The day finally arrived, and her choice had not been made.

It was like with a child picking with sweet they wanted most. All options looked the best, and none seemed lesser than the other. All sweets were the same in that on instant. But this was not a sweet she wished to choose. Ju Li wanted the best of both, but where was her assurance that she could?

This plagued as red coated her lips and cheeks, as her hair was pulled up into some elaborate contraption and her cloak drawn around her. She didn't see why she couldn't dress herself, but her mother insisted that it was an honor left for her and her sister. Ju Li found no argument against this, and let her mother have the sentiment.

They had ordered a cart to deliver them to the gates of the outer walls of the palace. The rickety thing that arrived for them left a bitter taste of shame they could not shake off, even with this invitation. Her father made arguments against the cart they had received, but before any more words could be shared, Ju Li got in.

"We will be late," she stated simply.

The walls that guarded the palace had been something they had stared at for years from a distance, and now they were close enough to touch it. And they would soon be seeing the wonders that lay within. Ju Li's stomach knotted and she was sure that she'd break out into a sweat at any moment. Her skin tingled, too tight for her own body. She dreaded each passage they were granted, and her feet threatened to force her into one spot as they neared the large red doors that lead to the emperor's reception room.

When the doors opened up, and her family was instructed to stay where they were, Ju Li was struck with the feeling of being small. The towering architecture of the great room that lay before her loomed like large beings. Entities past her knowledge, they arched and curved and danced in hues of red and gold. Remembering her purpose there, forgotten in her awe of the finery, she dropped her gaze to the floor as she walked further into the room.

The clang of the doors closing behind her made her look back, then forward before back down to the floor. Shuffling forward, she noted absently that this was taking far too long. She wanted nothing more than turn back and push those doors open. To run back to her family. Each step chilled her, her choice now made and her expectation of its reception abysmal.

As she finally came to a stop a few feet away from the throne that resided on the far end of the hall, she dropped into a bow before raising her head to see her emperor. Stifled laughter erupted at the look upon her faces, eyes wide and jaw slack. Ju Li nearly forgot where it was that she stood, and her position at the sight of the man in the chair.

There, refined and mighty in his splendor, was Xiao Yu. No; this was now Emperor Yu, a distant figure that she would have had no association with. And yet, she knew that face. When a smile split his face, she was convinced it was merely a mirage. A trick her mind played in making her stick to her decision.

Jaw clenching, she righted her expression into a blank mask before dropping into another bow and greeting him formally. She contemplated running the risk of saying something before he allowed to speak, and thought better of the action. Silence dragged on for a minute longer and she dared to look up.

She had not heard him get up from his throne or the gasps that sounded softly from the feminine spectators in the room. They acted as though they had never seen him remove himself from the chair, just as Ju Li acted as though she had never known the man that had positioned himself in front of her.

His smile remained upon his lips, amusement clear on the set of his features. A rebuke of said smile tickled the back of her throat, but were contained by her sense of situation. Speaking out of turn, and harshly, against the emperor would not be accepted by the audience in the room—or the guards that lurked just in the shadows.

"You must be surprised," he prompted, willing her to speak.

"Yes, I had not expected this to happen, Shèngshàng," she responded, keeping her tone even and her words formal.

"Ju Li, there is no need to be so formal with me," he stated, a pout warping his smile.

"But, I must,Shèngshàng; it is only right."

"Then, please, use something less formal."

"I know not of any other way than formal, Shèngshàng."

Xiao Yu—it was Emperor Yu; she must remember that now—tsked and stood. She kept her gaze down, eyes trained on the floor. She did not look up as he glanced at all his spectators. As such, she missed the distaste on his face, the scowl that marred his jovial expression.

"All of you: leave," came his command, and the room soon emptied.

She did not see the confused expressions or the looks of displeasure directed towards her. Perhaps they had been wanting to see her, the uncultured peasant girl, do something wrong. To see her slip up, and prove her status in life. She doubted they were not aware of why she had been called; it was said that the court's ladies were as infamous for their gossip as old women in markets were. Though, she noted, they were much more pleasing to look at.

Again, Yu got down to his knees in front of her, this time extending a hand for her to take. She glanced at it, gaze returning to the floor soon after, and accepted the hand given to her. Ju Li refused to look up, still, as he helped her to her feet.

"Do you not look at me," he questioned.

"Only if you wish it so,Shèngshàng," she replied.

"Then, please, look at me."

At his request, she raised her head. Her expression remained indifferent, a perfect mask of composure that hid the hurt and anger the brewed beneath its surface. He seemed pleased with her compliance, the ghost of his smile appearing on his lips. She marveled at how easily he could show her such expression, before reeling in the thought. He could very well still be deceiving her, even in this moment of supposed privacy.

"I apologize for not revealing who I was earlier," he stated, his lips twitching downward for a moment.

"It is fine. I am sure you had your reasons,Shèngshàng."

"Call me as you did before."

"I do not understand this request."

"Call me Xiao Yu."

He dared to ask such a thing of her. Ju Li bit back a venomous comment, teeth clenching around the inside of her cheek. As much as she wanted—needed—to feel the satisfaction of wounding him with her words, it would not be right. While she did not mean it, it was probably true that he had his reasons for not telling her. She had thought the such a thing on many occasions, but her bitterness had beaten it from her mind much the same as it did now.

"Xiao Yu."

"Yes?"

"You said you wanted me to call you Xiao Yu."

"Oh, I did."

Silence took hold of them for a moment, one regarding the other affectionately while the other looked on unaffected. Ju Li wished to jerk her hand away from him, as he still had a hold over it, but refrained. Etiquette, respect; they were burdensome things in this very moment. His gaze dropped to her hand in his, and he lifted it up to press his lips against.

"Your hands are very soft."

"I have not worked for a week."

"Why not?"

"Because I was coming to see you."

"Is that so."

"Yes."

"Did your family not allow you to be at the stall?"

"No; Mother said I should stay home."

"Well, I thank you mother."

"I will be sure to let her know."

A beat passed, and she thought then to be an appropriate time for her to slip her hand out of his grasp. Gingerly, as if dealing with a sleeping bear, she uncoiled his fingers from around her wrist and brought it slowly back into her billowing sleeve. It was shame that she had only to wear this clothing here in this moment, only for it to be locked away once more.

They shared a look, a misinterpretation on both parties' parts, and Yu rushed to speak first.

"About your invitation," he began, "I hope that you have made your decision."

"Yes, I have," she responded, nodding slightly. She turned to look away from him then, his hopeful gaze unbearable.

"And?"

"I will not be accepting your invitation."

// did she just refuse the emperor? well, shit. any ideas of how he'll react? please point out if you see anything wrong with the story (structuring, pace, etc.), as it'll help improve the story. I wanna thank everyone again for reading so far, and hope you're enjoying it ^-^ cheers, rem.