Chapter 7: Only you

He carried her out of Phoenix Palace without a word.

Not until they were well past the palace gates did Qingyuan tug lightly at his sleeve:“You can put me down now.”

“No.”

She looked up at him: “Xiao Heng.”

He glanced down.

“My sleeve’s wet,” she said. “Not my legs.”

For the first time since leaving the banquet, the corner of his mouth lifted: “…Fine.”

He set her down carefully.

The moment her feet touched the ground, his hand found hers again.

Qingyuan glanced at their joined hands and gave them a playful little swing: “Do you really need to hold my hand right now?”

He didn’t even look at her: “Very.”

She only smiled and let him have his way.

Neither of them spoke all the way back to Chengqian Palace.

Only after the doors closed behind them did Xiao Heng finally let go of her hand.

He rested a hand lightly on her shoulder and guided her toward the couch: “Sit.”

She sat, watching him with quiet amusement.

“The outer robe.” His eyes fell to the damp edge of her sleeve.

Qingyuan blinked: “It’s only the sleeve.”

“Off.”

A laugh escaped her: “You sound like you’re in court again.”

“I am.”

She glanced down at the dark patch on her sleeve: “It’ll dry.”

“No, it won’t.”

“It’s barely wet. It doesn’t matter.”

He met her eyes: “You’re changing.”

She held his gaze for a moment before shaking her head with a smile: “You’ll never listen, will you?”

“Not when it comes to you.”

Before she could protest again, he had already reached for the ribbons at her collar, undoing them with practiced ease before easing the outer robe from her shoulders.

She caught his wrist: “It’s the middle of the day.”

“I’m changing your clothes.”He didn’t even blink.

“The palace servants are right outside.”

"No one's coming in."

She sighed, but didn’t stop him again.

He had already checked her once in the Phoenix Palace.

It wasn’t enough.

His fingertips brushed lightly over her wrist before slowly tracing the length of her arm, checking again, just to be certain: Nothing—No burns and redness.

Only then did the tightness in his chest begin to ease.

Qingyuan smiled: “You were frightened.”

“I was.”

“The tea never even touched me.”

“It almost did.”He lifted a hand and gently cupped her face.

His thumb traced her cheek with quiet care, as though reassuring himself she was really standing here, safe and unharmed. “Almost is enough.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

His gaze lingered on her arm.

“I wasn’t there.”His voice was barely above a whisper.“If you’d been even a little slower…”

The words died there. He couldn’t bring himself to finish them.

Qingyuan stepped closer, cupped his face with both hands: “Heng, Look at me.”

When he did, she gently drew him into her embrace, resting his head against her chest.

One hand slipped into his hair, the other stroked his back in slow, comforting circles.

“Can you hear it?” she whispered.

Xiao Heng didn’t answer.

He only leaned into her, his forehead resting against her chest.

After a moment, he shifted almost imperceptibly, brushing his cheek against her before growing still again.

“My heart’s still beating.”She rested her cheek lightly against his hair. “I’m here.”

“I know.”His arms tightened around her waist. “It doesn’t make it any easier.”

She reached up and smoothed the crease between his brows: “Stop frowning.”

“I’m trying.”

“No, you’re not.”

The corner of his mouth lifted: "So now you're blaming me?"

Their eyes met.

Whatever he found in hers finally eased the last of the fear he hadn’t been able to let go of.

Without another word, he rested his head against her again, listening to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat.

—the steady beat of her heart was the only thing that could finally quiet his own.

Neither of them spoke.

They didn't need to.

Outside, Li Dequan stood guard, keeping his place by the door.

Then Nanny Xu arrived: "Her Majesty wishes to know whether His Majesty is available."

Li Dequan glanced at the tightly closed doors.

A soft laugh drifted from inside.

His expression didn't change: "Em...Not yet."

Inside—

Xiao Heng was still holding her hand: "I've already sent someone to fetch the imperial physician."

Qingyuan let out a quiet sigh:"I don't need one."

"You do."

"I really don't."

"You do."

She looked at him for a long moment: "So we're doing this?"

"Yes."

A smile tugged at her lips: "All right."

"You'll thank me later." The corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.

"I always do."She raised an eyebrow.

The corner of his mouth lifted just a little.

Qingyuan caught it immediately: "When have you ever actually won against me?"

He thought about it. A quiet smile spread across his face: "I don’t recall.”

A knock sounded at the door.

Li Dequan's voice came from outside.

“Your Majesty, the palace register has been checked. The maid is indeed assigned to the Palace Service Bureau.”

The warmth vanished from Xiao Heng’s face.

In an instant, the man who had just been laughing with Qingyuan was gone.

The Emperor was back: "Bring me the interrogation report."

Li Dequan entered, placed the report on the table, then quietly withdrew.

Xiao Heng unfolded it. Qingyuan moved closer, reading over his shoulder.

Silence settled between them.

After a while, Qingyuan spoke first: "She's protecting someone."

Xiao Heng gave a slight nod: “She won’t make it till morning.”

Qingyuan looked up: "You think they'll silence her?"

"They have no choice."He closed the report, “If she talks, the mastermind is finished.”

She fell silent for a moment: "Do we stop them?"

Instead of answering, he looked at her: "What would you do?"

"I'd let them try." A small smile curved her lips.

He wasn't surprised: "I knew you’d say that.”

“If they’re willing to sacrifice their own pawns,” she said, “then they’ll be showing us just how afraid they really are.”

She looked up at him. ““People who are afraid make mistakes.”

A hint of a smile flashed in his eyes.

He reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Look at you, you’ve already learned how to set traps.”

She smiled: “I have a good teacher.”

He raised an eyebrow: “I don’t recall teaching you that.”

“You didn’t have to.” she said, her smile growing brighter. “But you were always right beside me.”

For the first time since Li Dequan’s knock, Xiao Heng smiled.

A quiet laugh—a real one, the kind he never let out in court.

Then he took her hand and laced his fingers through hers.

It belonged to Chengqian Palace…

…and nowhere else.