The night was as dark as ink, the moon a slender crescent. A woman with long, flowing hair lay half-prone on the window sill, clutching a small slip of paper. Her eyes were fixed intently on the densely written characters, yet they were vacant, as if her mind had drifted far away. Lou Xiyan stood silently beside her for a long while, but she remained lost in a world beyond reach. He thought that if he didn't speak, she might not even realize he had returned tonight.
Gently tapping her shoulder, careful not to startle her, Lou Xiyan softly asked, "What has you so engrossed?"
Sure enough, despite his lowered voice, Zhuo Qing flinched before looking up at him with a puzzled expression. "Why did you come back so early today?" she asked. "I thought you said you'd be late this afternoon?"
"Early?" Lou Xiyan's slender eyes curved slightly as he glanced toward the dark, silent lake outside. She actually found his early return unwelcome? It seemed he would have to work harder to make her miss him more.
Zhuo Qing looked out the window, suddenly realizing how late it had become. She had thought she'd only been resting on the windowsill for a short while. Feeling awkward, she forced a dry laugh and turned her head away to avoid Lou Xiyan's slightly vexed gaze. Tonight, she seemed different. Concerned, Lou Xiyan asked, "What's wrong? Feeling unwell? Or is something troubling you?"
Zhuo Qing shook her head perfunctorily, waving the paper in her hand. "No. This afternoon, Qingmo gave me this paper. She said it was something Yang Lu had carefully kept before he died, possibly related to the Golden Case. I studied it for a long time but couldn't decipher it. I think I've been overthinking it—I'm just tired."
Lou Xiyan smiled. "May I see it?"
The Imperial Chancellor Shan Yulan had already petitioned for a retrial to continue the search for the missing gold, and the emperor had readily agreed—after all, it was a million taels of gold! Yet the Golden Case surely involved powerful ministers, and the aftermath would no doubt be bloody and tumultuous.
Handing the paper to Lou Xiyan, Zhuo Qing eagerly asked, "Do you think it might be some kind of cipher or code? Are you versed in Qimen divination?"
Lou Xiyan chuckled. "I'm hardly an expert in Qimen arts." Though he enjoyed the admiration in her eyes, he truly understood nothing of such mystical lore. He unfolded the paper, which was covered only with repetitive characters: "front front back back left left right right." No wonder she was baffled—he couldn't make sense of it either.
After a long moment of contemplation, Lou Xiyan returned the paper with a gentle smile. "Have you considered that Yang Lu was merely a general's son, an ordinary soldier? Would what he left behind truly be connected to arcane divination or secret codes?"
Zhuo Qing snapped her fingers in realization. "You're right! Why didn't I think of that? Perhaps we've overcomplicated things—maybe he simply meant what was most obvious."
Lou Xiyan nodded in agreement, but Zhuo Qing's face suddenly fell again, and she sighed in frustration. "But what exactly is the most obvious thing?"
Feeling her distress deeply, Lou Xiyan took her hand and helped her to her feet. "You've been thinking about this all day. Stop for now and rest. Maybe inspiration will strike you tomorrow."
Zhuo Qing rolled her eyes, knowing a sudden flash of insight wouldn't come so easily. Yet she truly felt sleepy. Tucking the slip of paper into the folds of her sash, she conceded, "Alright, I'll sleep."
As she passed beyond the screen into the inner chamber, Zhuo Qing noticed a small bed beside Lou Xiyan's grand one—only half its size. Surprised, she asked, "Since when was there an extra bed in the room?" She hadn't noticed it this afternoon.
Lou Xiyan shook his head in amused exasperation. "You must have been so lost in thought that you missed it just now."
Moved in by the new residence? She was so absent-minded as to not notice? Not admitting defeat, Zhuo Qing quickly changed the subject. "Your bed is already so big—why bring in another one?"
Feeling foolish for the question, she expected no answer. Lou Xiyan, however, smiled with a mixture of helplessness, flirtation, and teasing. "You sleep in the big bed. I'll take the small one. I'm afraid that if we share the same bed every night, I won't be able to wait until our wedding night before…"
He left the sentence hanging, but the meaning was clear. As much as he desired her, being together nightly yet restrained was a torment. He feared his self-control might falter.
Zhuo Qing laughed knowingly, fully understanding his meaning. As a modern woman, she saw nothing wrong with premarital intimacy between loving partners. Meeting his enchanting gaze, she smiled coyly. "No one's asking you to wait."
Lou Xiyan stiffened, clearly recognizing her invitation. Under the flickering candlelight, her figure was graceful, her eyes aflame. Swallowing hard, he staggered back a step and hastily said, "It's late. Go to sleep. Good night."
With that, he quickly lay down on the smaller bed beside her.
Zhuo Qing stood there stunned, caught between laughter and disbelief. What was this? She came to him, and yet he refused? Was it pride? Or was he simply in need of a little provocation?
The more gentlemanly he acted, the more she wanted to ignite something between them. After all, they loved each other, and their relationship was founded on marriage. Such intimacy was only natural.
After some mental preparation, she resolved: she would seduce Lou Xiyan.
Easier said than done, though—how? Lacking experience, she recalled some classic scenes from films while approaching his small bed. Slightly tousling her hair, she glanced down at her attire, biting her lip. She slipped off the outer sheer robe, letting it fall to the floor, leaving only a thin inner garment. Next would be the dudou…
Taking a deep breath, Zhuo Qing whispered, "Xiyan…"
"Hmm?" Lou Xiyan hummed softly, still facing away.
Undeterred, she coaxed again, her voice as tender as she could manage, "Xiyan…"
At last, Lou Xiyan turned reluctantly, suspecting mischief from the rustling behind him. But he never expected to find her clad only in a delicate inner garment, moonlight and candlelight accentuating her curves. Her cascading hair was artfully disheveled, swaying gently in the soft night breeze, entwined with silver moonbeams.
His breath caught. Her bright eyes locked onto his, shimmering with irresistible allure.
His heart pounded uncontrollably. "Qing'er… don't look at me like that," he murmured, his restraint far weaker than she imagined.
Encouraged, Zhuo Qing whispered again, "Yan~"
Damn, her voice was melting him to his core. Lou Xiyan's gaze darkened, his low, hoarse voice warning, "Qing'er, you're playing with fire!"
Just the effect she wanted. Growing bolder, she pressed closer, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Xi…" Before she could finish, the room spun. Lou Xiyan swept her into a strong embrace, and together they tumbled onto the bed.
His hands circled her waist, normally cool but now burning fiercely, transmitting their heat through the thin fabric. His narrow eyes narrowed with intoxicated desire. Their bodies clung tightly, his racing heartbeat and scorching warmth coloring Zhuo Qing's cheeks a vivid blush.
Before she could think further, her lips tingled as Lou Xiyan claimed them with a fierce kiss. The heat of his breath enveloped her, making her tremble. He held her more tightly, their usually gentle kisses now aflame with passion.
His kisses traveled down her neck to her ear, nibbling her earlobe softly, his low voice like rich wine, intoxicating and enticing: "I want you."
His warm breath and whispered desire sent another shiver through Zhuo Qing. Wordless, she looped her slender wrists around his neck, drawing herself deeper into his embrace.
Emboldened, Lou Xiyan's lips descended further, his hand slipping beneath her outer garment.
Suddenly, a sharp knocking startled them. "Minister Lou! Minister Lou!"
Both startled, Lou Xiyan reluctantly withdrew his hand from her supple waist and draped a silk quilt over her.
Trying to steady his ragged breath, he snapped, "Who is it?"
Outside, a woman's voice trembled with tears. "Your servant Xiaolian. The princess…"
Lou Xiyan's heart skipped. "What about the princess?"
"She had a nightmare and woke crying silently. The princess is frail and cannot endure such torment. If anything happens to her, your servant would be utterly to blame. Please, Minister Lou, come and see her."
Rushing over in distress just because of a nightmare? Zhuo Qing rolled her eyes again. Though Lou Xiyan said nothing, his expression darkened considerably.
"Mo Bai!" Lou Xiyan called softly.
No answer. He called again, "Mo Bai!"
"Present," came a cold voice from outside.
Mo Bai had been on guard outside the courtyard, having heard noises earlier, but had forgotten that Xuanxing Pavilion and Lanyue Tower were connected.
Lou Xiyan said sharply, "Imperial Physician Xuan."
"Present."
After Mo Bai left, the woman lingered at the door. Lou Xiyan's patience
waned. "Go on, tell me what's wrong with the princess."
The woman stammered, "The princess is weak… she woke crying in distress, saying she saw… shadows."
Lou Xiyan frowned, the corners of his mouth tightening. "Show me."
She led him to the princess's chamber. The princess lay pale and trembling under the bedcovers, clutching a jade pendant.
Lou Xiyan's sharp eyes scanned the room. Nothing appeared amiss.
The princess shivered, her tiny hand clutching his sleeve. "Minister Lou, the shadows… they were so real…"
Lou Xiyan sighed, kneeling beside her. "Rest now. No one will harm you."
Yet his mind raced. What shadows? Were they truly nightmares or something more sinister?
Outside, the night deepened, and a chilling wind stirred. The Golden Case, the cryptic papers, and now the princess's strange dreams… all seemed threads of a dark tapestry slowly unraveling.