The bustling streets of Xianzhou were alive with vibrant lanterns, cascading silk banners, and the hum of lively chatter. The scent of sweet mooncakes, roasted chestnuts, and spicy noodles mingled in the air. The Celestial Blessing Festival had transformed the city into a glowing canvas of light and sound—a sacred time when, as legend had it, the divine realm drew nearest to the mortal plane.
Scene 1: A Clash of Fates (Devran & Tianlan's Second Meeting)
Devran moved through the throng with silent irritation. Firecrackers snapped nearby, making his left eye twitch. He wasn't one for celebrations, especially not those cloaked in divine promises. What good were celestial blessings when the world still bowed to power, not virtue?
He rounded a corner, eyes locked on a weapons vendor's banner in the distance, when he collided—hard—into someone.
"Ugh! Can't you watch where you're going, oaf?" came the sharp, icy voice.
Devran's jaw clenched. That voice again.
He looked up to meet Tianlan's familiar scowl. Tall, graceful, with every hair in place as if he'd been sculpted for a silk painting. Tianlan, son of Xianzhou's richest merchant lord, had the air of nobility without the blood. His clothes were woven from the finest cloud-weave, his demeanor colder than an alpine peak.
"You again," Devran muttered. "Wonderful. Just what I needed to ruin my night."
Tianlan dusted his sleeve as if touching Devran had contaminated him. "Still roaming around like a wild mutt, I see. Haven't learned to walk straight?"
"I walk just fine. Maybe your over-polished shoes made the ground slippery."
Tianlan sniffed. "Your attitude is as uncultivated as your fighting stance."
"And you're as smug as ever. Must be exhausting holding your nose that high."
Before their verbal jabs could escalate, a warm laugh echoed nearby.
"Ah, fate must be having fun tonight," came Saanvi's amused voice as she appeared between them, balancing several sticks of candied lotus roots and a bag of festival trinkets.
She eyed them both, then smiled like a fox. "Still bickering like children, I see."
"We are not together," they snapped in perfect unison.
Saanvi raised an eyebrow. "Funny how often you keep bumping into each other. You sure the stars aren't plotting something?"
Tianlan folded his arms. "I don't believe in fate."
Devran smirked. "Or anything outside his father's merchant books."
Tianlan's eyes narrowed. "At least I can read."
"Hey! I can read!" Devran pointed a finger at him. "Just... not your snooty language."
Saanvi giggled. "You two are so entertaining. Shall I fetch some popcorn?"
They glared at her, then at each other.
Above them, the lanterns shimmered, and just for a moment, the invisible threads of fate trembled—a soft hum only the heavens could hear.
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Scene 2: A Stormy Rivalry (Wei Zhan & Xie Lian's Festival Encounter)
On the quieter side of the market, Prince Wei Zhan stood with arms crossed, the corners of his royal cloak fluttering gently. His sharp gaze swept the crowd, though his expression suggested he'd rather be anywhere else.
He took a measured sip of plum tea. Peace, finally.
"Your Highness! There you are!"
Wei Zhan nearly choked.
Xie Lian emerged from the crowd, waving enthusiastically, holding two skewers of sugar-coated fruits. His dark armor gleamed under the lanterns, ceremonial but lightly worn, a contrast to his cheerfully boyish face.
"Bodyguard shouldn't be this cheerful," Wei Zhan muttered under his breath.
Xie Lian beamed. "Look what I got! Red hawthorn berries, your favorite."
"I don't eat sweets," Wei Zhan said, turning his back.
"Sure you don't." Xie Lian shoved a skewer into his hand anyway. "Eat it before it melts."
Wei Zhan took a slow bite, eyes narrowed. "I hate this."
Xie Lian grinned. "Your face says otherwise."
Wei Zhan didn't respond. He bit again, aggressively.
Xie Lian leaned in. "You know, most princes would thank their loyal guards. Especially charming ones like me."
"You were late yesterday."
"I was buying you sweets!"
"Excuse denied."
Xie Lian sighed dramatically. "You wound me, Your Highness. I'm trying to be romantic and all you give me are scowls."
"We're in public," Wei Zhan growled. "Behave."
"I'm the model of restraint."
"You once climbed the palace roof because you saw a cat."
"It was adorable."
Wei Zhan groaned, already regretting every decision that led to hiring him.
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Scene 3: Saanvi's Unexpected Run-In
Saanvi strolled through the crowd, happily munching on sesame balls, when she caught sight of a familiar head of silver hair.
"Oho~ Is that... Prince Wei Zhan?" she muttered to herself.
She skipped over with excitement. "Prince Zhan! I didn't expect to see you here."
Wei Zhan stiffened. "Miss Saanvi."
Xie Lian blinked. "You know each other?"
"She's from the Oracle Hall," Wei Zhan replied curtly. "Advisor to the temples."
Saanvi extended a hand toward Xie Lian. "And you are?"
Xie Lian gave a half-bow. "Xie Lian. Royal Guard and Professional Sugar-Coated Fruit Connoisseur."
She laughed. "That's quite a title."
Wei Zhan coughed. "Don't encourage him."
"Too late," Saanvi grinned. "He's more fun than you."
Xie Lian gasped. "At last! Someone who sees my worth."
"More like your ability to annoy royalty," Wei Zhan muttered.
Saanvi leaned toward Xie Lian. "So, are you always this... enthusiastic?"
"Only when I meet beautiful people with dangerous smiles," he replied smoothly.
Saanvi laughed louder this time. "Careful, I bite."
Wei Zhan groaned. "Why me?"
"Because the heavens enjoy irony," Saanvi winked.
They walked together through the lanterns, conversation flowing. Saanvi found herself surprisingly charmed by Xie Lian's easy humor.
"So," she asked, "How did you end up as a bodyguard?"
Xie Lian rubbed his neck. "Saved the prince from an assassin. Got stuck with him as a reward."
"You're exaggerating," Wei Zhan cut in.
"Barely. You screamed."
"I was startled."
Saanvi clapped. "Oh, I like you two already. Such delightful tension."
Wei Zhan turned to her with a sigh. "You're as troublesome as he is."
"That's the nicest thing a prince has ever said to me."
---
Scene 4: Saanvi's Observations
As they strolled beneath glowing ribbons of light, Saanvi watched the dynamics unfold—Tianlan glaring daggers at Devran across the square, Wei Zhan trying and failing to ignore Xie Lian, and herself caught in the center of it all.
She grinned. "Oh yes. This is going to be fun."
Fate, it seemed, was weaving a very entertaining tale.
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