Fengjiu mumbled something in her sleep, distracting him from the report he was reading. He brushed the hair from her eyes and froze. She was looking up at him with glazed eyes.

"Bìxià."

Her quiet voice broke his will for a second. He smiled back.

"Jiu'er."

Her hand started to reach towards his face, and he gently caught it. Her smile slipped into a small frown and tears slid down her cheeks.

"Jiu'er," he caressed the flower on her forehead. "Why are you crying?"

She just shook her head and covered her face. Ragged breaths tearing at her throat, small whimpers and big tears. Donghua laid down next to her and held her tight. He didn't know what else to do. What had she dreamt of to cause her to cry so much? It could only be his fault.

After a while, she quieted and her breaths softened again. Donghua slowly pulled away and left the room. He was met with the servant Migu pacing outside of the door. The spirit looked at him suspiciously. Donghua simply walked past him and sat down at the table, completely unbothered by his glare. He took out the reports of the missing children and began to read, but failed to focus. Jiu'er had not been sleeping restfully, and it seemed he was the cause of her painful dreams. Worry gnawed at the back of his mind until he finally gave in.

Walking back into her room, he knelt down beside her bed. Her eyebrows were pinched together and she was mumbling unintelligibly. With a few simple gestures, he snuck into her dream.

It was pitch black. He could hear her yelling, angry and scared. Quickly, he followed the voice.

"I don't love you! Leave me alone!"

A bright flash of lightning revealed her slight form running away from someone he couldn't quite see. A man was laughing. Immediately, Donghua felt a deep disgust rise in his chest. Fengjiu ran so fast she crashed into him, almost making him fall backwards. She screamed at the sudden jolt, and Donghua grabbed her by the shoulders as she struggled to run away.

"Jiu'er," He said without thinking. "It's just a nightmare. It's ok."

She stared up at him blankly for a moment, blinking slowly. Her breathing calmed, and the sky became a little lighter.

"Bìxià?"

Her voice was no longer panicked so he released her shoulders. He looked behind her worryingly. Whoever had been chasing her had disappeared.

"Who were you running from?"

She looked confused.

"Was I running?" She asked and Donghua felt deeply concerned even though she smiled up at him brightly. "I must have been running to see you, Bìxià."

She must've forgotten it already, he thought, but the unsettling feeling in his chest did not go away. Who could've made her so scared? Perhaps it was just part of a nightmare, but her earlier words were very concerning. Was someone harassing her? But who would dare harass the little queen of Qingqiu? Everyone knew she was well loved and protected by her family.

"Bìxià?" Her hand touched his forehead. "Do you feel well?"

He relaxed, something about her calling him Bìxià always made him feel a little lighter.

"Don't worry, Jiu'er, I am fine." She had not realized he was anything more than a part of her dream. What was the point in putting on airs here? "I was only thinking."

"Of what?"

How would he have replied in the mortal realm? He missed those days when talking to her was so easy and carefree. Donghua touched the red between her brows.

"You. I am always thinking of you."

She blushed furiously, though he had hardly said anything and he felt his will waver further. Even something as small as this dream was enough to make him wish to forget his ill-fate. He turned away before he did something reckless.

He heard her feet following him, bells chiming at her ankles.

"Bìxià, where are we going?"

Hmm, he had not thought he would actually meet her in the dream like this. He'd only wanted to snap her out of her nightmare, but now he needed to make sure she did not realize he was really here. Otherwise, he would definitely confuse her feelings for him even more.

Lost in his losts, he stopped, causing her to bump into his back as she always did. Perhaps next time he should give her a fair warning before he suddenly stopped. But, no, he rather liked their routine.

"Silly girl," he said amusedly. "Don't you remember?"

"No. What did I forget?"

He shook his head, as though he had been slighted.

"Oh Jiu'er, how can you be so forgetful? You even forgot our plans so easily? This Emperor is hurt by your carelessness."

She ran in front of him and bowed.

"This one would not dare! Please punish me for having wronged you!"

He chuckled. "This Emperor was only teasing his favorite consort. Are you angry with us?"

She shook her head and pouted, "I would not dare, but you really scared me!"

He walked closer and she froze, her mouth slightly agape.

"We scared our Jiu'er?" His face was only a few inches away from hers. It took more self control than he cared to admit to keep himself from closing the gap. "How should we repay Jiu'er for this?"

She looked away and the dream world was shaking around them. He moved his hand to her waist, knowing she was close to waking up. She just needed a little push.

His lips brushed hers.

"Jiu'er?"

He was snapped out of her dream and back to his body with a jolt.