Ice Dragon and Flower

The May sky burned with oppressive heat, yet inside the sixth prince’s palace, the temperature was the complete opposite. Surely, he was once again exploiting Bai Long—his mount. In the grand courtyard of the residence, a dragon with scales white as snow was forced to continuously exhale cold air, its expression resigned, unable to defy its master’s command. That master was the sixth prince—Huang Lãnh Thiên, born of the emperor and his most beloved consort, Lady Nhan. Pampered from birth, he acknowledged no one, his temper violent and hard to please. Yet he was a genius—his talents in both the civil and martial arts far outshone those of his siblings. It seemed no one could ever restrain him—until he turned seven and met Tô Mẫn Nguyệt, two years his junior. She was the daughter of the Imperial Preceptor, the emperor’s sworn brother and confidant, the very man who had helped him ascend the throne. Her mother passed away early, and so, whenever her father entered the palace, he brought her along and often left her in Lady Nhan’s care. > “Sixth brother, you run too fast, wait for me!” He would drag her all over the palace, stirring up mischief. “Silly girl, hurry! If Second Brother sees us now—” He carried her as he bolted, having just set fire to his second brother’s cloak. “Pick the ripest ones for me, too!” He crouched down, letting her steal pears from the Empress Dowager’s orchard. When he was fourteen, he summoned the ancient divine beast—Bai Long—for the first time. The very first thing he said was: > “A’Nguyet, with this snake around, you can feast on chilled fruit all summer long, hehe.” The doors to his chambers burst open with a kick. He was sprawled lazily on the roof, already dressed in fresh, casual clothes as if preparing to go out, though he had been idling there since morning. Everyone knew who he was waiting for. > “Sixth brother, I’ve come to escape the heat. Hurry and serve this young lady!” She entered in a sky-blue gown that flattered her figure, dark eyes sparkling with excitement as she scanned the hall, fanning herself lightly. He leapt down from the roof with graceful lightness, hair fluttering, eyes brimming with amusement. Sunlight fell upon his face, highlighting his sharp nose bridge and striking profile. > “My little ancestor, you’ve dented my doors again. Only I could endure such violence from you.” He spoke while producing a plate of chilled lychees from nowhere, peeling them carefully for her. > “You must be easy to please then.” She sneered, though she obediently allowed him to peel and feed her the fruit. He could not take his eyes off her. [Ahh, heavens… her cheeks puffed up are too cute. Truly my little wife raised since childhood. I want to take a bite so badly…] His thoughts ran wild, heart fluttering. Indeed, he had long since been struck by love’s arrow—the obsessive kind that yearned to lock her away, to hide her from the world. In truth, he possessed a secret chamber filled entirely with things related to his A’Nguyet: thousands of portraits, every object she had ever touched—from handkerchiefs and scraps of fabric to even stray brushstrokes. Any gift she gave him, he sealed away in precious wooden boxes. Besides her, his greatest joy was lying in that room, lost in imagination, embracing her portraits as he fell asleep. He swore he would only dismantle that room once he had taken her as his wife. For if she ever saw the depths of his madness and fled, it would be disastrous. > “What are you staring at? Never seen a little fairy before?” She popped more lychees into her mouth, eyes glinting mischievously. He snapped back to his senses, schooling his expression. > “Who’s staring?” His face betrayed no emotion, but the slight flush at his ears gave him away. Bai Long flicked its tail in irritation, demanding acknowledgment. Its tail swept across the ground, eyes heavy with boredom. Once a mighty divine beast of antiquity, now reduced to being its master’s air conditioner. At least today, the girl hadn’t tugged on its horns or plucked its scales—torments the prince always indulged without protest. Suddenly—BANG!