To say he was having trouble keeping a close eye on his egg was an understatement, after all, running a whole empire wasn’t a part time job.

So on that fateful day when his egg had been stolen from the nestling royal chambers he was absolutely devastated. The horror that he had finally made an egg without a partner which took infinitely times longer than the normal way to only have his own child taken from the most secure place in the whole palace made him want to tear apart the whole empire.

But if he did that he would never find them again, would never know if they were a prince or princess, would live lonely for the rest of his immortal lifetime.

No, he had to keep hope, he had to find them, whatever it cost.

———- Years later ———-

You wondered through the grand imperial palace gates that towered over your head in red wood. This was your biggest hire yet, one of the greatest achievements of your whole life. A general residing in the outer court had hired you to paint him a scenery of the imperial gardens, only a few hundred people every lifetime were allowed to see such a sight.

It was after all, only ment for royals to step food inside.

You of course would be standing on a walkway on the edge of the gardens painting what you saw. Regardless, this was not an opportunity to miss and would ensure people from all over would want you to personally paint masterpieces for them.

You couldn’t wait to get started.

—— some time later——

You stormed out of the room where you had met face to face with the general, beyond furious. The damned general lied to you, it was only for a courtyard painting of one of his mistresses that his wife didn’t know about.

And you had brought your good painting tools today aswell. Such a-

A flicker of light caught your attention once you left the building. This was an area right outside the inner court of the imperial palace, so seeing the glint of gold from towering walls didn’t surprise you, however what did get your attention was one of the side doors the servants used to get around was open, and low and behold right behind it was plants.

It was the imperial gardens.

Without thinking about the consequences you rushed for the door with all your equipment in hand before anyone would notice and shut it behind you.

Your body felt a little itchy once you entered but the view you saw was worth it. It was a jungle paradise, plants from all over were shattered without a care everywhere. But it looked natural, real.

You dropped your equipment and looked around dazed. The itching on your skin felt worse, but it was probably be because of the humidity.

Only the Phoenix Emperor himself, Emperor Feng, was allowed in these very gardens, after all it was considered rude for anyone aside from an actual Phoenix to enter here.

Punishment be damned this was worth.