A Love Written In The Stars

Xiao?

He adjusted slightly as he tried to gather his thoughts. Was this a figment of his imagination, or of a far graver reality?

———

Under the gentle light of the moon, Zhōngyǔn glowed with a thousand twinkling lanterns. The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival was in full swing in Longcheng's imperial city, filling the streets with joy and excitement. Families gathered to exchange blessings and admire the luminous moon, symbolizing reunion and harmony.

Within the palace, preparations reached a fever pitch. Palace attendants moved about, stringing colorful palace lanterns shaped like rabbits, lotuses, and dragons, their designs casting softly on the white marble walls. Richly embroidered banners swayed gently in the evening breeze, bearing auspicious phrases like "May the moon bring us peace and prosperity."

In the grand kitchens, a feast worthy of the empire was being prepared. Mooncakes with golden crusts and patterns were filled with lotus seed paste, red bean paste and five kernels, while those reserved for the emperor were adorned with edible gold. Platters of freshly harvested pomelos, symbolizing blessings, were polished to a perfect shine.

Large vats of sweet osmanthus wine were uncorked for the occasion, their floral notes complementing the evening's delicacies. Tea leaves from the imperial gardens were brewed into jasmine tea, served in porcelain cups to dignitaries arriving for the celebration.

For Xiao, the festivities held a deeper significance. She had meticulously prepared for this evening, ensuring she would cross paths with Prince Yizong. Dressed in a flowing hanfu of soft lavender and embroidered plum blossoms. She wore sparkling jade pins in her hair, and a thin silver gauze veil hid her face, her appearance blending charm with subtlety.

She knew he would be in attendance, seated among his family, watching the traditional dances performed by the palace's most skilled performers. This was her chance to draw his attention, to let her unspoken feelings shine through despite the insurmountable barriers that separated them.

As the lively celebrations unfolded in the garden, low chatter followed Xiao as she walked elegantly through the courtyard, her soothing voice charming those she greeted. Musicians struck up a thrilling tune, and dancers spun across the moonlit platforms, their mesmerizing movements enchanting the crowd.

Xiao soon joined them, her every motion brimming with an irresistible allure. Each turn and graceful step seemed designed to captivate. It wasn't long before her eyes locked onto Yizong, seated beside Xin Yi as always. Her heart quickened with delight when she noticed his gaze fixed on her.

But just as she held his attention, the ever-gracious Xin Yi leaned in with a sweet smile, drawing Yizong's focus back to her. A surge of frustration and jealousy flared within Xiao.

As the music faded and the dancers bowed, Xiao lifted her head to find Yizong's eyes meeting hers from across the courtyard. A subtle smile appeared in his eyes, sending a thrill through her. With poise, Xiao left the stage alongside the other dancers.

As the moon reached its highest position in the night sky, Xiao watched anxiously as Yizong and xin yi fetched more wine. She caught her handmaid's gaze, receiving a slight nod in return. With that silent reassurance, Xiao turned her attention to the lively guests, joining their enthusiastic chatter about the festivities.

When their eyes met across the room, Xiao quickly looked away, pretending her attention was else where.

She had diligently planned this night for weeks, and now, everything was falling into place.

As the festival reached its peak, Xiao noticed that Yizong was sweating more than usual, his brow damp despite the cool evening air, his cheeks flushed as though he had indulged in too much wine.

Yizong's eyes grew hazy, and a strange warmth coursed through his veins, spreading like fire. His head began to spin, his body succumbing to an unfamiliar, almost sinful heat.

He felt himself overcome by a strange, heavy drowsiness. His skin tingled with an odd heat, despite the coolness of the room. When Xin Yi asked about his odd behavior, he forced a weak smile. "Just a slight headache," he murmured, brushing off her concern before stepping away.

The anxious voices of his colleagues seemed to reach him from afar, their words muffled as if spoken underwater. Yet a deeper sensation gripped him now—a restless, unfamiliar hunger rose within, leaving him unsettled and off balance.

From her discreet vantage point, Xiao watched him closely, observing Yizong's drunken stumble from where she stood. She waited, allowing a safe distance to grow between them, before slipping like a ghost into the night.

Xiao followed at a safe distance as he moved through the garden's paths that were illuminated by lanterns. Their journey led them to his pavilion, its curtains billowing gently in the night breeze.

"Yizong," she called out tenderly as she approached. The last of the potion's effects took hold, and the raw essence of his confusion and desire was evident in his gaze.

"Prince yizong, are you unwell?" her silken voice floated towards him, each word dissolving like honey on his ear.

"I.... I'm....i...need to rest" Yizong said weakly.

"Allow me to help you" Xiao held his shoulder.

Yizong exhaled deeply, yielding as she gently took his arm and led him through the doorway.

Inside was a display of grandeur, but Yizong barely registered it. He fell onto satin sheets with a groan. His sash loosened as raw need surged through his heated flesh, his robes splitting to unveil his flushed skin glistening with sweat.

Xiao lingered by the threshold, silently commanding herself, Not yet. Be patient. She needed to give the potion time to take full effect, to let him spiral helplessly into carnal delirium before making her move.

Yizong, feeling restless, rose to his feet.

Sensing her moment, Xiao stepped closer and gently guided him back to the bed. "Relax, Prince Yizong," her voice soft as her fingers lightly brushed his shoulders.

She settled beside him, her hand moving to stroke his hair, her touch designed to subtly stoke the embers of his desire. Yizong, regaining a sliver of composure, sat up and moved away from her. "You shouldn't be here,"

But Xiao only inched closer, her tone filled with feigned concern. "Prince Yizong, you seem unwell. Please, let me stay just a little longer to ensure you're feeling better before I leave."

Though his eyes showed clear disapproval, her hand pressed lightly against his chest, gently coaxing him back down onto the bed.

Seizing the moment, Xiao extinguished the candles, shrouding the room in darkness. Her keen eyes stayed fixed on Yizong's heated form. Heart thundering in her chest, Xiao approached the bed, every nerve alive with anticipation.

She leaned over Yizong, her hand brushing tenderly against his fevered cheek, and hesitated. This was the point of no return. Yet there was a softness in Yizong's expression, a fleeting kindness that defied the passion overtaking him. Xiao's apprehension melted away, replaced by a longing so intense it threatened to consume her entirely.

In a daring move, she captured his lips in a fervent kiss. At first. Yizong stiffened in shock, grappling with the betrayal of his own cravings. But Xiao was relentless, claiming his mouth with audacious expertise until another moan slipped free, muffled between their entwined lips.

A jolt of electricity coursed through them both. leaving them breathless and shaken. "Xin Yi." Yizong called out, his voice calm but distant. Xiao froze, startled that even in this state, his thoughts clung to his beloved princess.

She knew she had crossed a boundary that could never be undone but she didn't care. She wanted Yizong, and she would make him hers.

Mind made up, Xiao slithered off her clothes, exposing her smooth skin to explore as their kiss deepened. He resisted still, even as greedy fingers raked his hard flesh, but as each touch eroded his fraying will, he found himself complying, unsure of his own actions.

Before things could go any further. Yizong pulled her away, as if he was finally starting to understand what was happening. Xiao watched him struggle to make sense of it all, but the potion in his body clouded his mind, leaving him unable to think clearly.

"Let me help you." Xiao said in a soothing voice, moving closer again. Yizong tried to resist, shaking his head. "No... this isn't right," he muttered, pushing her away weakly but Xiao was already seated on his laps. pressing kisses to his flushed skin. making him moan despite his efforts to resist.

Xiao straddled him, rolling her hips against the rigid length beneath his trousers, drawing raw, broken groans from deep within Yizong's chest. In that moment, all reason deserted him. His hands, as if moving of their own accord. rose to grip her bare waist. pulling their fevered bodies even closer, the heat between them utterly consuming.

Xiao felt Yizong's heart pounding furiously within her touch, a frantic rhythm betraying his internal struggle. She knew his instincts were screaming at him to stop. urging him to resist, but the potion's grip was too powerful. leaving him helpless against its pull.

At last, surrendering to the storm, Yizong flipped her onto the bed, reversing their positions. Xiao gasped. momentarily caught off guard by the sudden shift, but quickly melted into the moment, her composure returning as she yielded to him.

Yizong took control, kissing her deeply and exploring her body as their breaths grew heavy. Xiao knew she was committing a serious sin. possibly the greatest offense against royalty and the consequences if discovered would be severe. But she forced herself to live in the moment, letting go of her worries to enjoy the present.

They became utterly consumed by one another, their bodies moving together in a wild, desperate rhythm. Xiao's nails raked down Yizong's back. leaving red lines as she arched against him. her breaths coming out in short gasps. Yizong groaned low in his throat, his hands gripping her hips, guiding her closer, deeper, as if he couldn't get enough.

Their skin was slick with sweat, their mouths crashing together in hungry kisses that left them both breathless. Xiao's legs wrapped around him, holding him tight. His lips found her neck, her shoulder. trailing heat with every kiss, while Xiao clung to him, her cries filling the room, raw and unrestrained.

But as the night wore on, Xiao knew that they would have to face the dawn. And when they did, everything would change. But for now, she was set on seeing this to the end.

———

The sun peeked through the satin fabric of the pavilion, gently awakening Xiao from the embrace of slumber. Xiao opened her eyes and turned to yizong, watching as Yizong lay next to her, spent and vulnerable in the aftermath of their night.

Her hunger was momentarily abated, but an even deeper yearning awoke within her. To possess Yizong's body was intoxicating, yet insufficient, Xiao craved to claim his heart, banishing the barriers that stood between them.

Sensing Yizong's movement, she closed her eyes, slowed her breathing, and softened her brows, pretending to be asleep. Yizong shifted in his bed and turned, his sights falling on Xiao's sleeping figure beside him. Her features were now fully visible, revealing the captivating beauty he had seen the night before. Fear crept up Yizong's spine.

Xiao?

He adjusted slightly as he tried to gather his thoughts. Was this a figment of his imagination, or of a far graver reality?

Memories came rushing in - the enchanting dance, his drunken behavior and her soft voice which had offered help to him.

"Xiao?" he whispered, his voice trembling, unsure of his own memory.

He stood, backing slowly away from her. His naked body glistening in the dim light, he frantically searched for his discarded robes. The realization of his actions bore down on him, and his heart raced as the reality of what he had done sank in.

Xiao could feel Yizong's eyes on her, studying her quietly. She slowly opened her eyes, a carefully calculated ruse, her lashes batting in the dappled light.

She observed Yizong, vulnerable and exposed, his face twisted in anxiety as he distanced himself from her.

The sight of his imminent escape ignited panic in her core. A tear rolled down her cheek as she sat up, clutching the sheets to her chest with a feigned modesty.

"Have I displeased you so thoroughly?" she asked, her voice quivering with false emotion.

Her own fears and doubts were beginning to surface. She wondered if her hold on Yizong was slipping, and if so, what the consequences might be. Would he leave her, or worse?

Yizong released a shuddering sigh."I'm... I'm still confused about what transpired. Why...what?" His eyes locked onto Xiao, silently waiting for answers, while hoping to quell his growing fear.

Xiao gently wiped away a stray tear before speaking. "Prince yizong, the past night, you didn't seem well. In a moment of concern, I offered my arm to escort you to your room, ensuring your safety. However, once we reached your room, your condition had not improved. You were flushed, unsteady on your feet, and your breathing was erratic..." she trailed off. "In reality, I...too had indulged in alcohol that night, and my senses were far from clear. I only wanted to care for you...."

The color drained from his face as he took in the damning details. A shudder ran through him, and he recoiled in horror, his back hitting the hard surface of the privacy screen with a dull thud.

"I'm..." he breathed deeply. Xiao watched him crumble before her, an empty ache in her chest. She wanted to look away, to spare herself the pain of watching him suffer, but she knew she couldn't. She had set this chain of events in motion, and she had to see it through to the end.

"I..." Xiao said, her voice barely audible. She knew that the cost of this game was high, but she also knew that it was a price she was willing to pay. She lowered herself to the ground, like a delicate flower bending toward the earth. Her eyes, filled with pleading and sorrow, briefly met Yizong's before making her exit.