The Moon’s Veiled Game
The welcome banquet for Princess Bai was held at Changyue Pavilion,
a grand hall reserved only for the most significant occasions.
The cool night breeze danced beneath the full moonlight, casting shadows across polished ice stone floors, blending perfectly with the soft silver candlelight encircling the long banquet table.
Princess Bai Yuening arrived in a silver-white qipao, embroidered with winding dragons and blooming plum blossoms.
A subtle, elegant fragrance trailed from her presence—delicate, but never faint.
She walked with composed confidence, passing through the silent scrutiny of gathered court officials.
At her side stood the Grand Chancellor of the Allied Kingdom,
and behind her—eunuchs and handmaidens trained with military precision.
Across the long imperial table,
Emperor Li Sichen sat at the highest seat.
To his right were Feng Yuhan, the Crown Prince, and next to him, Princess Xianlan—
her expression unreadable, her posture graceful.
—
As the wine was raised,
the plucking of ancient zithers began to echo softly—
a melody recalling legends of the moon above.
Bai Yuening spoke first, smiling with a blade behind her lips:
"The Allied Kingdom offers its blessings to His Majesty,
and thanks him for honoring me with a place at this table tonight."
She lifted her wine cup.
"To peace between our lands, enduring friendship—
and to… stronger bonds still to come."
The words sounded pure,
yet a deeper undertone pulsed beneath them.
Several gazes shifted toward Feng Yuhan,
as if all understood what "stronger bonds" truly implied.
Xianlan gave a faint smile and raised her cup in reply.
"Let me add… To a future forged from truth, not mere polished appearances.
If the flower of friendship is to bloom, one must first know its true roots."
Her voice was soft, yet sharp—
a blade dressed in silk.
Feng Yuhan glanced sideways at her, then silently set his cup down.
Bai Yuening's smile didn't falter,
but her fingertips tensed ever so slightly.
—
During the performance of the warrior maidens' sword dance,
Bai Yuening leaned in to whisper to her close eunuch.
"She's clever… and knows how to play with words."
"She shows no fear—not even of my station."
The eunuch murmured back:
"But I fear this woman…
the Emperor may love her more than he loves his own kingdom."
—
Elsewhere, hidden among the shadows,
Wen Yuchen observed the scene while zithers still played in the background.
"The air in this banquet hall reeks more of war than any battlefield."
He whispered to the eunuch beside him:
"Yulan… how will you survive this game?"
—
Toward the end of the banquet,
Bai Yuening presented a silk-wrapped box to Xianlan.
"A small token for the Princess…
a humble gift from the Northern Kingdom."
Xianlan accepted it with serene poise.
"A gift from Your Highness is surely precious…
I thank you for not lacing it with poison."
Soft laughter rippled among the palace maids,
but none of the higher officials joined in.
Bai Yuening's eyes flickered with surprise.
"The Princess is… sharp-witted indeed."
Xianlan smiled sweetly.
"Oh, I was being sincere."
—
Later that night, after the banquet,
Feng Yuhan knocked on the doors of Xianlan's residence.
She opened them without a word.
He said softly:
"Your words tonight… you wield them like blades now."
She turned to him.
"Because I've come to understand…
that if I don't hold a blade at the table,
I may become the corpse lying across it."
He fell silent, then finally spoke again:
"Bai Yuening… she's not my betrothed."
"You know, don't you—
that I rejected the alliance proposal before."
Xianlan met his gaze.
"I know.
And I also know only a fool would believe you'd ever let yourself become someone's political pawn."
He smiled faintly.
"Then… let me leave my back to you tonight."
"Because in this war, none of us will be resting easy again."
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