Meilin's POV

2 years ago (Red Phoenix district)                                                                                                               

**Alert=an important chapter

The rain poured onto me in small droplets making me somnolent with the soft music it was creating. A cold wind swept over my body bringing with it the soothing fragrance of petrichor and mist. 

 I let the cold atmosphere embrace me tightly which filled me with contempt and ease. The cold was the only thing I enjoyed and I never thought of it as an encumbrance. Maybe its because I was the same.

 After all, I was Meilin, the cold emperor who everybody fears. My life was a cold entity and I could find no light or warmth to unfreeze my frozen empty heart.   

The icy raindrops started to grow heavier.  They splashed water all over the wooden bridge while also wetting my shoes in the process. I looked over at the river which was flowing with a heavy current, unlike its usual calm self. The river had turned dark and ferocious, just the way I liked it to be.

"My lord you're getting wet," Fen Wu took out a red bamboo umbrella and held it above me.

"Lord Meilin, I think we should head off now," Qing Xiao who was silently standing beside me too added up.

"No. The rain is not that heavy. I want to stay here a little longer," I objected.

"As you like my lord," both of them replied in unison.

Fen Wu and Qing Xiao, my most trusted guards who are heavenly martial guardians would always stand beside me, whether it be life or death.

Ever since their ascension to immortality, they never backed off from serving me which made them my most trusted loyal subjects. 

And now as well, they were standing with me under the pouring rain, not minding the water dripping along their body.

.   .     .

"My lord, don't you think that it is time for you to come back to Xia Liu? It has been a long time and its okay to just pay a visit," Fen Wu blinked at me with hope as droplets of rainwater rolled down his face.

"You are not happy here and don't you think it is time for you to find a fair confidante to lead a happy life together?

You can't keep dwelling in the past tragic memories, my lord. You can't change what happened and I don't like seeing you like this," Feng Wu's voice had become sad which made me look away from the darkening river and stare at his concern filled eyes. 

"You don't like seeing me like what Fen Wu? Hm? Being cold, strict, emotionless?

Well, this is the way I am. In all these 400 years, this is the way I was, so nothing has changed."

"And a fair confidante, don't ever mention it again," I gave him a glare.

"Your majesty, I have never seen you smile. You don't talk much. And there's this cold aura around you that stops people from coming near you. 

I hope you will find your fated one so that your life will finally be happy. Who knows, maybe you will find him again if you keep searching," it was silent Qing Xiao who talked this time. I couldn't understand what was wrong with him today that made him less silent.

Fen Wu: " 'Him'? You mean the immortal of peach blossoms--the former heavenly prince? Your majesty, actually, it is possible for him to have reincarnated. He could even be a mortal. You could really meet him again."

---

No. I don't think I'll ever be meeting him again. I've searched for him through all these years, trying to contact his soul but nothing.

It was true that 400 years ago, I fell in love with him, the son of the heavenly emperor. But what I had was an unrequited love and I was never confident enough to share my true feelings with him. We were just simple acquaintances and had nothing deeper than that. Still, I didn't stop desiring him.

But after that monstrous tragedy that shocked the heavens, I lost the little light I had in my dark empty life. From that point onwards, my life became a minefield. I hoped that someday we might meet each other again but that never happened. It never will.

"Stop your foolish talks! I don't want to talk about it!" I was angry. The memories of his face shook me into madness and I never wanted to experience that pain and torment again. The undying pain that shattered my soul.

"I'm leaving. You're off for the day," I snatched the umbrella from Fen Wu's hand and walked away.

"Wait, your majesty!", both of them yelled in sync.

"Shh! Do you want the general public to know my true identity by yelling like that?

And don't follow me. I am a heavenly king which means I'm capable to take care of myself. Both of you may leave."

Ignoring them, I walked along the bridge, lost in my own thoughts as the shower of rain started to slow down.

Why have I been searching for him endlessly when I can't get any response from his spirit? The answer was obviously clear. It was my obsession towards that unfulfilled love. Because how can I forget? Many people come and go but only him, I cannot forget. 

The emptiness started to consume me again by poisoning my mind with an unabated vulnerability. 

I had to divert my thoughts away from him at all costs, or else the sickening pain would take control of me again.

As a precaution, I glimpsed at the people passing by who didn't notice who I really was. I was neatly dressed as a simple nobleman to hide my identity and it really did pay off. 

It was while my eyes were sweeping across the different people that I saw him.

Him,

the boy who was approaching me from the opposite direction of the bridge. 

Something about him made me feel very intense. An unknown attraction pulled me to him driven by a deep ulterior fascination.

He was dressed in a peach colored hanfu which was woven with the finest silk. It added up a beautiful image to his body. Surprisingly, I had never seen a single woman with such a detailed exotic outline before.

He was holding up an amethyst colored umbrella that had a prettily drawn flower pattern covering its thick canvas. It made him look more eloquent and ostentatious.

But what I couldn't ponder over was why he was wearing a veil. A man wearing a veil in public was not a common sight. 

This boy, who looked like he was eighteen years old was wearing male robes topped with a feminine veil and was walking like there was no problem at all. 

He walked with diligence as the little drops of rainwater bumped onto his umbrella and sprinkled around him daring not to touch him with a cold grasp.

The occasional wind cunningly lifted a bit of his veil, revealing a set of hibiscus tinged plump lips. The sight of his red rosy lips which highlighted his pale skin created a desire in me. A desire to sneak a peek at the rest of his beautiful face hidden behind the mystic veil. To be honest, he looked more feminine and beautiful than any of the women out there.

I couldn't take my eyes away from him. I was entranced.

I had every intention to minimize the gap between us. I wanted to feel his breath, I wanted to feel his touch and I wanted to see his ravishing face and enjoy his beauty all for myself.

 I had never felt this way before. I had never felt such a deep urge to obtain something. 

This unknown feeling burning within me reminded me of him. The past locked sentiments which were trapped in a deep slumber were reawakening again.

'It is possible for him to have reincarnated,' Fen Wu's statement remained in my memory as a constant reminder. And could it really have some probability?

The boy's shoulder slightly brushed against mine as he walked past me. Ignoring me as if I didn't exist in his presence, he didn't even care to throw a look at me.

I could smell the soft fragrance of peach blossoms on him as he passed me by. That gentle scent reminded me of something.

It was a dream I had. In it, hills were clothed with colorful blossoms. A long gone lover existed once more.

Was this fated meeting a dream or was it real?

All my answers lay in this beautiful secretive boy.

But when I turned around to look for him, he was already gone. I was too late and the rain too picked up its speed as if to share my despair.

The stygian sky turned murky. The caliginous breeze circling around me became more benumbed. 

I let the umbrella fall from my grasp as the rain attacked my body viciously.

Silver's notes= 

*Reincarnation=the rebirth of a soul in another body

So, who is the boy wearing the veil? urgg coughs coughs I think you already know? hehe ;) This is Meilin's first POV and I hope that you enjoyed it. And how was the song? I like the eastern musical notes that progress in it. 

And, two updates in one day! You can check out Meilin's character art in the next chapter. It's a special gift for you guys. :)