As Princess Yuyan entered her chamber, Yixao was already waiting patiently. At the sight of Yuyan's heavy expression, Yixao tilted her head slightly in concern.
"My Lady, are you feeling better?" she asked softly.
Yuyan gave a faint smile and waved her hand dismissively. "I'm fine, Yixao. Just tired."
Though unconvinced, Yixao said nothing more. Instead, she quietly prepared a warm bath. Afterward, she helped her dress in a soft lavender nightgown.
She was about to excuse herself for the night, when Yuyan's voice stopped her.
"Yixao… can you stay with me a little?. I just need someone to discuss with."
Yixao sat beside her, the gravity of the night settling over them. Seeking to break the oppressive quiet, Yixao tried to pull a memory from happier times. "Do you remember the Prince of Rensha? The one who wore five heavy rings on each hand during the summer banquet?"
Yuyan let out a hollow, breathless laugh. "He clanked when he walked. He looked like he was wearing armor on his fingers just to hold a wine cup."
"And Prince Zhenlong?" Yixao added, a small smile appearing. "The one who spent the entire dinner checking his reflection in his soup spoon?"
"He was so in love with himself," Yuyan muttered, her smile fading as quickly as it had come. "He didn't even notice I was there."
They shared a fleeting moment of warmth, but it was shattered by a sharp, sudden knock at the door.
Yixao froze, her breath catching. "Who is there?" she demanded, her voice shaking.
No response. Only the slow, agonizing creak of the door swinging open. Both girls cried out, clutching each other in the room, until a tall figure stepped into the light.
Prince Leng Yue stood there, his face half-hidden in shadow. He didn't laugh; his expression was uncharacteristically grim. "You're far too easy to surprise," he said, his voice low and raspy.
"Are you insane?" Yuyan snapped, her heart hammering against her ribs. "You could have been an assassin!"
Leng Yue didn't apologize. He pulled a chair over and sat, his eyes boring into Yuyan's. "Do you truly understand why Father locked the gates? Do you have any idea what is coming?"
Yuyan swallowed hard. "A tyrant. Father called him the Black Scorpion."
"Hei Xiezhi," Leng Yue corrected, the name sounding like a curse. "He has been circling our borders for weeks. He doesn't just conquer, Yuyan. He erases. He owns the death-pits and the houses of vice across five regions. Every kingdom he touches becomes a graveyard or a slave pen."
Yuyan felt a cold sweat break across her skin. "How do you know all of this?"
"Because I watch the things you ignore," Leng Yue replied. He stood up, his gaze softening for a fleeting, terrifying second. "I came to tell you this: don't sneak out. Not tonight. Not ever. You are a jewel of this empire, Yuyan. I won't watch you become his trophy."
He turned and vanished into the hallway before she could find her voice.
"The Prince... he sounded so afraid for you," Yixao whispered, with dreaming smile.
"He's being strange," Yuyan said, though her heart was heavy with his warning. "Go to sleep, Yixao. I need to be alone."
Once the door shut, Yuyan reached for the leather-bound book. Her father's words, This book is your hope, felt like a heavy weight. She opened it to the next chapter, her eyes scanning the ink as if searching for a way to survive the coming storm.
***
The Tale Continued…
The obsidian gates of the witches' palace opened slowly. Queen Xi Wang stepped inside, her golden robes covered in dust from a long and dangerous journey. In her arms, she carried a boy who looked about four years old.
He looked almost like a ghost. His skin was pale like winter marble, and his hair fell dark like ink over his shoulders. But it was his eyes that made everyone freeze, silver-grey, with a faint red glow. It was the mark of a pure-blood vampire.
Whispers spread through the court, low and fearful. "The monster's child…" "Look at his eyes… he's one of them."
The Queen ignored them. Her face remained calm and firm as she walked up to her throne. She looked down at the boy sitting on her lap. He was shaking, holding tightly to her robes as if they were the only thing keeping him safe in a world that already hated him.
"Where is Princess Mei Lian?" the Queen asked.
The doors opened, and a three-year-old girl was brought in. Mei Lian walked in with natural grace, her lilac silk dress shining softly. She stopped before the throne, her bright and curious eyes fixed on the strange boy.
Queen Xi Wang stood, her voice strong and clear. "Witches of Yueling Guo," she said, her sharp gaze sweeping across the court. "I have returned with Tian Yu, the son of King Xuanyin. His father was an honorable man, killed by his own blood. I did not bring this boy here as a pet or a prisoner. I brought him here because he is a life worth saving."
The court began to murmur in protest, but the Queen silenced them with just one look.
"He will be raised as one of us. He will learn our magic and our kindness. This is not weakness,it is the only way to save the world during the darkness . You will treat him with the respect of a Prince, or you will answer to me."
The High Seer, Nianzu, stepped forward and bowed. "If this is your decision, Your Majesty, we will follow it.
After the court was dismissed, the Queen called Mei Lian closer. The little girl walked forward slowly, still looking at Tian Yu. He looked back at her, his red-tinted eyes wide with quiet fear.
"This is Tian Yu," the Queen said softly, kneeling so she was at their level. "He is alone, Mei Lian. You must be his friend. You must grow together, because the future of both our worlds depends on it."
Mei Lian slowly reached out her small hand. Tian Yu flinched at first, then carefully reached out as well.
That night, the echoes of screams and the chill of stone walls finally faded. In the quiet warmth of his new home, lulled by soft humming and the scent of lotus, Tian Yu fell into a peaceful sleep.
The dark blossom had begun to bloom in the heart of the witch kingdom.