Chapter 3: “Sticky Rice and Dangerous Men”

Shi Yue was not a fool—he knew the kitchens would be empty at this hour, and no one would see him sneaking in for an extra bite of the lotus cakes that had been stolen from the evening banquet.

He moved quickly through the corridors of the palace, the soft rustle of his robes the only sound breaking the silence. His stomach growled loudly, a reminder of how little he'd eaten earlier—despite the generous spread laid out in front of the Prince. He didn’t care. The lotus cakes were too dry, the tea too bitter, and, honestly, he had to find something sweeter.

As he reached the kitchen door, it creaked open.

“Ah, perfect,” Shi Yue murmured to himself. He slipped inside.

The room was cool and dark, the smell of fresh rice cakes and spices hanging in the air. He quickly grabbed a small bowl of sticky rice, dipping it into honey with practiced hands. He was so focused on the treat in front of him that he didn’t hear the sound of heavy boots approaching.

The first clue was the sudden shift in temperature—the air around him chilled. A familiar, suffocating aura. Shi Yue froze, a half-eaten rice cake in his hand.

He slowly turned around.

“General Li…”

Standing in the doorway was none other than General Li Zhen, his black armor gleaming dully in the low light. His gaze fixed on Shi Yue, sharp and unblinking, as if sizing up every move he made.

“You know it’s dangerous to sneak around in the middle of the night, Concubine Shi,” he said, his voice low and rich with unspoken layers.

Shi Yue blinked, attempting to hide his startled expression behind an impassive smile. “I… I was just grabbing a snack, General. Nothing dangerous about that.”

The general’s eyes narrowed. “Nothing dangerous?” His voice dipped lower, barely a whisper. “Are you sure about that?”

Shi Yue shifted uneasily, his fingers tightening around the sticky rice. “If I’m a danger, General, then I’m a danger to no one but myself.”

Li Zhen took a step closer, his towering figure casting a shadow over the smaller concubine. His presence was imposing, suffocating, but there was a strange, almost amused glint in his eyes.

“Let’s test that theory, then.” With a flick of his hand, he reached out to steady Shi Yue, whose foot had slipped on the smooth floor.

It happened in an instant.

Shi Yue stumbled, his body colliding with the general’s chest, sticky rice falling from his hand and splattering across their clothes. He blinked in surprise, his face now flush with both the fall and embarrassment. His hands pressed against the hard, unforgiving material of Li Zhen’s armor.

He caught his breath, his heart racing. “I—I’m so sorry!”

Li Zhen’s hands, large and surprisingly gentle, cupped his shoulders and helped him straighten. His eyes never left Shi Yue’s face, and there was that small, infuriating smirk pulling at his lips.

“You have a habit of falling into trouble, don’t you?” he murmured. His tone wasn’t mocking. It was… something else.

Shi Yue’s mind raced, but all he could focus on was the sensation of his face inches away from the general's. The warmth of his body against his own, the strength of his grip holding him steady. He felt small, like a fragile bird caught in the talons of a predator.

“I… I didn’t mean to.” His voice came out softer than he intended. “Really, General, this was… an accident.”

Li Zhen leaned in slightly, his breath brushing against Shi Yue’s ear. “Careful, Concubine Shi. One wrong move, and you might find yourself in far more than a mere accident.” His words were coated in warning, but there was an undeniable undercurrent of something else. Curiosity, perhaps. Or something darker.

Shi Yue felt a shiver run down his spine, his mind racing. The proximity was overwhelming, and his heart was thundering in his chest. He couldn’t stop the rush of heat flooding his cheeks. “I—I understand, General.”

For a long, unbearable moment, neither of them spoke. Shi Yue could feel the tension thickening between them, like the air before a storm.

Then, with a final glance, Li Zhen straightened and let go of him, stepping back just enough to allow Shi Yue some space.

“Do be more careful next time, Concubine Shi.” His voice was cool, but the flicker of amusement in his eyes lingered.

Shi Yue swallowed hard, trying to regain his composure. He was so aware of the sticky rice still clinging to the front of their robes. “Yes, General. I’ll be more cautious in the future.”

As Li Zhen turned to leave, his gaze met Shi Yue’s once more.

“You have potential, Shi Yue. Don’t waste it.”

The door closed behind him, and Shi Yue was left standing in the quiet, still feeling the heat of the general’s touch on his skin.

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