Xia Yehui, Fourth Prince of the Xia Kingdom, liked being in control. 

Indeed, he considered himself a control freak of sorts – a byproduct of the ruthless environment of the imperial palace. He liked to have his entire day planned out: know who he needed to meet for the day and know where he was going. Uncertainty was equivalent to a death sentence in the imperial palace, and Yehui could not die. 

Not just yet. 

So why did he rescue that boy last night? 

It was a question that Yehui had asked himself a million times over last night.

He had plucked him straight from the jaws of death for no explainable reason and did so with an odd sense of urgency in his chest. It was as if that boy – even from so far away – had beckoned him closer, taken control of Yehui, and molded him to his whims. How else would that boy have survived last night? 

Even now, that boy plagued Yehui’s thoughts. 

He cursed.

It was a question he still did not have the answer to. 

Perhaps a momentary lapse of judgment – an impulse – made him do it. Or perhaps there was something more, a higher calling, a force, that had drawn him into the arena when he would’ve otherwise not entered such a place unless he had specific business to tend to. 

Perhaps it was…destiny.

But destiny would mean that it was something out of his control, and Yehui believed that everything was controllable – actions, emotions, thoughts. It was hard, yes, but not entirely impossible. 

He needed to get his mind off of it – off of the boy and last night’s events. The boy was nagging his thoughts, poking at his composed self and he hated it. 

He exhaled and called for Tiewei. 

His subordinate was instantly at his side. "My prince, what do you need of me?”

But Yehui didn’t need anything from Tiewei. He cursed again. The boy was affecting him much more than he’d like to admit. "Nothing. You must’ve heard incorrectly. You may resume your duties.” 

Tiewei cocked his head to the side. In all his fifteen years of serving his prince, his prince had never once made a mistake. He’d clearly heard Yehui call for him. 

How strange. 

But Tiewei was in no position to question his prince, so he bowed his head lightly in acknowledgement and returned to his post outside.

Again, that same nightmare reigned in Xuhong’s dreams last night. He was in the desert again, scorched feet running across hot, gritty sand, and even though his eyes burned, throat seared, and lungs ached, he couldn’t stop – wasn’t allowed to –  because that voice kept urging and pushing him on. 

There was no rest to be found either asleep or awake. 

So as Xuhong stood in the side courtyard of the Fourth Prince’s residence, half-listening to the head housekeeper’s instructions, his thoughts kept drifting back to his nightmare. He must’ve looked unfocused because Shengsheng poked his side harshly, effectively startling him from his thoughts. 

He let out a small squeak, trying to look inconspicuous when a few servants nearby turned towards him. “W-What?” he whispered. 

“Are you paying attention?” she muttered furtively. 

“O-Of course I am!” 

Shengsheng narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t–” 

The head housekeeper cleared her throat, turning her sharp gaze to Xuhong. She walked over, strides heavy despite her small stature. 

Xuhong groaned. His first day and he was already being singled out. How lovely. 

“Since you already seem to be very well acquainted with the rules and instructions of the fourth prince’s residence, why don’t you serve the fourth prince today?”

Xuhong kept his gaze averted, head low and nodded in meek acceptance. He didn’t really want to serve the prince since he’d much rather stay out of any gossip or important person’s attentions. He’d also heard that despite his handsome face, the fourth prince was an extremely strict person who did not tolerate any mistakes, but it wouldn’t do to attract any more attention than he already had so Xuhong had no other choice but to accept. 

Xuhong sighed. How would he know how to serve the prince of a country when he couldn’t even remember who he was or what he was doing a few days ago? The head housekeeper’s assignment was clearly just an indirect way to punish Xuhong through the fourth prince.  

The housekeeper smirked at Xuhong before finishing her instructions and dismissing everyone. 

"Xuhong, I'm so sorry!" Shengsheng was contrite and her complexion was pale with worry. 

Xuhong shook his head. “It’s not your fault, don’t worry. Something like this was bound to happen sooner or later. Just properly do your tasks for today, and I’ll try to catch up with you sometime later.” 

Shengsheng gave him a long face, eyes wavering, before leaving to follow a couple of other servants. The head housekeeper gestured for Xuhong to follow her so he did. 

It was time to confront his savior again. 

Xia Yehui, the Xia Kingdom’s Fourth Prince.