It had been 2 days now, and Lian hadn't left Shen's side.
"Lian?" The Empress came in.
"Oh hello your majesty."
"Please… please… we are famil-"She caught what she was going to say, "I mean please no titles please call me Ming Su."
"Alright." Lian's face was sad and she turned back to Shen. Ming Su walked up to her and put her hand on her shoulder to try to comfort her. Lian was trying to hold her tears back but one dropped, and then she just couldn't hold back her tears she turned around and embraced Ming Su and started to cry.
"It's alright my child… its alright."
"I should have saved him. This shouldn't be him laying here. I-I wish I could have done something."
"Sweetheart there was nothing you could do, and sadly there is nothing you can do now… you cant beat yourself up for this. So please go downstairs and get some food. You haven't ate or done anything except sit by Shen's side."
"I- I cant."
"Lian I will watch him, and if something happens I'll come and get you. You have been in this room for over two days. Go outside, get some food, bath."
"If you insist."
Lian walked into the bathroom and took a nice long bath, then went downstairs to get some food. Kong came over.
"So you are finally out of that room I see."
"I don't feel like fighting with you Kong, so please just leave me alone." Lian spoke very softly. Kong sighed and sat down next to her
"Why did I have to try to be the hero? Why couldn't I be like other girls and just stay home?"
"Because that is not who YOU are Lian. Yeah you could have just stayed at home, but your father might have ended up dead not to mention your brother."
Lian looked up at Kong. "Thank you, but please excuse me. I think I need to be alone for a little bit."
Lian excused herself from the table, and walked outside. The memories at camp came back, but as Chen and Shen. They talked about everything like they have known each other forever. They talked about their family, the Academy, ect. Everything! But one thing in particular, Shen had told her (Chen) that he was the heir to the throne before his father died, but Shen stepped down and gave the throne to his brother. Shen didn't want to be emperor yet; there was much he wanted to do. He wanted to go to the Academy, marry and have a family before he took the throne. Lian remembered Shen tell her that he was waiting the decision the matchmaker made for him (stick with me people will ya!) and he was unsure if he would like his wife. He didn't want one that would be like a little child, being told what to do, never talking, being a big baby! But he knew that that was hard to find, especially when the matchmaker was picking out the women. She was to be… perfect. The perfect woman to be exact she was to be shorter then him, less educated, poised, beautiful, blah, blah, blah. He didn't care about the height of the girl, he wanted a girl who WAS educated, yes it would be nice to have a wife who is poised and beautiful, but also who was herself, and herself only not what she was "ordered/trained" to do/act.
Lian went back inside from the garden and back to where Shen was. She sat besides him. And this time he opened his eyes
"Lian…" he said weakly.
"Shen!"
"What are you doing here?"
"I am engaged to you!"
"I am happy that you were not harmed" Shen brought his hand up to her face.
"I am sorry I wish I could have done something."
"But you did. You stood by my side for-" Shen started to cough.
"Shen!"
"I- I am sorry Lian. I love you" Lian moved her head to kiss Shen and then said, "I love you Shen, but stay with me!" but it was too late. Shen had already left… his last words were I love you. Lian closed her eyes trying to hold in the tears. Her one true love had died because of her stupidity. Lian dropped to her knees and dropped her head on Shen's chest and started to cry, not letting any tear stay in her eyes.