A Love Written In The Stars

Prince Yizong stood motionless in the palace courtyard, his shoulders slumped with shame and regret. He had deeply hurt Princess Xin Yi, and he had to face her and ask for forgiveness.

He approached her handmaid, Ai Ning, who stood near the entrance to Xin Yi's chambers.

"Please inform Lady Xin Yi once more that I wish to see her,"

Ai Ning curtsied and left, but when she returned, her expression was grave. "Forgive me, my prince, but Lady Xin Yi declines your visit. She wishes not to be disturbed further."

Yizong's heart grew heavier at those words.

But he couldn't force himself to leave. His worry for Xin Yi outweighed his hesitation. Breaking protocol, Yizong went to her chamber, the door creaking softly as he pulled it open.

Inside, he found Princess Xin Yi, her back to him, gathering her shawl and a small bundle of valuables. It was clear she was preparing to leave.

"Are you leaving?" Yizong's voice quivered, revealing the desperation he struggled to conceal.

Xin Yi froze for a moment, her fingers tightening around the edge of her shawl. Then, as though he hadn't spoken, she continued her task.

"Xin Yi, please," Yizong began, stepping closer. "What I did was inexcusable. I never meant to hurt you, but I have, and for that, I am truly sorry. You did not deserve such dishonor."

She did not respond. Her silence was louder than any rebuke, and when he reached for her hands, she jerked away, still refusing to meet his gaze.

"My father summons me back," she said at last, "Once I leave these walls, I will return to my kingdom and resume my duties as princess."

Hearing her words, Yizong sank to his knees, his composure unraveling. A summons from her father at this moment could mean only one thing—news of his betrayal had reached her family, and the union was as good as dissolved. What had begun as a political alliance had grown into something far more personal for him. He had spent years persuading her father to grant him her hand in marriage, vowing total devotion, a promise he fully intended to honor out of genuine love for her. And now, with a single mistake, he stood on the brink of losing everything he had fought so hard to secure.

"Xin Yi, please… don't turn away from me. I know I have caused you pain.... and I take full responsibility. My actions were dishonorable, but... I...I....want to try to make amends."

Xin Yi drew in a shaky breath, a sob breaking free despite her attempts to stay strong. Angrily, she wiped her tears away with trembling hands, refusing to let him see her pain. Yet, when she finally turned to face him, her eyes were red, bimming with tears.

"Tell me truly," she demanded, "Who is she to you?"

Yizong hesitated, his gaze dropping. "Just someone I kno—"

"Don't!" she cut him off, "Don't tell me that, Yizong. Please, be honest with me."

He stood slowly, taking a tentative step toward her. "Xin Yi, she is someone I know, but not on a personal level."

Her eyes searched his face, looking for any sign of truth. "So you have no history with her?"

Yizong paused, the silence stretching longer than expected. He couldn't bring himself to answer, and in that moment, Xin Yi walked away, putting distance between them.

"Tell me,"

"the time you spent with her at the lantern festival—does that mean nothing to you?"

Yizong's face twisted in confusion as her words cut through him.

"Or those moments you shared in the palace? Do they hold no weight?"

"Xin Yi..."

"Yes, I know about all of those things," she replied sharply.

Her next words hit him like a physical blow. "And when you lay with Xiao—were you too drunk to know what you were doing? Were you unable to control yourself?"

Yizong faltered, the force of her question stealing the breath from his lungs. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips, sharp and full of pain. "So it was by your own choice, then. You sought her out and willingly dishonored both her and me."

Still, Yizong did not speak. What defense could he offer that would not deepen her pain? Every instinct urged him to soothe her, to plead for forgiveness, but he knew no words could undo the damage.

Xin Yi buried her face in her hands, her shoulders trembling as tears flowed unchecked. Then she looked at him again, "I thought… I thought you might at least.... Deny it, blame the wine, claim it was a mistake. But your silence confirms what I feared most."

"All this time," Xin Yi began, her voice barely audible, "I told myself our love was special. But to you, it meant nothing. I was just a diversion, wasn't I? Something temporary until someone more… suitable came along."

"Xin Yi, no—"

But she turned away from him, wrapping her arms tightly around herself. "Please, Yizong. Just leave me. I can't bear to look at you right now."

His heart shattered at her words. He took a step closer, then hesitated, unsure of what he could say or do to undo the damage. Slowly, reluctantly, he stepped back. "I am sorry," he said finally before turning and leaving the chamber.

Outside, Yizong leaned against the wall, his legs weak. He wiped angrily at the tears on his face, but they wouldn't stop. He didn't feel he deserved to cry, yet his sorrow was too much to bear. How could he have hurt her so badly—the one person he cared for more than anyone?

---

Hours later, Princess Xin Yi sat in her chamber, staring at the wavering flame of a single candle. The room was quiet, except for the occasional sound of the wind. Her mind went over Yizong's words, his silence, and the pain in his eyes.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her reverie. "Come in,"

To her surprise, Yizong entered again, his face pale.

"I know you asked me to leave," he said quietly, "but I couldn't. I can't let you leave without saying what's in my heart."

Xin Yi gazed down at the ground.

"I was wrong. I betrayed your trust, and I will regret it for the rest of my life. Xiao was… a mistake. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I need you to know that my feelings for you were never a lie. You mean everything to me, Xin Yi. If I could take back what I did, I would."

Xin Yi's expression softened for a brief moment, but her pain quickly returned. "Yizong, you tarnished our bond, our future. How am I supposed to trust you again?"

"You're right. I broke something precious, and I have no right to ask for another chance. But I will spend the rest of my life proving to you that I can be better, that I am not the man who hurt you."

Xin Yi studied him for a long time, her heart warring with itself. She wanted to believe him, but the wound was still fresh, the betrayal too raw.

Finally, she turned away. "I need time, Yizong."

Yizong nodded and said. "Take all the time you need. I'll wait for as long as it takes."

With that, he left.