After a while, Feng Yun began to worry. He hadn't seen anyone leave her residence.

"Hua Chao-Xing, Wu Caihong, Master Cao, Master Liang, please stay here."

He headed over to the doors and knocked on the door. When he didn't hear a reply, he slid the doors opened and closed them behind him. He walked over to her bedside. His eyes swept over her. She still looked very worse for wear. As he slowly lowered himself onto the bed, his fingers brushed a few stray strands away from her face.

"Younger Cousin, what did Magistrate Pei want?"

Her eyes were closed, and he assumed she was asleep. Feng Yun sighed.

"How much longer do you plan on leaving Master Liang in the dark?"

Silence.

"He should know your fate eventually. He's very protective of you, Tang Daiyu."

She shifted, but didn’t say anything. Not wanting to disturb her rest, he stood up.

"I'll leave first."

Before he could go, her fingers wrapped around his wrist.

"Please, don't tell him."

He turned and looked down at her.

"And if you die, do you still not want him to know?"

She bit her lip. "I'm not going to die so soon."

"How can you be so sure?"

She wasn’t sure yet about her Uncle’s suggestion, so she remained silent instead.

"Younger Cousin, why did you agree to rule Chang?"

"Trust me, it's not because I wanted to. I did it for China and for the greater good." Tang Daiyu sighed. "It doesn't matter. I can't change it now."

Feng Yun sighed and changed the subject, "I doubt Master Liang will leave without seeing you."

"I can't face him. He'll do anything to try and save me."

"And I wouldn't?"

"It's not that. I've just kept things regarding my illness from you."

"Why?"

"Because if you know what Master Liang knows, then you'll do it too."

"Do what?"

"Sacrifice everything for me. I don't want that."

"You can be saved?"

She blushed, embarrassed, and looked away, guilty.

"Why didn't you say anything earlier?!"

"Because the price to pay is too high! I chose this, Older Cousin, trying to save my Shifu. You shouldn't have to bear the consequences of my choice."

"Why not ask me whether I want to or not? Are you so insistent on deciding for me?"

"Now you sound like him," she moaned. "Great."

She turned her back to him and said, "Send him away and don't let on about anything. Trust me, I'll know when he's left."

Unable to argue with her any longer, he left.

~~~

Outside, he returned to the others.

"Is she alright?" Liang Yingzhou asked hurriedly.

"Yes. She's sleeping now. Please come back another time."

"Why are you so adamant about me leaving?"

Don't let on about anything.

"Because she doesn't want to see you."

"That's ridiculous. Let me see her."

"No."

At that moment, Xia Dongya appeared.

"Your Highness, Master Liang, Master Cao, is there a problem here?"

"Chief Xia, Her Majesty has ordered for the masters to be escorted out."

Feng Yun shot him a pleading look. Xia Dongya, knowing her condition, nodded.

"Master Liang, Master Cao, please come with me."

Liang Yingzhou stared at Feng Yun in disbelief. "You even have her Imperial Guard under your control! What next? China?"

"Only if she decrees it," he answered coolly.

"You-!"

"Master Liang, let's leave. She's had a busy day. We'll come back tomorrow."

He eyed Cao Meixin before acquiescing. Xia Dongya led them away, and Feng Yun breathed a sigh of relief.

"Finally, I thought he'd never leave."

Hua Chao-Xing and Wu Caihong bowed and asked, "Your Highness, may we go attend to Her Majesty now?"

Turning around, he nodded. "Go ahead. Don't disturb her though. If she worsens, come get me immediately. I'll be in the Royal Study in the Southern Palace."

Feng Yun took his leave, and the maids-in-waiting returned to Tang Daiyu's residence.

~~~

Late that night, Liang Yingzhou snuck into the Northern Palace and made his way over to her rooms. Just outside, he hesitated and debated whether or not to go in. But his distrust of Feng Yun prompted him to slide open the doors. He quietly closed them behind him. Walking silently over to Tang Daiyu, he squatted down at her bedside, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. His eyes scanned her, but in the dark, he didn't notice her sickly pallor. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

"I figured you might come to see her."

Liang Yingzhou closed his eyes and took a deep breath, agitated.

Damn man.

He stood up and turned around. Feng Yun stepped into the moonlight and raised an eyebrow at him.

"Are you satisfied now?"

"Aren't you worried about waking her?"

"I gave her some medicine earlier. She's sleeping soundly.” He clasped his hands behind his back and took a deep breath. “So this way, we can have a conversation without waking her."

He walked over to the table and motioned for Liang Yingzhou to sit as he did so. Distrustful, Liang Yingzhou slowly seated himself.

"If you hurt her-"

Feng Yun held up a hand. "I haven't. I promise you that."

"So is the only way I can ever see Ah Daiyu by sneaking in at night?"

Feng Yun sighed and looked beyond him to the sleeping figure in the back. If only you knew.

"That's her call to make, not mine."

"Her call?" Liang Yingzhou scoffed. "Ever since you showed up in Nanning, she's pushed me away, which isn't like her. So I don't like you. In fact, I don't trust you. If you dare to keep me from Ah Daiyu ever again, I won't spare you."

"Is that what you think? That I'm preventing you from seeing her without her consent? Who do you think I am?"

"I think you convinced Ah Daiyu to ascend the throne of Heping in your stead."

Feng Yun's face remained stoic and unrevealing, which annoyed Liang Yingzhou.

He prompted further, "Did you threaten Emperor Tiandao to abdicate?"

"No. He came to us and told Ah Daiyu herself." He knew he couldn't mention that she had fainted, so it was a partial lie.

"Is there anyone other than you as a witness?"

"Sima Qianlu."

Liang Yingzhou groaned, knowing he wasn't going to be able to get anywhere if he kept getting the names of people who'd obey the man before him.

"Should I just call you Your Majesty as well? Because you seem to have the same rank here in the palace as Ah Daiyu."

Feng Yun chuckled lightly, "I'm honoured you think that. But no, Ah Daiyu is China's Empress. I'm merely her Imperial Advisor. I'm already lucky enough that she allowed me to retain my royal status."

"With the same power and sway as her."

"Not exactly. Not everyone here will listen to me as they would her. It's mostly just Chief Xia, Sima Qianlu, Hua Chao-Xing, and Wu Caihong."

"And Ah Daiyu."

"When she wants to. You know she's strong-willed. If there's something she's set her mind to, no one can persuade her otherwise," his voice softened at the end as he thought about her illness and her desire to hide it from the man across from him. A desire that he'd honour.

Liang Yingzhou had to admit he was right. "Yes, I do."

"So there you have it. A strong-willed woman ruling all of Imperial China. What can I really do in comparison to her?"

"Then let me talk to her tomorrow."

"I'll have to ask."

"Can't you just do it?"

Feng Yun shook his head. "I'm afraid not."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to upset her."

"Why would me talking to her upset her?"

Feng Yun looked at Liang Yingzhou in all seriousness.

"Just seeing you would upset her."