The first rays of sunlight entered the cave, its golden touch gently pushing back the darkness. Cheng slowly opened his eyes, shaking off the last bit of sleep. He let out a soft sigh, looking around at the rough walls of the cave, then his eyes settled on the figure resting beside him, peaceful and calm.
Cheng's Pov
The storm had passed, but the air remained cold.
Mei's soft breaths touched my neck, warm against the cold, and I slowly turned my head to look at her. She lay so close, her dark lashes resting gently on her cheeks.
Her face was calm and so beautiful it made my heart flutter.
My eyes traveled down the delicate slope of her nose to her lips, soft and slightly parted. I reached out instinctively, tracing a finger along the path I'd followed with my eyes. When I touched her lips, she shifted slightly, letting out a little moan. Even in sleep, she held me close, her arms wrapped around me as if to protect me.
It was then I understood. She had stayed by my side through the freezing downpour, wrapping herself around me to fend off the cold and keep the rain at bay. Realizing this made me smile faintly.
Gently, I let my fingers graze her hair, marveling at the softness of each strand. She remained oblivious to the world, her breathing relaxed and her body still in the arms of sleep.
I didn't want to disturb her, but I needed to move, so I slowly began to free myself from her hold. Her hand, resting lightly on my waist, tightened for a moment before relaxing again, her brow creased briefly, then smoothed as she fell deeper into sleep. I didn't want to leave her, but I had no choice.
When I tried to sit up, a sharp pain shot through my shoulder, then i stopped, holding my breath. I let myself sink back, trying to will away the fire spreading from my wound. The slightest motion sent waves of agony radiating down my arm, leaving it numb yet searingly alive. I bit down on a groan, unwilling to rouse Mei.
I tried to move again, slowly, breathing through the pain. Each movement was a struggle.
Outside, the peace of the forest was disturbed by distant cries, it sounded like they were searching for me.
I forced myself upright again, ignoring the stabbing pain in my shoulder. White sparks danced at the edges of my vision as I braced my uninjured side against the cave wall, its cool surface anchoring me.
I took deep breaths, waiting for the pain to lessen. Each slow breath helped calm me and clear my mind.
When the pain dulled to a bearable throb, I pushed myself upright once more, this time succeeding. My shoulder protested sharply, but I ignored it, there was no room for weakness.
I crept to the mouth of the cave, moving as quietly as I could. Peering out, I scanned the forest.
In the distance, Yìzé and two palace guards charged through the forest, calling my name. I raised my hand to get their attention, and as soon as they saw me, they picked up their pace.
Yìzé was the first to reach me, pulling me into a warm embrace. He was my bodyguard, yes, but also my only true friend. "Your Highness, we've been searching for you nonstop!"
"The Emperor will be overjoyed to hear you're safe," another guard added as he came closer.
"What happened to your arm?!" Yize's voice was full of shock as he took in the sight of my shoulder. I quickly gestured for him to keep quiet, directing his gaze toward the cave. "Mei is inside, and I don't want to disturb her sleep,"
The guards nodded in understanding, lowering their voices. "Sire, we feared for your safety," they said in hushed tones, their concern evident in their words.
I shared the details of the storm and how Mei had stayed by my side, caring for me through the worst of it.
"The Emperor is anxiously awaiting your return. We must leave at once," one of the guards said, urgency in his voice.
.....
Mei woke up to the warm sunlight on her face and rubbed her eyes to shake off the last bits of sleep, slowly becoming aware of her surroundings. But as she opened her eyes, she felt a sudden emptiness in her chest. The warmth she had felt beside her, the soft sound of Cheng's breathing, was gone.
She looked around the space beside her, feeling breathless as worry took over.
"Cheng?"
But no answer came in response. Mei's panic grew as she leaped to her feet, quickly searching her surroundings for any clue of his whereabouts. "Cheng?"
Cheng appeared at the cave entrance, carrying a bundle of ripe, colorful berries and fragrant wild herbs. Mei's heart settled as she saw him.
"Mei"
"I'm here, calm down"
"Cheng, I thought...I'm glad you're safe"
Cheng offered her the fruits he had gathered. "Take these, Mei. You must be famished, and I want to ensure you are well-nourished."
As Mei tasted the first berry, its sugary sweetness awakened her senses. She savored the rich flavor of another, a tender smile appearing on her lips. "I'm relieved to see that you're feeling better,"
Cheng watched her, his eyes following her as she ate another berry, savoring each bite.
The silence was soon interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching, Yìzé and the two other guards entered the cave.
Yìzé's eyes quickly scanned the area. "It's good to see you're up, Lady Meiying,"
Mei looked up at them, pausing with the fruit still in her hand. "When did you find us?"
Yìzé exchanged a quick glance with the other guards. "Not long ago,"
"We searched the forest for hours, though. It's good to see you're both safe."
Yìzé stepped forward and spoke softly, "Your Highness, may I speak with you?" He motioned toward a quiet corner of the cave, but Cheng shook his head.
"It's fine, Yìzé. You can speak here."
Yìzé nodded, understanding but still hesitant. "As you wish, Your Highness,"
He paused for a moment before continuing. "Did you happen to see who attacked you?"
"I believe someone from the court is behind it," one of the guards said.
Cheng nodded tiredly. "The arrow didn't even have any identifying mark."
Mei's eyes widened as memories of what had brought her to the contest resurfaced. She wondered if she should tell Cheng everything she knew. But should she? Would it put Yú Yúe in danger? As much as she wanted to protect Cheng, she didn't want to risk involving anyone from outside the royal circle. It never ended well for common folk, and she wasn't about to drag Yú Yúe into that world.
"These attacks on your life are getting out of hand, you can't keep living like this."
"I unde—" Cheng was cut off as a sharp pain suddenly shot through his shoulder. His face tightened, and he gritted his teeth, trying to push through it, but the pain didn't subside. Blood began to seep through the bandage wrapped around the wound.
Mei's eyes snapped to him and Instantly, she moved closer, her fingers working quickly to untie his garment, letting them fall away.
"What are you—?" Yìzé started, stepping forward to intervene, but Cheng raised a hand, signaling for him to stop. "It's okay,"
Mei carefully unwrapped the cloth from his shoulder to assess the wound. Her movements were swift as she applied the herbs.
"Someone overheard Lady Xia plotting against you." She said calmly as she worked.
Yìzé's eyes grew intense, remembering the event of yesterday. "So, that was why you rushed in?"
"You knew something was wrong."
Mei nodded, her gaze briefly shifting to Cheng before returning to Yìzé. "Yes," she confirmed. "But I wasn't completely sure, which is why I didn't say anything."
"Do you know who this person is? The one who overheard Lady Xia?" Cheng asked, his face tightening with the fresh wave of pain as he glanced at Mei.
Mei stayed silent for a while, her eyes dropping briefly before she spoke. "I don't know their name... I just overheard them while they were speaking privately."
Cheng studied her face, his sharp eyes catching the slight hesitation in her words. He knew there was more she wasn't saying, but he chose not to press her. It was clear she was trying to protect someone, and for now, he would respect that.
Mei finished applying the herbs, her touch gentle and careful as she made sure the wound was properly covered.
"We need to get you back to the palace, Your Highness, for proper treatment. And for your safety. We can't afford any more delays." Yìzé broke the silence.