Chapter 30
Dao
The Dragon Palace
Dao tried to catch her breath. Her body was clammy with sweat and the air was pungent with the smell. She hardened her grip on Luo Meng's broad shoulders so he would not let her down, unwilling to let go of him ever again.
How they got to this place was a haze. One moment she was waiting for her mistress outside the emperor's bedchamber then when the emperor arrived and went in, dismissing his attendants which included Luo Meng, she had seized this opportunity to follow him so that they could talk.
It had taken one look at the other and there was a swirl of feelings, missing each other, agitation and heated passion. They withdrew to the back of the dragon palace and shut themselves in an unused small room, storing abandoned furniture. They clung to each other as wanton rabbits, clothes dropping and getting lost in the highs of ecstasy.
She felt Luo Meng tremble in her hands, he sniffed in the crook of her neck and she knew he was crying. She tightened her legs around his waist, he still had not pulled himself out of her and she wished they could be as connected forever. Her face dribbled with silent tears, aching for both of them.
"Let's run away, please," she said, choking on her tears.
Luo Meng shook his head, awakening his rebellious side. "You do not know what you wish for." This was the side of him that was faithful to the emperor.
"I wish to be with you."
He pulled out of her and put her down. "Get dressed. This was a mistake, we should never do this again."
Dao could not handle his rejection. She hiccuped and wailed as she put back her uniform on. She did this to herself. From the beginning, she should have been honest in their relationship. Luo Meng finished dressing before her and rested against the door, waiting for her. She took time between dressing and wiping her unending tears.
"I have never considered us a mistake and anything related to us," she said once she was done.
He nodded and opened the door. Luo Meng checked around if it was all clear and then slid out.
"Take this. It is cold." He handed her his long cloak which she covered herself with. These little things are the reason why she fell for him. Why was life cruel to them? Why were others allowed to love freely when they couldn't?
The brittle cold wind tousled her hair. It was the opposite of the stuffy hot little room they were in but a parallel to the chill state of her life. When they turned on the corner of the building, her head rammed onto Luo Meng's back because he unexpectedly stopped.
"Your Majesty." Luo Meng bowed, going on one knee.
She quickly followed suit.
"This servant thought His Majesty retired for the night." Luo Meng addressed the emperor with his entourage behind him. It was difficult to make out everyone because the winter moon did not provide as much light as in summer.
"I decided to take a cold swim to cool down, could not sleep," the emperor said.
Emperor Huizhong was swimming in the middle of the night to cool down because of Li Lian? What was going on between the two of them? Everyone knew he did not share his bed for the night.
"Who is behind you?"
Dao was about to tell the emperor she was a palace maid that had just been caught hiding at the back, lazing around from her work but Luo Meng beat her to it.
"Dao, Your Majesty."
"Isn't she a courtesan?" He walked around Luo Meng and looked over at her. This man hated palace maids and eunuchs. He didn't respect life. Her hands shook. Again she was causing Luo Meng to be in danger because of her behaviour.
"Look up." His Majesty instructed her, his voice beaming with authority.
Reluctantly, she raised her head. An eunuch shoved the lamp next to her face for the dragon to see her clearly. The dragon's eyebrows lifted in recognition and so did she recognise him too. He was the man she talked to in the garden a while back. At that time she did not know he was the emperor himself, she had spoken freely and openly.
Dao kept a clueless expression and pretended she did not remember him.
"Isn't Dao a palace maid?" Emperor Huizhong was unsure because she covered her uniform with Luo Meng's cloak.
"She is. Luo Meng is aware he has wronged the dragon with this." Her lover took responsibility. This conversation appeared to be not the first one they had concerning her.
"I'm disappointed in you. Zhen may be a friend to you but it doesn't mean you can abuse boundaries. Palace maids may not be touched, even though I do not wish to have her."
"This servant has deceived His Majesty by stating Dao was a courtesan. Deepest of apologies."
Luo Meng was taking responsibility for her wrongdoing before the dragon. What if he was killed?
She felt Luo Meng take her hand and squeeze it, reading her mind. It was his way of instruction, she must keep quiet and not intrude on this matter. Why was he doing this? Did he not know that made her love him all the more?
"Likewise, for lying, I have to punish you. I will not tolerate such behaviour within my dragon palace."
"His Majesty is benevolent."
"Who is punishing who in the middle of the night?" It was the voice of her mistress.
"My Lady!" The entourage welcomed her.
"You should be sleeping." Emperor Huizhong walked to Li Lian. The change on his face when Li Lian appeared was evident. He was entranced and enthralled by her, Dao wondered why her mistress questioned his feelings for her in all this while.
The light was taken from Dao's face as the attention went to her mistress. She sunk further behind Luo Meng not wanting her mistress to notice her.
"How can I sleep when you left me as soon as I slept? Don't you know the bed is not the same without you?"
Everyone awkwardly lowered their heads. These words were too explicit to listen to.
Her mistress looked around then continued, "Who is getting punished?"
"Luo Meng has misused my trust and kindness. For this, Luo Meng must kneel for three days. Moreover, he must―"
"Aiya, Your Majesty. Punishing people in the middle of the night attracts bad luck, whatever Luo Meng did, it can be discussed during the day."
The emperor firmly rebuked her. "You are going against me for another man? Hao. Luo Meng, you will get a hundred lashes from the Punishment Bureau."
"Many thanks to His Majesty." Luo Meng accepted the punishment.
Annoyed, His Majesty stormed off.
The emperor had someone cut his speech and did not take offence. Her mistress definitely was favoured. It was also sweet of her to speak on behalf of Luo Meng, although that resulted in him getting harsher punishment.
"Look who is getting punished this time, Luo Meng?" Li Lian mocked. "Except this time unlike me, you will have bruises. How does that feel?"
Dao was wrong. Li Lian defended him on purpose to have His Majesty implicate Luo Meng with a harsher punishment out of jealousy. If only her mistress knew Dao loved Luo Meng. She shouldn't have Luo Meng as the enemy.
"What are you still doing there?" Emperor Huizhong called from afar.
"Coming, Your Majesty!" She shouted back. "We are fair and square, Luo Meng. Sleep well." She lifted her night robes and ran after the emperor.
"Your mistress is from hell," Luo Meng retorted.
"Why did you not tell them the truth? Why did you lie for me?" Dao didn't like favours that left her owing people.
"Do you think you would be alive right now if I spoke the truth? His Majesty hates palace maids and eunuchs as it is said the previous dragon's entourage was responsible for the fall of the dragon. He would kill you without thinking twice. Even Li Lian would not be able to save you."
"My mistress cares for me. You misunderstand her," Dao defended.
"Although she has a slight hold on His Majesty, she seems to have selfish missions. And I don't think His Majesty is in love to be merciful." Luo Meng pushed himself to stand using the wall. "Dao, I have said this before. Let us part ways and stay away from each other. I cannot sacrifice my relationship with my master just for a relationship that was based on lies."
It was a dagger to her heart.
"But what about what we feel?"
"Little girl, it's time to wake up. This is life. You can't act based on your feelings all the time. This is the last we shall talk. Never approach me ever again." He took his cloak from her. "It is over, Dao. Move on and so will I."
S.V