The moon hung full in the sky, its clear light spilling everywhere.
The sounds of feasting and merriment from the Mei Manor in the Southern Border pierced through the vermilion walls—strings and flutes wove through the air, cups clinked in toasts. Yet the small courtyard behind the Guard Office was eerily quiet, not even a single lantern lit for illumination.
A peach blossom lantern was carried through the moon gate, its light flickering as a figure in a red gauze dress drifted in. The lantern’s glow shone through the sheer fabric, faintly revealing a delicate and graceful figure. The young woman moved with light steps, like a nimble crimson butterfly.
The young man sitting dazedly at the doorway of the side room had already caught sight of the visitor from the corner of his eye, but he did not stir.
Mei Yao approached with a sweet smile, raising the lantern to illuminate the young man. He wore a drab, dusty brown short jacket, with a bone whistle hanging from his chest—used for taming beasts. The edges of his arrow sleeves were stained with dried blood, whether his own or a beast’s… He hadn’t even changed his clothes, hardly fitting for a festival.
She smiled sweetly. “For the Lantern Festival, I’ve come to bring you a lantern.”
Finally, he shifted his gaze to her face.
Her face was like a lotus blossom carved from jade, with peach-blossom cheeks and lips the color of sandalwood. Her peach blossom eyes seemed to be touched by spring dew, their shimmering gaze overflowing with tenderness.
So delicate and charming—who wouldn’t look twice upon seeing her? Yet this little slave only glanced at her once before turning his eyes away.
“Instead of wasting effort trying to seduce me, Miss should focus on finding a man of equal standing!”
Hah!
She felt a flash of anger but quickly calmed herself.
The person before her had hair as dark and thick as ink, with superior bone structure. His features were sharply defined, as if carved from jade—long, fan-like lashes beneath stunning phoenix eyes, a high-bridged nose, thin lips pressed together, and a slightly sharp jawline that lent him an air of cold severity. This noble, aloof demeanor carried a dignity that seemed at odds with his status.
He was truly beautiful, every feature aligned with her preferences. Even his rebellious defiance, which so often provoked her, made her heart itch.
He was a slave she had saved from the manor guards’ blades, calling himself Xiao Yu. The manor’s cunning servants bluntly referred to him as Yu Nu.
Yu Nu, Yu Nu—he indeed possessed a peerlessly fine appearance, yet he lacked any sense of his lowly position, constantly bristling at her. Yet she indulged him, and he, in turn, showed none of the restraint expected of a favored one. It was simply… unappreciative.
Like now, for instance. His mistress had graciously come to deliver a lantern, yet he dared to speak insolently with a cold face, not even sparing a glance at the lantern.
She had spent an entire day cutting paper, painting, splitting bamboo, shaping the frame, pasting the paper… leaving her fingers covered in cuts, just to craft this lantern. Afterward, she had deliberately changed into this alluring outfit to coax him, all to witness a moment of his defenses crumbling and his heart softening.
Yet all she received was a scornful remark.
She curved her lips into a light smile. “A man of equal standing? This is the Southern Border. Who here could match my standing?”
Her father, Mei An, had dominated the Southern Border for decades. As the cherished daughter of the Southern Chieftain, she stood second only to one here, above tens of thousands.
She moved closer to him, slipping between his knees.
The gauze dress filled every gap before him, the silk shawl on her arm lightly brushing against his sleeve. The soft curves of her body nearly grazed his chest, while threads of a subtle fragrance drifted into his senses.
Forced to meet her gaze, his phoenix eyes were deep and dark, yet he did not retreat.
“I lack neither status nor material possessions. Why would I need someone of equal standing?” She smiled sweetly. “Could you not be so harsh with me, Xiao Yu gege?”
The address “Xiao Yu gege” caused his brow to twitch almost imperceptibly.
She raised the lantern slightly higher, and in his glass-like eyes, she saw her own reflection—tilting her head with a smile.
Yet he neither made a sound nor took the lantern, simply staring fixedly at her, lost in thought.
She continued, “On the Lantern Festival, affectionate young gentlemen accompany their sweethearts to admire the lanterns. Brother Xiao Yu, do you have… a sweetheart?”
The last three words were uttered with a soft, lingering sweetness.
“Boring!” His voice was low, as if directed at her or perhaps himself.
He abruptly stood up, walked into the house without looking back, and slammed the door shut.
What an unromantic yet beautiful youth, cold as ice!
She stood there dazed for a moment before stubbornly hanging the peach blossom lantern on his door and leaving in frustration.
Another Lantern Festival night arrived. Mei Yao stood on the main street of Qiyun Town, snowflakes swirling and lanterns shimmering brightly. From time to time, affectionate young gentlemen would solve lantern riddles and present them to their sweethearts, their tender words melting hearts.
But the one who had softened and stirred her heart was someone she would never see again.
Xiao Yu had died in a surprise attack at the Beast Camp. The last time she saw him, he was a disfigured, mutilated corpse.
With no desire to linger, she picked up a peach blossom lantern and returned gloomily to the Listening Wind Pavilion.
She had been summoned to the capital and was temporarily staying in Qiyun Town. The emperor in the capital, under the pretense of selecting a husband for her, was essentially holding her hostage.
It seemed his words had come true—she was to find a man of equal standing.
Perhaps because of the peach blossom lantern, Mei Yao dreamed of him again that night.
Not his bloodied, mangled face, nor his cold, indifferent expression. In her dream, the youth gazed at her with tender affection in his phoenix eyes, smiling gently and lazily, like an affectionate young gentleman presenting a lantern to his sweetheart.
She slowly moved toward him, step by step, as if afraid that a heavier footstep might startle him away.
His smile deepened, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly, carrying a hint of unrestrained charm yet veiled with indulgence, making her eyes well up with tears.
She cautiously touched his face, and he didn’t pull away. Growing bolder, she wrapped her arms around his slender waist, pressing her face against his chest. The steady thumping of his heartbeat stirred her deeply. With a bittersweet ache, she whispered, “Brother Xiao Yu, I miss you so much…”
When she looked up again, his smile held a hint of mischief. He lifted her chin, leaned down, and kissed her fiercely and passionately…
“Murder!”
At the sound of a loud shout, chaos erupted throughout the Listening Wind Pavilion. Footsteps, cries, and curses echoed one after another.
Someone yelled that rebels had broken in to assassinate a prisoner, and everyone was to remain where they were for inspection—no one was allowed to move.
The commotion didn’t wake Mei Yao, but it made Feng Xiu, the maid on night watch, tense up.
“Crash!”
The sound of broken tiles came from the rear eaves. Feng Xiu leaped onto the roof, scanning the area but finding nothing unusual. Instead, she saw several courtyards already in disarray.
In that moment of distraction, a man in black, swift as lightning, climbed through Mei Yao’s window.
He first scanned the room warily. Only a peach blossom lantern glowed faintly by the bedside, casting a dim light over the curtains and faintly revealing the delicate curves behind them.
The guest room was sparsely furnished. The space under the bed was sealed and couldn’t hide anyone, nor were there any suitable cabinets for concealment.
After a brief hesitation, he moved toward the bed.
“Miss?” Feng Xiu called out from outside the door.
The man paused, relieved that the person on the bed didn’t wake, merely turning over.
Just as he relaxed, another voice sounded from outside: “The prisoner brought by Prince Duan was just assassinated! The soldiers have sealed off the Listening Wind Pavilion and are searching room by room. They’ll be here soon!”
“Is our mistress still asleep?”
“She must be tired from playing.”
Not waking up even with such commotion, the guard Ye Ying stepped onto the steps with concern, pressing his ear against the door.
The man inside the room held his breath, not daring to move.
A moment later, as if confirming that only the sleeping young mistress was inside, Ye Ying stepped back down and instructed, “Everyone, be vigilant. Don’t let the master be startled, and guard against anyone taking advantage of the chaos!”
The man’s heart eased slightly. If the ears at the door had listened a moment longer, he might have been exposed!
He continued crawling toward the bedside. Just as his hand was about to touch the bed curtain, a muffled “Brother Xiao Yu” drifted out from behind it.
His heart tightened at the sound…
Carefully lifting the curtain, he saw the face that often appeared in his dreams.
The girl’s cheeks were flushed, her brow furrowed, and her long lashes fluttered restlessly. She was sleeping fitfully. Having tossed and turned, her collar had loosened, revealing the ties of her inner garment. Though still decently covered, the fabric swayed subtly with each breath, stirring the imagination.
He turned his head away but quickly looked back, pressing his palm to her forehead. It was burning hot—she had a fever.
The mistress was burning up like this, yet the crowd outside remained completely unaware!
Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, his fingertips were seized by a pair of warm, small hands. They pulled his large palm downward, pressing it against her smooth, feverish cheek. Having come from outside, the coolness of his palm offered some relief to her heat.
Unconsciously, she nuzzled her face against his palm like a cat seeking coolness, burying her entire face in it. The delicate skin brushed against his rough fingertips, leaving him stunned.
Suddenly, a warm, damp breath spread across his palm—she had drowsily kissed it, even flicking her tongue out for a lick. A tingling sensation exploded in his mind!
At the same moment, a series of footsteps flooded into the courtyard, sounding like no fewer than thirty people.
Someone shouted, “By order of Prince Duan, we are searching for thieves! Those who resist will be treated as accomplices! Search the place!”
The man hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and leaped onto the bed. He pulled the person on the bed into his embrace and yanked the quilt over both of them!
In her dazed state, Mei Yao lost the cool, large hand and felt an emptiness, longing to grasp something again. Suddenly, she was pulled into a cold embrace. Instinctively, she pressed herself against him, wrapping her legs around his waist, her jade-like arms encircling his neck. Her burning cheeks nuzzled into the crook of his neck, her warm breath mixed with a faint fragrance, all washing over his throat.
“Stop moving!” He gripped her restless wrist with one hand and firmly pressed down on her squirming legs with the other, pinning her securely against him. Through the thin nightgown, the soft mounds rose and fell with her panting breaths, rubbing against his chest until it burned.