Underneath The Moonlit Night

Chapter 14 - Balancing Duty and Desire

Jing Xiang toiled diligently in Qing Yi's herb garden, the sheer number of Evening Primrose fields planted at his request causing her some annoyance. These delicate flowers demanded nightly harvesting to preserve their sweet fragrance. As she gathered the fully bloomed blossoms, their pleasant scent triggered memories of her twin's fragrance and the Crown Prince's penchant for carrying a vial of Evening Primrose oil wherever he went. The mere thought of it caused her to roll her eyes, but she continued her task.
Suddenly, a voice broke the tranquility from behind her, "It appears you have a garden full of blooming flowers. Do you need some assistance?"

Jing Xiang turned to find Lan Xichen standing there, her surprise evident in her expression, "Clan Leader Lan," she exclaimed lightly, "I thought you had already returned to the Cloud Recesses." She smiled as she held a bouquet of freshly picked flowers, turning towards Lan Xichen.

A gentle breeze caressed the surroundings, causing Jing Xiang's hair to sway gracefully in the air. It carried with it the delicate petals and the sweet fragrance of evening primroses, drifting towards Lan Xichen. As he observed Jing Xiang, holding a bouquet of flowers under the moonlit sky, her emerald eyes locked onto his, it stirred a familiar feeling within him. It somehow evoked memories of his initial encounter with Qing Yi. That night, beneath the radiant full moon, he had gazed down from his balcony, meeting Qing Yi's captivating emerald eyes.
Lan Xichen smiled, "I hope I didn't startle you by being here so late. There are a few matters I would like to discuss with you, Lady Koh. If you can spare me a few minutes of your time?"

"Of course, Clan Leader Lan," Jing Xiang replied respectfully. "No need to worry, I was engrossed in my work and your presence didn't startle me." With a graceful gesture, she guided Lan Xichen towards the open workroom in the backyard, where a table awaited, ready for the careful arrangement of herbs.

Jing Xiang brewed a bottle of tea on the clay kindle further back as Lan Xichen sat down at the table where all the herbs were laid out. The soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the open windows created a tranquil atmosphere in the herb-filled room.

"How may I be of service to you, Clan Leader Lan?" Jing Xiang asked politely, her voice friendly and filled with eagerness to accommodate. Gracefully, she walked towards Lan Xichen, her steps measured and elegant.

Jing Xiang's demeanor and friendliness echoed that of Qing Yi, radiating a familiar warmth that brought to Lan Xichen memories of the same from Qing Yi. Responding with an amicable smile, he inquired, "How do you find our Gusu's forest so far?"

With practiced grace, Jing Xiang delicately separated withered evening primroses from the blooming ones. Carefully, she removed the withered petals from their capsule pods, depositing the capsules into a jar destined for oil extraction. A graceful smile adorned her lips throughout the process.

"I truly enjoyed it. From the moment I arrived in my village, I felt the spirit of the forest enveloping me with happiness and calm. It's no wonder Qing Yi immediately fell in love with your forest the first time he visited," Jing Xiang responded gently.

The mention of Qing Yi widened Lan Xichen's smile. "How is Qing Yi?"

Jing Xiang's smile faded slightly as she answered, "He's... doing fine. At the moment, he's diligently performing his tasks while helping Prince Kai Ze tend to the kingdom." Sitting down on the opposite side of Lan Xichen, she took a sip of her tea. With a glance at Lan Xichen, she added, "What else would you like to inquire about my brother and his role in the palace?"

Caught off guard by the directness of the question, Lan Xichen couldn't help but let out a small, impressed laugh. "What makes you think I want to know more about your brother?" he inquired, genuinely intrigued.