The Emperor's laughter over the magical painting had faded into the background hum of the banquet. Hours had passed. The plates were cleared, wine kept flowing, and music played on, but Lu Hua felt a strange pressure building behind her eyes. The noise and the perfumed air began to feel too much. A wave of dizziness made the glittering hall tilt slightly.
She touched Zihao's arm. He looked up from his chat with Jianyu, his face showing concern. "Zihao," she murmured, her voice strained, "I... I feel unwell. A bit dizzy. I think I'll go to bed early."
His brow furrowed. "Do you need me to come with you?"
She forced a small smile, shaking her head. "No, it's okay. Enjoy the celebration. Beihe is here." She nodded towards her maid, who stood nearby. "I'll be fine. Just need to rest."
Zihao searched her face, worry clear, but he nodded. "Alright. Send word if you need anything."
"I will." Lu Hua stood, feeling a little unsteady. Beihe quickly moved to her side, supporting her with an arm. They bowed to the Emperor and Empress, who were deep in talk, and headed for the exit.
As they left the bright, noisy hall for the quieter palace corridor, Lu Hua took a deep breath.
"Are you okay, my lady?" Beihe asked, her voice full of worry, holding her tighter. "Was it too loud?"
"Not sure," Lu Hua mumbled, leaning more on Beihe. "Just... felt faint suddenly. Like everything spun. I'm probably just tired. I just want to lie down in our room."
They walked slowly down the broad, torch-lit corridor, the sounds of the banquet fading behind them.
Suddenly, they heard footsteps, quick and determined. "Princess Lu Hua! Please, wait a moment!"
Lu Hua and Beihe turned. Shen Yizhou came out of the shadows, a bit flushed, maybe from wine or rushing. He bowed deeply. "Princess. Sorry for following you out."
Lu Hua blinked, trying to focus through her headache. "Young master Shen? Is something wrong?"
"No, no," he said quickly, standing up. His eyes, sharp even in the dim light, watched her face. "I... I just wanted to thank you again. Properly. For saving me and my men on the road the other day."
Lu Hua managed a weak smile. "It was nothing, Young master Shen. Anyone would have helped. The guards were fast." She paused, her head throbbing made it hard to think. "But... why follow me out here? Couldn't it wait until morning?"
Yizhou shifted, looking a bit awkward. "Maybe. But seeing you tonight..." He paused, his eyes moving over her, pausing on her elegant blue robes, her pale but still beautiful face. "You looked... really beautiful, Princess. Beyond words." He cleared his throat, his voice lower, more sincere. "I meant what I said before. If you need any help... anything... my resources, my sword, are yours. Please, don't hesitate to ask."
The look in his eyes was too intense, and Lu Hua's dizziness made it even worse. It felt like more than just thanks for saving him. "That's... nice of you, young master," she said carefully, stepping back a bit and leaning more on Beihe. "But really, you don't need to. I appreciate it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I really need to rest because I'm not feeling well."
Yizhou looked a little let down, but he hid it fast. He bowed again, deeper this time. "Of course, Your Highness. I'm sorry for keeping you. Rest well." He stayed bowed as Lu Hua and Beihe turned and walked away, watching them until they went around a corner.
"Creepy," Beihe whispered once they were out of earshot, helping Lu Hua walk. "Why was he hiding around corners to thank you? And that look he gave you..."
Lu Hua didn't say anything. The hallway felt colder now, even with the faint music and laughter still in the air. It felt lonely. The torches made long, moving shadows on the walls. "It is cold," Lu Hua agreed, shivering in her robes. "And so quiet. It feels... strange tonight."
"Exactly!" Beihe whispered, looking around nervously. "Like someone's watching us. Maybe it's just because we're cold and tired, but..." She held Lu Hua tighter. "Let's hurry back, my lady."
They turned another corner into a thinner hallway that led to their rooms. Suddenly, Lu Hua's dizziness got much worse. The hallway seemed to spin and the torches turned into lines of light and dark. Her legs gave out.
"My lady!" Beihe shouted, trying to keep her up. "Hold on! We're almost—"
Lu Hua fell hard, her sight getting dark. She saw Beihe's grip loosen as she couldn't hold her weight. As she hit the cold floor, she saw something move from a dark doorway ahead – a shadow coming out from the darkness.
There was a quick, sharp noise – a soft *thud*.
Beihe's hold on Lu Hua's arm went suddenly limp. Lu Hua, falling to the side, saw her maid fall next to her, still, with a dark figure standing over her.
Panic shot through the dizziness. Lu Hua tried to get up, to yell, but her body felt heavy and her throat tight. Her head hurt badly. The shadowy figure stepped over Beihe, moving towards her, its shape fuzzy in her fading sight.
Zihao couldn't shake off his worry about Lu Hua. She looked so pale and unsteady before she left. Time kept passing.
He looked at her empty chair. Her tea cup was still there, half full. A sharp worry poked at him. Why hadn't Beihe sent any message? That wasn't like her.
Zihao reached over and picked up Lu Hua's cup. He didn't drink from it; instead, he sniffed it carefully. Under the familiar smell of jasmine tea, there was something else. A strong, sickly sweet smell, like too-ripe fruit.
His heart turned cold. He remembered his studies about rare herbs and poisons. Devil's Breath. Not deadly, but strong. It made people very sleepy for hours. Perfect for taking someone away without anyone noticing. It explained her dizziness and confusion.
The cup shook in his hand. Someone had put poison in her tea.
★
The first thing Lu Hua felt was the cold stone against her cheek. She groaned, waking up slowly. Her head hurt badly. The air was dusty and smelled old and a bit like metal.
She opened her eyes. It was dark. Fear gripped her. Where was she?
As her eyes got used to the dark, she saw she was on a cold, dirty floor in a small, cramped room. Old boxes and broken chairs were piled up around damp walls. A cellar?
A soft whimper made her look over. Beihe lay close by, tied up with rope, her mouth gagged with cloth. Her eyes were shut, but she was breathing.
*Thump. Thump. Thump.*
Someone is coming.
Lu Hua tried to sit up, but her body was still heavy from the drug.
A little light appeared. A match lit a candle. The candle's light spread, showing the person holding it.
Lu Hua gasped. She knew him. The boy, the clumsy servant boy who had bumped into her days ago, the one who had seen her face without her mask.
He smiled, but it wasn't a nice smile. It was creepy. "Princess," he whispered, excited, "You're awake! Good."
"Where... where am I?" Lu Hua asked, trying to sound strong, but her voice shook with fear. "Why did you do this? Untie my maid! Untie me!"
The boy tilted his head, his eyes shining in the candlelight. "Why?" He chuckled, a sound that made her shiver. "Because we're meant to be together, Princess. Don't you understand?" He stepped closer, staring at her. "From when I saw you in the corridor... I knew. It was fate. You smiled at me. You helped me up. You were so nice... so pretty. Like an angel."
Lu Hua moved back, pressing against the cold wall. "You're crazy! I helped you up because you fell! Let us go!" Anger pushed away some of her fear. "The guards will find you!"
The boy just smiled, not caring. He waved his hand. "Shh, Princess. Don't be mad. They won't find us. This place is hidden." He pointed at the walls. "And the Prince..." His smile became sad. "He can't keep you safe like I can. He can't even walk."
He got closer, and she could smell the candle and his dirty clothes. "My potion," he whispered, proud, "I didn't think it would work so well. I put just a little in your tea. Just a little!"
Lu Hua looked at him, fear turning into a heavy, cold feeling. The dizziness, the falling... it all made sense. This boy, this crazy kid, had drugged her. He had watched her, planned this, and took his chance when she was weak.