Chapter 11: him again
Wei Zhi wandered through the palace halls, his steps slow and deliberate, though his mind was racing. The lessons of the day had been endless literature, politics, geography all subjects he could master with ease. But despite his sharp intellect, despite his ability to learn quickly and adapt, there was a heaviness that weighed him down. The words of his father, the scheming of Concubine Zhuāng Qīng, and the constant competition with his siblings it all built up like a storm in his chest.
As the noon sun climbed high, casting golden light over the palace grounds, Wei Zhi found himself alone, with two hours before the next session. His tutor had given them this break, knowing that even children of royal blood needed rest. But rest wasn't what Wei Zhi craved. What he needed, more than anything, was to escape.
Leaving the common room behind, he walked towards the garden. His usual mask of calm control faltered as he reached the familiar spot among the flowers, where he sat down on the grass. The air smelled sweet here, the scent of blooming flowers carried by the breeze. Yet, no matter how serene the surroundings, the turmoil inside him refused to settle.
I'm still just a child, he thought bitterly. No matter how much I pretend to be strong, no matter how much they expect of me... I'm still just a child who wants to cry when it hurts, who wants to be comforted when the world feels too heavy.
He clenched his fists in the grass, pulling at the blades as his mind swirled with emotions he had long kept buried. He had learned to hide his pain behind a stoic expression, to endure the endless trials that came with being the Empress's son, but deep down, he still craved the love and warmth that had always been denied to him.
And as those thoughts swirled in his head, something else surfaced a memory. He remembered the place he always went when the weight of the palace became too much, a place where he could be alone, away from the prying eyes of the courtiers and his siblings.
The abandoned side of the castle.
Without a second thought, Wei Zhi stood up and, with careful steps, began to sneak out of the palace. No one was allowed in the abandoned wing it was said to be cursed, haunted by old spirits from the days of a forgotten dynasty. But that didn't matter to him. He had discovered it by chance one day, and since then, it had become his refuge, his sanctuary when he needed to escape the unbearable pressures of his life.
He slipped past the guards unnoticed, his small frame and quick movements making him almost invisible. Soon, he found himself behind the tall bushes that shielded the entrance to his hidden haven. Beyond them was a clear pond, its waters shimmering like glass, surrounded by wildflowers and lush green grass. It was a place untouched by the rest of the palace, a secret world that felt like it belonged to him alone.
Wei Zhi approached the pond, feeling the tension in his body slowly ease as he sat by the water's edge. The reflection of the sky shimmered on the surface, and for a moment, it was as if the world beyond didn't exist. Here, no one could reach him. No tutors, no concubines, no fathers with stern gazes.
Just the quiet hum of nature.
He stared into the pond, the water clear enough to see the small fish darting just below the surface. As the sunlight filtered through the leaves overhead, casting a dappled light across the water, he felt a rare moment of peace. But even here, in the quiet, he couldn't escape his thoughts entirely.
Why must it always be like this? he wondered, his eyes still fixed on the water. Why must I be the one to carry all these burdens, when all I want is to be seen for who I really am?
His fingers trailed through the grass, the soft blades cool against his skin. He didn't cry he hadn't cried in years but there was a heaviness in his chest that felt dangerously close to breaking. Still, he buried it, just as he had done so many times before. Because in this world, there was no room for weakness, especially not for someone like him.
Wei Zhi lay back on the grass, staring up at the sky, his mind filled with memories of the man from the lake. The memory of that silver-haired figure, so calm and otherworldly, lingered in his mind, offering a strange sense of comfort. For reasons he couldn't fully understand, the man's presence made him feel less alone, as if there was someone out there who saw him truly saw him, beyond the titles and expectations.
As the wind rustled the leaves overhead, Wei Zhi closed his eyes, letting the sounds of the pond and the distant hum of life soothe him. For now, in this brief moment, he allowed himself to forget the world outside the abandoned garden.
Wei Zhi stood up from the grass, brushing off the fleeting sense of peace as a rare mischievous thought crossed his mind. It wasn't often that he allowed himself to indulge in such whims his life was too structured, too controlled for childish games but today felt different. Maybe it was the heaviness of the lessons or the bitterness of being alone with his thoughts, but a small spark of rebellion flickered inside him.
He glanced at the pond, its surface gleaming under the sunlight. Smirking to himself, he shrugged off his outer robes, leaving them folded neatly on the grass. The cool breeze kissed his skin, sending a shiver of excitement through him as he walked towards the water's edge.
Just this once, he thought, I'll let myself be free.
Without hesitation, he jumped into the pond. The water engulfed him, cool and refreshing, instantly calming the turmoil inside him. He felt weightless, as if all the burdens he carried had been washed away in the rippling currents. Tiny fish swam around him, their fins brushing against his skin, tickling him as he laughed softly beneath the surface.
He buried his head into the water, the quiet muffling the world above. For a moment, all he could hear was the rush of water in his ears and the soft rhythm of his own heartbeat. It was peaceful, a different kind of stillness than what he had felt on the grass this was deeper, more freeing.
When he finally rose from the water, his hair clinging to his face, he was met with a startling sight.
There, standing at the water's edge, was the man from the lake.
Wei Zhi froze, his breath catching in his throat as he stared up at the silver-haired figure. The man's presence was as commanding as ever, his long, flowing hair catching the light like strands of molten silver. His grayish-blue eyes, sharp and endless, were fixed on Wei Zhi, studying him with a quiet intensity that made Wei Zhi's heart race.
The cool water that had once soothed him now felt cold against his skin, but he couldn't move. His feet remained planted on the pond's muddy floor as he blinked up at the man, droplets of water falling from his lashes.
"You…" Wei Zhi's voice was barely above a whisper, but the man heard him. His eyes softened, though his expression remained unreadable.
"You've found your way here again," the man said, his deep, husky voice carrying a strange comfort, as though he had expected this encounter. There was no surprise in his tone, only a quiet acknowledgment, as if this moment had always been meant to happen.
Wei Zhi swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. How was he here? he wondered, and yet, a part of him wasn't even surprised. It was as if some unspoken part of him had always known this man would appear again, drawn to him in moments of vulnerability.
The man took a step closer, his boots barely making a sound on the soft grass. His presence was both calming and overwhelming, like the gentle pull of a tide. As he approached, the air between them seemed to hum with a quiet energy, a connection Wei Zhi couldn't explain but felt deeply.
"What are you doing here?" Wei Zhi finally asked, his voice trembling despite himself.
The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he knelt down by the water's edge, his piercing eyes never leaving Wei Zhi's. "I come when I'm needed," he said at last, his tone as smooth as the water itself.
Wei Zhi's brows furrowed. "Needed?" he echoed, unsure of what the man meant.
The man smiled softly, though it wasn't a smile of joy. It was more like an understanding, a shared secret that Wei Zhi hadn't yet uncovered. "You've been carrying too much," he said, his voice low but full of certainty. "Even someone as strong as you needs to let go sometimes."
Wei Zhi stared at him, the weight of those words sinking deep into his heart. He wanted to protest, to say that he didn't need anyone's help, that he was fine on his own. But something about the man's gaze steady, unwavering made him pause. It was as if the man could see straight through him, to the parts of himself that he kept hidden from the rest of the world.
The man held out his hand, his palm open and inviting. Wei Zhi hesitated, his eyes flickering between the man's hand and his face. For a moment, he wasn't sure what to do. But then, slowly, almost instinctively, he reached out, placing his small, trembling hand in the man's larger, cooler one.
The moment their skin touched, Wei Zhi felt a strange warmth spread through him. It wasn't physical warmth, but something deeper, something that seemed to soothe the ache in his heart. For the first time in a long while, he felt… safe.
The man gently helped him out of the pond, his movements graceful and fluid, as if he were part of the very nature around them. As Wei Zhi stood dripping on the grass, the man released his hand, but the connection between them lingered in the air.
"Why do you keep appearing?" Wei Zhi asked, his voice quieter now, more vulnerable. "Why do you come to me?"
The man looked at him, his gaze softening even further. "Because you're meant for more than this life of pain, Wei Zhi."
Wei Zhi's eyes widened slightly at the sound of his name on the man's lips, a strange sense of familiarity rushing through him. The man spoke as if he knew him, as if he had always known him.
"I don't understand…" Wei Zhi whispered, though deep down, a part of him wanted to believe the man's words.
"You will, in time," the man said, his voice like a promise carried on the wind.
As the man looked at him with a calm expression, a soft intensity radiated from his piercing grayish-blue eyes. "To be precise," he began, his voice steady and measured, "if anyone who is experiencing physical, mental, or emotional pain enters this pond, they summon me."
Wei Zhi's heart raced at the revelation. "Summon you?" he echoed, his mind racing to comprehend the implications. "But… how do you know? How can you be here?"
The man's gaze remained unwavering, as if he were weighing each of Wei Zhi's questions carefully. "This pond has a connection to me," he explained, his tone soothing yet firm. "It serves as a sanctuary for those in distress. When someone like you seeks refuge here, it draws my presence to help alleviate their pain."
Wei Zhi stared at the man, a mix of awe and confusion washing over him. "So you've been… watching me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. The idea sent a shiver down his spine, both unnerving and strangely comforting.
The man nodded slowly. "In a manner of speaking.im watching every creature ,i'm here to guide you through your struggles, to remind you that you're not alone." His words were wrapped in a gentle wisdom that made Wei Zhi feel like he was standing on the edge of a precipice fascinated and terrified all at once.
"Why me?" Wei Zhi asked, his vulnerability creeping in. "I'm just a child… I don't deserve help."
"Everyone deserves help," the man replied firmly, his eyes locking onto Wei Zhi's with a depth that made him feel seen for the first time. "Even those who are strong, even those who are wise. Strength does not come from never feeling pain; it comes from facing it and allowing yourself to heal."
Wei Zhi's breath caught in his throat as the man's words struck a chord deep within him. It was a sentiment he had been grappling with for so long, the idea that his genius, his intellect, somehow shielded him from needing anyone. But standing here, in front of this enigmatic figure, he felt the cracks in that facade beginning to show.
"I feel so lost," he admitted, his voice trembling. "I want to be strong, but… it's hard. It's hard to pretend everything is okay when it's not."
The man's expression softened further, and he stepped closer, the distance between them closing. "You don't have to pretend with me," he said softly. "Let go of that burden, even if just for a moment. You are still a child, Wei Zhi, and it's okay to feel lost. It's okay to want to cry, to seek comfort."
Feeling the warmth of the man's presence envelop him, Wei Zhi's defenses began to crumble. It was as if the coolness of the water had seeped into his soul, washing away the layers of armor he had built around himself.
With a small, shaky breath, Wei Zhi finally nodded. "I… I don't want to be alone anymore."
The man reached out, placing a hand on Wei Zhi's shoulder, grounding him. "You are never alone, as long as you remember this place and the connection we share. Whenever you feel the weight of the world pressing down on you, come back here. I will be waiting."
With those words, a flicker of hope ignited within Wei Zhi's heart. It felt fragile, like the petals of the silver flower he had kept hidden in his box, but it was there a promise of comfort in a world that often felt unforgiving.
"Thank you," he murmured, a wave of gratitude washing over him. It was a simple phrase, yet it held a world of meaning.
The man smiled, a gentle curve of his lips that illuminated his features. "Now, go and take care of yourself, Wei Zhi. Embrace the beauty of your youth, and remember that every storm eventually passes."
As the man stepped back, his figure slowly fading into the shimmering air around the pond, Wei Zhi felt a sense of warmth envelop him, a lingering reassurance that no matter how dark his thoughts became, he would always have this sanctuary and this mysterious figure waiting for him in his moments of need.
With a newfound resolve, Wei Zhi returned to the palace, his heart lighter than it had been in a long time.