The warm steam of the bath wrapped Bai Liu like a soft cloak. She exhaled, letting the water soothe her skin, the dull throb in her ribs a reminder of the staircase incident.
For a moment, she simply wanted to be alone, to wash away the palace scheming, the hatred, and the constant worry over the Empress' illness. Two years was such a long time.
She had been brought into the palace three years ago. The Empress Dowager had guarded her ferociously, and all the misfortune that befell her had begun when the Dowager fell ill.
A low creak interrupted her thoughts. Bai Liu rose from the bath, water trickling over her pale skin, expecting Lin Yan with a bathrobe. Instead, the figure before her was unmistakable.
"General!" she yelled, plunging back into the water. Her pulse spiked as she twisted away, hands instinctively wrapping around herself, but it was too late ... He had seen her.
"You shouldn't be here!" she scolded, anger sharp in her tone.
General Shan Yu froze for a heartbeat, then pivoted, his posture rigid, composed. "My lady… forgive my intrusion," he said, his voice low, controlled—almost a growl.
He looked uneasy, no doubt aware that she was unguarded, yet his pride prevented him from turning away completely.
"Why are you here?" she asked, back still turned, her voice steady but firm.
"You cannot go to the Palace of Benevolence, Seventh Consort," he began, his tone unyielding. "I cannot support it. I cannot—"
"But the Emperor has granted me permission," Bai Liu interrupted, cold and measured. "Who are you to say otherwise?" Her cheeks flushed—not with modesty, but with a warmth her body betrayed, though her tone remained sharp.
"Why play with your life? I cannot understand why you would leave a controlled palace for a place of sickness and vulnerability," he said, frustration edging his words. "I cannot simply watch you do this."
"You cannot change my mind, General," she said, reaching for a cloak. "At the very least, respect my decision. I may be the least consort, but I wield power. You have no choice but to obey.
He clenched his jaw. "Reduced to a mere guard?" he murmured, pride and frustration lacing his tone.
"We have nothing more to discuss," Bai Liu said, stepping out of the bath, water dripping from her hair. "And if anyone were to know you were in my bath chamber… it would not end well for either of us."
Her words struck him like a whip, and she noted the flush creeping up his neck. He stood silently, pride mingling with restraint.
"You're being reckless. Unlike the Bai Liu I used to know," he finally said, his voice heavy with something unspoken.
Bai Liu's teeth clenched, the coldness of her tone masking the heat her body betrayed. This body—hers now—reacted differently to him, and she felt a curious stirring she could not explain.
"The Bai Liu you knew died on the stairs," she seethed under her breath. But when she looked, he was already gone.
The carriage swayed gently as it made its way along the winding road toward the Palace of Benevolence. As they passed through its great gates, guards greeted them and showed the way inside.
Bai Liu sat upright, her hands folded neatly in her lap, though her mind raced. The journey had taken nearly the entire day, and the distant mountains, fading with the twilight, seemed to watch her closely.
Shan Yu rode beside the carriage on horseback, his posture rigid, every muscle taut with restraint. His dark, unyielding eyes scanned the surroundings with the precision of a predator but would occasionally linger on Bai Liu, assessing her silently. An unspoken, suffocating tension hung in the air; no one had spoken since the journey began.
"Oh, my Lady, it's unbearable… You two haven't said a word since we mounted the carriage," Lin Yan groaned in frustration.
"Oh, Lin Yan, there's nothing important to talk about… He's just a guard… General," Bai Liu corrected. Shan Yu pretended not to hear.
"Still, you two used to be inseparable—always joking and laughing. Now it's like you're enemies," Lin Yan observed.
"Inseparable?" Bai Liu said in surprise. No wonder he kept giving her those knowing looks… But this man was undeniably proud.
"Of course. You only became distant after you ran off crying during that stormy night, and General Shan Yu brought you back," Lin Yan revealed.
Wow. So many fragmented memories rushed in—Zhou Wei couldn't wait to see more.
Firstly… he's a general. Why would he be so close to a consort?.
Just then, the carriage stopped at the entrance.
"The Empress Dowager awaits you," a maid announced, and they were ushered inside. On the enormous bed lay the old Empress, weak and surrounded by charms and burning incense.
"Bai Liu!" her frail voice rang out, followed by a wheezing cough.
"I am so glad to see you awake," she said, struggling to sit up with the assistance of guards. She stretched her hands toward Bai Liu, pulling her into a tight hug. Instinctively, Bai Liu hugged her back, tears threatening to fall as the Empress' hands rested on her belly.
Then the Empress turned toward Shan Yu with a smile.
"Thank you so much, Shan Yu, for caring for my girl. You're doing a good job," she said, and he bowed awkwardly.
"Don't be overly formal with me, Shan Yu!" she said dryly, then turned toward Bai Liu, beaming, her fine smile lines clearly visible.
"I heard from the Imperial Palace that you intend to care for this old lady for a month, at the expense of your title," she continued, and Bai Liu recalled that the palace always had ears.
"Yes, Empress Dowager. I will ensure you are in good health before the month is over," Bai Liu assured her.
"Even if I don't recover, I would never let you lose your position. Besides, having you here is all the therapy I need." She snapped her fingers.
"Choi Lee, help them with their baggage and show them their rooms," she instructed. They were led to separate rooms—Bai Liu and Lin Yan shared one, while Shan Yu had a separate room.
"Keep my fan in my room; Lin Yan's hands are full," Bai Liu instructed Shan Yu. He reluctantly took the fan from her, and as he did, she noticed his hands linger briefly against hers before withdrawing quickly. Goosebumps ran over her skin as a faint memory flashed—an image of a dark cave during a storm, Shan Yu panting, towering over Bai Liu, her dress slightly raised, his hands under her. And his lips crashing roughly on hers.
"Are you all right?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as the memory stirred.
"I am," she said, walking forward to meet the Empress Dowager.