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Evening had settled gently over the Tianzhou Imperial Palace.
The golden colors of sunset had long disappeared beyond the distant mountains, replaced by the soft silver glow of moonlight.
Lanterns had already been lit throughout the palace grounds, their warm amber light illuminating winding stone pathways and elegant pavilions.
The imperial garden looked almost dreamlike at night.
Moonlight spilled across lotus ponds like scattered silver coins. Gentle ripples danced upon the water whenever the breeze brushed against its surface. Clusters of white and pink flowers swayed softly among the shadows, releasing delicate fragrances into the night air.
It was peaceful.
Quiet.
A rare kind of peace that seemed impossible within the walls of the imperial palace.
And for Shen Yunxi, it was one of the few moments he truly cherished.
Earlier that afternoon, Mei Lian had practically chased him out of his chambers.
"Young Master Shen!"
The maid had stood with both hands on her hips, looking unusually determined.
"I need to clean your room properly today."
Shen had blinked in confusion.
Mei pointed toward the open doorway.
"No arguments."
The mute concubine tilted his head.
The maid immediately huffed.
"Your room is dusty."
She crossed her arms.
"Not very dusty."
Then she paused.
"Actually, not dusty at all."
Shen stared.
Mei sighed dramatically.
"The point is, you spend too much time indoors."
She grabbed a feather duster.
"Go outside."
Shen raised an eyebrow.
Mei nodded firmly.
"The weather is beautiful."
Then she lowered her voice.
"And fresh air is good for your health."
The maid suddenly smiled.
"I'll prepare snacks for you when you come back."
Shen felt warmth bloom inside his chest.
Such simple words.
Such simple care.
Yet they were things he had rarely received throughout his life.
He nodded.
Mei immediately looked victorious.
"Good."
Then she pointed toward the garden.
"Now go."
Remembering that scene now, Shen Yunxi couldn't help smiling faintly.
The expression was small.
Almost invisible.
But it was there.
The gentle evening breeze lifted strands of his dark hair as he walked slowly through the garden.
His long robes brushed softly against the stone pathway beneath his feet.
Tonight felt peaceful.
Almost too peaceful.
The kind of peace that made old memories return.
His footsteps eventually slowed.
Then stopped completely.
Ahead stood a willow tree.
A large one.
Its long branches swayed gracefully beneath the moonlight.
The sight immediately struck something deep within his heart.
For a moment-
Shen Yunxi simply stared.
The willow tree reminded him of another willow tree.
A willow tree from many years ago.
From before the palace.
Before the abuse became unbearable.
Before his mother's death.
Before everything.
His chest tightened slightly.
But unlike the painful memories that usually followed-
This one brought warmth.
A faint image appeared within his mind.
His mother's gentle smile.
Her hand stroking his hair.
Her voice he could no longer remember clearly.
Yet somehow-
The feeling remained.
Shen reached out slowly.
His fingers brushed against the rough bark.
A small smile appeared on his lips.
A genuine one.
The moonlight illuminated his delicate features.
For a brief moment-
He looked completely at peace.
Elsewhere within the imperial garden-
Emperor Xiao Zhenyu walked alone.
The meeting with Liang Fengxiao had only ended recently.
Reports.
Border security.
Political matters.
Endless responsibilities.
The weight of an empire never truly left his shoulders.
Tonight he had wanted silence.
Nothing more.
No ministers.
No paperwork.
No politics.
Just a moment to think.
The Emperor walked along the garden pathway beneath the moonlight.
Then-
He noticed someone standing near the willow tree.
At first, he thought it was merely a servant.
But as he approached-
Recognition flickered within his eyes.
Shen Yunxi.
The male concubine.
His footsteps slowed.
For reasons he couldn't explain.
His gaze lingered.
The moonlight bathed Shen Yunxi's figure in silver.
His long black hair flowed down his back.
His pale skin seemed almost luminous beneath the night sky.
The gentle breeze moved his robes and sleeves.
And somehow-
The sight felt familiar.
Painfully familiar.
Zhenyu frowned slightly.
Again.
That strange feeling.
Ever since their first encounter.
Ever since that day in the garden.
Something about Shen Yunxi felt familiar.
Yet he couldn't understand why.
He should not know him.
He had never met him before.
At least-
That was what he believed.
Still-
His feet continued carrying him forward.
Shen Yunxi heard approaching footsteps.
His attention shifted immediately.
For a brief second, he thought Mei Lian had come looking for him.
But when he turned-
His eyes widened slightly.
The Emperor.
Standing only a short distance away.
The surprise lasted only a moment.
Shen immediately lowered his head and bowed respectfully.
Zhenyu stopped before him.
For a few moments-
Neither spoke.
The breeze whispered through the willow branches above them.
Moonlight filtered through swaying leaves.
The entire garden seemed to hold its breath.
Finally-
The Emperor spoke.
"You enjoy coming here?"
His voice was calm.
Deep.
Shen slowly lifted his head.
Then nodded.
Zhenyu glanced toward the willow tree.
"The willow tree?"
Another nod.
The Emperor studied him carefully.
Then unexpectedly asked-
"Does it remind you of home?"
Shen froze.
His fingers tightened slightly around his sleeve.
The question surprised him.
Slowly-
He nodded again.
The Emperor looked toward the tree.
"I see."
Silence returned.
Yet somehow-
It wasn't uncomfortable.
For the first time, neither of them seemed eager to leave.
The Emperor spoke again.
"I used to climb willow trees."
Shen blinked.
The statement felt oddly random.
Almost human.
Not something one would expect from the ruler of an empire.
Zhenyu glanced toward the branches overhead.
"When I was young."
A faint smile appeared.
"My tutors hated it."
Shen listened quietly.
The Emperor continued.
"I once disappeared for half a day."
A rare amusement entered his voice.
"The entire palace searched for me."
Shen's eyes widened slightly.
Zhenyu almost laughed.
"Eventually they found me sleeping in a willow tree."
The image felt impossible.
A young prince sleeping among tree branches.
Shen found himself smiling.
A genuine smile.
Small.
Yet unmistakable.
The Emperor noticed.
And for a brief moment-
His chest tightened strangely.
Because that smile looked familiar.
Too familiar.
As if he had seen it before.
Many years ago.
Under another willow tree.
Suddenly-
A memory flickered.
A crying child.
A willow tree.
Tiny trembling shoulders.
And a handkerchief.
The image disappeared immediately.
Zhenyu frowned.
His head hurt slightly.
Shen noticed.
Concern flickered across his face.
He gestured carefully.
Are you alright?
The Emperor stared.
Then understood.
The realization surprised him.
Shen Yunxi was mute.
Yet somehow-
His gestures felt easier to understand than many spoken words.
Zhenyu nodded.
"I'm fine."
The memory vanished.
Leaving only confusion behind.
For several moments they simply stood there beneath the willow tree.
Two people connected by forgotten memories neither fully remembered.
The moonlight painted silver shadows across the garden.
Willow branches swayed gently overhead.
And for the first time since entering the palace-
Shen Yunxi did not feel completely alone.
Nor did the Emperor.
High above the garden-
A pair of eyes watched everything.
From a palace balcony.
Empress Su Wanyin stood silently.
The moonlight illuminated her elegant figure.
Her hand rested protectively upon her stomach.
But her expression was anything but gentle.
She watched the scene below.
The Emperor.
And Shen Yunxi.
Together.
Talking.
Standing beneath the willow tree.
Alone.
Her fingers slowly tightened around the balcony railing.
A sharp creak echoed from the wood beneath her grip.
The Emperor rarely sought company.
Rarely initiated conversations.
Rarely showed interest.
Yet tonight-
He had approached Shen Yunxi himself.
The Empress's smile disappeared.
Completely.
Behind her stood several personal maids.
None dared speak.
The atmosphere around their mistress had become terrifyingly cold.
One maid lowered her head further.
Another quietly stepped backward.
Nobody wished to become the target of the Empress's anger.
Wanyin continued staring.
Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
"Shen Yunxi..."
The name left her lips softly.
Almost sweetly.
Yet it sounded dangerous.
Very dangerous.
She remembered everything the concubines had told her.
His beauty.
His gentle personality.
His mysterious background.
At first she had dismissed him.
After all-
He was merely a mute concubine.
Nothing more.
Nothing worth worrying about.
But now-
For the first time-
The Empress felt threatened.
A cold sensation settled inside her chest.
The Emperor had looked at Shen Yunxi differently.
She noticed.
She always noticed.
Because she loved Xiao Zhenyu.
Perhaps too much.
Far too much.
The hand resting upon her stomach tightened.
A dark thought surfaced.
Then another.
And another.
The Empress slowly closed her eyes.
When she opened them again-
Her smile had returned.
Elegant.
Perfect.
Beautiful.
A mask.
"Your Majesty..."
she whispered softly toward the distant figure of the Emperor.
"I wonder..."
Her gaze shifted toward Shen Yunxi.
The smile remained.
But her eyes grew colder.
"...how much attention you plan to give him."
Behind her-
The maids lowered their heads even further.
The night breeze continued blowing.
Cherry blossoms drifted through the air.
And somewhere within the shadows of the palace-
The first seeds of jealousy quietly began taking root.
Seeds that would one day bloom into something far more dangerous.
Far more tragic.
Far more difficult to stop.
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(End of Chapter 27)