51- See You

The sun finally rises, every one in Hua Palace is strained including the crown prince. Tutu enters the chamber first to see.

"Good morning my lady." She greets her.

"Good morning." Consort Hua smiles. "The gods are good, don't they?"

"Of course my lady."

"But today might be the last time they are this generous."

"Don't say that my lady, there's still hope."

"Tutu, I have done hoping." She smiles. "Take the best hanfu I own and the grandest jewelry. I want to look good today."

"My lady.." Tutu understand what the consort mean, but she is not ready yet.

"Tutu, today, don't disprove me."

"Zhi." Tutu nods sadly and takes the things that Consort Hua instructed.

Light pink hanfu with green details. Her hairpins are beautiful but not over the top. Tutu helps her to do her hair elegantly. With simple and natural make up, Consort Hua looks like a goddess.

"My lady looks amazing today." Tutu compliments her.

"Thank you."

"My lady, the crown prince would like to meet you."

"I will meet him in my pavilion."

"Zhi."

-

It is quite at the pavilion. Beautiful cherry blossom is blooming around the pond. The crown prince walks closer to her, anticipating.

"Good morning, Hua Xiao Tan." He smiles.

"Ask me."

"Huh?"

"Everything. Everything that you want to know." Consort Hua is referring to his 'I don't know' calligraphy.

"There's no need, I figured it out already." He picks up a flower and place it on his hand, looking at it carefully.

"What do you think of me?"

"The flower* is beautiful today." *Hua means flower. 花

"Yeah."

"..."

"Can you give me an answer? About what I told you yesterday."

"Consort Hua.. this.."

The consort smiles, she understands. He doesn't like her back. She gulps because her heart is secretly sinking.

"Do you think I look good?" Her heart hurts so much but she tries to act tough.

"Even a blind person couldn't deny your beauty."

She smiles hurtfully. "I know. I know that." For once, she wants to be more than just a beautiful face, but she is only that after all.

"I wish I have more time to know you. You are the toughest person I know."

After he says that, the consort falls down.

"Are you okay?!" He panicks.

"I'm happy that in my last days, I can meet you."

"Consort Hua!"

"Thank you for teaching me about love.." fresh blood is dripping from her mouth. Her breath is unsteady and heavy.

"Thank you for listening to me..than-"

"Sst." He places his finger on her lips. "You have done good Hua Xiao Tan." He says sincerely.

Smile grows on her face. She finally realizes, that is everything that she wants to hear. Now she is ready to go.

"Let's meet again in our next life. And then I will still fall..in love.. to you."

"And I will do the same."

"Promise me."

"I promise you."

"See you, crown prince." She exhales her last breath. A feeling of relief and satisfaction at her last moment really shows on her dead face. Consort Hua passed away smiling, happier than almost her whole time living.

___

"Please forgive those servant for disturbing the dragon's peace."

"What brings you here?" The emperor and empress is sitting facing the beautiful river that time, annoyed by the servant.

"This servant needs to deliver a big news, your majesty."

"What is that?"

"Consort Hua, she passed away."

"What?!" The emperor is truly shocked, he stands and holds his head.

The poor servant can only stare at the ground, this is not just a concubine, it is Consort Hua.

"It's not possible, she is very healthy.. and young.." the empress says sadly.

"Get ready to go back. You! Help the empress to prepare." His heart is beating so fast and his blood is boiling.

"Zhi."

He might not be in love with her, but Consort Hua is a good companion and she's always giving him positive energy. He feels sorry and sad to lose her.

The horse ride home is tense and quite. The emperor just don't want to believe that it is true. The sun already sets by the time they reach the forbidden kingdom. Surely the emperor won't waste a single second lurking around. He goes straight to The Hua Palace and then it hits him.

White flags hanged all over the palace. Crying servants worsen the already dark atmosphere.

"She's gone.." he says quietly.

The emperor falls to his knee. How could this be?

The empress comes a bit later. When she arrives she sees the emperor on the ground, probably not in his right mind.

"I'm sorry." The empress says trying to calm him down.

"Lu Yu-a I can't believe it.. How? Why?"

".." she strokes him lightly.

"She's not like this.. she's always so positive and bright.."

The empress thinks it must be hard for him to let everything sinks in. He spent a lot of time with Consort Hua after all. She couldn't say anything, only empathizing silently.

"She is the most dedicated person I met. She knows what her goal is and she won't stop halfway."

The empress nods.

"I admire her." He admits. For an emperor to say such words is a dead giveaway.

He truly respects Consort Hua as a person. Because deep down he knows that she is not what everyone thought she is. A fighter, for her family's dignity.

"Prepare for the funeral!"

"Zhi."

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