It had been days since Mimi left the palace. At first, Lianyi tried to ignore it, convincing himself that she was only hiding away to punish him, that she would soon return to scold him with that fiery glare of hers. But now… days had passed. The silence weighed heavier with each moment, and he could no longer pretend he wasn't disturbed.
He had sent nearly every guard in the palace, yet not a single trace of her had been found.
"What should I do, Mimi? Why are you playing with my heart like this?" he muttered in frustration, his chest tightening as he paced restlessly across his chamber.
Then, a thought struck him—his mother. The Empress had always cherished Mimi dearly. Perhaps she knew something. His eyes lit up with sudden hope, and without hesitation, he stormed toward the Empress's quarters.
Moments later, he was standing before her chamber door.
Inside, the Empress sat with serene composure, practicing her calligraphy. At the sound of the knock, she lifted her head, set her brush aside, and a knowing smile touched her lips.
"It can only be my son who knocks like this when he is in the middle of a tantrum," she murmured softly to herself.
"Come in," she called, picking up her brush again.
Lianyi pushed the door open and hurried inside. The sight of his mother, her graceful hand moving steadily across the parchment, her face calm and focused, momentarily stilled him. He bowed slightly, his voice weighed down with worry.
"Mother… Mimi has not been found," he confessed, each word sinking heavy in the room.
"Has not been found?" The Empress arched a brow, feigning ignorance as her brush paused mid-stroke.
"Yes, Mother. No one has seen her anywhere." His tone cracked slightly.
"What of her parents' house? Did you not check there?" the Empress asked, now setting her brush aside to regard him fully.
"That is the most frustrating part of all," Lianyi said, his fists tightening at his sides. "I went there yesterday and searched, but she wasn't there. Today, I returned and asked her father directly. He only said he hadn't seen her—and that was all. Nothing more. Mother… how can parents not see their daughter for days and remain so calm? How can they not worry?!"
The Empress's lips pressed together in silence, her gaze thoughtful.
"So… her parents do not worry about her, yet you do?" she asked at last, her voice carrying quiet weight. "Does that mean you love her more than they do?"
The question pierced him unexpectedly. His heart skipped, his mouth opened and closed before he stammered, "N-no… Mother, it's just—"
"Come here, my son," the Empress said gently.
He stepped closer, his head lowered, feeling as though the walls of his chest were caving in.
"I once told you the story of the infamous Black Scorpion and your father," she began, her voice steady and calm, yet threaded with memory. "When I chose your father over him, the black Scorpion tried every possible means to tear us apart. But what held us together, what shielded us, was our love and trust for each other. That was our backbone."
Her eyes grew sharper now as they rested on him. "And you, my son—just because of a hairpin—you betrayed her heart and lashed out at her. You wounded her deeply. She needs time to heal."
Lianyi's throat tightened. His mind replayed Mimi's hurt expression, her eyes brimming with betrayal and her gaze burning with shame.
"Whether she accepts you back or not," the Empress continued, "depends on whether she can find it in her heart to trust you again."
With that, she calmly picked up her brush once more, resuming her calligraphy as though nothing more needed to be said.
Lianyi stood frozen, the weight of her words pressing heavily on him. His heart ached with regret, yet beneath the turmoil flickered the faintest spark of resolve. He could only hope it was not too late to mend what he had broken.
It had been days since Mimi left the capiter and though her heart throbbed with an ache she choose not to show it, she wore her brightest smile every day. Inside, she wrestled with her longing, but outwardly she was warmth itself. Her presence in the Empress's household was like a soft lantern glow—steady, comforting, bringing laughter to the old couples.
Though Lady Hua had many maids, Mimi never stayed idle. She helped with chores, carried baskets to the garden, and even teased the servants when they frowned too much. Sometimes she said something so lighthearted that the old couple found themselves laughing together in ways they hadn't in years. They were deeply satisfied with their grandson's choice, feeling as though fate had brought them this bright child.
One cool evening, after dinner, Mimi was especially lively. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the old couple. Tilting her head, she asked playfully,
"Grandmother, do you know why elders are the wisest?"
Lady Hua raised a curious brow. "Why is that, child?"
"Because," Mimi said with a cheeky smile, "they've already made all the mistakes we are still planning to make."
For a moment there was silence—then laughter burst forth like music. Lord Shen's hearty voice rumbled through the hall while Lady Hua covered her mouth, her shoulders trembling with mirth. Mimi laughed along softly, though her heart tightened at the memory of someone else she longed to make laugh.
When the laughter finally settled, Lord Shen reached across the table and patted her hand with fatherly warmth. His tone softened as he said, "Don't keep what happened between you and that over-pampered child to heart. Though he can be a bit silly sometimes, he is still a good boy."
Mimi lowered her head shyly, hiding the turmoil in her chest behind a faint smile. She wanted to believe his words—but her heart, foolish and restless, refused to forget.
Nightfall draped its silence over the household. Mimi lay curled on her bed, her hands clutching the blanket as though it could ease the ache in her chest. Memories flooded her unbidden—Lianyi's mischievous grin as he snuck into her room at night, the way his steps were lighter than shadows. She remembered the stolen kisses, quick and secret, shared when no one was watching. Back then, her heart had been so full, so certain.
A tear slipped from the corner of her eye, tracing a warm path down her cheek. Soon, another followed, and before she knew it, she was sobbing softly into her pillow. Exhaustion wrapped around her trembling body, and at last, she drifted into sleep.
Then she had a dream, in the dream, she found herself seated upon a throne of jade and gold. The hall glittered with beauty, the air perfumed with blossoms, as though she had stepped into a realm meant for queens. Suddenly, Yue Rong appeared from nowhere, her eyes cold with malice. With a swift shove, she pushed Mimi off the throne.
Mimi gasped as the ground vanished beneath her. She was falling—helpless, weightless—when a strong hand caught her wrist. Warmth surged through her, steadying her. A low voice brushed against her ear, intimate and unyielding.
"I will never let you fall."
Her breath caught. She lifted her gaze—and met Lianyi's eyes. His face was so close, so achingly familiar, and then his lips were on hers, claiming her with the same fire that once made her whole. For a moment, she surrendered, drowning in the kiss she had longed for.
But something felt strange. The warmth was too wet, too sloppy. Her lashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes—
Only to find Grandma Hua's little lapdog standing on her pillow, its tongue lapping happily at her tear-streaked face.
Mimi let out a startled squeak and sat bolt upright. Then, realizing the absurdity of it, she burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as the dog wagged its tail proudly.
"Ah… silly me," she whispered to herself between giggles, wiping her cheeks. "Even in dreams, I can't let go of him."