She found Meixiu's residence that night. It was in a similar style to hers with lovely decorations on every surface.

"Bai li yue. You're finally out of the sword tower. Take a seat! Take a seat!"

The tea was sweet and aromatic but Bai li yue barely tasted it. Her thoughts weighed heavily on her mind. 

"You heard the announcement, didn't you?"

Meixiu asked after seeing Bai li yue's furrowed brow.

"What is wrong with him? He can have any woman he wants. Why choose me?"

"He can have any woman he wants, why not you?"

"Touché!"

"What?"

"You made a brilliant argument. I hadn't thought of it in that way. I guess I never imagined I'd find myself in such a situation. '

"Have you made your decision?"

"Is there a decision to make?"

The point was a moot one. She was never going to marry Shen duyi.

"Of course there is. Accept and enjoy your new life or refuse and be forced into it regardless. Many women will give everything to be in your shoes."

"You should know me by now, Meixiu. I am looking at the mountain. A tree won't catch my eyes."

Meixiu watched Bai li yue with an analytical eye. Was that what he liked about Bai li yue?

"I've known Shen duyi for years. When he really wants something, there's no way to refuse him. And you, Bai li yue, won't be able to refuse him in the long run."

Her words hung over Bai li yue's head like a boulder that could crush her at any moment. After her initial fury, she'd thought of secluding herself in one of the towers until the matter blew over. If she was lucky, Shen duyi would lose interest when she remained in the tower years on end. However, there was a distinct possibility of him going ahead with his plans. She might end up married even if she was absent. Hiding won't do. Taking the coward's way out wasn't her style. Entering seclusion wasn't no longer an option for her. 

As much as she didn't want to admit it, the best option for her would be to leave the sect. If Shen duyi dug his feet into the ground, she would have no other recourse but to leave. She would submit her withdrawal notice and part ways with the sect. If that didn't work, she would steal away in the thick of night. 

The next two days were spent in much the same way. She'd find Shen duyi in a bid to make him see reason. He'd calmly refuse to see her and she'd lose her cool. 

"Am i that beautiful? Is my beauty so captivating that he's gone mad?" 

She wailed in frustration when Meixiu came to visit her one evening. 

"I came to take you out to celebrate my promotion and bring a little cheer into your life."

Bai li yue wasn't in the mood to make nice.

"Go on without me. I'm not good company right now."

"I'm not leaving without you. End of discussion. I put off my celebration until you could be present. So i won't accept a no from you."

She dragged Bai li yue to the entertainment district after dressing her up in a fine white robe. 

Bai li yue had never been to the district before and was surprised by the number of restaurants and the large number of students going in and out of the establishments. 

The delicious pheasant was a small restaurant with two pheasant statues guarding the entrance. Bai li yue slowed to a stop and asked the question that was on her mind.

"Tell me the truth. I know Shen duyi's your friend. If he's coming, i'll leave. I don't want to see him."

"This a celebration i organised with you in mind. What kind of friend would i be to you if I invited him? Shen duyi's in my bad books until you two resolve your issues."

"Don't hold your breath."

"Why would I hold it? I'm not under water."

"Let's just go in."

Bai li yue remembered a few faces from the entrance exam three years ago. Meixiu introduced her to the others: new friends she'd made when she entered the inner sect. Bai li yue wasn't inclined to memorise their names or their faces as introductions were made. There was food and wine aplenty and even more toasts to Meixiu's health. Meixiu coughed after a sip and confessed that she couldn't drink. 

Bai li yue sighed and grabbed the cup when nobody stepped forward. She didn't know how it happened but she found herself accepting a drink meant for Meixiu. Somehow, she'd turned into Meixiu's black rose. Anyone who wished to give Meixiu a congratulatory drink came to her instead. 

She swallowed one drink and coughed. But the drinks didn't stop coming.

Another came. 

And another.

She was already reaching her limit despite pacing herself and diluting the drinks. The last drink was the worst one yet. She didn't want to know what alchemical recipe the person had used to achieve the scorching effect. Her throat hurt and the room was spinning. She just wanted to curl up and sleep -or die, and not necessarily in the same order. 

"Meixiu, i'm leaving. I don't feel well."

"Bai li yue, we'll be done soon. Rest here. I'll take you home."

Meixiu suggested as she led Bai li yue to sit down beside her.

"Okay. Wake me up when it is time to leave."

She mumbled as her vision clouded. The dark oblivion of drunken unconsciousness beckoned. 

The conversation in the dining room winded down when Bai li yue fell unconscious, her shoulder thumped on the hardwood floor. The light hearted chatter halted when Meixiu rolled Bai li yue onto her back to check up on her.

'You've done well. You may all leave now.' 

She instructed her cohorts. They filed out of the room obediently before she knocked on a section of the wall. It slid back to reveal a secret door connecting to the adjacent room. Shen duyi was reading a half folded manual while he waited. Positioned near him was a masked man. He was Shen duyi's dao protector appointed when he became dao child of the Sword Heaven sect. Meixiu had met the tall masked man only a couple of times, but she knew he didn't like her hanging around his ward. He wasn't her favorite person either, but she was coming to accept that he was right. Now that she had gotten her wish, cutting ties with Shen duyi was in her best interest. She had no intention of remaining a minion for the rest of her life. 

'I'll take over from here. you are no longer needed.'

Protector Yuchen broke her out of her pensive state. She looked at Bai li yue one final time regretting that she'd once again betrayed her trust. This time was worse because she hadn't needed to do anything. Nobody had forced her to rush to Shen duyi and inform him of her suspicions. She could have closed her eyes to the fact that Bai li yue was planning to leave the sect. It wouldn't have cost her anything, but self preservation demanded that she put herself first. 

Shen duyi's solution was this: drug Bai li yue and keep her locked up until the ceremony. She would have no choice but to accept her new situation. And here they were. The plan had proceeded without a hitch. She bowed and left. Bai li yue's fate was sealed now.