A Midnight Confrontation and a Morning Revelation

Midnight in the courtyard, devoid of extraneous light, was illuminated solely by the brilliant moonlight. It cast its ethereal glow upon the verdant plants, making the already smooth, colossal leaves shimmer with a tranquil, radiant white undulation.

Bai Chen sat silently within the small pavilion in the courtyard. His right thumb and forefinger delicately cradled an exquisite white ivory wine cup. The wine, gently swirling within, reflected the nearly full moon in the sky, its surface rippling incessantly.

Though his demeanor might have appeared utterly leisurely to any observer, Bai Chen’s heart was far from calm; in fact, it raged like a storm.

“Oh, King Bai, what exquisite taste you have…” A mocking voice drifted from behind him. Without needing to turn, Bai Chen knew precisely who it was. Only this individual possessed a mind he couldn’t fathom, whose every action prompted him to profound thought. Nevertheless, he skillfully masked his internal shift, slowly turning with a composed air, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

“You’ve arrived,” he said. “Right on time.”

He then gestured with his eyes for King Qing to take the seat opposite him. King Qing showed no trace of discomfort at Bai Chen’s state; indeed, everyone had long grown accustomed to this side of him. He settled languidly into the chair, not rushing to speak, but simply watching Bai Chen with an air of contemplation, awaiting his response.

“…” King Qing’s composed silence left Bai Chen suddenly speechless, utterly unsure how to begin. This inability to articulate his thoughts caused Bai Chen’s complexion to falter, even flushing with a hint of red.

“Heh…” Seeing the usually stoic Bai Chen, who was typically as cold as ice, display such an expression, King Qing felt a strange thrill. Yet, he refrained from pressing Bai Chen further, slowly breaking the silence. “King Bai summoned me… is it perhaps about… Bai Qiao?”

King Qing’s eyebrow arched imperceptibly as he noticed Bai Chen’s hand unconsciously tighten its grip on the wine cup. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips, only to be met by a scorching gaze that settled upon him. Though slightly uncomfortable, he maintained his placid expression, watching Bai Chen with a hint of amusement.

“You…” Bai Chen finally forced out a few words through gritted teeth. “As expected, you knew. Or rather, were you behind this?”

“I merely summoned her here,” King Qing replied. “Shouldn’t you be thanking me for bringing her, thus providing the opportunity for you two to meet?”

“You wouldn’t be trying to deny the mark on her, would you?”

King Qing’s pupils constricted slightly, and he visibly froze for a moment. Yet, in a flash, he recomposed his expression and state of mind.

The midnight breeze swept through, gently lifting the long hair of both King Bai and King Qing, their robes fluttering slightly. In this silent atmosphere, had they not been discussing such a somber topic, this picturesque scene would likely not have been so beautiful.

****

“Ugh…” She awoke as she always did, her body drenched in sweat. As she lifted a hand to brush away the hair clinging to her forehead, a somewhat large, distinctly cool hand suddenly pressed against her brow. She could clearly feel that the palm resting on her forehead was no longer warm as it usually was, but instead clammy with cold sweat, trembling incessantly.

Bai Qiao couldn’t help but frown. Still, she found it difficult to accept a man placing his hand on her forehead. With a hint of impatience, she shook her head, attempting to dislodge the hand’s touch. Yet, even though the hand trembled slightly, its grip remained firm, and she had been largely devoid of strength ever since that nightmare.

“Awake?” a voice asked. “Come, have some breakfast.”

Bai Qiao was somewhat startled. Such tenderness, though he had always been kind, this tone brimming with pure indulgence was utterly new. As she looked at Bai Chen, Bai Qiao also noticed his terribly pale complexion. Distinct dark circles marred the skin beneath his eyes, suggesting a sleepless night. But most strikingly, Bai Chen exuded an inner weariness that seemed to permeate him from within.

Watching Bai Qiao silently eat, her head bowed, occasional beads of sweat trickling down her face, it was evident that she, too, was enduring immense torment, yet she did not utter a single moan.

‘A feeling I couldn’t quite articulate stirred within me. Could it be… I’ve truly fallen for her? Fallen for *her*?’

Yet, in his heart, there was only one unwavering thought: ‘I will protect you. No one can harm you, no one can enslave you. And if they try, I will make them disappear forever. Even if I can’t… I… I will do everything in your stead…’