"You are fortunate this village is en route to the mountains," Yang Jian rode up the path and dismounted, securing his mare to a tree.

"I am fortunate to have a brother like you," I had just finished bowing in prayer and met him at the threshold.

A priest walked up and asked if they could offer some humble refreshments to the Crown Prince. He politely declined.

"The Second Prince would like to offer his dowry from the Royal Consort of Nihon to the peasants of Jiangdu so we must make hast-"

Pondering on what cut off his speech, I turned so that we both faced the shrine once more. Caishen glowed red, followed by a whisper that silenced all.

"How selfless," we all bowed at the voice of the deity of wealth. "I will reward this land and the one who made the sacrifice."

"I want for nothing, Great One," I murmured against the cool floor.

"Your hip disagrees," He mused.

"Pardon my interruption, Divine God, but what is this I hear about your hip, Wenhui?" I turned my face and met Yang Jian's fearful gaze.

"The day I saved Sakura, I suffered a great fall but I didn't see the Royal Physician as I had promised her," I stopped, unable to continue.

"His muscles have begun to rot in the months since and the bacteria in his muscles have moved to his hip. Junhui has tuberculosis of the spine and his physique is smaller than it was before the battle. He won't be able to move his body as well as he used to," Caishen concluded.

"Why did you conceal this when we have the best medics in the land to help you? My spirit grieves at the thought of you being unable to walk or run. I have watched you joyously traverse the Palace since you were a baby," tears ran down his face as he tried to comprehend.

"Crown Prince, I am able to heal this injury but it will take time," the deity announced.

"How long?" I was relieved that I could fix the problem I had created by omission.

"I cannot say until I have inspected him," the uncertainty echoed within the four walls.

"If a year has passed and I have not returned, take care of Sakura for me," I lifted my head and stood up. His wife had passed away a few years ago, from illness and I didn't want either of them to suffer any further, by loneliness. A voice within directed me to the statue and I listened to it, placing my head on the graven image of the god who sought to cure me. I felt myself slowly become weightless, levitating to the heavenly realm. My older brother, who I had always looked up to, now shrank in my vision. Dew from heaven's clouds collected in droplets on my robes as I made it to the celestial house of Caishen.

Time passed. I could not tell how much, as the rays of the sun did not reach the firmaments. His abode was unaffected by seasons and I only asked for news of the Dynasty when I remembered. My mind was mostly engaged in therapy, redirecting my chi from functions that did not require it (for example, the area below my waist) to my spine.

"This mirror will show you the nuptials of the new palatial couple," the deity approached me during a break.

"It has been a year already?" I placed the circle of glass on my lap, assuming the lotus position for better circulation. Whenever thoughts of my wife had surfaced, I had repressed it, knowing that I was not yet ready to return. There was a part of me that longed for her still but I was glad that Yang Jian kept his word instead of palming her off to some unsavoury character.

I returned the mirror when I saw them being escorted to his room- memories of our nights together would only bring further pangs.

"I will update you on later events," the god of wealth promised. By the time I was fully healed, the Sui Dynasty had come to an end by the hands of my nephew and his offspring. Yes, we did have a marvellous network of canals for agriculture but the serfs were heavily taxed to fund skirmishes against the kingdom of Gogoryeo. When I wasn't checking up on how the kingdom now named China was doing, I slept. Until my first mandate of heaven, that is...