Chapter 18: Moonlit Confessions

The courtyard lanterns swayed gently in the spring breeze, casting dancing shadows across the stone path. Li Xiao paused at the foot of the marble staircase leading to Counselor Jin Tao’s chambers. In her hand, she held a small bundle of fresh jasmine—picked from the palace gardens earlier that evening.

Her heart fluttered as she climbed the steps. The evening’s diplomatic success still warmed her chest, but beneath it lay a tender anticipation. Tonight, she would offer the flowers as a token of gratitude—and perhaps speak the words that had settled in her heart.

She knocked softly on the carved doors.

“Enter,” came Jin Tao’s calm voice.

Li Xiao opened the doors to find him standing by the window, gazing out at the moonlit rooftops. His white hair glowed in the lantern light, and his crimson eyes held a thoughtful sheen. He turned as she entered.

“Li Xiao,” he greeted, inclining his head. “To what do I owe this visit?”

She stepped inside and knelt, presenting the jasmine bundle. “Counselor, these are for you—thank you for guiding me through today’s negotiations.”

He accepted the flowers with gentle care, inhaling their sweet scent. “They are beautiful. Thank you.” He placed them in a small vase on his desk.

Li Xiao rose, her cheeks warm. She clasped her hands before her. “Counselor, there is… something I wish to say.”

He set aside a scroll and gave her his full attention. “Speak freely.”

Her pulse quickened. She took a steadying breath. “From the day I first arrived—”

A memory flashed: the collision in the corridor, her apology, his distant gaze.

She continued, “—you have shown me kindness, guidance, and trust. You have lifted me from a simple maid’s life to a place where I can serve with honor. For that, I am deeply grateful.”

Jin Tao’s crimson eyes softened, and he stepped closer. “Your gratitude honors me, Li Xiao.”

She swallowed. “But… I wish for more. I—” Her voice caught. She looked down at her hands. “I care for you, Counselor, beyond duty.”

Silence filled the room. The only sound was the soft rustle of the jasmine petals. Li Xiao’s heart thundered. She dared not look up.

At last, Jin Tao reached out and gently lifted her chin, guiding her gaze to his. “Li Xiao,” he whispered, “your presence has become my greatest comfort.”

Her breath caught as his crimson eyes held hers with an intensity that made the world narrow to the space between them.

He continued, voice low and earnest: “In you, I have found loyalty, compassion, and unwavering resolve. You stand by me not for reward, but from the heart.”

Tears glistened in Li Xiao’s eyes. “I…”

He brushed a thumb across her cheek, catching a tear. “You need not say more.”

She closed her eyes, leaning into his touch. When she opened them again, Jin Tao’s hand hovered near hers. He took her fingers gently, their warmth grounding her.

“I care for you, Li Xiao,” he said softly. “More deeply than I ever expected.”

Her heart soared. “And I for you, Counselor.”

He bowed his head, then closed the distance between them. Their foreheads touched in a tender gesture of shared affection and mutual respect.

In the quiet of the moonlit chamber, archivist and counselor found sanctuary in each other’s hearts—duty and desire woven together in a promise as enduring as the palace walls themselves.