The morning sun filtered gently through the windows of Prince Li Wei's residence, casting a golden hue across the study room. He stood alone by the tall windows, his hands folded behind his back, deep in thought. The calm was soon interrupted by a light knock on the door, followed by the appearance of a cloaked figure—one of his most trusted shadow spies.
The spy bowed deeply and stepped forward, his voice low and urgent.
"My prince," he began, "I bring news from the palace. His Majesty has quietly initiated an investigation into the background of Mo Shan Shan."
Li Wei's brows furrowed slightly, his gaze narrowing. "The king?" he muttered under his breath.
The spy nodded. "It seems her involvement in the recent battle has raised questions. The King has ordered one of his senior eunuchs to gather information about her lineage and origins."
Li Wei's expression hardened. He turned away from the window, his voice calm but laced with concern.
"Thank you. That will be all."
The spy bowed once more and vanished into the shadows.
Li Wei sat down slowly, tapping his fingers against the wooden table. The pieces were shifting, and the game was becoming more dangerous. He thought of Lu Bai—how composed and guarded he always was. If anyone could make the right moves now, it was Lu Bai.
He reached for a brush and parchment, quickly writing a brief but urgent message. He sealed it and handed it to another trusted aide.
"Deliver this to Prince Lu Bai with haste. Use the secure route, and ensure it reaches his hands directly."
The aide bowed and left at once.
Meanwhile, at Lu Bai's tranquil residence nestled at the edge of the pine forests, the prince stood in the inner courtyard, listening to the rustle of the leaves and the distant chirp of birds. When his attendant arrived with the sealed scroll, Lu Bai unfolded it carefully and read the message.
His calm expression shifted ever so slightly.
So, the King had finally begun connecting the threads.
He turned to his personal servant.
"Summon Mo Shan Shan. Tell her to meet me in the backyard chamber. There is something important we must discuss."
The servant nodded and hurried off.
Lu Bai walked toward the serene spring chamber hidden in the secluded part of his garden. The sound of flowing water surrounded the space, offering peace and clarity—but today, the air was thick with tension.
As he waited, Lu Bai looked out over the quiet water, knowing that the truth he had long protected might soon come to light. And Mo Shan Shan, whether she was ready or not, would need to know her place in the storm that was approaching.
The warm afternoon breeze drifted lazily through the garden, rustling the leaves of the plum trees as Mo Shan Shan walked slowly toward the secluded spring chamber at the back of Lu Bai's residence. Her steps were hesitant, her thoughts a whirl of uncertainty and curiosity. When she arrived, she found Lu Bai standing quietly by the edge of the spring, hands folded behind his back, his pale robes swaying gently in the wind.
She paused a moment, gathering her courage, then stepped beside him.
"Maybe…" she began softly, "…you're finally ready to tell me what I asked in the palace?"
Lu Bai turned his head slightly toward her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"What exactly did you want to know?" he asked.
Her heart fluttered at the question, a strange mixture of nerves and anticipation rising within her. She stepped closer and looked up at him.
"Why did you care about me?" she asked earnestly. "And why did you need permission before visiting the King—your own father?"
Lu Bai was silent for a moment. Then, he exhaled gently, his expression thoughtful.
"Yes," he said, "he is my father… But remember, he is also the king of the entire realm." And there are reasons why I don't go to him freely."
Mo Shan Shan looked at him with growing interest. "What reasons?"
Lu Bai's voice dropped into a quieter, more intimate tone as he turned to face her fully. "I wasn't born blind," he confessed. "It happened when I was ten years old… because of my mother."
Mo Shan Shan blinked. "Your mother did that to you?"
He nodded, his face calm, though his voice carried a weight that betrayed years of silence.
"She had a close friend—someone dear to her. That friend was married to a warlord who ruled over a rebellious city in the north. He sought independence and defied the King. When the war broke out, my mother protected her friend and her child. On the day the King's men came to question us, she… she blinded me with a special herb. Said if I couldn't see, I couldn't reveal anything—even under pressure."
Mo Shan Shan's lips parted in surprise. "The woman… does she have a daughter?"
Lu Bai nodded. "All I know is they escaped that day. My mother was placed under house arrest for years. I haven't been allowed to visit her since."
There was a pause. Mo Shan Shan stared at him, her mind spinning. Something began to shift in her memory, a tremor rising from deep within her soul. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the edge of her sleeve. Then, slowly, she reached into her robes and pulled out a delicate wooden flute.
"You gave me this, didn't you?" she whispered.
Lu Bai's eyes softened. "Yes," he said gently.
As he spoke the word, something cracked within her.
A forceful pain surged through Mo Shan Shan's head, and suddenly, her past came rushing back like a tidal wave.
She remembered.
A dim alley… soldiers chasing them… her mother grasping her hand.
The face of a young boy—Lu Bai. He had handed her the flute in secret, whispering to keep it safe. That day… it had all happened in the northern city of Kuang Zhou.
She remembered her mother preparing the herb. She remembered the moment it was used on Lu Bai to save them.
Then, another scene unfolded in her mind—the second day of their escape. Warriors found them. Her mother fought fiercely, blades clashing against steel, shouts echoing through the forest. But they were too many.
In her final moments, her mother turned to her, bloodied but resolute.
"Run!" she had cried. "Keep running and never give up!"
It was the same voice she had heard in her dream… the same plea echoing through the darkness of her memories.
Mo Shan Shan gasped, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"She didn't make it," she choked. "My mother… she died that day. And my father… he was killed in the war. I always thought I had someone out there waiting for me—some family still alive…"
Her voice broke.
"But I'm alone."
Lu Bai stepped forward, his expression tender. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"You're not alone," he said softly. "You still have me. And Li Wei. We're your family now."
She looked up at him through teary eyes.
"You… and Li Wei… knew?"
Lu Bai gave a small nod. "I told Li Wei to find you. To bring you from the slave market."
Mo Shan Shan's breath caught.
She stepped back, confusion and pain flashing in her eyes. She clutched the flute tightly in her hands.
Without a word, she turned and walked away, her heart aching. Her steps were heavy as she passed through the chamber and out into the city.
Lu Bai remained still, watching her retreating figure disappear into the fading afternoon light.
The truth had finally been revealed.
But the weight of it was only just beginning to settle.