Ao Bing stood at the edge of the grand halls, watching the banquet move like a tide—cups lifted and set down, sleeves billowing and settling, the rise and fall of courtly laughter that never quite reached him. On the dais, his father’s smile was a polished crest—perfect, distant, and unbroken, and Ao Bing found himself counting breaths to keep from bristling at the politics threaded through every toast. It should have been a night for pride. Instead, it felt like standing very still while the current chose a direction for him.

“Aren’t you glad you don’t have to be up there with your dad?”

Ao Bing turned, a smirk forming before he even saw her. The voice alone was enough to ease some of the tension that had settled in his chest.

“Sun Wukong.”

She stood beside him with her usual ease, hands tucked into the wide sleeves of her robes, her weight shifted lazily onto one leg. Sun Wukong was not like the others in the hall. Where the Celestial nobles and warriors sat rigid in their formal finery, she carried herself with the easy confidence of someone who had long stopped caring for the rules of polite society.

Her attire was elegant and refined—a flowing robe of deep crimson silk, embroidered with golden cloud patterns that shimmered depending on how the light hit them. A delicate golden sash cinched the fabric at her waist, accentuating the graceful lines of her form. Her dark hair had been intricately woven into an elegant updo, secured with golden hairpins shaped like curling flames, though a few defiant strands still framed her face, softening the sharpness of her features. A golden circlet rested upon her forehead, catching the warm glow of the lanterns, lending her an celestial air.

Looking at her now, one would never think she was one of the fiercest warriors in the Central Plains Army.

She was beautiful in a way that was both effortless and commanding. Her amber eyes—piercing and alive with mischief—held an intelligence sharper than any blade, her lips curled into a smile that was equal parts playful and knowing. There was a natural confidence to the way she carried herself, an ease that made her stand out even among the gathered deities and nobles.

And yet, Ao Bing knew the truth. Beneath the silks and gold, beneath the elegance and charm, was a warrior who had fought on the front lines, who had carved through the battlefield with a ferocity that left even the most seasoned soldiers in awe.

When Ao Bing first met her, she had been on assignment in the Eastern Sea, part of a Central Plains Army operation to oversee naval strategies and coastal defenses. She had been all sharp wit and reckless bravado, a soldier with an irreverence for authority that had both infuriated and entertained him. They had become fast friends, much to the bewilderment of those around them.

Seeing her now, in a hall full of politics and posturing, was like a breath of fresh air.

“You look surprised to see me,” she said, her grin widening.

“More like relieved.”

Despite her nonchalance, Ao Bing did take notice how she seemed to instantly blush as soon as she caught sight of his brother, the Crown Prince Ao Jia, from across the hall. Before he could make a joke at her expense, she asked, “Do you know anyone else here?”

Ao Bing shook his head. “Not really.”

She hummed, scanning the crowd “Have you seen the Third Prince?”

Ao Bing frowned. “Who?”

“Li Nezha. Emperor Li’s youngest son.”

He stiffened slightly at the name, though he wasn’t sure why. “I don’t know anyone from the Royal family here.”

Sun Wukong raised an eyebrow, studying him for a moment. “Hm. I figured you would have met him by now.”

Ao Bing scanned his memory. “Maybe I have, but I don’t recall that name specifically. I met a lot of Central Plains soldiers over the last five years.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Trust me, you’d remember him.”

Something in the way she said it made Ao Bing hesitate.

Suddenly, a figure came sprinting toward them. His orange-red robes were slightly disheveled, as if he had barely escaped some unseen catastrophe. Stray strands of disheveled black hair clung to his forehead, his entire demeanor radiating exasperation. His sharp, refined features, which might have given him an air of effortless charm in a calmer setting, were currently twisted into a desperate plea.

Without hesitation, he ducked behind Ao Bing.

“Please, save me,” he gasped.

Ao Bing blinked, completely unprepared for the sudden intrusion. “Excuse me?”

Before he could demand an explanation, a storm followed in the man’s wake.

A beautiful woman marched past them, her robes swirling behind her like a banner of impending doom. Her sharp gaze swept the crowd, a glare like a blade carving through the sea of guests. Fury radiated off her in waves, her carefully pinned hair only slightly askew, suggesting that she had still somehow maintained her dignity despite whatever catastrophe had unfolded before this moment. For a tense second, Ao Bing thought she might look their way.

But then, with a huff of frustration, she turned on her heel and strode off, her presence as thunderous in departure as it was in arrival.

Once she was gone, the man behind Ao Bing let out a dramatic sigh of relief, stepping forward as if he had narrowly escaped death itself. “Thanks. I owe you one.”

The man turned to face them, a boyish, lopsided grin stretched across his face as his eyes flashed in recognition. “Sun Wukong!”

Sun Wukong gawked at him, eyes flicking over his torn robes, the faint flush on his face from running. “And who was that lovely maiden whose wrath you seem to have incurred?”

"The Prime Minister’s daughter," he groaned. "I've tried being polite, I've tried ignoring her, and I even told her outright that I’m not looking for a relationship. But does that stop her?” He fixed his disheveled collar and straightened out his hair. “Do not let her appearance fool you, that woman is an absolute terror.”

Sun Wukong snorted, crossing her arms. "You are truly a gentleman."

Suddenly, the man stepped towards her and pulled her into a tight hug.

“It’s really good to see you, Sun Wukong.”

The sincerity in his tone caught even Sun Wukong off guard. Her teasing demeanor softened slightly, and she gave him a firm pat on the back before he pulled away.

“Good to see you as well, Your Highness,” she said gently.

His gaze flickered over to Ao Bing then, curiosity sharpening his expression. “Who’s your friend?”

For a moment, the two simply locked eyes.

And as the recognition registered, the air between them shifted.

“Jianyu?”

Ao Bing’s response was immediate, his tone matter-of-fact. “Zhenwei.”

Sun Wukong’s eyes darted between them. “Wait a minute. Ao Bing, you just told me you’ve never met Li Nezha?”

Before Ao Bing could respond, both men seemed to realize what names she had just called them. Before either of them could process what had just happened, a sharp, indignant huff cut through the noise of the banquet hall.

Li Nezha’s eyes went wide in sheer panic before he grabbed Ao Bing’s shoulders and ducked behind him once more, using the Dragon Prince as a human shield.

Ao Bing groaned in annoyance. “Are you serious?”

“Shh! She’s coming back,” Li Nezha hissed, gripping the fabric of Ao Bing’s sleeve like a lifeline.

Sure enough, the Prime Minister’s daughter was storming toward them, her elaborate robes billowing with determined fury. Her gaze sliced through the crowd, her red lips pressed into a thin, expectant line, as if daring anyone to interfere with her righteous pursuit.

“Why don’t you just tell her outright you’re not interested?” Ao Bing asked, shifting as Li Nezha all but plastered himself against his back. 

Li Nezha let out a low, suffering groan, essentially right into Ao Bing’s ear. Ao Bing did his best to ignore the jolt of electricity that shot through his body at that very moment. “Because she’s my brother’s new girlfriend’s sister,” Li Nezha whined, “I promised I wouldn’t piss off the family. I’m doing my best not to break her heart.”

Ao Bing shot him a flat, unimpressed look. “So instead, you’re just running away?”

“Yes. It is the most mature thing to do.”

Just as the Prime Minister’s daughter closed in, a figure stepped smoothly into her path, cutting off her pursuit.

“I think I saw the Third Prince head toward the main hall,” the man said, his voice calm, almost bored.

The woman immediately straightened, smoothing out her sleeves as she gave him a gracious bow. “Thank you, my Lord.” Without another word, she whirled around and marched off in the opposite direction, her mission temporarily diverted.

As soon as she disappeared, Li Nezha let out a breath of pure relief, stepping out from behind Ao Bing. “Thank you, Shen Xiong!”

The man—Erlang Shen—turned with deliberate slowness, one sharp brow arching as he took in the scene before him.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried himself with the effortless poise of someone who had spent his entire life in the highest echelons of Celestial nobility. His long black hair was tied in a high ponytail, a single silver ornament shaped like a crescent moon glinting against the strands. His robes were pristine navy and gold, embroidered with the insignia of the Central Plains Army.

“Hiding behind the Dragon Prince?” Erlang Shen smirked, folding his arms. “I thought you had more dignity than this.”

Sun Wukong barked out a laugh. “He absolutely does not.”

“She is right,” echoed Li Nezha, straightening out the portions in Ao Bing’s robes where he was hiding behind. “I have no dignity.” 

However, just when Li Nezha thought it was safe, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Prime Minister’s daughter was heading back towards them!

“Nope, nope,” Li Nezha muttered before grabbing Ao Bing’s hand in a firm grip. “Let’s go!”

Ao Bing blinked. “Go where?”

Without waiting for an answer, Li Nezha pulled Ao Bing forward as he grabbed Sun Wukong’s shoulder and nudged Erlang Shen to follow. 

“Anywhere,” said Li Nezha. “I’ll buy you all the best wine in the Heavens, let’s just get the hell out of here.”

As they ran out of the main banquet hall, the echoes of Sun Wukong’s laughter rang through the air. Behind them, the celebration carried on, oblivious to their escape. Lantern light flickered against polished floors, laughter and music weaving through the air like silk, but the four of them had already slipped into the night, vanishing like shadows between golden columns.

Somewhere in the distance, the Prime Minister’s daughter called Li Nezha’s name.

But by then, they were already gone.

Author's Note:

omggg accidental meet-cute behind the dragon prince™ 💖 Nezha out here using Ao Bing as his personal shield (romantic??? maybe 👀) and Erlang Shen just casually helping. also Sun Wukong being amazing because of course she is 😂 my heart can’t handle this chaossss