EMPRESS, CHAPTER 2 - EDITED

I glance over my shoulder to make sure Mother isn't looking. Or even worse, Li Tai. If she sees us, who knows what rumours will she spread.

Feeling sure nobody is looking, I smile at Lian Weng, calling him out, "Liang Wen!".

He grins cheerfully, waving me with his farmer's stick. "I just got back from the city. I stayed there for cew days for trading. Look what I got you!" He says cheerfuly.

He opens his hand for me to see an object laying in his palm. Taking another cautious glance over my shoulder, I walk forward and look closely. 

I gasp, amazed. "How-"

He grins again with the grin I grew to love. "I worked hard, alright? Father gave me a little money."

I take the folded handkerchief from his hand. On it, dragonflies and flowers are embroidered. It's stunning. Even Mother, or Li Tai, don't have anything like this! I point at him accusingly. "But honestly, how much was this?"

Liang Wen shrugged. "Won't tell you."

"W-Will you have to starve?" I ask, concerned for him. The last time he got me a small candy, a candy we always wanted, and to buy that sweet, he skipped lunch and dinner for two weeks.

Has the answer, he just squeezed my hand gently. The sun got in his eyes, as the wind blew gently. We stand there for a while, not saying anything. "And - here's a little something. You can read it later."

He pushes a note into my hand. I stare at it. It's a folded leaf. A leaf from our favourite tree. We used to write to each other on its leaves all the time. Before he had to quit school to farm, and before I quit school to help at home.

I close my eyes, trying to remember this - the sun, the wind, the leaves rustling in the air. The sweet smell of a Chinese dessert, too, is wafting around. I can hear the neighbours washing clothes and our loud chickens. 

Suddenly I feel like this is too good to be true. Haven't I been seeing Liang Wen secretly? And I defiantly refused all of the suitors. Grandmother always said, "Remember, Wang Min. Your past deeds will always be your shadow. One day, if you do too many bad deeds, you will get your retribution."

I open my eyes again and stare at Liang Wen. Then I remember. "The Chancellor Wu is c-coming," I tell him, my voice breaking.

He looks away. "You're the prettiest girl in the village, Wang Min. I know you will be picked."

"I don't want to be!" I cry desperately. "Liang Wen- I..." I choke on my tears. I want to tell him that I love him. I loved him long time now, but I wasn't ready to say it.

He quickly comes forward, and kisses me gently. "If... If I don't see you again, remember me please."

Before I know it, he has ran down the dirt path. I washed my face quickly and rubbed some lotion on my face.

*

My kiss with Liang Wen came back to me now, as I kneel to the Chancellor. I smile happily, thinking that Liang Wen is just the best guy in the world. 

My happiness doesn't last very long.

My retribution comes. Karma reaches me. 

"We'll take her."

Just like that,I'm claimed as one of the Emperor Taizong's wives or concubines or something. Oh great. Just great. I always wanted just that. Yup. Totally. Cool.