Underneath The Moonlit Night

Chapter 8 - Whispers in the Palace Halls

Flashback to four days ago, a few hours after Qing Yi had left. The morning sun bathed the Cloud Recesses in a soft, golden light, the peaceful atmosphere punctuated by the distant sound of rustling leaves. Lan Xichen made his way to the residence where Yu Yan and Jing Shi were staying, having just concluded his early morning meeting with his disciples. As he approached, the women greeted him warmly, their faces lighting up with welcoming smiles.

"Good morning, Clan Leader Lan," Jing Shi greeted, her voice bright with cheer. Her eyes sparkled with genuine warmth, clearly pleased to see him.

Lan Xichen returned the smile, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. "Good morning, Lady Koh. I hope I'm not intruding."

"Not at all," Jing Shi assured him, stepping aside to let him enter. "Please, come in."

Inside, Yu Yan rose from her seat, her expression one of pleased surprise. "Clan Leader Lan, welcome," she said, her voice warm. "We were just discussing the potential settlement areas."

Lan Xichen bowed respectfully to both women. "I hope your stay continues to be comfortable," he said, his gaze taking in the room. It was then that he noticed the absence of a certain silver-haired young man. His brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't immediately comment.

"Please, sit," Yu Yan gestured to a cushion. "Would you care for some tea?"

As Lan Xichen settled himself, accepting the offered tea with a grateful nod, he couldn't help but glance at the empty space where he had expected to see Qing Yi. The absence nagged at him, like a missing note in a familiar melody.

After a few moments of polite conversation about the weather and the beauty of Cloud Recesses, Lan Xichen's curiosity got the better of him. "If I may ask," he began, his tone carefully neutral, "is Koh Gongzi still resting?"

A shadow passed over Yu Yan's face, and Jing Shi's smile faltered slightly. The atmosphere in the room shifted, a sudden tension palpable in the air.

Yu Yan set down her teacup with a soft sigh. "Qing Yi left for Khufu early this morning," she replied, her voice tinged with a mix of resignation and frustration.

Surprise flickered across Lan Xichen's features, his eyebrows rising slightly. "Is that so? He left so soon?" He couldn't quite keep the disappointment from his voice.

Yu Yan's brow furrowed, a flash of anger sparking in her eyes. "That child!" she exclaimed, her voice sharp. "Did he not come to bid you farewell? Such disrespect! I specifically told him to go say goodbye to you first."

Lan Xichen raised a hand in a calming gesture, his voice soothing. "It's alright, Tribe Leader. I was engaged in an early meeting with my disciples. If Koh Gongzi left at that same time, it's likely he couldn't find me."

Yu Yan's expression softened, the anger draining from her face. "Ah, that makes sense," she murmured, looking slightly abashed at her outburst.

Jing Shi, sensing the tension, leaned forward, her eyes bright with an idea. "Since you're here, Clan Leader Lan," she said, her voice warm and inviting, "shall we venture out to the forest again to continue looking for a suitable spot for my tribe's settlement?"

Lan Xichen's smile returned, genuine and warm. "Of course," he replied, his voice filled with gentle enthusiasm. "We can leave whenever you're ready."

As they prepared to depart, Lan Xichen couldn't help but cast one last glance at the room where Qing Yi had stayed. The young man's abrupt departure left him with a strange sense of unfinished business, a conversation left hanging in the air. Turning to follow Yu Yan and Jing Shi, he pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the task at hand and the company of the two remarkable women before him.