Chapter 39: The Token of Love
The wind blew, causing the lanterns on the corridor to flicker.
Amid the flickering light and shadow, Mu Bai’s raven hair cascaded loosely, clad in magnificent yet ethereal palace robes. His expression was as cold as his unsheathed sword, resembling a streak of moonlight frost settling upon the corridor eaves.
He lowered his gaze, twirled the sword hilt twice in his hand, and said, “Su Mo, did you come over just to tell me this?”
The blade gleamed snow-bright, carving out a swirl of silver light in the air.
Although Mu Bai’s handling of the sword appeared effortlessly masterful, it still filled Su Cheng with dread; he feared the weapon might slip from those fingers and fly forth to slice off his own head.
Su Mo pressed his knuckles against his upper lip, gave a light cough, took two steps forward without hesitation, and directly embraced Mu Bai.
The sword, sharp enough to slice through iron as if it were mud, instantly sheared off strips of his black robe’s sleeve, which drifted gently to the ground.
The blade halted abruptly. Mu Bai blinked, hearing Su Mo say softly, “I promised you something; I will not go back on my word.”
Su Cheng stared at the black silk lying on the ground, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and hurriedly said, “Sister-in-law, please don’t misunderstand! This was my idea; it has nothing to do with Fifth Imperial Brother…”
He had heard that his imperial sister-in-law came from the jianghu and was the young master of Qinglian Valley, yet in his memory, disciples of Qinglian Valley specialized in medicine and were all gentle by nature—nothing like someone who draws their sword at the slightest provocation.
He had originally assumed that a branch of red apricot blossoms had climbed over the wall in his Fifth Imperial Brother’s household, only to discover that what he had married was actually a rose—one with thorns.
It was even more treacherous and perilous than he had imagined.
Mu Bai noticed Su Cheng’s scrutinizing gaze and finally understood; this matter was likely the doing of the Seventh Prince, acting on his own authority.
With a flick of his wrist, he slid the sword back into its scabbard.
Hearing the movement, Su Mo looked down to see Mu Bai still with drooping eyes, looking rather displeased.
He cupped that cold, beautiful face and pressed a kiss to it.
Mu Bai froze, then hastily pushed him away, raising a hand to rub their forehead while saying, “There are others watching.”
“No harm done; Su Cheng is not an outsider.”
Mu Bai turned away. “Oh.”
“Don’t be angry,” Su Mo said with a smile. “Is this really worth getting upset over?”
“What do you mean, ‘this’? I’m not angry.”
“Good, good, you’re not angry.”
Su Cheng watched from the side, feeling an inexplicable dryness in his throat, as if he had just bitten into a sour fruit.
They had grown up together in the palace since childhood, yet he had never seen his imperial brother speak to anyone in such a tone before.
Su Cheng shook his head, only to see his imperial sister-in-law turn around and perform a martial arts greeting toward him: “Qinglian Valley, Qin Mubai.”
He instinctively returned the fist-and-palm salute: “Su Cheng.”
Mu Bai smiled, her eyes curving into lovely crescents: “Su Mo mentioned you. He said that within the palace, only you and he share the closest bond.”
Su Cheng was taken aback, inexplicably feeling that this imperial sister-in-law was not as fierce as he had imagined.
Before he could reply, Mu Bai added, “He promised me he would not take any concubines. Do not mention this matter again.”
Su Cheng hurriedly responded, “Yes, yes.”
How would he dare bring it up again? Even if he weren’t afraid of being reprimanded, he still had to consider his elder brother’s safety.
Alas, Fifth Brother, you’re on your own.
He glanced up at Su Mo, who looked as though he was thoroughly enjoying himself.
…Never mind. When one is willing to strike and the other willing to be struck, there’s little to be done.
The three of them crossed the corridor and settled at a stone table in the courtyard outside the bedchamber.
In the courtyard, flowering trees swayed gently as a maid brought freshly brewed tea.
Su Cheng lifted his teacup, blew on it lightly, and remarked, “Come to think of it, my Fifth Brother and our father are quite alike.”
Mu Bai asked, “In what way?”
“Years ago, Father also favored a woman from the jianghu; though he had three thousand beauties in his harem, he doted solely on Consort Qiong. Alas…” At this, Su Cheng fell silent, then turned to Su Mo and said, “Forgive me; I did not mean to bring this up—it simply crossed my mind…”
“No matter.” Su Mo replied indifferently, pouring tea for Mu Bai. “If Xiao Bai wishes to hear it, then speak.”
Mu Bai: “What? Could it be that this Consort Qiong is—”
“The mother of the Fifth Imperial Brother,” Su Cheng said.
“Oh…”
Mu Bai looked at Su Mo, who said softly, “I don’t mind; it is my father, the Emperor, who fears hearing her name.”
“Indeed,” Su Cheng continued. “After Consort Qiong passed away, Father issued a decree forbidding anyone from mentioning her… Thus, over these many years, few in the palace remember her now. They only know that Consort Qiong once reigned supreme in the harem, yet after giving birth to a prince, she was framed and driven to despair.”
Su Mo interjected, “No trace of the remains was left; only a cenotaph with his robes and cap remains.”
“…Let’s not talk about this anymore.” Mu Bai found Su Mo’s hand beneath the stone table, held it, and gently squeezed twice in reassurance.
Su Mo chuckled lightly, “It matters not; many years have passed, and I no longer feel anything about it.”
Su Cheng added, “Sister-in-law, my elder brother endured much hardship in the palace during his childhood; from now on, you must treat him well. I don’t mean to overstep, but running off right after your wedding—only because Fifth Brother has such a gentle nature. Had it been any other prince, I fear…”
“What are you afraid of?”
“I’m afraid he’s already drafted the letter of divorce. That would be the mild outcome. Previously, one of Third Prince’s concubines committed some unknown offense and was thrown into the torture chamber by him… When she emerged, she was barely alive.”
“So cruel.” Mu Bai leaned back. “What about the girl’s family? Did they not seek justice for her?”
Su Cheng shook his head. “Her father is merely an official without real power. Nowadays, Third Prince holds the greatest influence at court; who among his subordinates would dare offend him? Moreover, once married into his household, she becomes his property. How he chooses to deal with her is beyond anyone else’s jurisdiction.”
Mu Bai frowned. “What about now? Is she still at his residence?”
“I heard her family has taken her back.”
Mu Bai let out a sigh of relief.
That was good news, at least she wouldn’t have to suffer any longer.
Su Mo suddenly said in a soft voice, “To be honest, I once considered locking my wife away.”
“?” Mu Bai turned his head to look at him.
“The shackles are all prepared; they’re right inside the room.”
“??”
Su Cheng: “…”
So Fifth Brother is this twisted too?
Mu Bai tugged at the corner of his lips: “Try locking me up first.”
“If I can lock you up, will you let me, my lady?”
“What did you lock me up for?”
“What do you think I want to do?”
What on earth are they talking about? Something feels off.
Su Cheng scratched his head, cleared his throat, and said, “Uh, Brother, Sister-in-law, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.”
Mu Bai immediately said, “Alright, you should go quickly.”
Su Mo asked, “Shall I see you off?”
Although phrased as a question, his tone clearly suggested he had no intention of doing so…
Su Cheng, taking the hint, replied, “No need, I can find my way out myself. Elder Brother and Sister-in-law, please rest early.”
–
Mu Bai had thought Su Mo was just joking, but that night he actually found a pair of shackles hidden beneath his pillow.
He was stunned: “They really exist?”
Su Mo rolled over to embrace him, saying as he did, “I prepared them before seeking you out.”
“Why prepare such a thing?”
“If you do not come back with me, I will have no choice but to use force, bring you back, and lock you inside the room.”
Mu Bai: “…”
Su Mo had always been elegant and gentle before him, nearly making him forget that this person was, at heart, dark.
“How can you be like this?” Mu Bai felt like cursing, but just as he opened his mouth, his hand brushed against something else beneath the pillow—two objects the size of quail eggs, cold to the touch and tied with knotted cords.
He fumbled them out and discovered they were a pair of jade pendants.
“Isn’t this the piece I gave you last time?”
Originally a palm-sized slab of black jade, it had been carved into two small, flat, circular pendants, each adorned with a ring of pleats.
Mu Bai stared at the jet-black jade now shaped into two little buns, furrowing his brows as he mused that this was hardly an improvement over that disciple from Lingyun Palace who had merely carved the character “Bai” onto a heart-shaped stone.
He gathered his words carefully: “Brother Su Mo, taking such a large piece of black jade just to carve these two tiny items—don’t you think it’s a waste?”
“Also, why a bun? Where have you ever seen a black bun?”
“Even if he carved a sword or a crane, wouldn’t that be better than a bun?”
He was about to continue his rant when Su Mo pulled him closer, nuzzling into the crook of his neck with a slightly dejected tone: “I just carved it on a whim; I thought you’d like it.”
Mu Bai’s heart softened instantly, and he quickly changed his tune: “…Brother Su Mo is absolutely amazing! I love it, I love it!”
Su Mo lifted his eyes to look at him.
Mu Bai cupped his face, eyes curving into a smile: “I’m sorry, it’s not that I don’t like it.”
He wanted to say more, but was pressed back into the bedding, their cheeks and temples brushing intimately.
After an indeterminate while, Su Mo released him, breathing slightly ragged as he kissed Mu Bai’s lips: “I won’t trouble you tonight. Sleep now.”
“Mm.”
Mu Bai watched Su Mo flip off the bed and blow out the candle inside the lampshade.
The room plunged into darkness.
Su Mo lay back down, only to find the person beside him staring at him with wide-open eyes in the dark.
“What’s wrong? Can’t sleep?”
“Brother Su Mo.”
“Hmm?”
Mu Bai spoke softly, “It just occurred to me that I haven’t told you yet.”
“I like you.” He pulled out a small black jade pendant and slipped it from under the covers into Su Mo’s palm. “Let this be our token of love.”
“Last time you said you just bought it on a whim. How does it become a token of love after I carved it?”
“Oh,” Mu Bai said. “Shall I give you the forehead pendant? Whatever you want, you can have it.”
“…”
Su Mo remained silent.
After waiting a while with no response, Mu Bai asked, “Have you fallen asleep?”
“No.” Su Mo’s voice was hoarse when he finally spoke. “Xiao Bai… do not grow too deeply attached to me.”
“Huh?” Mu Bai couldn’t help but laugh. “Dearest brother, you are far too conceited; I haven’t even done anything yet.”
Su Mo turned around and embraced him, his voice barely a whisper: “If I fall, you must leave.”
“…What exactly are you saying?”
“Right now, the entire imperial capital is abuzz with rumors that our relationship is strained.”
“I know.”
“I deliberately let that slip.”
“Huh?”
“The struggle for the throne is intensifying; I cannot remain uninvolved, so I had to distance you from it,” Su Mo said softly. “Our discord is exactly what they wish to see; thus, they will not target you.”
Mu Bai furrowed his brows.
Su Mo continued, “Should our secret ever be exposed, I will do my utmost to protect everyone in the Prince’s Manor and ensure you are not implicated.”
“If I lose, you must leave and stay as far away from me as possible.”
Mu Bai ground her teeth.
Su Mo lowered his eyes: “I once hoped for your response, but now I think… it’s better if you don’t fall for me.”
“In your dreams.”
Su Mo was stunned.
Mu Bai gritted her teeth and said, “We’ve already completed the wedding rites and consummated our marriage; why bring this up now?”
“If you fall, I will help you rise.”
“If trouble erupts from the east window, I will come to save you.”
“If you ever spout such nonsense to me again, I’ll draw my sword and shave you bald.”