六
Yue Lian's new quarters overlooked the east garden, where moonflowers bloomed even in daylight, and silver koi drifted beneath the surface of a jade-green pond.
The walls were hung with tapestries that shimmered between shadow and light, and the bed was so soft she feared she might sink into it and never return.
It should have felt like luxury, an impossible dream for a village orphan, but she could not shake the feeling of being a precious bird in a gilded cage.
Zheng Yu, true to his word, brought her a tray heaped with honey cakes, candied lotus seeds, and a steaming bowl of rice porridge.
He balanced it with uncareful care, nearly tripping over the long sleeves of his borrowed palace robe as he set it on the lacquered table.
Yue Lian wondered how this majestic beast could be so careless and clumsy.
"If you eat nothing else, try the honey cakes," he whispered, eyes darting toward the door.
"They're the only thing here not spiced with demon pepper. Last time I tried those, I couldn't feel my tongue for an hour."
Despite herself, Yue Lian smiled. She nibbled a cake, savoring the golden sweetness. "Thank you, Zheng Yu. For... everything."
He plopped down beside her, legs crossed, and leaned closer, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You're braver than you look, you know. Most mortals faint just seeing the Lord glare. You only glared back."
Yue Lian set her cup aside, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. "It's not bravery. I just have nothing left to lose."
He nudged her lightly. "That's where real courage starts. But listen, if you ever need a distraction, or a midnight snack, or a lesson in how to sneak past demon sentries, I am your guy."
A knock on the door startled them both. Before Yue Lian could answer, a servant in dark silks entered, bowing low. "The Lord requests the healer's presence in the Hall of Shadows."
Zheng Yu's playful expression faded. "Already?" he muttered, worry flickering in his golden eyes.
Yue Lian stood, straightening her robe with trembling hands. "I suppose it was only a matter of time."
He followed her to the door, squeezing her shoulder before she stepped into the corridor. "Remember what I said, he's ice and fire, but not impossible. Just... don't let him see you're afraid."
The servant led Yue Lian through winding hallways, past silent guards and alcoves where demon courtiers whispered behind their sleeves. The palace was a maze of strange beauty and lurking danger; every corner seemed to hold a secret, every tapestry a pair of hidden eyes.
The Hall of Shadows was a vast chamber walled in black marble. Lanterns burned with blue flames, casting eerie patterns on the floor. Cang Yan sat on his throne, posture perfectly composed, his gaze fixed on her in a way that made it clear he'd devour a hundred like her before breakfast.
She bowed, stiff and formal. "You sent for me, lord?"
He gestured to a demon warrior sprawled on a couch, his wound festering with poison, the skin around it blackened and weeping. The stench was sharp, and even from a distance, Yue Lian could see the signs of aggressive demon magic at work.
"Prove your worth. Heal him."
Yue Lian hesitated, then moved to the table.
She knelt, hands trembling, and opened her satchel.
The guards watched with open skepticism.
Zheng Yu hovered nearby, radiating nervous encouragement.
Yue Lian worked quietly, grinding dried roots and bitter leaves, mixing them with a splash of water from her sleeve.
She pressed the poultice to the wound and wrapped it in linen, then spoke to the guards: "Change the dressing every four hours. Don't let him eat meat or demon fruit. If he survives till morning, I will check him again."
Cang Yan barely glanced her way. "I asked for a healer. Not a mortal peasant who reeks of wild herbs and has no spirit. Zheng Yu, are you mocking me?"
Zheng Yu's tail twitched in his human form. "She saved a spirit beast with nothing but roots. No one else could."
The Demon Lord's lips curved in a cold, knowing smile. "A fox cub? You think I need a fox cub's nursemaid? You disappoint me."
Yue Lian swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper but steady. "I do not have spirit power, my lord. I heal with what nature gives. If you want a cultivator, you've wasted your time."
He studied her, eyes narrowing. "No cultivation. No light. Just roots and country bandages." He let the silence stretch, his intelligence palpable in the sharpness of his gaze. "Take her away. If he worsens, you'll answer for it, Zheng Yu."
As she was led out, Yue Lian caught Zheng Yu's anxious glance. He tried to wink, but his confidence faltered under Cang Yan's stare. The Demon Lord's voice followed them, soft as poison. "This is your last chance, fox."
When she reached her room, a lavish cage, beautiful and cold, Yue Lian sat on the edge of the bed, hands clenched in her lap. She was used to being dismissed, to having her skills doubted. But something about Cang Yan's eyes unsettled her, as if he saw everything except the one thing that mattered.
She looked at her hands, stained with earth and hope, and promised herself she would not break, no matter how clever or cruel the man on the throne proved to be.