Tian Le grabbed Ruo Tian's hand and tried to push her away when Fugui joined them and Ruo Tian pulled him into his arms. His upper body was still naked, and Tian Le could feel the heat of his skin and the hardness of his muscles.
"Even if there's little opportunity to knock, Fugui, you should announce yourself before interrupting a private conversation," Ruo Tian reprimanded him. Fugui cleared his throat:
"I just wanted to let you know that the farmers have been sent away," he said meekly, then disappeared with a skip in his step.
Without letting go of Tian Le, Ruo Tian let himself fall onto the bed.
"Sleep now!" he said tonelessly.
Although Tian Le was trembling with rage inside, he soon sank into a deep sleep in the cozy warmth.
In his dream, he was a little boy, no older than six or seven. He hummed the song his nurse used to sing when he found her in the garden. She was already old and frail, but every time she saw Tian Le, her face lit up.
She was the first person who had ever been truly happy that he existed.
They sang the song of the red moon of destiny together when Tian Le was rudely awakened from his dream.
Ruo Tian grabbed him and rolled him across the stone floor of the cave.
Tian Le's eyes flew open when he saw steel flashing. He wriggled out of Ruo Tian's arms and saw the general draw his sword from under his discarded uniform at the last moment and fend off the attack.
The prince jumped up. In the dim light of the fading candles, he recognized the shapeless forms of Sanhe soldiers. His first impulse was to draw attention to himself, but then he realized that their ranks were not high enough to be palace guards.
He gritted his teeth. These men did not know that another crown prince existed.
Ruo Tian dodged a sword blow and Tian Le looked around frantically. No matter how much rage raged inside him, he couldn't lose Ruo Tian again.
Not knowing what else to do, he threw a large stone at the soldier. But it only bounced off his helmet and rolled across the floor. The soldier looked up.
"Dirty whore!" he yelled, advancing toward Tian Le. A steel spike pierced the man's stomach from behind, and when the soldier looked down at himself, he collapsed. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out except blood. Ruo Tian pushed Tian Le into a corner. "Wait here!" he instructed him and disappeared toward the clanging swords before Tian Le could stop him.
Confused, Tian Le crouched down, when he suddenly realized that this was his chance to escape. He jumped up and paused.
To flee now would mean leaving Ruo Tian behind. Although he was still angry with him, most of his bitterness had subsided.
Ruo Tian hadn't betrayed him; it was his own father who had lied to him and manipulated him. Maybe, just maybe, he could actually stay with him? Just as he had dreamed of doing for eighteen years.
Slowly, he sank back into the corner. The fact was, where could he run to? There was no one he could go to; he was already with the only person who was there for him. He swallowed and buried his head in his arms.
"A'Le?"
Tian Le jumped up when Ruo Tian called his name. Ruo Tian came over to him and took his hand.
"Scattered Sanhe deserters attacked us. They must have known where the farmers were hiding and took their chance when they recognized us," he explained breathlessly.
"Come, let's split up. My men will look for us after they've gotten the situation under control," he said, pulling Tian Le with him.
The prince stumbled after him. They ventured deeper and deeper into the cave system. It grew colder and darker until they could see nothing and felt their way along the damp walls.
"I'm sorry, A'Le, I know you hate the cold," Ruo Tian apologized.
Tian Le squeezed Ruo Tian's hand even tighter because it gave him warmth. Ruo Tian stopped and pulled Tian Le into his arms. They stood there for a while, listening to their breathing and the beating of their hearts.
"The song, A'Le, I promised you I would sing it on our wedding day. But I never understood it. It sounds sad and yet so beautiful. Explain it to me!" Ruo Tian urged him.
Tian Le knew that Ruo Tian wanted to keep him talking. That way he could be sure that he was okay. Ruo Tian wrapped his arms even tighter around the prince to keep him warm as they slowly sank to the ground.
Tian Le, enveloped in Ruo Tian's warmth and the smell of his blood, sighed heavily.
"It is the song of the red moon of destiny," he began.
A long time ago, so long ago that no one can remember the year, there lived a beautiful princess in a magnificent palace and a true immortal on a high mountain.
The princess had been prophesied to one day become a queen who would rule the entire world. The immortal was destined to live a life of solitude and purity in order to eventually ascend to godhood.
But on one fateful night, the two met under the red moon. They fell in love and thus incurred the wrath of the gods. Their love rebelled against their predetermined fates, and so the immortal was eventually executed.
According to the story, after his death, a silver butterfly rose up and danced in the princess's garden every full moon.
However, the princess's heart was broken. In her grief, she did nothing but sing this lament day in and day out until her body gave up from exhaustion.
That night, a red moon is said to have shone again, and the song echoed clearly within the palace walls. A second silver butterfly rose, and together they danced up into the sky.
The two were not allowed to be together in life. They can only dance together immediately after their death.
"My nurse told me that as long as the song is sung, the souls of the two will always find each other again. Should the song one day fade away and be forgotten, the fragments of their souls would be lost forever," explained Tian Le.
"The gods are cruel," remarked Ruo Tian. He was trembling all over. His upper body was still naked and it was freezing cold in the cave.
Tian Le had also begun to shiver. The cold air stung his lungs and he felt the weakness in his bones again, but said nothing.
"And so they are reborn again and again?" asked Ruo Tian. Tian Le nodded.
"Until they fulfill the destiny that has been imposed on them. But to this day, they refuse to obey the gods and are always searching for each other."
"I can understand them," said Ruo Tian hoarsely. His lips had found Tian Le's neck, and the prince shuddered at the touch.
"I've been looking for you for eighteen years and have almost gone mad. It must be painful not to be able to reach your loved one." He ran his tongue over Tian Le's neck.
"You want to be beaten again?" Tian Le asked angrily, pushing Ruo Tian's head away.
"I'm just trying to keep you warm," Ruo Tian defended himself.
His kisses became hotter, more intense, and Tian Le felt a sharp pain in the crook of his neck. His whole body trembled as he tried to suppress the feelings welling up inside him by clearing his throat.
"Your men will find us soon, and I doubt they'll be happy with what they find," he said firmly, pulling away slightly.
Ruo Tian immediately pulled him back and pressed him even closer to him.
"But I want to see you," he whispered. His lips reached Tian Le's ear. "All of you!"
When Fugui and the rest of the men found the two of them deep in the cave later, the beauty was sitting a few meters away from her general, who was rubbing his cheek, on which all five fingers of one hand could be clearly counted.
"General?" Fugui began cautiously. "You don't harass a woman in the dark," he said quietly. Ruo Tian looked up and took one of the torches from him.
"I've learned that lesson," he admitted gruffly and helped the prince to his feet.
"What's the situation?" he finally asked. Fugui fell back into obedience and reported.
"All the soldiers have been driven away. There are a few survivors, but they have fled back towards Sanhe." Ruo Tian nodded and led Tian Le, shielding her from the curious glances of his men, back up the cave passages.
"We're leaving. We'll take our next break at a decent inn with beds and good food," he announced.
The men cheered and patted each other on the back, only Tian Le sighed heavily. An uneasy feeling spread through his stomach. This couldn't end well.
Fugui held Cui Ruo Tian back briefly. He placed his hands on either side of his bulging belly and cleared his throat.
"General, I... Um, may I say something?" he asked hesitantly. Ruo Tian raised an eyebrow.
"Since when could I stop you?" he replied. Fugui turned away visibly.
"My general.
I am glad that you have found favor with beauty, but Guniang Aimi..."
Ruo Tian's expression immediately darkened and Fugui fell silent.
The general looked around for Tian Le. He had not waited for him and had hurried back as quickly as possible. Back to the camp, back to the warming fire. He leaned down to his loyal subordinate.
"We'll talk about this problem when it arises!" he said firmly, his expression clearly indicating that this would never happen.
So Fugui just nodded quickly and vowed never to mention her again unless he absolutely had to.