The summons came unexpectedly: Li Yue was invited to accompany the emperor on an evening stroll in the imperial garden.
An Ruo nearly dropped the tea tray in shock. "The emperor himself? My Lady, this is—this is extraordinary!"
Li Yue only smiled faintly. "Extraordinary can be dangerous."
Still, she prepared meticulously. Her robes were simple but elegant, the pale lavender silk embroidered with plum blossoms. Her hair was coiled in a modest bun, adorned with only a single pearl pin. She knew better than to dazzle the emperor—humility could be more alluring than extravagance.
The garden glowed beneath lantern light. The emperor walked ahead, hands clasped behind his back, his dragon robes gleaming. He spoke little at first, only pausing to admire the blossoms.
Finally, he said, "Lady Li, tell me: why do you think the palace breeds such endless strife?"
Li Yue's steps slowed. She sensed the trap in his question, but she did not falter. "Because beauty fades, Your Majesty, and power is fragile. Each woman here fears being forgotten. Fear drives envy, envy drives schemes."
The emperor glanced at her, intrigued. "And you? Do you not fear being forgotten?"
Her voice was steady. "I did. Once. But now I fear something greater—wasting the chance I have been given to live with dignity."
For a moment, silence hung heavy. Then the emperor laughed softly. "Dignity. A rare word in this place."
They continued walking, and though his expression remained inscrutable, she knew she had struck a chord.
But not everyone in the garden was blind.
From behind a cluster of bamboo, another pair of eyes watched. Xiao Han, the emperor's brother, leaned casually against a pillar, his gaze sharp.
He had followed her again. Not out of idle curiosity, but because he sensed something shifting.
When Li Yue returned to her quarters later, she found him waiting in the shadows.
"Your Highness," she greeted calmly, though her heart quickened.
Xiao Han's smirk was dangerous. "You've grown bolder, Lady Li. To speak of dignity before the emperor… do you not fear he will see it as insolence?"
Li Yue met his gaze. "I only spoke truth. And truth, though dangerous, can sometimes be more useful than silence."
He studied her, eyes gleaming like a predator's. "You interest me more with each passing day. But be warned—the emperor's gaze is both shield and sword. One misstep, and you will bleed."
"Then I must learn to step carefully," she replied.
A long silence stretched between them. Finally, Xiao Han chuckled and turned away. "Very well. Let us see how far you can walk without stumbling."
That night, Li Yue lay awake, her mind turning. She had the emperor's curiosity, the empress's faint acknowledgment, and the watchful attention of Xiao Han. Three forces, each dangerous in their own right.
And soon, Wan Mei would arrive, throwing the balance into chaos.
Li Yue closed her eyes, whispering to herself, Last time, I drowned in their game. This time, I will play it to the end.