When the Bright Moon Shines on Zhaohe - Chapter 5

…

Moonlight fell softly across the brocade quilt, then broke apart with every movement. When I met those shimmering eyes, I thought the matter over carefully. He had saved me once. It was only right to repay him. Besides… the experience was rather good. Ahem.

What was there to agonize over? A woman ought to live freely. Right?

I woke before dawn, still in Weiyang Palace, in Pei Ye’s bed and in his arms. I assessed my situation, rolled out of bed, dressed, and prepared to run. Noble Consort Shu was said to be difficult. If she caught me, I’d probably get another serving of arsenic cakes. Spare me.

The rustle of my clothes woke Pei Ye. His ink black hair lay loose as he watched me lazily. “Eat and run. You’ve been this heartless since you were little. Who taught you that?”

I ignored the jab. “We agreed: you saved me once, and I’ve repaid you once. We’re even. Don’t have anyone kidnap me again! Your wives are a dangerous bunch. My wonderful life has only just begun, and I don’t want their attention.”

He didn’t answer. He merely leaned against the quilt and watched me with an unreadable, dark gaze. Only when I was fully dressed and about to leave did he pick my jade hairpin up from beside the pillow and pull me back to the edge of the bed.

“Pei Zhaohe, what is it you really want?”

I studied him. He seemed to be asking something more than he said, so I answered him earnestly. “Gold, silver, jewels, mountains and seas, and freedom?”

He gave a quiet, cold scoff. After carefully setting the hairpin in my hair, he said, “Go on, then. You little ingrate.”

That afternoon Eunuch Hong came to Shaohua Residence bearing a stream of imperial gifts. When he reached into his sleeve for something else, he gave me a fright. I was afraid his next sentence would be that His Majesty had made me some sort of consort.

Hong looked amused. “Don’t be nervous, Your Highness. His Majesty gave you these for when you move out of the palace. They’ll all be useful once you have your own residence. He had this jade pass made for you as well. With it, you can come and go through the palace gates properly. You won’t need to crawl through that dog hole in the back courtyard anymore. Oh, and His Majesty said that, for now, the palace is still your home. Remember to return before dark.”

The jade looked valuable. I accepted it with delight. His last instruction seemed to carry some other meaning, but I didn’t think much of it. I took Chunxi out to enjoy ourselves at once.

By the time we returned that night, the palace gates were locked. There was nothing for it but to crawl through the dog hole again. I was exhausted after half a day out. I washed up and went to sleep.

Halfway through the night, someone pressed against my back, carrying the cool air of the evening and that familiar scent of ambergris.

“Pei Ye?”

“Mm.”

“Why are you here again? Who drugged you this time?”

He laughed softly. “No one. Don’t worry. I just wanted to lie here for a while. Go back to sleep. I won’t touch you.”

Wait. This was hardly appropriate, was it?

As though he could read my thoughts, he tightened his arms and drew me closer. “Weiyang Palace is too cold. It’s warmer here. Besides, after all the things I gave you today, you won’t even let me lie down? Stingy little thing.”

His voice was muffled and weary. My heart gave an inexplicable tug. I stared for a while at the large hand holding my small one, sighed, and shifted again.

“What? Trying to drive me away?” he asked, displeased.

“No, Brother. You’re lying on my hair.”

A brief silence. Then he deftly turned me over and pulled me snug against him, leaving no space between us. As his breathing above my head grew slow and even, I thought I heard him say, “Remember to come home earlier from now on.”

I yawned and said I would.