Oops, I did it again... I accidentally made this prologue longer than I wanted... 

What a good start, right?  

Anyway, I hope you will like this new story of mine. 

Enjoy readying <3 3

 3rd POV

"Your majesty! Crown Prince Lan Huan and his brother, Prince Lan Wang Ji are here to greet you." The servant announced and the empress immediately stood up. In the last few weeks, she didn't feel good, and to recuperate her health she did not see her two beloved sons. Now that her health was slightly better, she asked for them to see her.

"Let my sons in!" She demanded and the two little princes entered her chambers. Lan Huan, who was now 650 years old (=12 years), run towards his mother as fast as he could and the empress found that amusing. Because her oldest son was the crown prince, the emperor always demanded him to behave accordingly and to not disgrace the royal family in any way. But because Lan Huan was still just a child and loved to run around, the empress allowed him and Wang Ji to do that. At least for as long as the emperor was not present.

"Mother, how are you feeling?" Lan Huan asked worriedly and the empress ruffled through his son's hair.

"I am much better now. Thank you for asking." She smiled and then looked at her youngest son, the 300 years (=6 years) old Wang Ji, who stood at the door waiting for her to call him in. He looked around nervously and it broke the empress's heart.

"Come here, Wang Ji. Let me hug you." She said and the little prince slowly approached her. She took him into his arms and only let go when Wang Ji relaxed with a small sigh.

The empress always felt that Wang Ji was behaving unusually. He was always a shy and very silent boy who tried to distance himself a lot when others were around. Because of that, she gave Wang Ji more attention as to her oldest son. Lan Huan, who loved his beloved younger brother, didn't mind that. He too was worried about Wang Ji's behavior and tried to make his brother smile more often. Yet the youngest prince did so seldom and only when there was no one around.

"How about we spend some time together, my darlings?" The empress suggested randomly and looked from one son to the next.

"That would be amazing!" Lan Huan announced happily and Wang Ji agreed to it as well.

"Really? Great! Then, Wang Ji, is there something you want to do?" The empress asked the second prince who looked at her for a long time before nodding slowly. "Oh my, what is it? What can I do to make you happy and smile at me?"

Wang Ji thought about the festival which was currently held in the mortal realm. He knew that everyone over there, the royals but especially the commoners celebrated this festival wholeheartedly and so he heard only the best things. He opened his mouth to answer his mother but before he could do so he was interrupted.

"Your Majesty, I heard the crown prince talking about the festival in the mortal realm not long ago. Why not go there for the princes to have fun." One of the servants announced with a smile making the empress angry.

"I don't think I asked for your opinion! Wang Ji is the one who will choose what we will do!" She said and the servant flinched hearing the empress's cold voice. Lan Huan frowned and looked at his little brother who closed his mouth and did not speak again no matter how much their mother asked.

The crown prince now was very angry. Yes, he did talk about the festival but only because Wang Ji mentioned that he wanted to see it. Lan Huan knew that the reason for Wang Ji refusing to tell what he wants to do was because if he would reveal it now everyone would think he is mimicking his older brother, the crown prince. It wasn't the first time he witnessed something like this.

"You!" Lan Huan pointed at the servant who dared to interrupt his brother. "As of now, you will not serve here anymore. I will ban you from entering the palace ever again. Leave!" Lan Huan ordered and glared at the confused servant.

"But y-your highness, I just-"

"You heard what my son said" The empress interrupted him. She did not yet understand her oldest son's reaction but trusted him. "Leave and never step one foot into this royal palace."

"W-what did I-"

"Servants!! Take this person and kick him out!"

Immediately two other servants came and dragged the still very confused servant out. Lan Huan then turned to his little brother. "Wang Ji, that servant must have overheard us when we talked about the festival a few days ago. You suggested going there because you wanted to see it. It wasn't my idea. Do you still want to go?"

Now the empress understood and suppressed her anger. She thought that kicking that servant out was not enough but decided to let him off the hook and concentrate on her little boy.

"So my little Wang Ji wants to go to the festival in the mortal realm?" She asked and made Wang Ji look at her. "Do want to go, yes? Shall we visit it?" Wang Ji nodded shyly because he really wanted to go there. Only his enthusiasm wasn't as strong as before.

"Okay!" The empress said with a huge smile and kissed Wang Ji's cheeks. "Servants, help the princes and me to get ready."

 A lot was going on at the market in the mortal realm. For both princes, it was the second time to visit this realm and they were both very excited. The empress, who was accompanied by 3 servants and 1 maid, stood close to her sons and looked around.

"It's always a surprise how many people gather at one place to have fun. Lan Huan, Wang Ji, I don't mind you looking around but I want you to be accompanied by a servant, alright? Don't get lost."

"Yes, mother." Lan Huan announced with a huge grin and Wang Ji nodded. "Come, Wang Ji. Let's look around." The crown prince took his little brother's hand in his and pulled him after him. Wang Ji didn't like places with a lot of people but as this was somewhere he wanted to go, he wasn't complaining.

"Lan Huan, don't pull your brother like that. He is not a dog." The empress scolded her oldest son with a soft smile.

"I am sorry..." Lan Huan said apologetically and slowed down. He then saw something he liked, let go of his brother's hand and run off with two servants running after him.

"Wang Ji?" The empress called the second prince and knelt in front of him. "Are you happy that we are here?"

Wang Ji nodded and then tried to find his older brother in the crowd. One servant followed him while the empress stayed behind.

"Is everything alright, your majesty?" Her maid asked worriedly.

"I am fine. I just get tired very easily these days. I am also worried about my little Wang Ji. He is so quiet. I am never sure if he has fun or not because he seldom smiles."

"I am sure he has fun, your majesty. Wasn't that his wish to come here?"

"It was. But..." The empress sighed. "It's so difficult for him."

"What do you mean, your majesty?" The maid asked.

"Don't you see it? Wang Ji is never expressing his feelings or wishes openly. He is shy and quiet and always so careful to not do something which might give others the feeling he has ulterior motives. His older brother is the crown prince which means Wang Ji is the second to the throne until Lan Huan has an heir. Wang Ji knows that and therefore is always careful to not act rashly. I want him to act freely but he won't do it. He is always watching his brother and would choose the exact opposite as him even if he would like to choose the same as Lan Huan." The empress said sadly.

"This is something everyone who is born after the crown prince has to go through." The maid answered carefully.

"But it shouldn't be like that! I know that Lan Huan will have a big future ahead. He will get almost everything he wants and I can see he is a happy child. I want Wang Ji to be happy too but as long as he behaves as he does I fear he won't. What should I do so my little Wang Ji can be happy too?" The empress asked desperately.

"Excuse me?" An elderly mortal woman showed up and smiled at the empress. "I did not intend to eavesdrop on you but I happen to overhear that you have worries. Why don't you go to the temple of Nüwa over there and pray to the goddess? I am sure she will listen to your worries and it will not only make you feel better but it might help you to find an answer to your problems?"

The empress smiled. "Thank you, old madam, but I am not sure if the goddess Nüwa can help me."

"You never know unless you tried." She said with a knowing smile. "There is no harm in praying."

As the stranger left, the empress's maid looked confused. "What was that?"

The empress looked up at the temple and the statue of Nüwa. Upon meeting the statute's eyes the empress suddenly felt calm.

"Your majesty, I think this is just the usual tale from the mortals. I don't think it will work." The maid said but the empress shook her head.

"It is as she said. You never know unless you tried. If there is just the slightest possibility that praying to Nüwa can help my little Wang Ji, I will do it. Let's go to the temple and pray."

Lan Wang Ji was walking around not sure where to look first. Everything was so exciting. Just then he saw his brother standing in front of a stall talking to the owner and he slowly approached him. Just as he wanted to call him his gaze fell on a beautiful green jade pendant. He made big eyes and stared at it while thinking if he should buy it or not. But just as he wanted to reach for his purse he heard the two servants who followed his brother whispering to each other.

"Look at his highness, the second prince. It seems he is interested in the green jade pendant."

"It seems so. But why? It's quite pretty but... "

"Well, he must have seen how his highness, the crown prince took a liking to it and now wants it too."

"I doubt so. Isn't he a little too young to be after the crown prince's assets?"

"Just think about what could happen in the future."

"You think he is after-"

"Psst! Don't be so loud!"

Wang Ji froze and quickly dropped his arm.

Again. It happened again. He turned around and walked away.

"Wang Ji!" The crown prince called his younger brother upon seeing him. He run up to him and frowned looking into his face. "What happened? Who angered you?"

Wang Ji shook his head.

"What do you mean? You are clearly unhappy. Tell me and I will punish whoever angered you. You can tell me, Wang Ji."

The second prince knew very well that the crown prince would do as he said but that wasn't something Wang Ji wanted. The second prince just wanted to have a peaceful life with no one accusing him of being after something he had no interest in.

Everyone thought that being the crown prince and later the emperor was a blessing but that is wrong. Wang Ji might be only 350 years old but he knew more than others might think. He saw how his father, the emperor was always busy with arrangements and meetings. He was busy ruling the biggest realm in the immortal realm with his wife at his side. Everything was so stressful that his mother fell ill for weeks.

Even Wang Ji's older brother who was the crown prince was slowly getting introduced to his duties and would get busier the older he became. Once he got married, Lan Huan's wife would also suffer the same fate as his mother, helping the emperor and in the worst case, she could fall ill. Thus, having no time for each other and their children.

For Wang Ji being the crown prince or the emperor was not a blessing but a curse. Wang Ji was satisfied with being the second prince. Once he was a grown man he would live a quiet life in his part of the palace, far away from anything that might indicate he was after his brother's assets. Wang Ji also decided to only get married if he loved someone. His wife has to love him too. That was a must-have for him.

His father, the emperor fell in love with the empress a long long time ago and courted her. But his mother wasn't interested in him at all and refused him whenever his father confessed. In the end, the late emperor, Wang Ji's grandfather, saw what was happening, draw up a royal decree, and arranged a wedding between his parents. Wang Ji's mother had no other option than to agree to it.

The empress didn't hate the emperor but she didn't love him either. She was neither unhappy nor happy. Only by giving birth to Lan Huan and later Lan Wang Ji did she find out what it means to be happy.

Wang Ji didn't want to live like his parents. He knew for sure that one day someone will come and steal his heart but he swore to himself that he won't force someone to marry him if his feelings aren't reciprocated. And he would make sure that he won't let anyone force him into a marriage. He also will make sure people stop thinking he was after his older brother's assets. Because he didn't crave to be cursed!

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me." Lan Huan said. "I won't force you."

"Young master, here is your order." The stall's owner walked up to the crown prince and gave him the green pendant.

"Thank you." Lan Huan smiled brightly and once the owner went back to his stall he turned to his little brother. "Look, Wang Ji! I know you like green pendants and lost your last one so I got this for you. Isn't it beautiful? Do you like it?" The crown prince asked his little brother but the second prince shook his head and walked away.

Lan Huan knew that something wasn't right so before the servant who followed Wang Ji, could walk away, he called him back. "What happened!? Tell me who angered my brother!"

"I..." The servant played with his fingers. For a moment he thought to pretend he didn't know anything but the gaze of the crown prince told him that wouldn't be a wise choice. So when he wanted to continue speaking and tell the truth he realized that he couldn't open his mouth at all. He looked at prince Wang Ji in shock who glared at him before running away.

"I order you to tell me! Now!" Lan Huan got mad. He hated it when people bullied his little brother.

"Hmnn ahmn ehn..." The servant tried to follow the crown prince's order but no matter what he did, he wasn't able to speak.

"Silencing spell?" Lan Huan mumbled and sighed before releasing the servant from the spell his little brother cast on him. "Speak!"

"Those two servants ... they... they accused the second prince of going after ... things your highness took a liking on. They said the .... the second prince might go ... in future, he might go after ..... your highness's assets." The servant stammered nervously.

"You can go!" Lan Huan said and the servant run after Wang Ji. Then the crown prince turned to the two servants who didn't know yet that they have been exposed as they were too busy talking to each other. Lan Huan took a deep breath and decided to punish these two the moment they got back to the immortal realm.

The maid stood outside the temple waiting for the empress to leave the building. The empress forbade her to follow her and told her to wait outside. The empress knelt in front of the statue of the goddess Nüwa and started praying. She didn't know why but somehow what that old woman told her earlier made her believe that it wouldn't be a bad idea to go and pray. Now she knelt there praying with all sincerity for her children, but especially for little Wang Ji to live a long and happy life.

She didn't necessarily expect that something would happen. She thought that maybe she would feel calmer or something but that was it. So it was not a surprise that the empress flinched upon hearing a soft and melodic voice in her head.

"What brings the empress of the heavenly realm into my small temple in the mortal realm, so far away from her home?"

The empress opened her eyes and widened them once she saw a beautiful young lady in a gorgeous white purple dress sitting in front of her. She was so surprised that she forgot to answer.

"What now? Lost your tongue?" The woman chuckled.

"You.. are...?"

"Weren't you the one who entered my temple? Who else could I be than the one you are praying for?"

"Goddess... Nüwa?"

"Precisely." The woman smiled and the empress immediately bowed to her. "Now, now. This is something I rarely see. An empress who bows to others and doesn't care that her precious clothes are getting dirty."

"Just because one is royal, does that mean one can do what they want. Who am I to be disrespectful to a goddess? Isn't it just a dress? Meeting you is far more important than a piece of clothing."

Nüwa chuckled. "I like you, my sweet girl. You are different. No matter if immortal or mortal, royals tend to care only about themselves. Stepping over other human beings just to get what they want. Especially those who are not royal by blood but married into the family of a royal tend to get greedy over time. Don't misunderstand me, not all of you are like that but the majority is."

The empress didn't know what to say so she kept quiet. Nüwa smiled again and looked at the still bowing empress.

"You may rise." She said and the empress rose. "You are not a royal by blood, I see. You got married into the royal family of the heavenly realm about 10.000 years ago. You were forced into this marriage, yet I see no hated in you."

"Who am I to hate the late emperor?"

"Oh? But didn't he force you to marry his son, the current emperor of the heavenly realm? You rejected your husband more than once but in the end, you still had to marry him."

"I followed a decree and that made my family live a good life. Moreover, marrying into the imperial palace is a gift. Why should I go against it, or worse, hate the late emperor for this gift?"

"Hmm... a gift, you say? If it's a gift or a curse can only be decided by oneself. You may not hate your husband but you don't love him either."

"That is true, your holiness." The empress confessed and Nüwa laughed.

"Holiness? This sounds weird, call me Nüwa, my dear daughter." Nüwa walked up to the empress and smiled at her. "You are here for a purpose, I guess? May I know what you think I can help you with?"

"I am here for my sons..."

"You may not love your husband but you do love your sons more than anything. You said you are here for them? That doesn't seem to be quite true..." Nüwa looked at the empress. "How about you try it again?" Nüwa smiled softly.

"I am here... for Wang Ji, my youngest son."

Nüwa nodded. "You have two sons and you love both. Yet you are here only for one of them. That seems to be quite unfair, doesn't it? Tell me, do you love Wang Ji more than your oldest son?"

"What!?" The empress was shocked to hear such ridiculous words and immediately felt anger rising in her. "I love both my sons equally! I would never dare to prefer one son over the other!"

Nüwa chuckled again. "No need to get angry. Isn't it normal for one to assume that? You are here for only Wang Ji after all. Tell me why?"

The empress blushed a little and bowed. "I am sorry for yelling at you, Nüwa. I never intended to offend you."

Nüwa laughed. "You call that yelling already? Rise, my daughter. You did not offend me. Rather it seems I was the one who offended you. I apologize for that. Now, how about you tell me the purpose of your visit?"

The empress took a deep breath and looked at Nüwa with all sincerity. "My little Wang Ji was born as the second prince. He is the second to the throne until my Lan Huan will have an heir. Therefore, Wang Ji's life will be full of hardships as others will always watch whatever he does. They will watch him closely and make sure he won't ever get the idea of treason. Once they think that Wang Ji could be a danger to Lan Huan, they might try to harm him..."

Nüwa nodded. "It was always like that in every royal family. Do you think the crown prince will try to harm his little brother?"

"Never! He loves him dearly. He wants to protect him. Lan Huan is smart. He already sees the intention of others. Lan Huan will try his best to protect his little brother." The empress said and thought about her oldest son.

Lan Huan was smart and very good at everything he did. His father, the emperor doted on him much more than on Wang Ji. That didn't mean that the emperor didn't dote on Wang Ji. It's just... Wang Ji was, after all, only the second to the throne. Even the emperor will watch Wang Ji's every step and would intervene if Wang Ji ever has the intention to steal his brother's title. But Wang Ji has no intention to do that.

"Lan Huan..." The empress began and smiled. "He will get almost everything he wants in his life. He is the crown prince and in the future will rule over the heavenly realm. No one will dare to go against him. Lan Huan knows it will be a lot of work to rule his realm. He will be in meetings and very busy. He has to come up with strategies to keep the peace not only in the heavenly realm but in the whole immortal realm. He knows that yet he enjoys it, he loves what he does. He is happy and if he is happy, I will naturally be happy as well. Therefore there is no need for me to come here for him. Wang Ji is the one who worries me a lot."

Nüwa listened quietly and when the empress was done with her speech she smiled. "Everything you said is true. While Lan Huan has everything he wants and will live a very successful life, Wang Ji will face many obstacles."

The empress held back a sob. "I am here to ask for help, Nüwa. Please, I want Wang Ji to be happy as well. No matter what, he needs to be happy. I won't ever manage to live nor die in peace if I can't be sure that both my sons will meet their happiness. Please, Nüwa. I beg you to help me."

Nüwa watched the empress with a strange gaze in her eyes. "Live nor die in peace, you say... It seems you are already aware you don't have that much time left. Am I right?"

It's not like the empress knew about it but she already expected it. No one knew her body as well as she did. She was ill for quite some time now and albeit she would recover for a while every time, the illness would come back not long after.

"Your whole life you lived to give peace and happiness to others. First, it was your family who you supported by working at a farm. Then you followed the royal decree and married the emperor who loved you madly, gifting him two sons 10.000 years later. While doing your duty as the empress by caring for your citizens and making your husband happy, you nursed your sons and made sure to do everything in your might for them to grow up healthy and happy.

You never really cared for yourself, always made sure others are happy. Even now, you think about your youngest son. Someone like you, my dear daughter, I rarely met. You are very special." Nüwa said. "Therefore I will fulfill a wish of yours. You deserve that more than anyone else. So tell me your wish."

The empress's heartbeat loudly as she looked at the goddess in front of her. "I wish for Wang Ji to be happy. I want him to live a happy life without obstacles. Please grant me this wish."

Nüwa sighed and reached for the empress's hand. "I am not allowed to intervene with the lives of my sons and daughters. They chose their own path in life. For you, my dear daughter, I will make an exception. I won't be able to serve your son's happiness on a silver tray. He has to fight for it like everyone else too but I can help to direct him into the right direction."

"I am sorry for being not smart enough to understand..." The empress said. The goddess smiled and looked down on the ground. She crouched and picked something up.

"Isn't this one of the cutest creatures existing?" Nüwa asked and the empress looked at the small animal in the goddess's hands.

"A bunny?"

"They are small and cute and very lively, aren't they?" The goddess looked into the distance and then chuckled. "It seems that bunnies are your youngest son's fated animals. He loves them a lot and I can see that bunnies will lead him well. Only with them in his life will he be happy and find his fate."

"Bunnies ... will?"

Nüwa looked back at the empress. "The second prince never dares to touch something the crown prince took an interest in. That is understandable. But bunnies... bunnies belong to the second prince." Nüwa's eyes turned serious. "Make sure that everyone understands that."

The empress nodded slowly. She didn't understand what all this meant but she would do so later the day.

"Thank you."

The goddess smiled and stepped backward, away from the empress. "One last thing. One day in the future, when you are no longer next to the princes, your sons will have to choose something at the behest of the emperor. For the second prince, the answer lies in the south. Make sure to deliver this message to him when the time is right, my dear daughter."

"I will do so, your holiness, goddess Nüwa." The empress bowed and heard melodic laughter.

"I really like you a lot, empress of the heavenly realm. Let me give you a message for the crown prince as well. The second prince's happiness is linked to the crown prince's. But if the crown prince doesn't look closely, he might miss it.

Now it's time for us to part. But we will soon meet again. Until then, I wish for your happiness."

When the laugh faded away and the empress looked up, Nüwa was gone.

The maid run-up to the empress upon seeing her leaving the temple. "Already done, your majesty?"

"Already? I have been gone quite a while, haven't I?"

"A while? It was only about 5 minutes..." The maid answered a little confused as she helped the empress to descent the stairs of the temple.

"Only 5 minutes? Hmm... I guess I must have enjoyed my stay a lot more than I thought..." The empress smiled softly.

"Then does your majesty wants to come here again?" The maid asked and the empress turned around to look at the temple.

"I will indeed come back here. As for when I will do that... no one knows..." The empress started coughing and the maid quickly helped her to wear the coat.

"We should fetch the princes and leave, your majesty. I fear your illness might return."

"Then so be it. No one can escape their fate. I believe that everyone meets their fate at the right time. I am no exception. But you are right, let's go and look for my sons. I miss them terribly."

Not far away, Lan Wang Ji roamed around the streets. He looked at everything but didn't dare to buy anything. That way he could make sure that he wouldn't take interest in something his brother might already take a liking on. But then he saw something interesting and approached a stall.

"Ah, good evening young master. Did you see something you like?" The owner asked him friendly but instead of answering Wang Ji stared at a bunch of small white furballs. "The bunnies? You like them?"

Wang Ji nodded without realizing it and the stall owner chuckled. "Want to pet one?"

The second prince approached the bunnies and carefully petted their fur. "Soft..." Wang Ji mumbled.

"Aren't they? These white bunnies are still very young and from the southern region. This breed is tame, very active, and loves to cuddle. Does the young master want to hold one?"

Wang Ji's eyes brightened up and he nodded immediately. The stall owner then took one of the bunnies and put it carefully into Wang Ji's arms. The second prince was delighted and for the first time in a while, he smiled wholeheartedly.

"So soft." He mumbled and caressed the animal in his hands.

Not far away the empress and her maid were walking down the busy streets trying to find the two princes. The maid was the first one to spot the second prince and quickly pointed in his direction.

"Your majesty, look! Isn't that the second prince? He looks so happy, I never saw him smiling as much as he does right now."

The empress stopped and turned towards the direction the maid was pointing at. The moment she saw her youngest son playing with a bunny her heart made a jump and she quickened her walk to reach Wang Ji.

"Does young master want to adopt one?" The stall owner asked Wang Ji and when the prince shook his head, his mother intervened.

"Why not, my son? You clearly like them." She asked him but the little boy shook his head. The empress, who already suspected the reason for his son's unwillingness, did something she never had done before. She decided to look into the stall owner's memories to find out if her oldest son, the crown prince was already here before. It only took her a minute to figure out that this wasn't the case.

Reading the memories of mortals wasn't something everyone could do and it wasn't forbidden. Therefore there were no consequences except for the mortal to have a small headache the next day.

"Darling, let's take them home, okay? You clearly like them and I am sure you will wonderfully take care of them. As of now, bunnies are your ... hmm... heraldic animal, what do you think?"

Wang Ji hesitated but as he saw and felt the bunny's nose poking his hand, he smiled. "I want to take him home."

The empress was very happy and turned to the stall owner. "I want all the bunnies you have here."

"Wh-what? All of them?" The owner stuttered. "Are you sure, milady?"

"Yes, my little boy likes them so we want to adopt all of them. Don't worry, we won't harm them in any way."

"Oh... I ... I am not accusing you to harm them. I am just surprised. I have 9 white bunnies here. You want all of them?"

The empress smiled brightly. "We will take them! All of them!"

Lan Huan was walking around the streets when he saw his little brother playing with a bunny. Seeing him so happy, made the crown prince smile. Lan Huan could see the second prince's happiness. Therefore he kept a distance and watched as his mother rushed over to Wang Ji and they adopted quite a few bunnies. Wang Ji was very excited as he held onto the box with the animals.

"Your highness, are you thinking to have an animal as well?" The servant on his right side asked.

"He seems to like the bunnies. Your highness, shall we bring you-"The other servant, standing on the crown prince's left side was interrupted right away.

"Enough!" Lan Huan hissed and the two servants flinched. The crown prince turned around and glared at them. "Did I ever say that I want an animal!? Do you think because I look at something a little longer means I want to have it no matter what?! Who are you to think that you know me so well?"

"Y-your highness, we just-"

"Just what? You just wanted to take away something my little brother likes? You just thought you could own my favor by doing something like that? Don't you have any decency?! Are you blind!? Are you deaf!?"

"N-no, w-we-"

"Didn't you see how happy my precious little brother is? Didn't you hear him saying that he likes them and want to bring them home? Didn't you hear her majesty the empress announcing that bunnies are prince Wang Ji's heraldic animal? What makes you think you can go against my brother's wishes or my mother's order?"

The two servants started trembling.

"Do you think I don't know what you saying about my brother behind everyone's back!? My brother is the softest, friendliest, and loveliest little brother one can wish for. He never goes against the rules and cares for everyone equally. He is not at all interested in becoming the next emperor. Because of people like you, I am afraid he might grow up as someone who would rather lock himself up somewhere than go out and make conversations. Wait until we are back. I will make sure you two get punished!"

Lan Huan finished his rant and glared at the two trembling servants. Lan Huan swore to himself that he would protect his little brother and make sure he would never lack anything.

Since that day Wang Ji was the happiest when he played with his bunnies. The empress was more than delighted to see that and issued a royal decree announcing that as of that day onwards, bunnies are the heraldic animals of the second prince, Lan Wang Ji. She knew that Wang Ji's life might be difficult but in the end, he would hopefully find his happiness. Like Nüwa said she believed that the bunnies would help him with that.

Unfortunately, she would never witness what her sons' happiness would look like. Only a few years later the empress got sick again, this time it was worse than before. She knew her time was almost over but she wasn't scared. She was sure that someone was waiting for her on the other side.

When the empress's health worsened and the doctors couldn't help, everyone knew it was time to say goodbye. The emperor locked himself up in the empress's chambers and refused to leave or let anyone in. He loved his wife so much that he wanted to have her for himself and spent her last moments with her.

It took the empress days to persuade the emperor to let her see her sons one last time. The first one to bid farewell was the crown prince. As he was older he was more behaved and managed to not lose his temper. He spent one hour with her telling her everything he thought she didn't know. When he was done, the empress smiled. She looked tired and just wanted to sleep but she wouldn't do so until she saw Wang Ji.

"Lan Huan, you have to protect your brother. His status as your younger brother and the second prince will make people watch him closely. There might even be a few who will try to destroy your relationship with him. Most of them aren't evil, they just want to serve you and protect you as the crown prince and future emperor. They want to protect you so much that they don't care about others."

"Mother, I won't-"

"I know, darling. But you can't know what kind of schemes others will think of. Promise me, no matter what, you have to protect your brother. Don't just listen to the stories of other people, listen to your brother's side too. You know him the best, probably even better than I do. You know he won't ever harm you."

"I know, mother. I won't ever forget your teachings."

"Listen to your heart, darling, okay? As for your father... I know he is strict and I know he can be very demanding, but I want you to listen to your own heart. If you think he did something wrong, tell him. Don't always give in. You are the future emperor. You will rule over the heavenly realm and have to protect your citizens. But just because you are the next ruler does not mean you can do what you want. Don't ever harm others, protect them. If you did something wrong, make sure to apologize and accept any punishment. If you made a wrong move... "

"If I make a wrong move, I will accept and bear the consequences. I promise mother. I promise all of it."

"Then promise me one more thing, darling. Make sure your brother won't lock himself up in this part of the palace. Make sure you will help him to find his happiness. By doing that you will not only help your brother but also yourself. Where his happiness is, yours isn't far away."

Tears fell down Lan Huan's cheeks as he nodded. "I promise."

"Good boy, my little crown prince. I love you, don't ever forget that. Now call your brother in."

Shortly after Lan Huan left, Wang Ji entered the chambers of the empress. "Come here, my sweet angel. Let mommy hug you."

The second prince walked up to his mother and hugged her tightly. "Mother.... don't go...."

"Shhh, it's okay, darling. Come, look at me." She asked and soon met his eyes. "My little boy, do you know what my biggest wish is?"

Wang Ji shook his head.

"I want my sons to be happy. Your brother has a bright future ahead of him and the chances of finding his happiness are very big."

"It's not. He never looks farther than what is in front of him. If I am in front of him, he never looks behind me." Wang Ji sobbed and the empress managed to let out a laugh.

"I suppose that is true but that is because he loves you so much. Your brother's love is strong but his duties might make him choose the wrong choice-." The empress stopped and coughed.

"Mommy!" Wang Ji called her in shock and the empress smiled.

"Listen to what I am going to say, my sweet angel. You have to do me a favor, will you do that?"

"I will do everything mommy says."

"What a good boy. Then listen carefully. One day you will have to choose something at the behest of the emperor. For you, the answer lies in the south. Do you understand?"

"No." Wang Ji teared up and the empress smiled.

"That is okay, when you are older you will understand. Just know that the south will be the answer. Make sure you will make the right choice, okay? Promise me that."

"I promise..." Wang Ji answered and hugged his mother again.

"I love you, Wang Ji. Make sure to be happy. I will watch over you and your brother. I want the both of you to be happy."

"We will." Wang Ji cried and the empress stroke his hair.

"Good boy, now go. Mommy is tired."

The second prince had no other choice and so he left. He already felt that this was the last time he would see his mother. Therefore he ran away. He ran to his bunnies, fell on the ground, and this day was the last time he cried.

The emperor took his wife's hand and stroked it. "Darling, I love you so much. Thank you for marrying me. Thank you for giving birth to our wonderful sons."

"I never had the choice to reject this marriage, your majesty. But I am happy that I manage to bring Lan Huan and Lan Wang Ji into this world. I don't want to leave them..."

"Don't worry, darling. I will do anything to make sure they will live a happy life."

The empress closed his eyes. Hearing the emperor's words made her sad because she knew that he would indeed try his best. But she feared that this happiness is linked to the safety of the palace. She feared that this happiness is linked to the wishes of the emperor.

"I have two wishes, your majesty. I hope you will grant them."

"Everything, my love. Just tell me."

"I want you to send my maid over to Wang Ji. I want her to care for him until Wang Ji decides otherwise."

"I will do so." The emperor agreed.

"My last wish is.... let our sons choose whom they want to marry. Don't force them into a marriage. I don't mind if you introduce them to suitable partners but it has to be our son's decision if they want to marry them or not. Everything they do has to be their decision!"

The emperor kept quiet for a while until the empress called him. "Hurry, your majesty! Promise me!"

"I promise, darling. I promise!" The emperor answered quickly. Then he saw his wife smiling.

"We meet again...." She mumbled and her smile brightened as she looked past the emperor. The latter turned around but saw no one. "Yes, I am."

"Whom are you talking to, my love?" The emperor wanted to know.

"Take me ... with you..." The empress mumbled and slowly closed her eyes.

The moment the empress took her last breath the emperor cried in agony.

to be continued...

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