Fated to be queen

Her name

Back at the palace, Prince Yu Chen returned unnoticed, slipping through the secret passage his grandfather once used in his youth. He changed quickly into his royal robes before anyone could suspect he’d been gone.

But even as he sat through the lavish birthday banquet arranged in his honor—with music, laughter, and the finest delicacies—his thoughts wandered back to the marketplace. Her sharp voice, her graceful stride, the way she didn’t cower before anyone. It was strange. In a world where noble ladies bowed and blushed in his presence, this unknown girl had captured his attention without even looking at him.

“Chen’er, you’ve barely touched your food,” the Empress said softly, seated beside him.

He blinked and smiled. “Just tired, Mother.”

Later that night, he stood by the balcony of his chambers, holding one of the jade bracelets in his palm. He didn’t know why he bought two. One seemed... meant for her.

Meanwhile, in the bustling home of a modest merchant family…

“Ahhh! I can’t believe how that vendor spoke to you today!” Zi Han ranted as she helped her friend comb her long hair.

The young woman laughed lightly, waving it off. “I don’t blame her. Times are hard. But she could’ve at least admitted the fabric was cheap.”

“You didn’t have to call her out so loudly though,” Zi Han said through a giggle. “Every man at the market turned their heads to look at you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Let them look. I’m not interested in their stares.”

A-Mei leaned closer, whispering teasingly, “But someone was watching you for longer than usual. That man at the jade stall. He didn’t even blink.”

“Really?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes! Didn’t you see him?”

“No. And it’s none of my business,” she said quickly, hiding a faint smile.

Zi Han sighed dramatically. “Xiaolian, one day, your beauty will get you into real trouble.”

The girl’s name was *Mei Xiaolian*—a name whispered with admiration in the market district for both her beauty and wit. Despite being from a middle-class family, her poise and charm often overshadowed even noble daughters. Her father was a scholar, her mother a retired palace seamstress. They raised her with strong values—courage, intelligence, and honesty.

As Xiaolian stood by her small window and stared at the moon, a strange thought crossed her mind.

That man… why did it feel like he wasn’t just an ordinary buyer?

Back at the palace, the prince turned to his trusted friend and guard, General Wei Hao.

“Hao,” he said, handing him the second jade bracelet. “Tomorrow, I want you to go to the market district, and find a young lady for me. Her friend called her Xiaolian.”

Wei Hao narrowed his eyes with curiosity. “Do you want me to follow her?”

“No. Just find out who she is… quietly.”

The general bowed. “As you command, Your Highness.”

As he walked away, Yu Chen whispered to himself, “Xiaolian…”

The name now lived in his mind like a melody.

Mei Xiaolian was born into a quiet but respectable home in the heart of the capital. Her father, Mei Zhen, was a well-known scholar—wise, principled, and humble. He once served as an adviser in the imperial academy but chose to step away from politics after witnessing the corruption and betrayal within the palace walls. Her mother, Lady Yun, worked for years as a skilled palace seamstress. She sewed robes for nobles and even crafted garments for the empress herself.

After retiring from palace service, Lady Yun started a small but thriving business selling premium Chinese tea leaves and medicinal herbs. She had spent years learning the secrets of healing blends, calming brews, and revitalizing tonics from palace herbalists. Her products were so refined that even the palace still placed orders from her.

Now, Mei Xiaolian assists her mother with the business. She helps sort and dry herbs, package rare teas, and deliver orders to wealthy clients—including the palace itself. Her frequent visits to the palace grounds allowed her to understand how the nobles lived—though she never desired to be one of them.

Despite her modest background, Xiaolian is graceful, clever, and fiercely independent. She speaks with confidence, never hesitating to speak her mind, especially when faced with injustice or arrogance. Her beauty often turns heads, but it's her sharp wit and bold nature that leaves a lasting impression.

Her father always told her, “True nobility lies not in birth, but in the heart.” And so, while many young women dreamed of marrying into power, Xiaolian dreamed of making a name for herself, on her own terms.

What she didn’t know was that fate had a different plan—one that would draw her into the very heart of the empire.