The emperor's announcement left the man stunned, lost in thought for the rest of the night, wondering what exactly he should say about what had happened.
He made his way through the imperial corridors and stopped in front of a tall door — the entrance to the imperial hall.
Just as he was about to knock, the door creaked open.
"Minister Li, you may ente—"
The guard's voice was cut short when the minister brushed past him without waiting.
"Your Majesty, you won't believe what's happened," he said breathlessly, crossing the room to stand at His Majesty the Emperor side.
"Minister, your sudden intrusion and lack of manners are unacceptable. I do not tolerate such behavior," the emperor said, raising his voice.
"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty," the minister replied, his voice shaking with restrained sobs. "I couldn't hold it in."
"Calm yourself. Has something happened to your wife and child?"
"Your Majesty, please don't make me speak of that slut wench. She betrayed me—shamed the vows we swore. And that child…"
The emperor's expression hardened.
"On what grounds do you accuse her of infidelity? That is a serious claim. I trust you understand the weight of your words."
"That child isn't even mine," he hissed. "It was born with the essence of the moon."
A heavy silence fell over the chamber.
The minister, sensing the tension, went on, his voice trembling.
"A bright, striking shade of blue appeared in the creature's eyes…"
"With the moon's essence, you say?!"
"Yes… Your Majesty. Now you can understand how I felt."
"I can't believe the daughter of Chancellor Weng would do such a thing!"
"Guards! Search the entire area and bring both her and the child to me!"
Amid restrained sobs, the man let a devious smirk slip quietly across his face.
"Your Majesty, you may find her in the forest. When I confronted her, she fled in that direction."
***
The sound of quiet sobs woke her up.
She opened her eyes slowly, blinking at the sunlight coming through the curtain.
It was brighter than she expected.
That's when she realized she had fallen asleep.
She picked up the baby and held her close, feeding her in silence. Her body was still tired, but her thoughts had already begun to wander.
Now that it was day, the cabin didn't look so bad. As she walked to the window and looked outside, the idea crossed her mind: maybe they could stay here. Maybe it was far enough.
She searched through the cabin for food but found nothing. There wasn't much choice, so she had to go outside.
She wrapped the baby carefully and carried her on her back before stepping out.
The forest around the cabin was quiet. The trees were tall and close together, blocking most of the sunlight. The ground was uneven, covered in fallen leaves, roots, and small branches.
She walked slowly, trying not to trip, and looked for anything she could eat. After a while, she came across a bush with dark red berries. She picked only the ones that didn't look damaged or strange. Near a small stream, she dug up a few roots and found some herbs that might be useful. It wasn't much, but it was something.
When she turned around to head back, nothing looked familiar. She kept walking, hoping to recognize something, until she found a quiet lagoon hidden between the trees. The water was clear, and the place felt different — calm, untouched.
She was still kneeling when she heard a sound behind her.
It wasn't the wind.
There were footsteps. Slow, steady. Metal clinking softly as it moved.
She froze for a moment, then turned her head carefully.
A group of men in black clothes were walking around the edge of the lagoon. She recognized some of them right away. Guards. And executioners.
They were looking for her.
She couldn't hold back her surprise and accidentally stepped on a branch as she tried to turn away.
One of the men in black caught the sound and looked straight in its direction.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind and pulled her behind a tree, covering her mouth with one hand.
"What are you looking at? Did you see her?" asked one of the guards.
"No… must be the wind," the executioner replied, his eyes still fixed on the spot.
Meanwhile, she struggled to get away from the stranger, but he kept holding her.
Just as she was about to scream, she heard footsteps coming closer. She froze, silently praying they wouldn't come any closer or see them.
The stranger, still covering her mouth, picked up some rocks and threw them in the opposite direction. The noise drew their attention, and they moved toward the sound.
She took advantage of the distraction, pushed him away, and tried to run while adjusting her daughter on her back. But before she could get far, he grabbed her by the wrist and held her in place.
"Let go of me," she said, trying to pull her arm back.
"Calm down. Just stay here for a moment — they might still be nearby," he warned, keeping his voice low.
She forced herself to stay calm and used the moment to take a good look at the stranger.
He was wearing a rough, patched coat that looked handmade. His clothes were covered in dirt and leaves, and his boots were worn out, like someone accustomed to work with the land day after day.
He carried a small bag tied at his waist, filled with what seemed like herbs or roots. His hands were strong, rough, and covered in small cuts.
She couldn't tell if he was a farmer, a forager, or something else.
But he didn't look like the men in black. Not at all.
"Why did you help me?" she asked, still wary.
He met her gaze steadily. "Because I knew you were in danger. Those men don't bring anything good."
"Those men serve the emperor. You have every reason to distrust me. What do you want from me?"
"That's exactly why. They follow the emperor's orders, and those orders aren't always fair. I trust you more than them."
The woman looked at him, confused.
"I can't believe that just a woman with a child is the reason for all this commotion. It doesn't make sense to have so many guards and all this trouble for her."
The man reached out to touch her child's face, but she pulled back, wary.
"I understand your caution. I'm sorry if I startled you. My name is Shen. May I know yours?"
The woman hesitated but decided to trust him for the moment.
"My name is Lixue," she said cautiously.
"Lixue… It means 'beautiful snow,' doesn't it? It really suits you."
"Why?" she asked.
"Because you carry a calm strength and grace that not everyone has."
Her chest felt warm. She looked away, not sure if it was because of his words or his gaze.
"I imagine you don't have anywhere to go," he said after a moment. "Forgive me if I'm being too forward, but… if you need a place to stay, my home is open to both of you."
Lixue shook her head. "I appreciate it, but… I don't know you. I can't take that risk."
Shen didn't argue. He simply nodded. "I understand. I'll leave you be, but the offer stands. You and your daughter deserve a safe place tonight."
She looked at her daughter. The woods were no place to spend the night, especially after what had happened.
Finally, she gave a small nod. "Alright. But we won't stay long. Thank you for your kindness."
Shen gave a quiet smile and started walking ahead, just far enough to show he meant no harm. Lixue followed in silence, the trees slowly closing around them once more.