On a full moon night, the moonlight was as pure as frost. A gentle breeze swept by, painting everything with a clear, exquisite beauty. Dewdrops dampened her temples. Following the sound of a flute, she arrived beneath the swings.
Looking up, she saw Nangong Yue, as white as snow, standing on the tree. Seeing her approach, he actually stopped playing the flute and spoke in a clear, melodious voice.
“You didn’t come to listen to the flute, so I came to see you.”
She was surprised. Had he been waiting for her? Was the anxiety in his flute music for her? They had never had any connection.
“I didn’t know. My heart was troubled tonight, so I didn’t come,” she replied indifferently, feeling an inexplicable closeness to him, as if she had known him for a long time.
It was a feeling of blood connection, like family. His sorrowful brow and the solitude surrounding him made her want to comfort him, but she knew he didn’t need it.
“The Emperor has summoned you,” Nangong Yue’s eyes, like flowing water, flickered with compassion. This was the first time he had shown concern for a woman, opening his heart to her.
“Yes,” Liu Liu didn’t want to say more. Such a night should not be disturbed by such mood-killing topics. “Play a song for me.”
“Alright,” he responded. The flute was raised to his lips. Tonight, the flute’s melody was tinged with tenderness, no longer cold.
On a night like this, with a man playing the flute, the gloom in her heart vanished. She climbed onto the swings and began to sway gently.
A tree, a man, a flute.
The flute’s melody was deeply moving, causing the woman on the swings to murmur softly, “Who could bear to hurt you?”
He remained silent, but his heart grew warm. She actually cared about him. No one in the world knew his inner loneliness. Everyone thought he was cold, unaware that his heart was already riddled with wounds, unwilling to easily give his true feelings.
Scenes from his childhood flashed before his eyes: his father looking at him sternly.
“Yue, Father is going to send you somewhere. This is your mission. From now on, you will be an orphan, without parents, without siblings. One day, Father will come to pick you up.”
That pickup took twenty years. He hadn’t received any news from his family. When he was severely bullied, how he wished his father or mother would appear, even just for a hug, and he would have been content.
But in the end, it was always disappointment. Slowly, his heart died, because he knew they wouldn’t come. He was merely a pawn in his father’s hands.
As for what his father wanted him to do, his mind held some vague images, but he would not do it. He had stayed by this person’s side for over twenty years, transforming himself into his family, so he would not harm his family.
When the song ended, his eyes welled up with moisture. Not wanting her to know his thoughts, he flashed away, his white robes fluttering. He left behind only one sentence.
“Come listen to me play the flute tomorrow night.”
She smiled. This was the first time he had invited her to listen to his flute. She quickly responded to the air, “Okay.”
He heard her. He had been afraid she wouldn’t come, but she had agreed. In an instant, he smiled, and the moonlight seemed to become more brilliant.
Liu Liu waved her hand, and the swing soared through the air. Her mood had become much brighter. Staying in Huaqing Palace was fine; it felt more liberating.
In two days, she needed to leave the palace to check on the situation in the black market. The night was deep, and her thin outer garment was damp with dew. She quickly dismounted, preparing to return to rest, when she heard fighting in the distance. In the darkness, it was exceptionally clear, accompanied by the shouts of guards.
“Catch the assassin.”
“An assassin?” Liu Liu initially intended to ignore it, but a nagging unease settled in her heart. She hadn’t contacted Dai Mei and the others for a while. Could they have come into the palace?
She put on her outer garment, her figure flashed, and she quickly left Huaqing Palace, rushing towards the sound. She landed on the eaves of a roof surrounded by palace walls. Her gaze searched, and she saw a figure in black weaving through the palace walls. She looked around, spotted a path, and quickly descended, reaching out to grab the arm of the black-clad figure. “Come with me.”
To her surprise, the black-clad figure was indeed Dai Mei. She recognized her the moment she saw her eyes. Something must have happened outside, or Dai Mei wouldn’t have entered the palace.
Liu Liu’s heart skipped a beat. It was likely Duanmu who was in trouble. Chu Feng, that fellow, wouldn’t be in any danger. But why was Dai Mei alone? Could both of them be in trouble?
Liu Liu pulled Dai Mei, turning left and right, and soon arrived at Huaqing Palace. As they leaped into Huaqing Palace, the guards who had been pursuing them arrived, stopping in front of the gate of Huaqing Palace. A tall, stern-faced man led them.
“Lord Zhao, what should we do?”
“Break down the door,” Zhao Jiu, as the commander of the imperial guards in the harem, bore a heavy responsibility and dared not be careless. If the intruder harmed the Empress, it would be his fault. Even though the Empress was not favored, he wouldn’t be able to live either. He immediately gestured to his guards.
The eunuchs and maids in Huaqing Palace were all alarmed. Lights flared up, and they rushed out. Several people saw the black-clad figure standing with the Empress and were startled. Cui’er looked up and saw Dai Mei’s eyes, recognizing her immediately, and quickly spoke.
“What’s going on?”
Liu Liu raised her eyebrows. She would explain later. Now was not the time for questions. “Find a place for her where she cannot be found.”
“Alright,” Cui’er nodded, pulling Dai Mei along. In the deep palace, hiding someone was easy, and those guards might not dare to search Huaqing Palace. Liu Liu walked inside and instructed Xiao Anzi and Xiao Nianzi.
“Go open the door, and don’t say anything.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Xiao Anzi and Xiao Nianzi nodded. Who was the Empress saving? Since the Empress had ordered it, they would just follow her instructions. As the Empress walked into the main hall of Huaqing Palace, they hurried to open the main gate.
“Oh, it’s Lord Zhao. What are you doing in the middle of the night?” Xiao Anzi asked, yawning. Xiao Nianzi also yawned, while Cai Xia and Ming Yue, among others, looked drowsy and startled, shrinking back as they gazed at Zhao Jiu.
This Lord Zhao was the object of admiration for many palace maids. He was handsome and upright, earning the Emperor’s trust.
Zhao Jiu glanced around Huaqing Palace, his gaze cold as he looked at the eunuchs and maids before him.
“An assassin has run into Huaqing Palace. I need to search Huaqing Palace.”
“What?” Xiao Anzi and Xiao Nianzi exclaimed. They had long disliked this arrogant fellow. Because he was handsome, he had captivated all the palace maids. The thought that Cai Xia and Ming Yue both secretly admired the man before them made Xiao Anzi’s blood boil. He spoke loudly.
“Lord Zhao, you have quite the authority. This is the Empress’s palace. Do you have the Emperor’s imperial decree?”
“I never need an imperial decree to search the harem,” Zhao Jiu said confidently. He was deeply trusted by the Emperor, who had entrusted him with the important task of guarding the harem. Therefore, he had to ensure the safety of everyone in the palace. Even if he was reprimanded by the Empress later, he would accept it.
“What a bold statement,” a cool voice rang out. Liu Liu, wearing a long dress, emerged and asked Xiao Anzi expressionlessly, “What is all the commotion in the middle of the night?”
“Replying to Your Highness, Lord Zhao wants to search Huaqing Palace, claiming an assassin has run into Huaqing Palace.” Xiao Anzi replied respectfully, glancing sideways at Zhao Jiu. The Empress was not someone to be trifled with. Let’s see how capable you are.