Yao Shui found himself searching for comfort in your chambers every night, searching for it in you — his father's concubine.

His chest had always ached with this feeling of longing and despair. This pain seemed to be soothed the day you stepped foot into the palace, a gift from a minor aristocratic family that had been hoping to gain importance.

His father hadn't been particularly smitten with you, you were just another concubine to him. Yao Shui, however, had been unable to get his eyes off you since he saw your smile. You were such a beautiful being. Your presence was enough to make him forget his troubles.

He'd insisted on showing you around the palace and he kept visiting you every day after that. To make sure you were settling in nicely, he said, but really, it was a matter of time before he started getting lost in you in a way only the emperor should have.

"Don't go to him, I'll make something up."

He'd kept you away from his father since you got here, surely he could make up more excuses to keep you in his arms. Perhaps he could just tell his father the truth, that he wished you were his instead, that he wanted to marry you.

Besides you were far too young for the emperor, Yao Shui should be the only man in your mind and the only man to run his hands down your beautiful body, to kiss your soft lips and wake up in your arms.

"I'll send a message, I'll say you're sick or... I'll come up with something. Please, my dearest." He pleaded, pulling you onto his lap again. Honestly, he'd far rather run away with you than have to let you go entertain his father. The emperor had enough concubines anyway, he didn't need you. Yao Shui needed you.