Misfortune has reached the Forbidden City. A curse takes hold of the life of An, the Emperor's wife and beloved Empress of the kingdom. Time is running out, but there is still hope. A sage of questionable origin declared that the only salvation lies in the feather of the legendary Fenghuang; the real challenge is to find it within a limited period. Yun, the youngest son of the Qing dynasty, decides to embark on this risky mission, armed with nothing more than an ancient riddle as a clue. With the unexpected, and perhaps not-so-welcome help of Wu Siu, a girl from a small and remote village, he hopes to rescue his mother before it's too late. However, there will be a secret hidden behind this whole predicament. An ancient war between mythical creatures will reignite after thousands of years. The Fenghuang and the Dragon are about to rise from the ashes. Will they manage to rekindle their love after their legendary tragedies?
"My dear pupils, today we will talk about our protective and sacred beings. Our people have grown under the care of many spirits that watch over us at all times. That's why China feels blessed every time we visit the temples and pray to these magnanimous beings of light. Young Shun, could you start the reading?"
The boy cleared his throat, stood up, and began to read the scriptures.
"Fenghuang... the legendary and sacred bird par excellence for the people of China. It is said that this mythical creature represents the unity of all peoples since ancient times. It also has the reputation of bringing good luck to anyone who believes in it, which is why many people have placed its image in the great temples and also on the altars of their homes to seek protection. It is also a custom to use jade pendants with the image of the Fenghuang for protection while away from home."
"That's all, Prince Shun. Now it's your turn to continue the reading, Prince Jin," said the Laoshi* of the three young rulers of the Forbidden City.
"But of course..."
"Wait, wait, please, Laoshi. Let it be my turn, okay?" Yun intervened, raising his hand insistently.
"Young prince, you have to wait for your turn. Things can't always be the way you want," he gently lectured. "That's not what Father tells me when I ask for something," Yun pouted.
"Ugh... all right, go ahead," the Laoshi conceded, resigned. It was always the same with the youngest of the Qing.
"You're spoiled child and capricious, brother," Shun huffed, the eldest of the three.
"Shut up and listen to the reading," Yun retorted and cleared his throat. "It is also said that since ancient times, the Fenghuang is the protector of the Empress, being her amulet of good luck at all times."
"Very well, that's enough, Yun. Now it's Jin's turn." The Laoshi interrupted the reading.
"But I've only just started!" Yun protested.
"You know that when you take your brothers' turn, I shorten your time," he warned, looking at the young boy with authority, signaling him to pass the book to his brother.
"It's not fair." Grudgingly, he handed over the book and crossed his arms.
"Continue, Jin, please. We're listening," the Laoshi clasped his hands together, paying attention to the prince.
"Okay," Prince Jin smiled and continued the reading. "The significance of the Fenghuang is entirely positive for the Chinese people and represents honesty and loyalty, especially when its image is present in a household. Additionally, its spirit is only present when the ruler is just and there is no corruption involved. It is said that the Fenghuang possesses the five colors of the elements, which are..."
The young prince stopped paying attention to the reading and looked towards the large window as the gentle breeze swayed the cream-colored curtains in the study hall. Suddenly, a colorful flash faster than lightning passed before his eyes, filling his soul with curiosity instantly.
Yun turned to look at his brother Jin, who was engrossed in his reading turn. Then he glanced at Shun, who, like a good student, was taking notes in his notebook, and the Laoshi was simply observing the one who was supposed to be reading at that moment. He was truly proud of his royal pupils.
Without a second thought, the youngest prince quietly got up from the table to go unnoticed, tiptoed out of the room, avoiding a few guards and servants by hiding behind furniture, vases, and ornate columns of the palace. Those were the advantages of being small, but it didn't spare him from feeling the fear he knew as disobedience.
In a dash, he put on his sandals, which were right in front of the door leading outside, next to his brothers', and headed towards the backyard garden where he had seen that strange flash. He wandered around but, unfortunately, saw nothing. Perhaps his eyes played a trick on him, and it was indeed just lightning. Disappointed, he slowly made his way back inside the palace.
He was almost at the main door when he saw it again, shimmering with a warm and gentle light from above, precisely from the crown of that pink tree, as ancient as it was beautiful. Without a second thought, Yun ran towards that cherry tree, which, to the child, was as tall as the sky. He looked up, and a hint of vertigo filled his senses. He swallowed hard, but no discomfort would stop him from reaching that shimmer that seemed to be calling him.
He climbed as best as he could and spotted the luminous aura at the top of the tree or... perhaps even higher. Every now and then, he looked down; there was no way he could move forward. This was beginning to frustrate him greatly. He didn't intend to stay at the foot of the tree; the need for discovery was greater than he could imagine because in a matter of minutes, he had already climbed halfway up the tree. Yun felt that with each step, he was getting closer. Something told him that he was very close to finding out what that light was that seemed to call him.
"Why did you suddenly leave the class, young prince?" The Laoshi looked down at him with a challenging gaze.
"It's just that... you wouldn't believe what..."
"Just come down now, or the Emperor will be angry with me if he sees you out here instead of in class," the Laoshi scolded the little prince, and he immediately climbed down, feeling like he had missed something exciting. "Let's go inside." The Laoshi gave him a gentle push to encourage him to enter the palace. "The reading is not over yet, and it's your turn to continue, just as you wanted."
Meanwhile, high in the cherry tree, one of the oldest trees in the palace, a bird with red feathers and a long, colorful tail watched as the little prince entered his home, and its feathers sparkled again in the light of the evening.
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Glossary:
Laoshi: teacher or tutor.
Fenghuang: Chinese phoenix bird.
Daniel Busch, a successful businessman, has an important meeting with his former lover and business rival at the restaurant where the young girl works. Despite wanting nothing to do with love anymore, Daniel becomes captivated by Ava's beauty and charms. Daniel proposes a convenient arrangement: he will help her pay off the debts in exchange for her posing as his fiancée for a month and then marrying him to satisfy his demanding and wealthy family. Now, Daniel and Ava must face together the consequences of their decisions and fight for the love they've found along the way.
Despite being an illegitimate daughter, Lena bore a striking resemblance to the young lady of the Evans family. Faced with their threats, she was forced to take her half-sister’s place and marry Dylan. As an act of defiance, Lena seduced Dylan night after night, until she had him completely wrapped around her finger. Using his affections to her advantage, she set out to undermine the Evans family. Over time, Dylan began to notice something odd about his beloved wife...
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
Mia's life is spiraling out of control. Abandoned by her mother, bullied mercilessly at school, and thrown into a household of four dangerously attractive stepbrothers, she's desperate to find her footing. "You look absolutely edible," Sean growled, his eyes devouring her. Mia felt a rush of heat between her thighs "Oh, you think so?" she purred, turning to face him. She reached out and traced her fingers along the ribbon that wrapped around his waist. "Well, I've been waiting for this all day. And I'm starving." Sean's smile grew into a predatory grin. "Then let us feast," he said, and in a flash, the ribbon fell away, exposing his rock-hard length. He stepped closer, and Mia felt the warmth of his breath on her face as he whispered, "You're going to take every inch of us tonight, aren't you?" With Rolex's teasing smirk and Sean's quiet, hot stares, Mia doesn't know where to turn-or who to trust. Every glance, every touch leaves her breathless, confused, and craving more than she should. Will Mia survive their games, or will she lose herself in a dangerous world of secrets, seduction, and forbidden desire? One house. Four brothers. Endless temptation.
Sequel to chasing my estranged wife; I want you back. ******** " You promised me!'' I screamed. "You promised that you wouldn't hurt me, you made the vows that you would stand beside me, Ryan, and what did you do? You broke me into smithereens. I don't want anything to do with you anymore. When I said we were done. I meant it!" Falling in love with him had come in a whirlwind, she couldn't account for how exactly it had happened but what she knew was that she didn't want to let go once she was in. For Ryan, when he made a vow, he had meant it, but nothing had told him about marriage, that it wasn't just a bed of roses, but it had thorns in it as well. When secrets piled up between them and vows broken, they had no choice but to let go of each other, but years later, he wanted her back. Like the air he breathed, he chased after her, but she was gone. Left with the remnants of his actions, he is torn between getting her back and damning all consequences or letting go of her and his children, which would it be?
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."