One week before the execution...
Mudan knew something was wrong. There was a coldness in the air that had nothing to do with the season. Her husband, Pei Xiaoying, was returning home later and later, his eyes avoiding hers. Whenever she entered his study to bring him a treat or a warm drink, he would startle, his hands trembling as he moved papers out of sight.
What was he hiding? Financial ruin? A hidden illness? Family troubles?
She stood in his study now. Sunlight sliced through the room, illuminating dancing particles of dust over the heavy wooden desk. The scene looked so peaceful, so domestic—a sanctuary of truth between a husband and wife. Or so she desperately wanted to believe.
I trust him, she whispered to herself. He is only trying to protect me from his burdens.
But the seed of doubt had already sprouted. Mudan opened a drawer. Nothing. She searched his desk. Nothing. She was about to leave, feeling guilty for her suspicion, until she noticed the bookshelf. In the golden light, she saw the dust undisturbed on every spine—except for one. Their favorite book of poems.
She smiled, reaching for it, but as she pulled the volume from the shelf, a letter fluttered to the floor.
She shouldn't read it. But then, she saw her own name written in that familiar, elegant script. Her heart sank. She had to know.
"Your Highness,
Do not fret. Mudan will never find out about our meetings. I am hiding it well. Though she suspects something is amiss, she is naive enough to believe it is merely a trivial problem. I will keep her distracted. Our love will remain our secret.
Yours, Pei Xiaoying."
The ink blurred as Mudan's tears fell onto the parchment.
It wasn't possible. This man was her soulmate. Her one true love. The world tilted beneath her feet. "No... no, it can't be!" she sobbed, the book thudding to the floor.
She ran. Her silk robes caught on the thorns of the garden bushes as she sprinted toward their bedroom. She nearly fell twice, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She slammed the door open.
Pei Xiaoying sat up with a start. "My dear? What is it? Are you alright?"
My dear... How many women did he call by that name?
"Pei Xiaoying!" She thrust the letter into the air.
Even in the shadows of the room, she saw his face turn ghostly white.
"My dear... this... it's not what it looks like..."
"NO! Do not say a word! Do not lie to me!" Mudan collapsed to the floor, her heart shattering into a thousand jagged pieces. "You know how I hate lies..."
He slid out of bed, moving toward her with reaching hands. "Mudan... I did this for us. The Princess is supporting my career, you know this—"
"YES! I know now why you were so 'well-supported' in her bed!"
He turned even paler. "I didn't want it to be like this..."
"I'm sure you didn't," Mudan spat, her face swollen with grief and betrayal.
Suddenly, a heavy pounding echoed from the main gate. Bang! Bang! Bang!
Who would be arriving at such a terrible hour?