The corridors of the Mo residence were quiet, much quieter than usual. Servants whispered instead of speaking, and the candles along the hallways burned low, giving the whole place a tired, hollow look.
Inside his study, Mo Ying sat alone.
The room reeked of alcohol...
Three jars lay empty on the floor, another half-finished one still in his hand. His usually neat desk was ssy, scrolls pushed aside, ink spilled, brushes dropped carelessly.
His eyes were red, not from crying but from exhaustion and too much liquor.
He drank again...
The silence was sharp... until the door creaked open.
Soft footsteps entered...
San Na stepped inside, closing the door behind her. Her expression was tight, her voice calm but laced with sothing sharp.
"So this is what you’ve beco?"
Mo Ying didn’t look up. "Get out."
San Na ignored him and walked closer.
"You didn’t even attend dinner. You locked yourself here the whole evening. The servants are terrified."
He finally raised his head, eyes unfocused but still burning. His voice ca out rough.
"What do you want, San Na?"
She froze for half a second... then exhaled.
"What I want?" She gave a small, bitter laugh. "You brought to this house, kept hidden, did whatever you pleased with my life... and now you ask what I want?"
Mo Ying slamd the jar down. Liquid splashed across the table.
"I asked you a simple question," he growled. "So answer it. What do you truly want from ?"
San Na stared at him, her jaw tightening.
"I want to survive," she said finally. "That’s all I ever wanted."
He scoffed. "Survive? You act like you’re the victim."
"Because I was!" she snapped, voice trembling in anger. "Do you think I asked to be dragged from my ho? Do you think I enjoyed being used as a replacent for soone else?"
Mo Ying’s grip tightened on the jar.
His voice dropped dangerously low.
"You talk as if you’re the only one who suffered."
"At least I never pretended!" San Na shot back. "But she—"
She didn’t get to finish.
Mo Ying stood up so suddenly the chair almost toppled.
"Do not say another word about Lin Xu."
San Na’s laugh was small and full of disbelief.
"There it is... Exactly what I an."
She pointed a finger at him. "Everything is always about her. Even when she’s gone, you defend her like she’s perfect."
Mo Ying looked away, jaw clenched, shadows cutting across his face.
"Lin Xu never hurt you," he said quietly.
San Na’s eyes stung not with tears but with frustration.
"You’re right. She didn’t. And that’s why everyone sees as the evil one." Her voice cracked despite her efforts. "But I’m tired, Mo Ying. I’m tired of being the villain just because I was trying to survive what you dragged into."
She turned slightly, breathing unevenly.
"Why can’t anyone see that I wanted a ho too? Safety too? A chance too?"
Mo Ying didn’t answer...
Because the truth was suffocating him.
San Na stepped closer, her voice softening.
"You never loved . I accepted that. But you could at least admit that what happened wasn’t only my doing."
Mo Ying said nothing.
Silence pressed into the room...
Finally, San Na gave a short bow , stiff, almost cold.
"Then I will say it myself," she whispered. "Lin Xu left today. And for the first ti, I can breathe without her shadow weighing on ." She straightened up. "Congratulations, Mo Ying. You’ve finally lost the only person who ever cared for you without wanting anything in return."
She turned and walked to the door.
Just before leaving, she said one last thing:
"You’re angry at ... but you’re truly angry at yourself."
The door shut behind her.
Mo Ying stood alone again.
He sank back into his chair, hands shaking.
But this ti, he didn’t reach for the wine jar.
He simply stared at the door... completely empty.
...
Imperial Palace
The palace was still awake even at this late hour.
Lanterns glowed along the walkways, guards marched with steady steps, and the night wind carried the faint scent of plum blossoms from the inner gardens.
Inside the Council Hall earlier, heated voices had risen and fallen for hours. The Crown Prince had argued with ministers, generals, and officials until the room felt like a battlefield.
Now, he strode into his private palace with a dark expression.
He pulled off his outer robe and tossed it aside, running a hand through his hair.
"Sheer incompetence," he muttered. "They can’t make a single decision without turning it into a debate."
Before he could take another step, one of his shadow guards appeared silently and kneeled.
"Your Highness."
The Crown Prince didn’t bother hiding his irritation. "This better be important."
"It is," the guard replied.
"News just arrived from the Mo residence."
The Crown Prince paused.
"Speak."
The guard raised his head slightly.
"General Mo and Lady Lin are no longer under the sa roof. Lady Lin left today with all three children."
The room grew still.
The Crown Prince’s eyes lifted slowly.
"All three children," he repeated softly. "So she finally left that house."
"Yes, Your Highness. She returned to Wu Village."
A slow smirk curved the Crown Prince’s lips.
"Good."
He walked to the window and pushed it open, letting the cold night breeze hit his face.
"Very good."
The guard waited silently.
The Crown Prince’s voice dropped into sothing dark and almost pleased.
"It seems my little slave finally freed herself."
He turned fully.
"Then it’s ti I pay her a visit."
The guard bowed. "Shall I prepare your horse?"
"No," he said, grabbing his cloak. "Prepare the fast escort carriage. I’m leaving imdiately."
He paused at the doorway, a faint glimr in his eyes — not kindness, not malice, but sothing unreadable.
"Let’s see how she breathes when she realizes she’s not as far from as she thinks."
...
By the ti Lin Xu and Yan i returned from Weilei Pavilion, the sky had already darkened into a deep blue. The carriage wheels rolled softly over the village path, and the motion had rocked all three children to sleep.
Yiling’s head rested on Yan i’s lap...
Mo Bao’s small hands were curled into fists...
Mo Yuen leaned quietly against the carriage wall, eyes fully shut.
When the carriage stopped in front of the house, Yan i let out a tired sigh.
"They didn’t even last until we reached the gate," she whispered.
Lin Xu gave a small nod, pushing the door open. "Let them sleep. They worked hard today."
They stepped down gently, careful not to wake the children. The night air was cool, carrying the faint sll of damp earth and distant wood smoke. Fireflies glowed softly near the garden fence, blinking like tiny lanterns.
Yan i shifted Yiling slightly and glanced at Lin Xu.
"I’ll take the kids to bed," she said. "Lin Xu... are you coming inside?"
Lin Xu paused, looking up at the full moon hanging quietly above them. Her voice was calm but distant.
"Not yet. I don’t feel sleepy. I’ll make so tea and sit outside for a while."
Yan i’s brows tightened in concern.
"You... want to sit alone?"
Lin Xu t her eyes and gave a small, reassuring smile. She reached out and gently patted Yan i’s arm.
"You’re tired too. Go and rest. You carried Yiling half the day, and you’ve been running around nonstop."
Yan i hesitated. "But I don’t want you alone with your thoughts. Today was a long day, and—"
"I’ll be fine," Lin Xu said softly. "Really. Just a little quiet is enough."
After a mont, Yan i exhaled and nodded reluctantly.
"Alright... but call if you need anything."
"I will," Lin Xu promised.
With that, Yan i carefully gathered the sleeping children and made her way inside. The door slid shut behind them, leaving the courtyard wrapped in peaceful silence.
Lin Xu moved to the small kitchen, lit a lantern, and brewed a pot of light jasmine tea. The soft scent rose gently with the steam, calming her breath.
She poured herself a cup, wrapped her hands around the warm porcelain, and carried it out into the courtyard.
The night was beautiful...
The full moon sat high and bright, silver light pouring over the tiled roof, the old stone paths, and the quiet garden. A soft breeze stirred the leaves, and the whole world felt still — almost sacred.
Lin Xu settled on the wooden bench beneath the plum tree. She took slow, steady sips of her tea, letting the warmth settle in her chest.
For the first ti in a long ti, she felt... almost peaceful.
Her thoughts drifted — to the house, to the children finally sleeping safely, to Yan i’s tired smile, to Weilei Pavilion awakening again.
To the life she was slowly rebuilding.
A faint smile touched her lips...
But then...
The peace broke.
A distant sound echoed from beyond the village gate...
The noise wasn’t loud yet, but it was clear carriages moving fast, at a speed no ordinary villager would use at this hour.
Lin Xu’s fingers tightened around her cup.
At this ti of night... who would co?
She set her teacup down calmly, her expression tightening.
And only one man had a reason to co to her so soon.
The carriages were almost at her gate now.
Lin Xu inhaled deeply, steadying herself.
"Mo Ying?" she said quietly...
But to her surprise, it wasn’t him at all.
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