Blood of Deception [ON HOLD]

Chapter Sixteen

"Princess!" Xiaonu exclaimed from somewhere before Meiyue could see her. She sat on the vanity stool, waiting for her maid to undo the ornaments on her hair, but apparently the girl had disappeared a few moments ago.

"Oh, princess!" Meiyue heard her called out again. Xiaonu entered the bedroom in a fluster. "He's here!" she said and caught her arm.

"Who?" Meiyue pulled her maid back before she could lead her somewhere.

"Yuzhe!" the girl said as if it was the most obvious thing. "He's asking to meet you outside."

Meiyue stared at her maid, dumbfounded for a moment. "How is he here?" she managed, her mind swirling. Xiaonu gave her an impatient look.

The princess moved in front of the vanity mirror and studied her form from left to right. It was a good thing that she hadn't prepared to retire yet or else it would be scandalous to be outside with just her nightgown. Adjusting the blue coat over her shoulders, Meiyue turned to her maid and said, "You're coming with me." Xiaonu nodded and ushered her out of the room.

As she stepped into the parlor and toward the entrance, her heart started to pound. She wasn't sure why it did nor did she had the time to find out when Xiaonu pushed the doors open. They were greeted with the starry night sky. Two torches flickered on either side when Meiyue descended down the stone stairs leading to the ground. Even in the dark, she'd recognize that back everywhere.

Yuzhe stood at the bottom of the steps. Peach blossom trees towered over him, their flowering branches cuddling him in their shadows. He wore a pale ruqun that was stark as the color of the falling petals. Meiyue halted a few steps above him. Her footsteps were so light that he didn't turn until a minute later, leaving her to behold the glide of his hair in the flowing wind.

He stepped out of the shade and smiled at her. "Sorry for calling you out late."

"How did you get past the guards?" Meiyue joined him on the ground level.

"It was Baotong's group's shift," he said. He acknowledged Xiaonu with a small nod. So he already had built a relationship with some of the guards. As expected of Yuzhe's charisma, Meiyue thought.

"What brings you here at this time?" she asked. They were strolling from her quarters to the courtyard. Ginkgo trees lined the edges of the garden, still green in spring and ruffling in the mild breeze. Beyond was the labyrinth of passages leading deeper to the beauty of the Private Ward.

"Actually, I was just done speaking with the King," Yuzhe said beside her.

Meiyue stopped. "Father?" They'd reached a cluster of huge tree-like jasmine shrubs. White flowers dotted all over the greens, their fragrance strong and pleasing. But Meiyue wasn't looking at her favorite blossoms. "I don't understand," she said, clipped. She was feeling the gloom of what Ruixue told her the day before once again. "Dajie told me you declined."

Yuzhe paused a few steps before her. "I changed my mind," he said.

"How so?"

"Because of you." He looked at her. The race of her heartbeat that had just slowed was now picking up gradually. "You and father made me realize that this might be an opportunity to get a clearer view of our kingdom's current state," he said. "Instead of sitting back and resent the lack of change, I'll help you and those who share your heart."

Meiyue held his gaze, feeling her gloom all of the sudden vanished. She nodded, pleased. "What position?"

"His Majesty offered me a seat in the Ministry of Finance and Economy, but I think that's too bold," Yuzhe said. "So I suggested if I could first work maybe as a volunteer to see how things flow. Then he assigned me to be Junqian's assistant."