Chapter 33: The Gathering Clouds

The night draped the Bai estate in a thick, suffocating silence. Bai Yue stood by the window of her chamber, staring out into the courtyard below where lanterns flickered like dying stars. Her fingers absently traced the vial hidden beneath her robe, the weight of its dark contents pressing heavily against her chest.

Weishan sat across the room, his expression unusually serious. He leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, watching her with a gaze that seemed to pierce through her very thoughts.

"You're too quiet," he finally said, his voice breaking the heavy silence. "That usually means trouble."

Bai Yue exhaled, turning to face him. "I'm thinking."

He smirked. "You think too much."

She crossed her arms, her brows furrowing. "And you think too little."

Weishan chuckled softly but didn't argue. He pushed off the wall and approached her, his steps silent, his presence an ever-present shadow. "What's the plan, Bai Yue? You can't just sit here and hope the second mistress makes a mistake."

Bai Yue's gaze hardened. "I don't plan to wait. I need to find the antidote and gather enough proof to bring her down."

Weishan studied her for a moment, his dark eyes searching hers. "You're determined."

"I have no other choice."

He tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a half-smile. "Good. Because I have something."

Bai Yue straightened. "What do you mean?"

Weishan reached into his robe and pulled out a folded parchment. "One of my contacts intercepted a message meant for the second mistress." He handed it to her. "It confirms that the shipment containing the antidote will arrive tomorrow night. A private delivery."

Bai Yue's fingers trembled slightly as she unfolded the parchment, scanning the elegant calligraphy. Her eyes widened. The antidote was being delivered under the guise of rare silks—smuggled directly into the estate without anyone noticing.

"This is it," she whispered. "If we can intercept it…"

Weishan nodded. "We'll have what we need."

Bai Yue's mind raced with possibilities. "We'll have to act fast. Bai Rong and her spies will be watching every move."

Weishan leaned closer, his voice low and laced with something she couldn't quite place. "That's why you're not going alone."

Bai Yue looked up at him, meeting his intense gaze. "I wasn't planning to."

A flicker of approval crossed Weishan's face before he stepped back. "Then we prepare."

The following evening, the air was thick with tension as Bai Yue and Weishan stood concealed in the shadows outside the eastern gate, waiting for the delivery. The estate bustled with preparations for an upcoming banquet, providing the perfect cover for their operation.

Bai Yue's heartbeat drummed in her ears as she peered through the narrow crack in the gate. A small, unmarked carriage approached under the cloak of darkness, flanked by two guards dressed in plain garments.

"They're cautious," Weishan murmured beside her. "They don't trust their own people."

Bai Yue nodded, clutching the small blade hidden beneath her sleeve. "We need to be quick."

As the carriage came to a halt, Bai Yue watched as a man emerged from the driver's seat, his face partially obscured by a hood. He exchanged a few hushed words with the gatekeeper before signaling the guards to unload the crates.

Weishan leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear. "I'll distract them. You get the crate."

Bai Yue nodded, and before she could say another word, Weishan moved with effortless precision. In one fluid motion, he strode toward the gate, stepping into the dim light with the confidence of a man who belonged there.

"Gentlemen," he greeted smoothly. "I don't recall this shipment being on the official list."

The guards stiffened, one of them stepping forward. "This is a private order."

Weishan feigned surprise, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword. "Private orders require special approval. Shall I fetch the mistress to confirm?"

The guards exchanged uneasy glances. Bai Yue seized the opportunity, slipping silently through the shadows toward the carriage. She crouched low, her fingers working quickly to pry open the crate labeled with the insignia of imported silk.

Inside, hidden beneath layers of fabric, she found a small wooden box. With careful hands, she lifted it, feeling the faint clink of glass vials inside.

Got it.

Heart pounding, she slipped the box into the folds of her robe and quietly retreated, disappearing into the darkness just as Weishan ended his conversation with the guards.

As he walked back toward her hiding spot, he smirked. "Took you long enough."

Bai Yue rolled her eyes. "Let's just go before they get suspicious."

Weishan didn't argue, leading her away from the gate and back into the safety of the inner gardens.

Inside Bai Yue's chambers, she carefully unwrapped the box, revealing several delicate vials filled with a shimmering golden liquid. She held one up to the candlelight, relief washing over her. "This must be it."

Weishan leaned against the wall, watching her with a satisfied expression. "Now we just have to test it."

Bai Yue nodded, her mind already formulating a plan. "We'll start with the envoy. If it works, we'll move on to the others."

Weishan's gaze softened slightly. "You really think you can save them all?"

Bai Yue looked up at him, determination burning in her eyes. "I have to try."

He was silent for a moment before pushing off the wall and stepping closer, his voice lower than before. "Then I'll help you."

Bai Yue swallowed hard, feeling the warmth of his presence so close to hers. "Why?"

Weishan's smirk faltered, and for a moment, his expression was raw, unguarded. "Because you're worth it."

Bai Yue's breath hitched, but before she could respond, he stepped back, returning to his usual teasing self. "And besides, I'd be bored otherwise."

She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, shaking her head with a small smile. "Of course."

As the weight of their mission settled over them, Bai Yue knew that this was only the beginning. The second mistress's web of deceit ran deep, and unraveling it would not come without a cost.

But with the antidote in their hands and Weishan by her side, Bai Yue felt something she hadn't felt in a long time.

Hope.