Silent Under the Moon

Though the late emperor has passed, everything remains simple; the surroundings are still adorned with lanterns and festive decorations, exuding a strong atmosphere of celebration.

Inside Xuelan Palace, only a few attendants are present. The night breeze rustles through, causing the lights to flicker; the bright red flames, however, evoke a chilling sensation, leaving the space feeling desolate.

Lan Yi Xuan stands at the entrance, gazing at the flickering lights within the chamber, pacing back and forth in the corridor.

From childhood to adulthood, he has never felt as hesitant and conflicted as he does now, not even during that moment when he witnessed his mother's fate and personally brought her life to an end.

His ten fingers are intertwined, gripping tightly together; after a considerable amount of time has passed, Lan Yi Xuan still has not made up his mind.

"Your Highness."

Bai Ping Ting stands at the door; having noticed someone moving nearby, she approached and discovered it was Lan Yi Xuan.

"What brings you here at this hour, Your Highness?" 

Isn't he supposed to be with the officials in Gan Quan Palace at this time? Thinking of the princess's earlier odd behavior, she quickly formed a resolution.

"How is Xuan Yue faring now?"

Bai Ping Ting hesitates, contemplating whether to disclose this information to Lan Yi Xuan.

"What do you mean?" 

Lan Yi Xuan's voice betrays a sense of urgency, a tone Bai Ping Ting has never encountered before. In her mind, this prince is always composed, dignified, and seemingly approachable, yet very difficult to get close to.

"The princess asked me to press her sleeping acupoint; she is resting inside now, but she seems quite restless and could awaken at any moment."

Bai Ping Ting also finds it strange; when she assisted the princess in leaving Gan Quan Palace just moments ago, she appeared perfectly fine, albeit a bit fatigued. Why would the princess ask her to press her sleeping acupoint? Bai Ping Ting cannot fathom.

"Your Highness, has something happened between you and the princess?" 

Although she knows she lacks the authority to inquire, Bai Ping Ting hesitates for a moment before voicing her concern. The princess's current state genuinely worries her.

"Ever since the princess returned from Wei Yang Palace, she has been acting strangely."

Though the princess insists she is fine, she later went to the military camp in the western suburbs, and her behavior has been decidedly unusual. According to Yue Ying, the princess rarely meets with the prince and even seems to intentionally avoid him. Yi Lan has echoed this sentiment; these two girls are notably perceptive, especially Yi Lan, who is unlikely to be mistaken.

Bai Ping Ting had always assumed that the prince would accompany the princess on this expedition, yet she insisted on going alone. Moreover, when Zhou Yun proposed that the prince take a consort, Bai Ping Ting found it infuriating that the princess did not oppose it. Wasn't it said that they would be a lifelong couple? Why is she now allowing the prince to take a concubine? This is entirely unlike the princess she knows.

"Your Highness, although the princess can be somewhat willful at times, her feelings for you are genuine."

Bai Ping Ting wishes to say more, but suddenly a loud crash reverberates from within the room. Lan Yi Xuan, startled, pushes the door open and rushes inside, brushing past Bai Ping Ting before she can react.

"Xuan Yue!"

Lan Yi Xuan bursts in, just in time to see Xuan Yue sprawled on the icy floor, curled up into a ball. She seems to be lost in sleep, her eyes tightly shut, yet she is evidently enduring immense pain. Her brow is furrowed, and her delicate face is contorted in distress. The palace is illuminated, but because her face is pressed against the ground, the view is obscured. From his vantage point, he can only discern her profile facing him, pale and seemingly bearing the weight of profound agony.

"Xuan Yue."

兰裔轩 rushed to Xuan Yue's side, lifting her from the cold floor into his embrace. Her face, as pale as the profile he had glimpsed upon entering, was drenched in a glistening sheen of cold sweat, with her lips bitten and as white as March cherry blossoms, stained with flecks of blood. Her disheveled dark hair clung to her face, further accentuating her ghostly pallor.

"What has happened to you?" 

He gently patted her cheek, noting her shallow yet rapid breathing. Just as he was about to carry her to bed, Xuan Yue's tightly shut eyes suddenly fluttered open.

"Princess."

The arrival of Bai Pingting coincided with Xuan Yue's awakening. Rushing forward, she gasped, "Princess!"

How could this be? Hadn't she pressed the princess's sleeping acupoint? How could she awaken so quickly, and why did she look so unwell? What was happening?

Xuan Yue was equally bewildered. The scent of the pear blossom was hauntingly familiar, yet her mind remained shrouded in a haze, unable to recall where she had encountered it before. Instinctively, she resisted the thought of allowing Lan Yi Xuan to come into contact with that substance.

She assumed it was a potent aphrodisiac. Having endured countless hardships throughout her life, she believed herself capable of overcoming this challenge, confident in her formidable internal strength and exceptional willpower. That's why she had permitted Bai Pingting to press her sleeping acupoint. Yet, the reality was proving far more complex than she had anticipated.

Even in her slumber, the pain coursing through her body was excruciating. The discomfort in her chest was unbearable—unlike the familiar sting of a whip or the sharp pain of a dagger, this sensation felt as if something was writhing within her, violently stirring. Her blood surged like tumultuous waves in the sea; this was no mere external injury. It felt as if her very essence was ablaze, enveloped in an unbearable heat.

When Lan Yi Xuan's hand brushed against her, a significant portion of her pain subsided. It was a sensation that left her yearning for more, wishing he possessed countless hands to completely meld with her being. She was all too aware of what this feeling signified.

"Go fetch Lei Yun."

As Lan Yi Xuan leaned in, cradling Xuan Yue, he spoke to Bai Pingting, who knelt on the floor.

Xuan Yue grasped her chest, a sudden realization striking her like lightning. She closed her eyes and gripped Lan Yi Xuan's arm tightly. "Pingting, you don't need to do anything. It's getting late; you should rest."

Leaning against Lan Yi Xuan, she appeared exceptionally frail.

"Princess."

Bai Pingting turned, concern etched across her features.

"Do as the princess instructed."

Lan Yi Xuan gently placed Xuan Yue on the bed, yet his hand lingered on her body, refusing to let go.

"Lan Yi Xuan, release me."

Xuan Yue's weak voice bore a commanding edge.

"Xuan Yue."

Lan Yi Xuan gazed into her eyes, filled with uncertainty and conflict. He reached out, tenderly caressing her face, softly brushing back the hair from her forehead. "Yue'er, what should I do?"

This was not the first time Xuan Yue had witnessed such a helpless expression on Lan Yi Xuan's face, yet never had it appeared so poignant.

"Let go of me."

Propped against the pillow, her eyes widened as she weakly pushed his hand away.

As soon as his hand withdrew, Xuan Yue collapsed onto the bed, clutching the sheets tightly, her body wracked with pain.

Lan Yi Xuan sat beside her, observing her face buried in the linens. He understood who Xuan Yue was and the depths of her suffering that had led her to this state.

Hesitation, struggle, and turmoil consumed him; he wished he could bear her pain. His hand clenched into a fist, tightly grasping her trembling shoulder as he lifted her up into his arms. "Xuan Yue, why can't you understand?"

To protect him? The sight of her suffering felt like a dagger to his heart.

"Master Lan, it is you who does not understand."

Leaning against him, Xuan Yue's weak voice trembled with unshed tears. "That fragrance is so familiar."

Lan Yi Xuan's body stiffened, his grip on her trembling form faltering.

Upon first catching the scent of the pear blossoms, she had sensed its familiarity. After a decade, that aroma was too recognizable, and the subtle distinction from natural pear blossoms was immediately apparent to her. Having left that place years ago, she had nearly forgotten it—this was the scent she had encountered in the Pear Blossom Pharmacy. This was all orchestrated by Liu Xinyou, who knew her intimately.

"Endure just a little longer, and it will pass."

Xuan Yue's hand formed a tight fist on Lan Yi Xuan's shoulder. "Just grit your teeth, for there is no obstacle in this world that Feng Xuan Yue cannot overcome."

"Xuan Yue, this is the aphrodisiac specifically concocted by Liu Xinyou targeting you."

It cannot be endured; this torment is wrought by Liu Xinyou herself.

"Lan Yi Xuan, did my brother suffer like this when the poison took effect? How did he manage to endure it?"

With her eyes shut, icy tears trickled from the corners of Xuan Yue's eyes.

"My brother's body is frail, and the illness has only just begun to manifest; how could he withstand such excruciating pain?"

Lan Yi Xuan's hands remained firmly gripping Xuan Yue's shoulders as he pushed her away, locking his gaze onto her misty eyes. "You know the antidote, don't you?"

His tone carried a question, yet each word was laden with unspoken certainty.

"In just two days, you are to embark on a campaign. Do you expect me to stand by and witness you consorting with another man?"

He could not bear it. Even in his current state of agony, if such a thing were to transpire, it would be a fate worse than death. And what of Xuan Yue? What would become of her future?

Xuan Yue looked up at Lan Yi Xuan, her sobs growing more heart-wrenching.

"Xuan Yue, how can you be so cruel to me?"

Having already left him, must she drive a fatal dagger into his heart before departing entirely?

"I cannot—" 

Before Lan Yi Xuan could finish his sentence, Xuan Yue suddenly reached out, leaning in to kiss his lips.

"Master Lan, I understand your intentions. You feel powerless, and I do as well. Because of me, you are already in anguish; I cannot allow you to suffer further."

From the moment they met until now, he had always cared for her. In the first half of her life, she had lived for her brother, and so she would continue. But for this once, just this once, she would live for herself, for her own love, casting aside all caution.