The fragrance of flowers never fades from Takamiya.
Even as the sun sets and the flowers cast their shadows, the scent of gardenias lingers sweetly, and when the wind blows, the plum blossoms dance. Despite it being well into autumn, it feels like a banquet of endless splendor. As Fei Ling gazes up at the cherry blossoms on an autumn evening, she crosses a bridge. Suddenly, a scent reminiscent of incense smoke mixes with the air. When she turns her gaze, a man in Hanfu, as if bringing the night along with him, approaches. It is Zhen.
“Ah, Food Doctor.”
Zhen, perhaps due to the chilly air, was wearing an outer robe over his Hanfu. His expression is cool, but no doubt there are poisonous insects lurking within the robe.
“You seem rather tired,” Fei Ling remarks.
“Well…” Zhen responds, his neck almost dropping in exhaustion. The daytime had also been noisy because of Lan Xing’s actions.
“I’ve been assigned to investigate and neutralize the poison epidemic in the eastern part of the capital. I’ll be leaving the harem for a while.”
Zhen is surprised and opens his eyes wide.
“I thought you were trapped in the harem, like a peacock in a cage.”
Though not exactly pampered, it’s true that she is treated as something too delicate to be easily removed.
“So, is this poison epidemic as bad as it sounds?”
“I don’t know all the details yet, but it seems the ground poison might have spread from person to person.”
“Hmm, a new type of epidemic, you say?”
“I can’t say for sure. It’s still too early to make assumptions.”
Whether it spreads through coughs and sneezes or from poisoned areas emitting toxins that infect others is still uncertain. It’s possible someone took home a contaminated object, unknowingly infecting their family.
“Whatever the poison, I will just eradicate it.”
She brushes back her silver hair, and the peacock comb sounds softly. Zhen watches her silently for a moment before speaking.
“You are as strong as ever. Strong and… beautiful.”
The suddenness of his words catches Fei Ling off guard, disarming her.
“…Did you get bitten by a poisonous spider?”
“No, I just thought you were beautiful, that’s all.”
As he speaks words of affection, there is a murderous intent in his eyes. His purple gaze distorts with malice.
“You’re not like the concubines in the harem who only devour what they are given, like princesses receiving affection. Yet, you’re beautiful… sometimes, I…”
With a cruel smile, he reaches out, touching Fei Ling’s silver hair, then sliding his fingers down to her slender neck. She recalls the time when he first revealed himself to be an assassin, and had touched her throat like this.
“I want to break you.”
He doesn’t go as far as tightening his fingers around her throat, but the murderous intent is just as strong.
“I hate beautiful things.”
She feels the toxic winds swirling within him, the darkness of it almost palpable. His eyes now hold not flames, but wind—similar to the loneliness constantly blowing inside her. His poison mirrors hers, like a reflection in a mirror.
Though similar, they are different. And so, when they are together, the loneliness only grows stronger.
Fei Ling lifts her lips, the color of fallen camellias.
“…That’s good to know.”
She smiles, though there’s no fragrance in it.
“I don’t want to be liked by you.”
They pass by each other like the wind.
“…Ah, I too, never want to like you.”
The two of them are always at odds, like mirror images that can never hold hands. Just like trying to catch the moon’s reflection on the water. Still, their outlines overlap, if only for a moment, as though about to kiss. Then, just as quickly, they separate again.
The wind blows through, and the cherry blossoms dance. The petals falling onto her back are reminiscent of snow.
But why did Zhen come for Takamiya? Recalling the conversation with the Emperor earlier, Fei Ling feels a stir in her chest.
“…No way.”
It was probably just her imagination. After all, she is the only one who knows that he comes from a family of poison masters.
