After I Loved the Immortal Lord but Couldn’t Have Him

The bright moon hangs in the sky. If you won't love me, I'll imprison you in a high tower and make you my only moonlight.

On the day the little princess of the Yan Dynasty was born, auspicious omens appeared in the heavens. A phoenix cried out among the clouds, and the Imperial Preceptor declared that the princess had a profound affinity with the Immortal Dao and would one day ascend to the Immortal Realm.

Xu Yihuan's response: What a load of nonsense!

Cherished by everyone since childhood, she could have anything she wanted. Her father would make it happen, even building the tallest tower in the world if she wanted to pluck the stars from the sky. The Star-Plucking Tower couldn't reach the brightest star, but it did give her the purest moonlight.

She imprisoned an immortal.

Clutching the immortal's snow-white sleeve, she pleaded softly, "The Imperial Preceptor says I have an affinity with the Immortal Dao. Will you help me become an immortal?"

But the immortal only ever replied in the coldest tone, "For a mortal to become immortal is a fool's dream."

Xu Yihuan pouted. "Then let me dream. If I can't become immortal, you'll stay with me for the rest of my life."

The immortal still refused. "You can't keep me here."

Xu Yihuan gazed, entranced, at the immortal's profile and chuckled. "How would you know if you don't try?"

*

When the Yan Dynasty fell, Xu Yihuan leapt barefoot from the tall building into the sunlight. The one who had left returned to catch her.

This time, Xu Yihuan let go first.

And brought this life to an end.

*The pacing is slow, and there are lots of personal worldbuilding choices.

Theme: Flowers bloom and wither in their own time.