And then , her composure cracked. She sank onto the bunk, her shoulders trembling as tears spilled down her cheeks. She cried silently, her sobs swallowed by the emptiness around her.
Her mind raced with memories, the laughter of her childhood, the warmth of her mother's arms, the glow of lanterns on festival nights. All of it had led to this moment of utter desolation and for once she wished she could forever remain young, remain the young, innocent and we'll protected daughter of her mother that she once was .
She disliked the person she'd grown to be , one constantly on edge every single day unlike her usual carefree and playful self and for once the thought of absconding from home crossed her mind.
The room was cold. Shadows clung to the corners of the reflection quarter like dark secrets, refusing to let her go.
Peizhi sat huddled in the middle of the small chamber, her knees drawn up, her arms wrapped tightly around them as if to keep herself from falling apart.
Tears tracked down her cheeks, her sobs silent now turning into dry heaves of sorrow after an entire night of crying.
She bit her lower lip to stifle another whimper from getting out , her eyes swollen and red as she gazed at the bare walls, thinking of the betrayal, of the tons of whispered lies that had shattered her world and she could only wish to go back to how it was before all this chaos but it was so impossible.
She clenched her fists, the sharp pain of her fingernails digging into her palms grounding her.
Why?". She choked .
The question haunted her, an unansered plea hanging in the thick air.
She thought about running away, about leaving behind this suffocating house and the weight of her family's expectations.
But she knew better anyways . Her father would always find her, no matter wherever she went. He always did.
His influence reached far beyond the high walls that imprisoned her. And besides, nowhere was completely safe.
The outside world was no refuge for a naive soul like hers, it was a place she no longer knew or understood.
And it terrified her. The thought of freedom tasted bittersweet, like a fruit forbidden for so long it had turned to ash.
Her body ached, exhaustion pulling at her eyelids, but her mind raced, replaying moments of betrayal, of secrets exchanged behind closed doors, of the cold, calculated smiles that had replaced genuine warmth.
And with that, she finally drifted into a fitful sleep, her dreams tangled with memories and fears.
And when she woke, a sliver of dawn light pierced the narrow window above her and her eyes adjusted slowly to the pale, cold glow.
Something beside her caught her attention as soon as she stood up , a neatly folded set of clothes.
Her heart immediately leaped with alarm and she sat up quickly, her head spinning from sudden movement, and eyes scanning the room.
No one was there.
She swallowed hard and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her bare feet touching the wooden floor as she sprang toward the door in a hit chase.
As soon as she cracked it open, she collided with the butler, a tall, stiff man with a somber face that revealed nothing as usual .
His brows furrowed as he steadied her by the shoulders.
"Mistress". He said in a hushed tone, "You are to remain here. I've only brought you fresh clothes."
He glanced down at the garments she had yet to inspect, his voice lowering.
"Please, stay calm. I will speak to the Master on your behalf. And I hope there is still hope for leniency."
"Who ordered you to lock me in?". She demanded, her voice tight with anger and fear.
"The lord's orders are clear.". Butler Ming eyes softened slightly. "I only wish to help you."
He stepped back and gently closed the door.
A soft click of the lock echoed in her ears, the finality of it sending a chill through her spine.
Peizhi clenched her fists and turned back into the room, her shoulders sagging.
The clothes lay untouched, a reminder of her confinement and grabbing it , she changed slowly, her fingers trembling as she tied the sash of her robe. The fabric was soft, a luxury that mocked her current state.
She then took her seat on a foldable chair nearby, her eyes fixed on the ceiling.
The stillness pressed in around her, thick and heavy and her thoughts drifted, her mind chasing shadows.
Just as she began to feel the pull of weariness once more, a sharp sound pierced the quiet.
Peizhi jumped to her feet, her heart racing. Her eyes darted around the room , gaze filled with urgency .
Her first thought was the chair perhaps it must have creaked under her weight. She then pressed her hand against it and shifted.
Nothing.
Then the sound came again and it was only then that she realized that it was the window.
She grabbed a long, thin pole lying discarded in the corner and crept toward the sound, her bare feet silent on the wooden floor.
Her breath caught in her throat as she reached for the curtain. Every muscle in her body tensed and her hand shook as she gripped the pole tighter, ready to strike.
She yanked the curtain aside with a sharp breath, her arm raised to strike immediately until. .
"Mistress! It's me!"
Peizhi froze at the familiar voice, soft and urgent.
She blinked, her pulse still hammering, as her eyes focused on the figure crouched just outside, climbing the window to get in.
"Xiliu?"
Xiliu grinned up at her, her face flushed with exertion. "Who else?"
Peizhi exhaled sharply, her grip on the pole slackening and she dropped it to the floor with a thud. "You scared me half to death!"