In Darkness

Two Possibilities

AN: BQ finds out that MY knows her name in the next chapter. It's going to lead to a few less-than-beautiful moments.

Bai Qian glances up from her teacup to look over at Mo Yuan as the two men closest to the entrance continue to bicker about an irrelevant bridge within the lotus ponds of the Nine Heavens. With an elbow on the table and her chin perched on her hand, three of her fingers from her free hand delicately tap along the wood as she comes to the conclusion that even Mo Yuan isn't paying enough attention anymore. His body appears to be alert, and while he looks engrossed in the conversation (not that she can see him), he also hasn't moved so much as a muscle since this conversation started. It seemed to her that it wasn't unlikely he, too, was tired.

Just so.

The miscarriage came not long after the Medicine King left, and they fell asleep. Taking care of it on top of the late hour had been an undertaking.

Looking back at the men again, she listens for the umpteenth time as the first man continues to demand the bridge's removal 'for security' because of it being a blindspot for the guards overlooking the ponds. The other man firmly insists it not be taken down as it was technically a historic landmark since Fu Xi built it along with the rest of the lotus ponds solely for his wife after Ye Hua was preserved in the golden lotus.

Sighing loud enough for even them to hear, Bai Qian continues to drum her fingers along the wood of the table she was sitting at.

"Do you have an opinion, Your Highness?" Li Jing asks dryly, still having enough brains to rise as he speaks. They face one another too long for Mo Yuan's comfort.

"Why don't you just have it moved?" Pouring herself a glass of (now cold) tea, she uses a spell to reheat it before humming in thought, "Mo Yuan, both of our palaces have a stream or two, a bridge wouldn't hurt. There's no reason to destroy it."

Mo Yuan looks over at her silently. He knew very well that Hao De had wedged this in solely for the sake of irritating her, but she seemed only bored if anything. When she faces him, Mo Yuan offers her a small smile, "Then, since you are determined to preserve it as well, I will gift it to you."

"Heavenly Lord," Yang Cuo rises from his seat, turning to offer him a courtesy, "I have a request to submit."

"What is it?"

"Ever since Xiwu Palace's renovation, coarse cloth has covered its rooftops and entrances. Not only is it ugly and not befitting a palace in the Nine Heavens, but it also attracts songbirds that keep Princess Su Jin awake at all hours. For the sake of Ye Hua's second child, I'd like to request them to be removed."

Mo Yuan glances over towards Bai Qian when the prince is finished speaking. Staring ahead, she's already summoned a bottle of wine to her side despite it not even being noon yet. 

Then he feels it. 

Her cultivation is unbalanced as it reaches further out into the room in an effort of self-preservation. She hasn't done anything wrong -- why does she wish to flee?

Dong Hua, picking up on the subtle change in the room, straightens in his seat as he arches a curious brow up to Mo Yuan.

"Second," Mo Yuan turns to his right, where he and his first disciple are waiting, "Bring Su Jin here, as well as one of the physicians."

"Yes, Shifu." His second disciple nods before offering him a parting courtesy and leaving.

Looking back at Bai Qian, he holds back a frown over how utterly exhausted she's finally beginning to look. While he could easily go on for a few more days, the idea of dragging her back to his dragon den for a day spent asleep sounds appealing.