside his mother, couldn’t stop the broad smile that spread across his face. Mei Xiaoliang. So that’s her name. He silently thanked the heavens. Perhaps there’s a benefit to sitting at the royal table after all.

The empress clapped her hands together gently. “Oh, Lady Yun, she is absolutely beautiful! And yet, you’ve never brought her to the palace?” She turned to her son briefly, catching his bright expression, though she said nothing.

Lady Yun chuckled softly. “Your Highness, I’ve actually been sending her here often. She’s the one who delivers the tea leaves and herbs for me now.”

“Really?” The empress looked genuinely surprised. “Aww… then I must have missed her each time. That’s unlike me.” She turned again to Xiaoliang, whose head remained respectfully lowered, her shy smile barely visible. “My child, you must come greet me whenever you visit. Don’t just leave the tea and vanish, hmm?”

Xiaoliang bowed again. “Yes, Your Highness.”

The moment felt light and warm, but Yu Chen could feel something shift within him. Her voice, her presence—it stirred something he hadn’t known he’d missed.

Lady Yun glanced at the crowd still gathered and gently spoke, “Your Highness, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll take our leave so you may enjoy the rest of the evening.”

“Yes, yes, of course,” the empress replied. “Enjoy the night, Lady Yun. And Xiaoliang, I hope to see you again.”

Lady Yun and her daughter bowed together and turned to walk away. Xiaoliang stole one last glance toward the prince, their eyes meeting briefly before she turned back toward the crowd.

Yu Chen remained seated, hiding his smile with a sip of tea. Fated to meet again? He thought. I surely hope so.