A Silence That Speaks Volumes
The Imperial Palace was never truly silent.
Even in the late hours, when the court had long since retired, when the concubines whispered their schemes behind silk-draped screens, something always stirred.
But tonight, tonight felt different.
Because tonight, Zhao Long finally went to her.
The Tea That Waited
Ruyi was not asleep.
She sat in her private pavilion, bathed in soft lantern light, a steaming pot of tea resting on the table before her.
She had expected him.
Perhaps not tonight.
Perhaps not so soon.
But she knew he would come.
Because despite all his silence, despite all his control, despite his kingdom and his power
He was still a man.
And he could not ignore her.
So when the doors finally slid open, when the cool night air stirred the silk of her robes, when Zhao Long stepped inside
She did not look surprised.
She only smiled.
Slow. Knowing.
And then without a word, she poured him tea.
(The Emperor Sits – And Watches)
Zhao Long did not speak.
He took his seat across from her, golden eyes unreadable.
He lifted the porcelain cup, studied it for a long moment.
Then finally he exhaled, his voice low, smooth.
"You seem calm."
Ruyi tilted her head. "Should I not be?"
His gaze burned.
"You sent me a letter."
"I did."
"You knew exactly what it would do to me."
Ruyi's lips curled slightly.
"I did."
A pause.
Then he chuckled.
Low. Quiet. Dangerous.
"You truly have no fear, do you?"
She lifted her tea, took a slow sip.
And then without breaking eye contact
She set the cup down and rose.
A Dance Meant for Him Alone
The air between them shifted.
Zhao Long watched her stand, watched the silk of her robe fall around her like liquid fire.
And then without a word, without permission, without fear
She began to dance.
Not for the court.
Not for a general.
Not for an audience.
For him.
Her movements were slow at first, deliberate.
A whisper of silk.
A turn of her wrist.
A step closer.
And then another.
Zhao Long's grip tightened around his cup.
She was toying with him.
Pushing him.
Testing just how much control he still had left.
And the truth was he wasn't sure anymore.
Ruyi's arms lifted, her body moving in fluid, effortless motions.
She turned, her hair slipping from its delicate hold, cascading over her bare shoulders like falling ink.
The scent of osmanthus and jasmine filled the air.
And then she met his gaze.
And she smiled.
That was when he broke.
The Emperor's Control Finally Snaps
Zhao Long set his cup down.
Hard.
The porcelain clinked against the wood, sharp and deliberate.
Ruyi's movements slowed but she did not stop.
And that only made it worse.
He rose from his seat, moving faster than he should have, closing the distance too quickly.
She stilled.
He reached out not to grab her, not to stop her
But to tilt her chin up, forcing her to look at him.
Forcing her to see what she had done to him.
His golden gaze burned.
"You enjoy pushing me," he murmured.
Ruyi's lips parted slightly.
Not in fear.
Not in surprise.
But in something deeper.
Something dangerous.
And Zhao Long saw it.
He saw it and he wanted it.
His thumb traced the soft curve of her jaw, his voice dipping into a whisper.
"Tell me," he breathed, his words slow, deliberate.
"Would you have danced like that… for anyone else?"
Ruyi did not blink.
She let the silence stretch.
Then softly, without hesitation
"No."
Zhao Long exhaled sharply.
And damn her, damn her, damn her
But he believed her.
He believed her too easily.
His fingers tightened just slightly, enough to make her inhale, enough to make her pulse quicken just a fraction.
And then just as suddenly he released her.
Stepping back.
Putting distance where there had been none.
A breath.
A pause.
And then a smirk.
Slow. Sharp. Entirely unreadable.
"I will hold you to that, Princess."
He turned, reaching for his tea once more, as if the moment had never happened.
"Sit," he commanded, his voice returning to cool amusement.
Ruyi blinked.
She had expected anger.
Expected possessiveness.
But this?
This was far more dangerous.
This was a game they were both losing.
And the emperor?
He was done pretending otherwise.
(A Game of Restraint and Revenge)
Zhao Long was not a man who enjoyed losing.
And tonight he had lost.
Not in battle.
Not in war.
But in something far more dangerous.
A game he had never intended to play.
She had pushed him too far, too soon.
And worse… he had let her.
She had danced, and he had been unable to look away.
She had smiled, and he had felt his control crack.
She had told him the truth, and he had believed her too easily.
That would not happen again.
If she wanted to play games, he would show her who played them better.
The Emperor Leaves
But Not for Her
For the next three days, Zhao Long did not go to her.
Not once.
Not to her courtyard.
Not to her pavilion.
Not even in passing.
Instead he went to the harem.
(The Harem Rejoices – A Queen's Fall?)
The moment Zhao Long entered the Jade Phoenix Pavilion, the concubines knew.
The Son of Heaven had returned.
And not to his beloved consort.
Soft gasps filled the air as the concubines rushed to greet him, their silk robes rustling, their painted lips curving into delicate, practiced smiles.
Consort Mei, dressed in deep crimson, stood at the forefront, her eyes gleaming with something dangerous, victorious.
"Your Majesty," she murmured, lowering into a bow so graceful it seemed effortless.
"How unexpected."
Zhao Long smirked.
Slow. Calculated.
"Is it?"
Mei lifted her gaze, searching his expression.
The emperor was many things but careless was not one of them.
If he was here, it was for a reason.
And if he was avoiding her…
Then Ruyi was not as untouchable as they had all feared.
The One Who Notices – And The One Who Waits
Across the pavilion, Han Zixuan watched from a distance.
The general lifted a brow, hiding his amusement behind a cup of wine.
"Oh?" he murmured to himself. "So this is how we're playing now."
But there was one person who did not find it amusing.
Lin Ruyi.
She sat in her own quarters, listening as her handmaiden whispered the news.
"The emperor has been in the harem every night, my lady."
Ruyi said nothing.
She simply poured herself a cup of tea.
Xiao Tao hesitated.
"Do you… wish to do something?"
Ruyi lifted the cup to her lips.
And then she smiled.
"No."
Zhao Long had expected a reaction.
Perhaps a letter.
Perhaps a sharp remark in court.
Perhaps even a visit to the harem itself, her emerald eyes flashing with challenge.
But instead
She did nothing.
No letters.
No words.
No jealousy.
Nothing.
She simply waited.
And that,that was worse than anything.
The Night That Changed Everything
It was late.
The air was thick with summer heat, the scent of incense curling in the emperor's private chambers.
Zhao Long sat alone, dressed in loose black silk, a cup of wine resting between his fingers.
The harem had been… tedious.
Smiles too eager.
Hands too desperate.
Conversations too empty.
It had not satisfied him.
Because it was not her.
He exhaled sharply, pressing two fingers against his temple.
Damn her.
Damn her for being in his thoughts.
Damn her for making him jealous first.
Damn her for not playing into his hands.
And worst of all
Damn her for winning.
A slow smirk curled at his lips.
Fine.
She had been patient.
She had let him come to her first.
But tonight he would make sure she knew exactly what she had done to him.
He rose to his feet.
And went to her.
She always was.
When Zhao Long entered her pavilion, she did not look surprised.
She was seated at her tea table, her long chestnut hair unbound, cascading over her bare shoulders.
She was not dressed for court.
Not dressed for battle.
But for war nonetheless.
She poured him a cup of tea.
Then softly, smoothly she spoke.
"You seem tired, Your Majesty."
Zhao Long sat down across from her, his golden eyes sharp with something unspoken.
"And you seem unbothered, my wife."
Ruyi lifted her tea, took a slow sip.
And smirked.
Zhao Long's jaw tightened.
She was still playing.
Still pushing.
Fine.
He leaned forward slightly, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"I spent my nights with the concubines."
Ruyi did not flinch.
"I know."
Zhao Long's fingers tightened around his cup.
"And you do not care?"
Ruyi exhaled softly.
And then she rose.
Again.
Just like the last time.
But this time she did not dance.
She simply walked.
Walked toward him, stopping just close enough.
Then she leaned down.
Her lips were inches from his ear, her breath soft, warm, utterly unshaken.
And then she whispered.
"If you wanted a reaction from me…"
A pause.
Then a smile.
"You should have tried harder."
Zhao Long snapped.
His hand shot out gripping her wrist, pulling her onto his lap in a single, effortless motion.
Ruyi gasped, caught off guard for the first time.
Zhao Long smirked, his fingers tightening just slightly, his golden eyes burning into hers.
"You are very bold, Princess," he murmured. "Too bold for your own good."
Ruyi exhaled slowly, her pulse thrumming beneath his grip.
"And you are very possessive, Your Majesty."
Zhao Long hummed.
"Then perhaps you should stop giving me reasons to be."
A pause.
A silence too heavy.
And then before she could react he released her.
Just like that.
Ruyi, still composed but unquestionably breathless, straightened.
Zhao Long lifted his tea.
Took a slow sip.
And then with a smirk he spoke.
"Next time, my wife…"
His voice was smooth, teasing, dangerous.
"…perhaps you should dance again. But for me this time."
Ruyi laughed softly, shaking her head.
But this time she said nothing.
Because she knew.
She had won this round.
But next time?
He would not let her win so easily.
A Game No One Wants to Lose
Zhao Long did not return the next night
Nor the night after.
Not because he didn't want to.
But because he refused to let her pull him in again so easily.
He had let her test him.
He had let her win if only for a moment.
And that was unacceptable.
He was the Son of Heaven.
He was the one who set the rules.
The one who decided who played and who did not.
And yet here she was, making him question that.
Damn her.
But for now, he would wait.
He would let her wonder.
Let her think she had truly gained the upper hand.
And when the time came…
He would remind her who was truly in control.
The Harem's Growing Victory
Ruyi knew what the harem was saying.
She did not need spies to tell her.
She could hear the whispers in the corridors, the laughter behind painted fans, the glances thrown her way in court.
"The emperor hasn't visited her in days."
"She thought she could hold his attention forever?"
"Even a storm can die."
Ruyi ignored them.
But Xiao Tao did not.
Her handmaiden was furious, her small hands tightened into fists as she paced Ruyi's chamber, her lips pressed in a tight line.
"My lady, we must act," she declared, stopping just in front of Ruyi. "You can't let those women celebrate."
Ruyi, lounging on a jade-inlaid chaise, simply sipped her tea.
"I have done nothing to stop them from celebrating," she said mildly.
Xiao Tao huffed, sitting beside her.
"That's exactly the problem!"
She grabbed the teapot, refilled Ruyi's cup aggressively, and muttered, "If I were you, I'd poison them all."
Ruyi choked on her tea.
Xiao Tao sighed dramatically.
"Well, not all of them. Just enough to send a message."
Ruyi laughed softly, shaking her head. "Your loyalty is admirable."
"My loyalty is logical," Xiao Tao shot back. "You're the only woman in this palace worth serving."
A pause.
Then, Xiao Tao leaned in slightly, lowering her voice.
"My lady…"
Her tone was serious now.
"If you want to silence them, you need to remind the emperor why he can't ignore you."
Ruyi lifted a brow. "Oh? And how do you suggest I do that?"
Xiao Tao smirked.
And then without hesitation, she whispered something so filthy that Ruyi nearly dropped her teacup.
"Xiao Tao!"
Ruyi's face was still composed, but the slight pink hue in her ears betrayed her.
Xiao Tao cackled.
"My lady, the harem is full of women who are desperate to please him. But you? You are the only one who makes him suffer for it."
She poured herself a cup of tea, grinning.
"Use it."
A Dangerous Thought
Ruyi did not respond.
Not immediately.
She simply took another sip of tea, her mind turning.
She did not need to be desperate.
She did not need to beg.
But Xiao Tao was right about one thing Zhao Long was used to being in control.
So what if…
What if she took that away?
Ruyi smirked.
Slow. Calculated.
Xiao Tao, watching her, grinned back.
"Oh?" she mused, voice laced with amusement. "You're planning something wicked, aren't you?"
Ruyi lifted her cup in a silent toast.
"Would you expect anything less?"
And then she drank.
The game was far from over.
It was only just beginning.