[The Confession by the Pond]
Sunlight filtered through the trees, shimmering on the steps and the water's surface. Gu Xingyu gazed at the men before her. She had never imagined that one day, she would lay bare her deepest wavering before others.
But they had all come—each standing by her side in silence, without demands or accusations. In this moment, she felt that keeping the truth from them would be the ultimate act of distrust.
She lowered her head, tracing the patterns on the stone steps. Her voice was soft but steady. "Last night... I saw Si Moheng."
The air seemed to freeze instantly.
Luo Ye's hand jerked, nearly spilling his soup. Sang Qi whipped his head around, Cang Yuan blinked, the gears in Lin Lie's hands stopped mid-air, and Li Yan imperceptibly stiffened his shoulders.
"He sneaked in?" Lin Lie asked first, his voice calm but his eyes heavy with gravity.
"He came alone, without soldiers or shadows," Xingyu looked at Lin Lie. "He just... wanted to see me. He said it wasn't for a scheme. He just wanted to look at me." She gave a bittersweet smile. "He said something. He thanked me for letting him know he could be human."
Silence fell. Those words carried a different weight in each man's heart.
"Did he touch you?" Luo Ye asked, his voice thick with suppressed fury.
Xingyu paused, then shook her head. "No. He only... pressed his forehead against mine. He said it was his first time approaching someone not as a prince, but as himself."
Cang Yuan curled his lip into a scoff. "Hah, quite the actor. He's even playing the 'tenderness' card now."
"He wasn't acting in that moment," Xingyu said softly. "My background is in psychology; I can tell true emotion from a facade. He was genuinely wavering. And he was... truly in pain."
The atmosphere grew even heavier.
"Are you... taking his side?" Sang Qi frowned.
"No," she looked up, her eyes clearer than ever. "I'm not defending him. I just want you all to know that I was shaken. I wondered if he could truly change. But I know his change cannot depend on me. And it certainly shouldn't happen because of me."
She stood up, facing them directly. "I didn't intend to hide this. Not just because of trust, but because I don't want you to worry, speculate, or be divided. I choose to tell you because I trust you, and I'm asking you... to keep trusting me."
Standing in the sunlight, her voice wasn't loud, but it possessed a strength firmer than ever before.
[The Vow of the Five Yao]
"I believe you," Lin Lie spoke first. His tone was plain, yet it provided the strongest foundation.
Li Yan nodded. "Speaking it out is the first step to facing it. You understand the boundaries better than anyone."
"I don't like him," Luo Ye muttered. "But I like that you were willing to be clear. Now... I know I can stand by your side with a clear heart."
"Then I'll forgive you for making me worry all morning," Sang Qi looked away, biting into a piece of candy. "But next time, tell us sooner. Don't make it feel like we're forcing a confession out of you."
Cang Yuan tilted his head, a complex light in his eyes. "I don't promise to like the man, but I promise this—if he ever makes you feel uneasy again, I'll make him regret ever stepping foot in this Manor."
Xingyu smiled—a genuine, warm smile. "Thank you."
The sun shone down on the six figures reflected in the water. For the first time, their steps were aligned on the same path.
[Inner Monologues: The Five Yao's Secrets]
[Lin Lie]
"I believe you." The moment he said it, his heart was far from still. Looking at her in the sunlight, he felt a tightness in his throat. She admitted she had wavered, yet she remained firm in her direction. It broke his heart. He didn't fear her betrayal; he feared her strength—that she would rather suffer through her doubts alone than let anyone help carry them.
If you sway, I will be your brace; if you are weary, I will be the wall you lean on.
[Luo Ye]
"I don't like him... but I like that you were willing to be clear." He had suppressed his rage throughout her story. The thought of that prince's forehead touching hers made him want to shatter his soup bowl. But he knew her. If she had truly wanted to leave, none of them could stop her. The fact that she chose to stay and tell them... that was what pierced his heart.
I will always stand by you. Even if you waver again, I'll be here waiting for you to come back.
[Cang Yuan]
"If he makes you uneasy again, I'll make him regret it." His jokes always hid a blade, but this time, it was pure truth. He had known she was wavering; he was too sensitive to miss her distant gaze and sleepless nights. But he had chosen to play blind, knowing that a soul in turmoil hates being questioned.
I don't promise to like him, but I promise to protect you to the end. (Beneath his mask was a rare sincerity... and a hint of jealousy.)
[Sang Qi]
"If you didn't say it, we wouldn't have asked. But now that you have... I don't know what to say." For once, the sharp-tongued physician was speechless. Her honesty made his heart ache. He wanted to give her a piece of candy, to tell a joke to lighten her load.
Since you could say it out loud... that's enough to put my heart at ease.
[Li Yan]
"Speaking it out is facing it." He knew this confession wasn't easy for her. She wasn't someone who let emotions dictate her life. The fact that she could admit to wavering meant she had struggled deeply and survived.
If you are ever in the eye of the storm again, I will be the shield standing before you.