It had been months since Princess Moyin and her parents departed Xiyue. Though Emperor Huojin had promised to speak with his son, the days kept slipping away, heavy with court affairs.
Prince Lianyi, however, seemed unaffected by the weight of imperial duties. He and Mimi had found their own rhythm in the shadows of the palace—secret meetings, stolen glances, and quiet laughter. By now, slipping into her chamber at night had become a habit the prince wore as easily as silk.
On this particular night, the moonlight spilled over the jade roofs like silver water. Empress Ruyan, restless and unable to sleep, wandered the silent corridors. The faint rustle of movement caught her ear. She paused. A lone figure crept along the covered walkway, steps light as a cat's. The empress's breath caught.
"An intruder?" she thought, her fingers twitching toward the silk cord at her waist to call the guards. But as the figure stepped into a shaft of moonlight, her heart skipped.
That gait… those shoulders… it was Lianyi.
Curiosity replacing alarm, she followed at a distance. The prince rounded the outer hall, then—without hesitation—gripped the carved window frame of a side chamber and swung himself inside.
The empress's eyes widened. Has love turned my own son into a thief in his own house? she murmured under her breath.
A moment later, realization softened her expression. She knew exactly whose chamber this was. The girl who had captured her son's heart—Mimi.
A chuckle escaped her. Turning back toward her own quarters, she decided this was a secret she would keep—for now. Not even the emperor needed to know....
---
The faint creak of the window frame broke the stillness of the room. Mimi, seated at her small table brushing her hair, turned at once, her eyes widening when she saw the familiar figure slip inside.
"Lianyi…" she whispered, half-surprised, half-amused. "Do you know what time it is?"
The prince landed softly on the floor, brushing dust from his robe with an easy smile. "I know. But I couldn't sleep without seeing you."
She shook her head, though the corners of her lips betrayed her. "If the Empress catches you—"
"She won't," he said, stepping closer. The moonlight framed his face, making his expression almost boyish despite the boldness in his eyes.
Mimi rose to meet him. For a moment, they simply stood there, close enough to feel each other's breath. Then, without a word, he took her hands in his, his thumb brushing lightly across her knuckles.
"You're warm," he murmured. "Have you been waiting for me?"
Her cheeks warmed, and she tried to pull away, but he held on gently. "You're impossible," she muttered.
He grinned. "And yet… you still let me in."
The prince's laughter was low, almost a whisper, as he drew her into his arms. She leaned against him, feeling the steady beat of his heart. For a while, neither spoke — the night wrapped around them like a secret they both vowed to keep.
When at last he stepped back, it was with reluctance. "I should go before the guards start their rounds," he said softly.
Mimi followed him to the window. "Be careful."
He gave her one last look — a look that said more than words could — before swinging himself over the ledge and vanishing into the night.
___
The next day, morning light streamed through the high windows of the imperial library. The Emperor sat at his carved sandalwood desk, his hands folded neatly, eyes calm but serious. Beside him, the Empress sat with a gentle smile that gave nothing away.
Prince Lianyi entered after breakfast, bowing low before taking a seat opposite them.
"There is something I wish to discuss with you, my son," the Emperor began, his deep voice carrying a weight of finality. "And I want your mother present to hear it."
The Prince nodded slowly, bracing himself.
"The kingdom of Hengling has come to propose a marriage between you and their princess," the Emperor continued. "This matter was once considered when you were both children. Hengling is a powerful ally, and their young princess is a good, well-bred girl. I want you to think on it… and begin preparing yourself for the marriage."
The words struck like a blow. The porcelain cup in Lianyi's hand slipped, shattering against the floor. Red wine spread across the polished wood, seeping toward the Emperor's boots.
He quickly bent to gather the shards, murmuring an apology, but his mind was already racing. He knew this day might come. Ever since the Emperor of Hengling's visit—and Mimi's stormy outburst on the day he returned from his travels—he had suspected their true purpose. But why it hit him so sharply now… he could not explain.
Straightening, he drew in a breath. "Father," he said carefully, "I understand the importance of such a union… but I must decline."
The Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly. "Decline?"
"It would be unfair to her," Lianyi continued, keeping his tone respectful. "My heart is… not free to give. I cannot stand before Heaven and vow love to a woman I do not truly cherish."
A flicker of irritation crossed the Emperor's face. "You speak of love, as though duty were a matter of choice."
"Sometimes," the Empress said softly, her voice cutting into the tension, "a man's heart is the truest guide to his duty." She reached out, resting a hand lightly on her husband's arm. "Perhaps our son only wishes to spare the princess pain."
The Emperor gave a low, displeased grunt, but said no more.
That evening, the palace corridors lay hushed under the glow of lantern light. In Lianyi's chamber, he had been reading when a gentle knock sounded at his door.
"Come in," he called.
The Empress stepped inside, the faint fragrance of white peonies following her. She closed the door behind her, moving with the unhurried grace of someone who had ruled beside an Emperor for many years.
"My son," she began, seating herself across from him, "love and marriage are not always the same thing. Love is a fire—warm and wild. Marriage is the hearth that shelters it. Without the heart, the fire burns out. Without the fire, the heart is cold."
Lianyi listened quietly, unsure if she spoke in warning or encouragement.
She reached into her sleeve and withdrew a small jade hairpin, carved into the shape of a blooming plum blossom. Its edges caught the candlelight, glowing faintly.
"This was given to me by my mother when I was about to marry your father," she said, placing it gently in his palm. "I want you to give it to Mimi."
Lianyi's fingers tightened around the cool jade. His eyes widened at the mention of her name.
At the doorway, the Empress paused, glancing back with a knowing smile. "Tell her," she said softly, "that I have accepted her."
Before he could find his voice, she was gone—leaving him staring after her, the hairpin warm from his grasp and his mind whirling.