The moon was opaque this particular night.
Lingxi was already asleep as it did not take long for her to fall asleep. He Yu, on the other hand, couldn't sleep. His eyes were still open.
"Lingxi", he called. There was no answer.
He turned to her direction and realized she was already asleep. He tried to fall asleep but couldn't.
He reached to touch Lingxi's arm but she brushed his hand away, "why can't you sleep?" she asked without opening her eyes.
He Yu's eyes lit up, "you're not asleep?"
She faced him, "why aren't you asleep yet?"
"I can't sleep" There was a short pause.
Then he shifted closer to her, "why don't we....?"
Lingxi immediately shifted back. There was a long pause. He Yu's expression could clearly read that he was sad.
Lingxi sat up and broke the silence, "I'm sorry, I'm not yet ready for that"
"I wanted to ask if I can sleep in your arms", He Yu corrected her misconception.
Lingxi realized she was wrong and agreed to his request, "okay"
She laid back down on the bed. He Yu's sadness disappeared as he lay close to her, hugging her.
Lingxi wondered how someone's emotions could shift so easily.
[Ningyan Hall]
"Xiao di", He Rui rushed to help He Ming
"Brother"
He Ming and He Rui were biological siblings.
"What happened to you?" He Rui asked as he helped sit him down.
"I had an accident on the way back, I'm fine", He Ming responded.
"I recently got information that you were being hunted down. I arranged for guards along the way to the capital. What happened?" He Rui asked.
"It's a long story. I heard rumors that the map of Daxia was being auctioned at the black market. Curious, I decided to find out. I never expected it to be true", He Ming explained.
"So did you get the map?" He Rui asked.
He Ming looked at him for a minute before letting out a short sigh.
"I spent over ten thousand teals of gold to retrieve the map", he explained.
"Ten thousand teals of gold? Where did you get so much money?"
"I gave them fake notes"
"So were you pursued for the fake notes or the map itself?"
"Both. I originally thought the map was fake but after seeing the seal of Fan Jingchan and Master Hua along with the imperial seal, I realized the map was genuine. Unfortunately, immediately I got the painting, I was already a target. Combined with the fake notes, I barely escaped the black market alive and have been hunted ever since"
"So you couldn't take the official roads because there were many skilled martial artists ready to attack and you didn't want to attract attention", He Rui deduced.
He Ming nodded, "even though it was dangerous - traveling along the forest path was a much better option"
He Rui studied him for a while, "it was my negligence that got you hurt. To survive in such a dire situation, you sure are lucky"
"Brother, don't blame yourself. I was the one who acted impulsively and got into trouble. Besides, I'm fine now", he assured He Rui.
There was a short moment of silence before He Rui broke it.
"The safety of the nation is dependent on this map. Did you succeed in bringing it with you?" he asked.
He Ming reached for his inner pocket but couldn't feel the map.
His eyes went sharp, 'It must be that lady again'
[The Next Day]
[Main Hall]
"He Ming, you're back. Your journey this time must have been stressful", He Jingcheng commented as He Ming finished paying his respects.
"It was nothing", He Ming responded.
He Jingcheng turned to He Rui, "your brother has just returned. We should organize a family banquet to make it up to him. What do you say?"
"As father wishes", He Rui answered.
He Jingcheng turned his attention back to He Rui, "your mother is busy with matters of the harem so she may not be able to see you", he paused for a while thinking before continuing, "you should go and pay your respects to your granduncle and grandaunt in the meantime"
He Ming nodded.
"Also, take He Zhen with you", He Jingcheng added. He Zhen who had been standing quietly lit up when he heard that.
"Thank you, Father", he bowed happily.
He Ming and He Rui bowed and turned to go with He Zhen by his side.
Once outside, He Rui turned to He Ming, "be cautious especially around..." he paused before adding the last word, "...grandaunt".
Although he supervised the case of her poisoning, the sudden shift of Shen Ruihua losing her power in one night made him feel there was more to the story.
He tapped He Ming's shoulder before leaving.
[Channing Palace]
He Ming walked inside Channing Palace.
He only just realized that Channing Palace had started welcoming visitors.
Since when He Yu fell sick after being poisoned as a child, he was treated in seclusion in Channing Palace. To avoid any interference, Channing Palace had steered clear from visitors. He Yu was taught and treated all while in Channing Palace.
He was led to the main hall where he stood and waited for He Yu and Lingxi. He waited for some time and decided to ask a eunuch where He Yu was and go to him instead of waiting at the Main Hall.
"His Highness is currently in the garden practicing archery with Her Highness", the eunuch answered him.
"Take me there" The eunuch led him to the garden.
He wanted to go in but Chi Yun stopped him. "Prince Wen, Prince An", he greeted first, "His Highness is currently spending time with Her Highness and has ordered that no one disturbs them"
"It's fine,we'll wait", He Ming said.
He truly did not mind waiting and stood to watch the archery competition that was going on.
***
Lingxi stretched her hand at full length and maintained the perfect posture she was taught. She kept her eyes on the target and released the arrow. It hit the bull's eye. She smiled impressed with herself.
She accepted the second arrow Xin Xie handed to her ready to hit the next target. There were six target boards. He Yu placed his hands on the bow and set it down gently.
Lingxi turned to him wondering what he was up to.
He smiled, "actually there is a much easier and quicker to hit all the targets at once", he said.
Chi Yun, understanding the message, rushed up to him and picked out five arrows.
He Yu accepted them, stood behind Lingxi and helped arrange the five arrows on the bow. He held her hands and helped her draw the bow.
There were so close that Lingxi could feel his breath on her neck.
"Keep your eyes on the targets not on me", He Yu teased.
It was only then Lingxi realized she had been staring at him.
"On the count of three, let the arrows go"
She fixed her attention back on the targets.
"Three.....two....one"
All the arrows flew out and hit each five targets simultaneously. Lingxi smiled and looked at him.
"It seems you are the winner", He Yu said.
Lingxi looked at the target boards, "but that won't be a fair win. We both hit the five targets"
He Yu thought for a second, "in that case..." he said taking the bow from her hand and then picking an arrow, "....I'll try my best to hit the last target. If I hit the bull's eye, it's a tie", he said.
Lingxi nodded in agreement.
He Yu aimed at the first target Lingxi at shot and released the arrow. The arrow hit right below Lingxi's arrow, not hitting the bull's eye by a tiny margin.
Lingxi looked at it not quite sure if it was on purpose.
However, to create such a tiny margin between the margin and his arrow was not supposed to be easy.
Seeing how He Yu easily released the arrow, she brushed that thought from her mind.
"It seems that Lingxi is the winner. You have successfully surpassed your master", He Yu teased.
Lingxi smiled brightly at him and he smiled back. She looked really happy.
He Yu bent down to drop the bow when his eyes caught He Ming and He Zhen watching from a corner.
Of course, He Ming noticed the slight tilt in the bow right before He Yu released the arrow.
"Fifth Prince, you're back. I didn't expect to see you to come see me", He Yu said looking at him.
He Ming and He Zhen walked up to him and bowed, "granduncle", they greeted.
"No need for formalities", He Yu answered.
They straightened and He Ming's eyes subconsciously shifted to Lingxi. She was speaking with Xin Xie.
"Grandaunt?" he called and they both bowed to greet her.
Lingxi turned to face him, "rise"
He Ming lifted up his eyes and they both met. The blurry images in his head pieced together as he recognized her. 'It's her', he realized.