That night, the palace was quiet, lanterns glowing softly in the courtyards. Lianhua walked slowly through the garden, her silk sleeves brushing against the night air. She had been restless ever since dinner, her thoughts endlessly circling around Xiangyun.
She paused near the moon gate, when suddenly a gentle voice came from behind her.
Xiangyun: "Can't sleep either, Princess?"
Startled, Lianhua turned—and there he was. Not ragged, not dirty, but in clean robes of pale blue, his hair neatly tied, the moonlight highlighting the calm nobility in his face.
Lianhua's heart skipped a beat. She quickly bowed her head.
Lianhua: "N-no… I was just… walking."
Xiangyun stepped closer, his expression softening.
Xiangyun: "You dropped a petal in your hair."
He reached out gently, plucking a tiny blossom from her dark locks. His fingers brushed lightly against her temple.
Lianhua froze, her breath caught in her throat.
Lianhua: "T-thank you…"
Xiangyun smiled faintly. "It suits you. You looked lost earlier. Did I trouble you with my sudden arrival?"
Lianhua shook her head quickly, her cheeks flushed pink.
Lianhua: "No! Not at all. It's just… you feel like someone I've known for a long time. It's… strange."
Their eyes met under the lantern light, lingering just a bit too long. The world seemed to fall silent.
And then—
Xiaoxi's voice boomed across the courtyard.
Xiaoxi: "A-HAAA! So this is where you sneaked off, Sister Lianhua!"
Haoran followed right behind, smirking.
Haoran: "Well, well… moonlight strolls already? Should we prepare the wedding drums?"
Both Xiangyun and Lianhua stiffened. Lianhua nearly tripped on her own robes.
Lianhua: "I-it's not what it looks like!"
Her words only made Xiaoxi laugh harder, clutching her stomach.
Xiangyun sighed, giving his little sister a warning look, but Xiaoxi only stuck out her tongue before dragging Haoran away.
——
Later that night, Xiaoxi was still giggling when she leaned on the balcony rail beside Haoran and Xiangyun. The moon hung low, the night quiet except for their voices.
Xiaoxi nudged her brother.
Xiaoxi: "You still haven't told me your long story of coming here."
Xiangyun took a deep breath, raising an eyebrow at her.
Xiangyun: "Of course… because of you."
Xiaoxi puffed her cheeks. "Me?! What did I do now?!"
He turned to her with a helpless sigh, his tone carrying mock tragedy.
Xiangyun: "It's like this… A few days after you left, Mother started worrying. She pretended she wasn't, but every word gave her away. She kept muttering things like 'that silly girl doesn't know anything, what if she faces danger?' But because of her pride, she never admitted she was worried. Instead…"
He let out another sigh.
Xiangyun: "…one day she stormed into Father's chamber while I was there. She didn't even look at me—just shouted, 'You are just like your sister! You go, you also go! First find her, then stay with her, and don't you dare return until her thirty days are over!' And me—the only innocent here—had no choice but to accept. Do you see my suffering, dumbo?"
Xiaoxi burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Xiaoxi: "Pfff! You didn't do anything, yet Mother punished you too? Poor innocent brother!"
Xiangyun narrowed his eyes. "Don't laugh at my misery."
But it was already too late. Even Haoran was covering his mouth to hide his grin, and from the shadows, Lianhua shyly pressed her hand over her lips, giggling softly.
Xiangyun tried to continue, though his tone was full of mock sadness.
Xiangyun: "And then… when I finally set out, my bad luck struck again. The carrier wheel broke. I had to help the driver drag the cart all the way to find a repair shop—except there wasn't one nearby! So I pushed the whole carrier to this city with my own hands. That's why I was so dirty and exhausted when you saw me."
He ended his story with a heavy sigh, his princely image cracking.
But the others—Xiaoxi doubled over, Haoran smirking, and even gentle Lianhua hiding her laughter—couldn't hold back. The balcony was filled with their laughter echoing into the night.
Xiangyun muttered, half annoyed, half amused:
Xiangyun: "I am the only serious one here, surrounded by a family of clowns."
And Xiaoxi, still laughing, threw her arms around him.
Xiaoxi: "Welcome to my world, Brother!"
The night ended not with quiet dignity, but with laughter, teasing, and a faint warmth that wrapped around the palace like moonlight.
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