When the Bright Moon Shines on Zhaohe - Chapter 9

Later, Chunxi came in and told me Pei Ye had arrived early that evening. He’d spent the whole night drinking alone in the room beside the one where Meng and I talked.

I didn’t know what he’d heard or how much he’d misunderstood. What could have disappointed him so badly that he wouldn’t even give me a chance to explain? My chest felt unbearably tight. I wanted to speak, but no words came. I waved Chunxi out, burrowed beneath the covers, and slept without knowing day from night.

It was evening the next day when I woke. I felt my empty stomach and ordered a bowl of porridge. Chunxi stood nearby, peeking at my face and hesitating until I couldn’t stand it.

“Stop making those noises. If you have something to say, say it.”

She pulled a ring of gold keys from her sleeve and set it beside me. “Eunuch Hong came this morning. He said these are the keys to the new princess’s residence. He also said His Majesty had a secret room made behind the study for you. In it are the mountains of gold and seas of silver you wanted, along with the freedom you wanted most of all. The residence took so long because His Majesty was preparing all this for you…”

She paused, then went on. “Your Highness, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but His Majesty truly cares for you. Why must you always refuse to admit how you feel and deliberately stab him in the heart? Just look at your swollen eyes. You plainly cried all night. Honestly, you…”

I struggled to lift my puffy eyelids and glared at her. She pursed her lips and fell silent.

“Where is His Majesty? Is he in the palace today?”

“Eunuch Hong said His Majesty suddenly decided to take the noble consort and some imperial relatives to the hunting residence for a spring hunt. They left early this morning.”

I froze. A spring hunt? Had there been one in the original book? He’d left so suddenly, with a consort and the imperial family. Could it be…?

“Your Highness, shall we go after him?” Chunxi leaned close, her eyes shining. “You could thank him first, then make up after your fight in bed!”

I pushed her away. “No, no. He never invited me. I’m not chasing after someone who’s angry with me. Go get my cloak. Let’s visit the princess’s residence and see those mountains of gold and silver first! Ha ha ha!”

Chunxi went to the wardrobe, gritting her teeth. I played with the gold keys on the table, thoroughly pleased with myself.

I had no idea then that I would never see Pei Ye again. Somehow, we were always just one step short of each other. Only one step.

After his daughter Wan Rong was confined to the cold palace, General Wan grew restless on the distant frontier. He returned to the capital without permission and pledged himself to the Eighth Prince, Pei Jin, intending to join him in taking the throne.

Noble Consort Shu, daughter of Minister Liu, had in fact grown up with Pei Jin. Her father had forced her to enter the palace and marry Pei Ye, but her heart still belonged to Pei Jin. Unfortunately, Pei Jin had been frail from birth, and the imperial physicians had long ago said he had less than two years to live. Shu meant to help him seize the throne as soon as possible and, if she could, bear his child.

Three people, two factions, one shared goal: Pei Ye’s death.

So Pei Ye gave them a hand. He was tired of it all and wanted to bring everything to an end. Then he could give his attention to something more important.

He took Noble Consort Shu and Pei Jin to the hunting residence on Mount Wu, knowing General Wan had men waiting at the foot of the mountain. His plan was to put himself in danger, lure the enemy out, and spring his own trap after they showed their hand.

At first, everything went smoothly. But during the final confrontation at the cliff, something went wrong. Pei Jin, seated in his wheelchair, slowly drew a small embroidered pouch from his sleeve.

It was Zhaohe’s. A few days earlier, Pei Ye had pestered her to embroider a pouch for him. The little liar had agreed, gone to the market, and bought one ready made. Then she’d crookedly stitched the character for *Ye* on the bottom and brazenly claimed to have sewn the entire thing herself.

Pei Jin held it up and gave a faint smile. “Imperial Brother seems very fond of the Ninth Princess. You’ve always protected her so carefully. But what if I told you that only one of you could live? Which of you would you choose? And which do you think the princess would choose?”

There was no crueler way to strike at the heart.

When Pei Ye was pushed from the cliff, he felt a strange flash of pleasure. Perhaps dying like this wouldn’t be so bad. That heartless little liar would have to remember him for the rest of her life. More deeply than she remembered anyone else.