That Troublemaker Wants Me to Fall to the Dark Side Too

[Blurb]

The state of Ge fell, and before she could become a prisoner, Liang Ying had no choice but to disguise herself as a man. Fortunately, the princess of Song took a liking to her and kept her by her side as a dowry attendant when she went to Qi.

One blow to the head later, Liang Ying went from being a dowry attendant to the lover of the third princess of Qi, Liu Bai.

Liu Bai was one of the daughters of the Duke of Qi, yet lived alone in Lan Garden, its gates shut off from the world. She had no more than three servants, never spoke, and would not let anyone come near. Everyone thought she was mute and disabled. Her marriage had long been put off, and though people repeatedly offered her lovers, none survived more than three days.

Liang Ying thought she was surely done for this time. But Liu Bai never laid a finger on her, and she could not even catch a glimpse of her.

The bamboo blinds by the window remained shut. She could not see Liu Bai's face, only hear the notes of her strings.

Little did she know that three years later, as a new ruler seized the throne of Qi in a bloody coup, he would take Liang Ying's hand...

Whether man or woman, no one is quite as the world imagines.

·Gao Xi's Umbrella·

Rain poured down relentlessly. Liang Ying curled up on a stone bridge, her jade-white skin chilled to the bone as tears mingled with raindrops and streamed down her cheeks.

A paper umbrella moved above her, shielding her from the rain. She raised her eyes and saw Gao Xi standing beside her.

"Now you should understand that some things are beyond human control."

"We were strangers once. Why shield me from the storm now?"

She stood and pushed Gao Xi's hand away, but her vision went black and she collapsed, burning with a fever and losing consciousness.

Gao Xi carried her through the rainy night and down a narrow alley.

Raindrops fell against the umbrella like a beaded curtain, pattering endlessly to the ground, accompanied by the warm whisper beside her ear.

·Liu Bai's Zither·

The last notes of a clear melody faded away. Liu Bai glanced aside and saw Liang Ying already asleep against her shoulder.

Her slender fingers left the strings. She gently wiped the tears from Liang Ying's cheek, her eyes full of tenderness.

As she slept, Liang Ying wrapped both arms around Liu Bai's right arm, cuddling it like a white rabbit.

Liu Bai smiled silently, returned her hands to the zither, and began to play again.

A smile crossed Liang Ying's sleeping face, peaceful and at ease.

"If I could, I would want things to stay this way forever."

Hearing Liang Ying's sleepy murmur, Liu Bai's voice softened like water. "Silly girl, don't you dare cry in front of anyone else."

·Shu Jiu's Lantern·

The stars and moon gave no light. Every household had extinguished its lamps, and the streets were empty and pitch-black.

Dragging her battered body, Liang Ying struggled along, barely able to breathe or walk, until her foot sank into a mud pit and she fell.

A lone lantern shone before her, and a hand supported her from behind.

She turned her head and saw Shu Jiu's worried face close by.

"The road ahead is pitch-black. If you insist on going alone, you'll not only fall and get covered in mud, you'll hurt yourself and be bruised all over. Why put yourself through that?"

"I chose this path myself. I don't regret it."

She forced herself to stand and took two steps back to put some distance between them. Liang Ying bowed. "Thank you, sir."

Shu Jiu took Liang Ying's hand and placed the lantern in his own hand into her palm. "If that's so, take this lantern with you. As long as its flame does not go out, my heart will be with you."

Theme: What is yours cannot be taken by anyone, but you must not let go.