Daybreak

1-2

The crescent moon was like a hook- its silvery threads of light penetrated through a circular hole and into the dark prison. A figure wearing rough sackcloth was curled up in the corner of the cell, his blank and unfocused gaze staying on the silvery patch of light on the ground. A breeze seemed to blow outside, as pink petals drifted about. The cold prison in the middle of the forest was almost beautiful.

Was it… spring outside?

His staring gaze began to slightly turn about, locking on the round hole above him where a fine steel mesh fence blocked some of the moonlight in the night sky. But suddenly, stomping sounds broke through the deathly stillness that had not been broken for several years. The fine steel fence whose cross-sections were as thick as his thumb slowly opened. His pitch-black pupils finally reflected the moonlight.

Tian Xiao absentmindedly focused on the gate, and slowly stood up. It had been opened? Were they about to let him go? He took unsteady steps towards the gate, but immediately a black figure was thrown into the prison cell without any show of mercy. The fence was closed without pity yet again. The sounds of footsteps that came from outside slowly faded.

Tian Xiao blankly stared at the girl in black on the floor. By the way her chest still moved weakly, he could tell she was still alive.

He hadn’t seen a live person in such a long time. Half distracted, half curious, he crouched down next to the girl. She seemed to have born an extremely severe injury. Even though he could not see bloodstains on her clothes, watery blood slowly seeped out onto the floor. Tian Xiao extended his wan hand, but before he could touch her, the girl suddenly captured his palm and got up. Tian Xiao only felt an immense force knock him over, as his body suddenly sank into the ground. The girl had pushed him down and was controlling his movements. Immediately following which, his neck soon became cold, as a dagger was pushed against his windpipe. With just a tiny bit of force, he could lose his life.

Tian Xiao looked at her blankly. The girl’s figure was too thin. As the moonlight projected onto her back, from what he could see, the girl was like a god that was worshipped at a shrine. Her head was emitting light. He moved his hand, wanting to touch the girl’s face, but he was immediately held down again. With a smothered cough, a few drops of blood fell from the corner of her mouth onto the side of Tian Xiao’s face. A scarlet and winding arc was drawn on his wan face; a ghastly sight.

“Who are you?”

The girl’s coarse and heavy breaths fell onto Tian Xiao’s face, bringing with them, the girl’s distinctive smell. Tian Xiao was unable to concentrate for a heartbeat.

He remembered many years ago, in the women’s quarters in the Palace, his Imperial Mother had also hugged him within her bloodied embrace, and coaxed him: “Tian Xiao do not be afraid!”

If it wasn’t for meeting this person today, he would never have recalled those ancient memories.

“The former crown prince.” Tian Xiao’s voice sounded rough from a long time of disuse. “Tian Xiao.”

Such a long time had already passed, and he hadn’t felt this warm since…

Tian Xiao slowly closed his eyes, some pink petals floating in to fall upon his face. He thought, The peach blossoms outside must be extremely moving, and bright and beautiful…

—

At midday the next day, someone delivered some food and water down through the hole with some rope. The sound alarmed the girl resting on Tian Xiao’s body. A murderous glint swiftly flashed through her eyes, and she grasped her dagger tightly once more.

Tian Xiao wasn’t afraid. He softly said, “You’ve awoken.”

The girl’s gaze fell on his bright face, and only then did she realize how improper their positions were. She coughed two times and her body flipped over, as she lay down to the side of him. Tian Xiao’s body had been pressed down for an entire night, and he was numb and sore from head to toe. However, he didn’t say a word and sat up, taking the food that had been given and began to eat- doing exactly what he did on a daily basis.