Chapter 10 The Jade Prophecy
Several days had passed since Yu Lan's dream of the Garden Eternal and the mysterious melody that had briefly awakened fragments of her lost memories.
Although the experience had left her encouraged, it also deepened her curiosity about the strange connection between herself, the jade pendant, and the visions that continued to haunt both her dreams and waking hours.
The memories remained incomplete, appearing only in fleeting moments before dissolving into darkness once again.
Yet unlike before, Yu Lan could now sense that the pieces were slowly drawing closer together, as though an unseen force were guiding her toward a truth that had remained hidden for centuries.
Prince Li Wei Chen noticed the change as well.
For the first time since her awakening, he occasionally caught glimpses of familiarity in her eyes whenever she looked at him. Those moments were brief and often vanished before either of them could fully understand them, yet they gave him something he had not possessed for many weeks.
Hope.
It was this fragile hope that led them to the discovery that would forever alter their understanding of the empire's history—and of Yu Lan's destiny.
The discovery began on an otherwise ordinary afternoon.
Yu Lan had returned to the secluded section of the palace gardens where she had originally found the jade pendant hidden among the ancient flowers.
Ever since recovering fragments of her memories, she felt increasingly drawn to the forgotten corner of the gardens, as though something beneath the earth itself was calling to her.
The area remained largely untouched, with weathered stone pathways disappearing beneath vines that had grown undisturbed for years. Ancient walls surrounded the hidden garden, and the towering trees overhead filtered the sunlight into shifting patterns across the ground.
As Yu Lan slowly wandered among the flowers, her fingers gently resting against the jade pendant hanging from her neck, she suddenly felt the stone grow warm.
At first, she thought it was merely her imagination.
However, within moments the warmth intensified until it felt as though a tiny heartbeat pulsed beneath the smooth green surface.
Yu Lan stopped walking.
Around her, the garden had become unnaturally quiet.
Even the birds seemed to have fallen silent.
A faint emerald glow emerged from the pendant.
The light spread across the nearby ground, revealing intricate markings carved into a section of stone concealed beneath layers of moss and roots.
Her heart began racing.
There was something hidden there.
Something important.
Before she could investigate further, the familiar sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the garden.
Prince Wei Chen appeared moments later.
"I thought I might find you here."
Yu Lan turned toward him.
The glow had already faded, yet the feeling remained.
"I think there's something beneath this garden."
The Prince frowned.
"Beneath the garden?"
Silently, Yu Lan pointed toward the glowing markings.
Wei Chen immediately noticed the unusual carvings.
Kneeling beside the stone platform, he carefully brushed away centuries of dirt and tangled roots. As more of the surface became visible, a complex pattern emerged, consisting of ancient symbols arranged around a circular seal unlike anything either of them had seen before.
The markings were far older than the current dynasty.
Older, perhaps, than the palace itself.
Within hours, workers had been summoned to carefully clear the area.
What began as a simple excavation soon revealed a hidden staircase descending deep beneath the palace grounds.
The discovery sent shockwaves throughout the imperial court.
Even the Emperor ordered that the site be investigated immediately.
Accompanied by General Han Mo and several trusted guards, Wei Chen and Yu Lan descended into the darkness.
The air grew cooler with each step.
Ancient stone corridors stretched beneath the palace like forgotten veins hidden beneath the earth.
Torches illuminated walls covered with faded murals depicting magnificent jade trees, celestial rivers, and figures dressed in flowing robes who appeared to be performing rituals beneath emerald blossoms.
As they ventured deeper, Yu Lan felt a strange sense of familiarity.
Although she had never visited the chamber before, every step felt oddly familiar.
Almost like returning home.
Eventually, the corridor widened into an enormous underground sanctuary.
Everyone fell silent.
The chamber was breathtaking.
At its center stood a giant jade tree carved entirely from luminous green crystal. The craftsmanship was so extraordinary that its branches appeared alive, while glowing veins of emerald light flowed through the stone like liquid energy.
Ancient inscriptions covered the walls surrounding the chamber.
One inscription, carved into a massive stone tablet directly beneath the tree, immediately drew their attention.
The ancient characters had survived the passage of centuries.
After several moments of careful examination, the palace scholars accompanying them finally translated the text.
The chamber fell silent as the words were read aloud:
"When jade blooms under crimson skies, two souls shall awaken the Garden Eternal."
A chill ran through Yu Lan.
The prophecy felt familiar.
Not because she remembered reading it.
But because something deep within her soul recognized it.
Wei Chen exchanged a troubled glance with her.
Neither fully understood the meaning of the prophecy.
Yet both sensed that it somehow referred to them.
That night, after returning to her chambers, Yu Lan found it impossible to sleep.
The prophecy echoed endlessly within her thoughts.
"When jade blooms under crimson skies, two souls shall awaken the Garden Eternal."
Again and again the words repeated.
Eventually exhaustion overcame her.
And once more, she began to dream.
The Garden Eternal appeared more vividly than ever before.
The glowing jade trees stretched endlessly beneath a twilight sky, while countless emerald blossoms illuminated the landscape with soft, ethereal light.
This time, however, Yu Lan immediately sensed that something had changed.
The garden no longer felt distant.
It felt alive.
Aware.
Waiting.
As she walked along a crystal pathway, a familiar figure emerged from beneath the branches of the great jade tree.
The woman in emerald robes stood before her once again.
Yet now her appearance seemed clearer than before, her presence more tangible and powerful.
The Jade Empress.
"I knew you would come."
Her voice carried the gentle authority of someone who had witnessed the rise and fall of countless generations.
Yu Lan stepped forward.
"The prophecy beneath the palace... what does it mean?"
The Jade Empress studied her carefully before answering.
"The prophecy speaks of a destiny that began centuries before either you or Prince Wei Chen were born."
The garden shimmered softly around them.
"For generations, the Garden Eternal has remained dormant, hidden from the world while waiting for the ones destined to awaken it."
Yu Lan felt her heart pounding.
"And who are they?"
A gentle smile appeared on the spirit's face.
"You already know the answer."
The realization struck her immediately.
The two souls.
Herself.
And Wei Chen.
Before Yu Lan could ask another question, the Jade Empress continued.
"There is something else you must understand."
The spirit raised one graceful hand, and countless emerald petals swirled through the air around them.
"Your memories were not lost by chance."
Yu Lan's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?"
"The blood that flows through your veins is older than the empire itself."
For a moment, Yu Lan simply stared.
The words seemed impossible.
Yet something within her feared they might be true.
The Jade Empress stepped closer.
"You are the final descendant of an ancient bloodline entrusted with protecting the Garden Eternal."
The glowing petals surrounded them.
"For generations, your ancestors guarded the secrets of the jade realm and protected a sacred artifact known as the Jade Heart."
"The Jade Heart?" Yu Lan whispered.
The name instantly awakened memories of the rebels.
The attacks.
The pendant.
Everything suddenly seemed connected.
A shadow crossed the spirit's expression.
"The rebels who attacked the palace were searching for the Jade Heart."
The garden darkened slightly.
"They believe the artifact grants limitless power and immortality."
Yu Lan's heart sank.
"And does it?"
The Jade Empress shook her head.
"The Jade Heart was never meant to grant power."
The ancient spirit's gaze turned toward the glowing tree.
"It was created to preserve balance between the mortal world and the Garden Eternal. Should it fall into the wrong hands, both realms would face destruction."
A cold feeling settled within Yu Lan's chest.
She finally understood why the rebels had hunted her.
Why they knew about the pendant.
Why the attacks had begun.
For centuries, forces hidden within the shadows had been searching for the Jade Heart.
And somehow, she had become the key to finding it.
As the dream slowly faded around her, the Jade Empress spoke one final warning.
"The Garden has awakened because darkness is approaching once more."
The emerald light began dissolving into countless petals.
"You and Prince Wei Chen must find the Jade Heart before your enemies do."
The spirit's voice echoed through the fading dream.
"For the fate of more than the empire now rests in your hands."
Moments later, Yu Lan awoke.
Moonlight filled her chamber.
The jade pendant glowed softly against her chest.
And for the first time since losing her memories, she understood that her journey was about far more than recovering the past.
It was about protecting the future.
A future that would soon demand everything she and Wei Chen possessed.