His crimson eyes are unmistakable below the dimmed elucidation of the moonlight. In fact, they are the only feature that was visible in great detail beneath the dark and heavy cloak of midnight. His stern eyes bore into mine as I may no attempt to move.

"Who exactly are you?" I whisper, not entirely sure if who I am talking is even a human. Perhaps my lack of sleep is affecting my sanity, what else could he be. A demon? I must be delusional.

"What are you doing here?" he answers, his voice low and fruity. He takes a step closer to me, revealing his figure under the immense radiance of the moon. Now, I can see for certain that he is the man from the bridge. Though, I can't ignore the nagging feeling of a demon in my presence as shadows, cast from the moonlight, dance on his body, accentuating his muscular build and leaving traces of ominousity on his chiseled face.

Not knowing what to reply, I turn and sit down on the wooden bench in front of the pond, it's water glistening brilliantly from the moonlights gaze. "I could not sleep, and this garden seemed calm and peaceful" I answer softly, starting at the white water lilies resting on the water's steady surface. "And you?" I ask.

"Sleep is a privilege. One that I do not have," he responds a few moments later, his deep voice igniting a foreign emotion in the core of my gut, making my heart rate accelerate.

I peer over my shoulder to look at him, and my breath hitches in my throat at the sight. Truly, how is one allowed to be this beautiful? His brawny arms, bulging with muscle, cross over his broad and robust chest as he stares back at me intensely. "A privilege?" I inquire.

His already lowered brows furrow slightly, and his chiseled jaw clenches. "How can one sleep if his people cannot sleep? The empire has substantial troubles day and night that need to be dealt with. Of course, the citizen's pains are my unrest."

Confusion pours into me as I ponder his words. Who exactly is he? "I see. You are very dedicated to your country... a general or government official, perhaps?" I implore, still persisting his identity.

His lips pull into a tilted smirk as amusement dances in his crimson eyes. I watch as he slowly walks over to the bench, smoothly sitting down next to me. Tiny butterflies have once again surfaced in my stomach, their miniature wings fluttering rapidly as my heart rate speeds up.

He shakes his head, and stares at the water lilies full of purity and innocence. Despite setting his gaze on something so beautiful, his sharp eyes and intense expression do not falter into a softer demeanor. "What about you? What is the cause behind your unrest?" He asks in return, completely ignoring my question.

I almost scoff. "My reasons are not as noble as yours," I simply reply, not knowing how to explain my anxieties.

"Enlighten me." His gaze shifts towards me, but I look away.

"Death," I state bluntly.

"Death?"

I glance at him. His face still holds no emotion. "Yes... during the night, when my mind is free to wander, it becomes anxious with the knowledge that someday, all that I am, will no longer exist... ever. Everything that I am thinking right now, I will no longer be able to do. All my knowledge will disappear, and my mind will be blank... gone. I will no longer be a person, I will no longer exist. Everything that I've ever known is no longer." I realize I am rambling so I move on.

"I suppose it is not death itself that I fear; it is the death of my mind, the thing that makes me who I am," I let out a heavy sigh, knowing that he does not understand my fears. No one does because they've all long excepted the fate that is death.

"You do not fear the death of your body, but the death of your essence and mind. So, your desire is not to remain a human for eternity but a... god?" I hear him question beside me. I search for the judgmental tone in his words, but I find none, not even a dash. I cannot tell what he is thinking.

"I have always only believed in what I can touch and see." I internally scoff, letting out a small breath in ridicule of the irony. "Though seeing that I, myself, am a diety, I suppose it is fair to change my mind of the unexplainable. Still, if gods are real, I would not wish to be one because I do not desire to control anything. I only wish my mind could remain alive once I pass, so I could be present in the world through mind."

I exhale a slight laugh. "You must think I am a child, naive to the cruelties of the world to still want to live past my natural years."

He chuckles lowly, the rumbles that arise from deep within his chest are raw and appealing to my ears. Amusement swirls in his eyes as they roam my figure, a smirk pulling at the edges of his lips. "I do not think you are a child. Naive maybe, but far from a child." His eyes flicker down to my breasts, and I suddenly become aware that I'm completely bare under the flimsy and thin fabric of my nightgown.

Surprise and embarrassment flow through my whole body at his words and I feel a blush flush on my cheeks. He finds this... funny? "You... you are mocking me," I state, still stunned by his directness. Though, I couldn't help the happiness that burned in my core from his comment. The tiny butterflies are fluttering violently in my gut now, and my heart rate so fast that it seems inhuman. I ignore it. "Inappropriate as well, I am the Emperor's woman," I state, partially to remind myself of that fact.

His eyes only darken at my statement, black inking over the bloody red. His eyes are that of oblivion, orifices of deep ebony as dark as a grave. I freeze as I feel his lips move to my ear, a low and intense warning forming. "Yes... you are the Emperor's woman. You should remember that. He would be violently furious if another man were to touch what is his, especially something as exquisite and innocent as you," he states darkly against my ear. I unknowingly close my eyes as his warm breath fans my neck, leaving a pleasurable sensation on my hot skin and in the depths of my core. But as soon as the comforting air on my skin is replaced by the cool night breeze, I know he is no longer by my side. My eyes open abruptly within a second.

He was gone, leaving only a warning of loyalty.

He was right. As an imperial concubine, the only man I should be thinking about is the Emperor. Though, I doubt I can truly love a man I know nothing about.

It is more than likely that in this lifetime, I will never experience the bliss that is love.

-

It has been two weeks since my conversation with the mysterious man. I haven't crossed paths with him since that night at the garden, and the mini butterflies in my stomach have long disappeared along with him.

The harem has been calm, oddly calm. It is rather unsettling as though I know the consorts have something planned; I do not know what.

They say the harem is for the despicable, unkind women who have spent decades filled with loathing and hatred, waiting for the right moment to strike. They have to be cunning and manipulative, as both characteristics are needed to survive here.

I am not them.

Perhaps my chances of survival are reduced because I do not hold the qualities of a high consort, but shouldn't wits and intellect be supreme to maliciousness built on jealousy and hatred? I believe so.

I had heard from Huiqing that the Emperor has left the palace to disperse a small rebel corps composed of the remaining members of the previous imperial military.

That was two weeks ago.

Word is that he is returning today to celebrate in the Empress Dowagers birthday festivities. There will be a gathering or party of some sorts to honor the Empress Dowagers longevity, and the women of the harem are among those to attend.

It will be the first time I meet the Emperor, the man that is said to be the cause of the citizen's nightmares. People call him the Blood Emperor, a man haunted by demons. Still, no one truly knows him; he is rarely seen, only heard. Only a few have seen his face, most on the battlefield, and yet none have lived to tell the tale.

I suppose I should be afraid. Still, the ambiguity surrounding him only sparks curiosity.

Noble Consort Hua was going to come and help me pick out a royal hanfu for the party as she has much better taste in clothing than I do. After all, I was a poor village girl, my only articles of clothing were cotton sundresses that were practically rags. I have also been taking lessons on harem etiquette from her daily.

"Nian nian! Lord Liuyang has come to vist!" Huiqing's voice breaks my me away from my thoughts.

Lord Liuyang? Liuyang... oh right, Linghua. The girl with a double identity, Ruyi's childhood friend.