Battle of Palaces

Ru Lingyi sat before her vanity, the faint flicker of a candle illuminating her delicate features. Her eyes, deep pools of reflection, stared at her own image in the bronze mirror, but her mind was far from the present. She twirled a loose strand of hair absentmindedly, her thoughts a tangled mess.

Before now, the world within the palace walls had seemed foreign to her. The petty rivalries, the endless schemes, the relentless pursuit of power—it had all been meaningless. Her only desire was to escape, to leave the suffocating walls of the forbidden city and retune to her normal life where she still had purpose. But somehow, imperceptibly, her resolve had shifted.

Her days, once filled with indifference, now carried purpose. The faces of those around her—her mistress Consort Xian, her allies, even her rivals—held meaning. Lingyi's actions had begun to weave threads into the intricate tapestry of palace life. She wasn't just a pawn anymore; she was part of the game. And though the thought unsettled her, a small, undeniable part of her relished the change.

Her stream of thoughts were filled with the sudden change of her Mistress's resolve , from the arrival of concubine Hua and her mistress silence at Changchun hall. She needed answers but where and how is she getting it. Still, she needed them, for waiting till the grand plan unfolds is very dangerous. She needed to know where she stands in this balance of power that was about to fold.

"Consort Xian is trustworthy... Niang naing wouldn't sacrifice me if it comes to a delicate play of interest", lingyi whispered to herself, more like she tried to beat her thoughts to it. But yet, the feeling of uncertainty lingered .

Needing a moment of air and solitude, Lingyi wrapped a cloak around her shoulders and stepped into the cool night. The moon cast a silver glow over the Forbidden City, its streets quiet and serene, a stark contrast to the turbulence brewing within its walls. She walked aimlessly, her feet carrying her through the winding paths as her thoughts swirled.

Just as she turned a corner, an arm slipped around her waist from behind, strong and unyielding. A gasp escaped her lips as she tried to twist away, but the figure's grip held firm, his shoulder pressing against hers, preventing her movement.

"Who—?" Lingyi started, her voice shaky, but then she caught the faint, woodsy scent of the man holding her. Her heart skipped a beat as recognition dawned.

"Prince Lan?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He chuckled softly, his breath warm against her ear. "Who else would dare hold you like this, Lingyi?"

Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, but she quickly masked her embarrassment. "Your Highness, this is highly inappropriate," she managed, though her voice lacked conviction.

Prince Lan released her just enough to turn her around, his hands steady on her shoulders. His dark, piercing eyes locked onto hers, filled with concern. "What's wrong, Lingyi? You're miles away from your surroundings. I've been watching you walk, lost in thought, as if the world around you doesn't exist. Tell me—what troubles you?"

Lingyi lowered her gaze, a nervous smile playing on her lips. "It's nothing, Your Highness. Just… palace matters. They weigh on everyone."

"Don't lie to me," Prince Lan said softly, his tone firm but tender. "You've always carried yourself with such purpose, such poise. Tonight, you seem… distant. You forget I know you better than you think."

Lingyi's heart fluttered at his words. She hesitated, unsure how much she should share. "It's just…" She sighed, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Sometimes, I feel like I've lost myself in this place. The person I was before seems so far away." clearly, this was not her trouble.. although it was part of it. But was this even important?.

Lan studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without warning, he reached for her hand, pulling her gently but insistently toward a secluded garden nearby.

"Come with me," he said.

Lingyi followed, her protests dying on her lips as they stepped into the moonlit garden. The air was filled with the scent of jasmine, and the soft rustle of leaves created an intimate backdrop. Prince Lan led her to a stone bench and gestured for her to sit.

"Do you remember the first time we met?" he asked, sitting beside her.

Lingyi smiled faintly, the memory flickering to life. "You mean when scared life out of me as an assassin behind me?"

Lan laughed, the sound warm and rich. "I wouldn't call myself an assassin...you ran off even without knowing who I was"

"who wouldn't," she teased, her smile growing. "In such scenario, but you didn't even care to call me back or clear the air . You just stood there while I flee for my life.

"I didn't know who you were then," he admitted, his voice softening. "But even then, you caught my attention. There was something about you—your fire, your fearlessness. It's what drew me to you."

Lingyi's blush deepened, and she looked away, her fingers nervously tracing the hem of her sleeve. "You flatter me, Your Highness."

"I speak the truth," he said earnestly, reaching for her hand. "And I hate seeing that fire dimmed. Lingyi, you don't belong in the shadows of this palace. You're meant for so much more."

Her heart ached at his words, both from the sincerity in his voice and the impossibility of his sentiment. "And yet, here I am," she said quietly. "Trapped in a world I never chose."

Lan's grip on her hand tightened. "Then let me help you. Whatever burdens you, whatever weighs on your heart, let me share it with you."

Lingyi looked at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Why do you care so much, Your Highness? There are countless women in the palace—more beautiful, more powerful. Why me?"

His gaze softened, and he reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "Because none of them are you, Lingyi. You are the only one who sees me for who I am, not just my title. And whether you admit it or not, you feel the same for me."

Lingyi's breath caught, her mind racing. She wanted to deny it, to insist that their connection was nothing more than fleeting infatuation. But deep down, she knew the truth.

"I… I don't know," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't know what to feel anymore."

Lan cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear that had slipped free. "Then let me show you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Before she could respond, he leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a gentle yet passionate kiss. The world around them seemed to fade, leaving only the two of them beneath the moonlit sky.

When they finally parted, Lingyi's cheeks were flushed, her heart pounding in her chest. "Your Highness, this is dangerous," she said, though there was no ounce of conviction in her words.

"Some things are worth the risk," Lan replied, his voice steady. "And you, Lingyi, are worth everything."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Lingyi allowed herself to smile—a real, unguarded smile. "You're impossible," she said, shaking her head.

"And yet, here you are," he teased, his grin mischievous.

As they sat together, the tension and uncertainty that had weighed on Lingyi's heart began to lift, replaced by a warmth she hadn't felt in years. For a moment, in the arms of Prince Lan, she allowed herself to believe that perhaps, just perhaps, happiness was still within reach in this world of impossibility