THE BETRAYAL

The courtyard was quiet, the soft rustling of leaves and distant bird songs the only sounds that filled the air. Li Mei walked along the path, her mind filled with thoughts of Wei Ming. She had been eager to meet him today, to continue the connection they had started during their last encounter. There was something special in their exchanges—or so she thought.

As she approached the designated meeting spot, she spotted him standing by the stone bench, his hands clasped behind his back, staring off into the distance. There was a stiffness to his posture, something she hadn't noticed before.

"Wei Ming!" she called out softly, a bright smile on her face. "I'm so glad you could meet me today."

He turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "Li Mei," he greeted, his voice lacking the warmth she had come to expect. "We need to talk."

Her heart skipped a beat at his serious tone. "Is something wrong?"

He sighed and gestured for her to sit. "It's about the princess."

Li Mei frowned, confused. "The princess? What about her?"

Wei Ming ran a hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable. "You've been too bold, Li Mei. You don't understand the delicate balance of the court. Offending someone like Princess Qing Yue… it's dangerous. You're not being rational."

The words hit her like a splash of cold water. "Offend? When did I ever offend her? Wei Ming, I thought you understood me."

His eyes met hers briefly before looking away. "It's not about understanding, Li Mei. It's about survival. You're playing with fire. The princess is powerful, and you're... you're just a merchant's daughter."

Li Mei's chest tightened, disbelief washing over her. "So what? When have I ever crossed her path intentionally? Why are you telling me this?"

Wei Ming crossed his arms, a frown creasing his brow. "I'm telling you because you're making things difficult. You've always been a little too outspoken, a little too… naïve. Not everyone in the palace will tolerate that."

Her heart thudded loudly in her chest, confusion morphing into hurt. "Wei Ming… I thought we were friends. More than that, I thought… I thought there was something between us. What about the kiss?"

There was a flicker in his eyes—something cold and distant. He gave a slight chuckle, almost mocking in its tone. "The kiss? Li Mei, you're reading too much into things. I didn't expect you to be that… cheap."

The word "cheap" hit her like a slap across the face. She stared at him, her eyes wide, disbelieving. "What?"

Wei Ming stepped closer, his voice lowering as if sharing a casual observation. "You're beautiful, Li Mei. I won't lie, I was attracted to your beauty and your resilience. But that's all there is to it. You're not someone I could seriously consider."

Her throat tightened painfully. "What are you saying? What do you mean?"

Wei Ming shrugged, as if the conversation was no longer worth his time. "You could be my concubine, though. You might not be of noble birth, but you're still valuable. Your beauty alone would make you an asset."

The insult hung in the air between them, thick and suffocating. Li Mei felt her heart break in a way she had never experienced before. "A concubine?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

"And your lips," he continued, his tone casual, almost careless. "They tasted nice, like those women at the flower houses. It was… pleasant, but I wouldn't expect anything more from someone like you."

Shock flooded her veins. She stared at him, her mind racing to catch up with the cruelty of his words. It was as if a mask had fallen off, revealing the true Wei Ming—someone who saw her as nothing more than a passing amusement.

Her shock quickly turned into anger. "You... you're despicable!" she snapped, her voice trembling with fury. Without thinking, she raised her hand and slapped him across the face, the sound echoing in the quiet courtyard.

Wei Ming didn't flinch. Instead, he looked at her with mild surprise, rubbing his cheek where her hand had struck him. "I see. So that's how you feel."

Li Mei's hands were shaking, her vision blurred with tears of anger and betrayal. "I thought you were different," she said, her voice breaking. "I thought you cared. But all you are is a liar—a cruel, selfish liar!"

With that, she turned and stormed away, her heart pounding in her chest. The humiliation, the betrayal, the heartbreak—it was all too much. She had opened her heart to him, trusted him, only to realize that he had never truly cared.

As she walked away, tears streamed down her face. She had been foolish to believe in him, to think that he was someone worth her affection. And now, the pain of that realization cut deeper than anything she had ever known.