A Fated Pair

The sun was setting behind the wall to the imperial palace when Yu Zhong carried a tray of dinner into the Plum Blossom Hall. He pried the door open with his foot and stepped inside the dimly lit house.

"It's me, QingYu. No need to be alert," Yu Zhong called as he placed the tray on the table, making his way towards the sleeping quarters.

A green snake was coiled over YaYun's chest, its head resting over YaYun's heart. When the snake saw Yu Zhong stepping into the room, it blinked its bright yellow eyes as an acknowledgement but refused to move away from YaYun's side.

"QingYu, I brought you dinner."

The snake coiled tighter over YaYun's body, unwilling to leave YaYun alone.

Zhang YaYun was unconscious, but he looked perfectly fine, as if he had just fallen asleep. Not even a hair had turned dull during this time. YaYun's cheeks were flushed with a healthy pink colour, to Yu Zhong's relief.