In Shen Qing’s workroom

           Shen Qing approaches his workroom after coming back from the execution hall. He pushes the door open seeing Qi Shi who’s sitting on the stool enjoying his tea as he waited for Shen Qing. Qi Shi sets his cup down and glances over to Shen Qing as he gave a small nod. Shen Qing dismissed the guards and closed the door behind him.

“Congratulations” Qi Shi said as Shen Qing sat in front of him, “You’re a step closer to your goal”

“All thanks to you” Shen Qing pours himself a cup of tea.

Qi Shi scoffs, “No need for the flatters”

“I’m curious though” Shen Qing looks up and darkly stare at Qi Shi, “On how you manage to eliminate the Fang family so quickly”

“It was easy. I order my men to feign General Fang’s seal with false information and hid the letters in his workroom. Someone just needed to find it and amazingly a maid found it quicker than I expected”

“You sure have a lot of men working for you that I’m unaware of”

“Crown Prince Yan, I’m sure our deal is over” Qi Shi changed the subject.

“Of course” he got up and walks over to his desk. Shen Qing pulls out the written letter and sealed the deal with his red emblem displaying on the letter. After that, he walks back to Qi Shi and handed it over.

“Our deal is done” Shen Qing said, “I suggest you keep your mouth shut for the remaining years”

“Is that a threat?” Qi Shi asks as he tucks away the letter.

“Of course not” he answers as he smirks.

“I’ll be on my way out then” Qi Shi got up and faced him directly, “Shen Qing, if you go back on your words. I’ll surely spread the news of your cruelty”

“I’m sure you’re smart enough than this, Qi Shi” Shen Qing said, fearless as Qi Shi left the room.

As Qi Shi was stepping out of the room, Ruo Xie, who is my second personal guard and Shen Qing’s messenger, enters the room to report,

           “Crown Prince Yan, Madam Xiang sent me to ask for permission to receive 50 golds in preparation for Madam Fang and the Fang family’s funeral”  

“Don’t worry. I’ve already prepared the money. I’ll have it be sent over in the morning before sunrise” Shen Qing answers.

“Understood” Ruo Xie bows before he left.

“Hold on” Shen Qing said. Ruo Xie stops and returns back.

“How’s Xiang Yun?”

“Madam Xiang is in despair. She’s still in the Fang’s household managing the preparations for the housekeeper”

“Make sure nothing happens to her”

“Yes, I’ll make sure” Ruo Xie reassures Shen Qing as he left.

~~~

I sat on the wooden stool next to Consort Fang’s body, wiping her fragile hand. As I the dirt away from her white skin, my mind absorbs into a reverie.

           It seems like I was sitting in the plains of Western Liang, fidgeting with hay straws in my hand as if I’m weaving it into something. I was wearing something very unusual on my wrist; a silver bracelet stained with red dots cuffs my left wrist.

The sun perfectly hitting my side profile and casting a twin me on the ground. Soon, it casts another person approaching me. I glance up, but his face is like a smear ink blot. He reached his hand towards me as I naturally lifted my hand to meet his. He intertwined his fingers with mine and pulled me up with a powerful force. I fell into his embrace, hitting his broad chest as I thought I felt him grin.

“Madam” Lao Gui interrupts.

I jerk upwards as I dropped the towel from my hand.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare Madam” he apologizes.

“It’s fine” I bent down to grab the towel, “What is it?” I add as I dipped the towel in the bucket of water.

“It’s getting dark and Madam has not eaten or rested. Please, allow me to finish cleaning the bodies”

“It’s fine. I’m almost done here” I answered sullenly, “You go back and rest. I’ll let you know if I need anything”

“Yes” Lao Gui bows as he closed the door before the left.

After rinsing the towel from the dirt, I entwine the towel to get rid of the excess water. I resumed wiping Consort Fang’s arm as I quietly heard a noise from behind.

“Who is it?” I ask.

“Your hearing is quite sensitive” a familiar male voice said, stepping out of the shadows.

From the corner of my eyes, Yi Chen walked towards me.

“What do you want?” I continued to wipe Consort Fang like he doesn’t bother me at all.

“Nothing” he answered as he pulled a stool to sit on the opposite side of Consort Fang, facing me, “I just wanted to see you”

“You saw me, so please leave”

“Why are you tending her when she was the one who accused you?”

“You don’t need to understand”

“Is it because Shen Qing doesn’t care, so you’re caring for her in replacement for him?”

“You’re wrong” I lifted my head to meet his eyes, “She died with an unborn child. How can he stand there so heartlessly and not care for his unborn child?”

“Maybe because she was never pregnant” Yi Chen points at her stomach. I darkly glare at him. He raised his hand in defense as I stood up, finished with my task.

“Where are you going?” He automatically stood up, concerned.

“Somewhere without you present” I answered as I swung the door open.  

Outside the Fang’s Residence

As soon as I stepped outside the Fang’s residence, I picked up my walking pace to make sure Yi Chen doesn’t follow me. However, he’s quicker than me because he was already at the lantern post, casually waiting for me to catch up. I exhaled as I stopped. I put my hands on my hips and stared at him. He mischievously waves and gestures to me that I should hurry up. I sneered as I turned the other way to leave. Out of the blue, he was walking beside me.

“You!” I stopped and pushed him from being too close with me, “What do you want?!” I raised my voice.

“You” he replied without hesitation.

I bit my lower lip and stared at him with widen eyes.

“Who exactly are you?! And don’t say Yi Chen because I know that. You said you knew me from the past, so how exactly did we know each other?”

“Listen” he steps forward to close the gap between us, “I don’t only just know you. I knew everyone that you used to be with; the ones you loved and the one you hated”

“The one I hate?” I raised an eyebrow, “Just one?”

“Yes. You hated only one person”

“And who is that person?”

“Shen Qing”

I scoffed and took a step back. I walked around in a circle, trying to process it in my head as I questioned his words. I stopped halfway through my spin and faced him again.

           “How can I believe your words?”

           “You don’t have to because if you already doubt yourself then that must means I’m saying the truth”

           “Let me ask you a different question then”

           He cocked his head to the side waiting for me to ask.

           “Are you---” I began but stopped. It’s pointless. Why am I about to ask him whether he’s the man in the scarlet-red robe? It’s too insane.

           He looks at me patiently as I broke the eye contact by walking away.

           “Why aren’t you asking?” he follows me.

           “Because I don’t feel like it” I answer.

           “Okay, I’ll assume you have your answer already so that’s why you ain’t asking” he stopped and made me match his posture, “But you must know, in the past I’ve loved you and I still love you”

           I froze at his words and blinked, trying to allow the words to soak into my mind.

           “Do I need to repeat myself?” he asks when I wasn’t responding.

I step away from him with my hands in defense. I shook my head wishing he haven’t said that--- those three words.

           “Please,” I breathlessly managed to say something, “Don’t follow me” I ran for it.