Chapter 5: Secrets Beneath the Moonlight

The palace gardens at night were a world apart from the tense, polished chaos of the day. Silver moonlight spilled over the neatly trimmed hedges and reflected off koi ponds, casting an ethereal glow. Bai Yu strolled aimlessly, using the quiet to gather her thoughts.

Chun’er trailed behind her, fidgeting nervously. "Miss, isn’t it risky to wander around like this? What if someone thinks you’re up to something?"

"Up to something?" Bai Yu snorted. "What could I possibly be up to? Picking flowers? Staring at the moon too aggressively?"

"You joke now," Chun’er said, wringing her hands, "but the harem is full of spies and schemers. You can’t be too careful."

"Careful is boring," Bai Yu replied, crouching to peer at a particularly fat koi fish in the pond. "Besides, if I stayed in my quarters all day, I’d go mad."

Just as Chun’er was about to respond, they heard voices nearby. Bai Yu froze, pulling Chun’er behind a tree as two women emerged from a side path, their tones hushed and urgent.

"I told you, the plan must be executed tomorrow night," one woman whispered sharply.

"But if we’re caught, it’ll be the end for both of us," the other replied, her voice trembling.

"Stop whining. This is our only chance to shift the Emperor’s favor. Do you want Lady Zhen to dominate the harem forever?"

Bai Yu’s eyes widened. Chun’er tugged at her sleeve. "Miss, let’s go. We shouldn’t be hearing this!"

"Shh!" Bai Yu hissed, straining to catch more of the conversation.

Before they could move, one of the women turned sharply in their direction. Bai Yu ducked lower, holding her breath.

"Did you hear that?" the first woman asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

"It’s probably just the wind," the other replied nervously.

After a tense moment, the women walked away, their whispers fading into the distance.

"Miss, that was too close!" Chun’er hissed as Bai Yu straightened, brushing leaves off her gown.

"Too close," Bai Yu agreed, her mind racing. "But did you hear what they said? There’s some kind of plot brewing."

"We shouldn’t get involved," Chun’er said, shaking her head furiously. "This isn’t our business. The less we know, the safer we are."

"Safer?" Bai Yu scoffed. "If there’s one thing I’ve learned here, it’s that ignorance is not bliss. For all we know, this plot could affect us too."

Chun’er looked torn. "But what can we do, Miss? We’re just a scholar’s daughter and her maid. This kind of intrigue is above us."

"Exactly," Bai Yu said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "No one would ever suspect us. That’s why we have to figure out what’s going on."

Chun’er groaned. "Miss, this sounds like trouble."

"Everything in this palace is trouble," Bai Yu replied. "At least this way, we’ll know what we’re dealing with."

Later that night, Bai Yu sat on the veranda of her quarters, staring at the moon. Chun’er dozed off in the corner, still muttering about safety in her sleep.

The conversation she had overheard replayed in her mind. Plots and schemes were part of harem life, but this felt bigger, more dangerous.

"Am I really going to do this?" Bai Yu murmured to herself.

"Do what?" a low voice asked from the shadows.

Bai Yu nearly jumped out of her skin, whirling around to see a man standing at the edge of the veranda. His face was partially obscured by the shadows, but his stance was relaxed, almost casual.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice low but firm.

"A friend," he said cryptically.

"Friend? That’s awfully presumptuous for someone sneaking around in the middle of the night," Bai Yu replied, narrowing her eyes.

The man chuckled softly. "You’re bold. I like that. But boldness can be dangerous here."

"I’m learning that," Bai Yu said cautiously. "What do you want?"

"To warn you," he said, stepping closer. Moonlight revealed a sharp, angular face and eyes that seemed to see through her. "The palace is more treacherous than you realize. Be careful who you trust."

"Thanks for the vague and ominous advice," Bai Yu said, crossing her arms. "Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have enough to worry about without strange men lurking in the dark."

The man smirked. "Fair enough. But remember, not all shadows are your enemy."

With that, he disappeared into the night, leaving Bai Yu more confused—and intrigued—than ever.

As she settled back into her seat, she muttered, "This place gets stranger by the day."

Chun’er stirred in her sleep. "Trouble, Miss… always trouble…"

"Tell me about it," Bai Yu sighed, her thoughts drifting back to the plot she had overheard. One thing was certain: she couldn’t afford to ignore the dangers around her any longer.

The moon hung high, its light illuminating the path Bai Yu knew she had to take, whether she liked it or not.

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