Bai Mengxiang held a cup of tea, softly sipping from it as he softly caressed his stomach.  

Pregnancy.....proved to be something quite exhausting. He didn't know how women went through something like this. He admired all who went through something like this. Like, seriously, how'd you do it?

It hasn't even been five months and he was already so tired from everything, he felt like he might be slipping up on his act. 

Today was the Empress Dowager's birthday, another week had pass by. In his memories, the Empress Dowager loved Bai Mengxiang. When Bai Mengxiang was sentenced to death, the Empress Dowager had been quite upset about it, and retreated from the public's eyes for ten years before resurfacing again.

A knock from the door made him stop touching his stomach, and instead, he put his hand on top of the table, now fiddling with a hairpin.

"Imperial Noble Consort, the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet is about to begin, Xiao Lan will get you ready now." Xiao Lan pulled Bai Mengxiang to sit on top of the chair, and she carefully put his hair up into a bun with half of his hair still free. Then she added some flower pins into his hair. After that, she grabbed a light blue robe with a white lily on it, and dressed Bai Mengxiang in it.

One thing Bai Mengxiang has to say is that the original was obsessed with flowers. Almost every single one of his clothing had flowers on it, and most of his jewelry were decorated with flowers too.

When Bai Mengxiang got up, his body almost fell down from the weight of all his clothing. Ancient clothings really felt like wearing layers of coats and jackets.

Xiao Lan carefully led him, with one of his hand on top of hers, as they entered the crowded hall. 

The hall was more festive, decorated with red everywhere, and many nobles sat down. Only a few of the Xu Yongheng's concubines were invited.

Bai Mengxiang appeared all dignified, and with his beauty, it felt like some type of light was glowing from him. The eyes of everyone in the room drifted towards him, lamenting in their hearts that this man belonged to the Emperor.

As Bai Mengxiang arrived, he was welcomed by the Empress Dowager warmly.

"Mengxiang, you have finally come. Come, come here and mother see you closely." The Empress Dowager said as she beckoned for him.

Bai Mengxiang put on a beautiful, dazzling smile and walked towards the Empress Dowager, pulling Xiao Lan along with him towards the Empress Dowager.

"Imperial Mother, I apologize for taking so long." Bai Mengxiang said this sentence after he bowed towards the Empress Dowager, Xu Yongheng, and Mei Lin.

"Don't worry. You are not late at all. Mother has certainly miss seeing your face around. What have you been doing during this time?" The Empress Dowager said, a maid pulling up a chair for Bai Mengxiang.

Bai Mengxiang sat in the chair, and the Empress Dowager gently held his hand.

"I have been feeling unwell for a while now. I was worried that I would pass this onto you and have decided not to come and meet you for the time being. I am sorry for not being able to come visit you." Bai Mengxiang said, his smile not disappearing, as he saw from the corners of his eyes that Shilian had made a flashy entrance.

Shilian appeared dressed in robes that were so clear, you could almost see through it. His clothes were flashy, but his entrance had been overshadowed by Bai Mengxiang's beautiful entrance.

While Bai Mengxiang appeared like a goddess, Shilian appeared like a courtesan, the differences were far too vast.

Shilian gritted his teeth, annoyed by this sort of look he got from those in the rooms. His eyes drifted towards Xu Yongheng, as if he was telling him that these people had wrong him. 

Xu Yongheng only stared back at him with a look that told him he had to get through it himself.

Shilian almost scoffed as he walked towards his seat. That stupid Emperor!

"Mengxiang, you must take good care of yourself. You have to give birth to a child soon, I am waiting for that day. Your child will be just as beautiful as you are." The Empress Dowager caressed his hands, and patted it.

In Bai Mengxiang's mind, there were a couple of sentences he wanted to say, but couldn't. One was, that day will come very soon, and the other was, you don't have to wait for long then. But he didn't, and just smiled like a good child.

"Imperial Mother, you must be patient then. The Emperor and I are still young, but, I reckon that that day will come sooner or later." Bai Mengxiang said, softly smiled as he also patted her hand back. If one were to look deep into his eyes, they were filled with the tiniest tint of sadness in them, masked by his fake happiness.

"I am so happy to have a child like you by my side. So kind and caring, how can others replace you?" The Empress Dowager said, she softly smiled.

"Son, have you been visiting Mengxiang's palace?"

Xu Yongheng looked at Bai Mengxiang from the corner of his eyes, who he saw slightly froze for a second, his heart softening a bit as he replied to his mother.

"Not yet, Imperial Mother. I have just gotten back, and there hasn't been enough time yet. I will visit him tonight if you want." Xu Yongheng replied to his mother, his gaze stopping at Bai Mengxiang's lips.

"Yes, tonight would be great. You two will need to work hard if you want to give me another grandchild." As the Empress Dowager said this, Bai Mengxiang's cheek turned a shade of red, and Xu Yongheng's eyes narrowed at this, because Xu Yongheng knew that it wasn't because of the reason he thought it was.

[Male lead's love percentage is at 26%.]

This was proving to be easier than he expected.

"Imperial Mother," Bai Mengxiang called out, but even the smile on his face could not hide the pain that was able to be seen by Xu Yongheng.

The Empress Dowager couldn't help but smile while looking at Bai Mengxiang. This child will always remain her favorite no matter what. Who wouldn't like someone like him? Her son had found someone worth more than gold to be his, and as his mother, she was proud.

Bai Mengxiang chatted with the Empress Dowager a while more before the banquet began. Bai Mengxiang watched the show as Mos and other girls were called up to put on a show.

While watching, Shilian was called to play a piece.

Shilian looked over his zither that was decorated with white jade and blue gems.

As he walked over, he sat down and put the zither down, making sure that all the notes were tuned.

Then, he started playing.

To Bai Mengxiang, and probably many others, this song was like all the other simple and boring songs. The tune was simple and plain, because of how many others have played a song that sounded like this. 

To some, the tune might sound sad, but to those in the palace, they have heard much too many songs like this.

Shilian finally finished, getting up from his seat and bowing towards the Xu Yongheng, Mei Lin, and the Empress Dowager.

"What is your request, Consort Shi?" Mei Lin asked Shilian.

Shilian's eyes glinted as he looked over to Bai Mengxiang.

"This consort wonders if the Imperial Noble Consort would grace us with one of his zither piece?" Shilian asked, his smile grew bigger.

Bai Mengxiang wanted to laugh out loud. The original soul had been a master of the zither, his name was spread far and wide for his skill at playing it. It seems like Shilian had gotten overconfident just because he was reborn.

"Of course, Consort Shi." Bai Mengxiang replied as Xiao Lan carried over one of Bai Mengxiang's zithers.

This was one that the Empress Dowager had gave to him.

It was pure white, and had peach blossoms on it, with white pearls as decoration.

Bai Mengxiang walked down after getting the zither from Xiao Lan, and took a deep breath. With the help of the original, he knew what all the notes were, and with the systems help, he was going to be playing a sound from the time he lived in.

As he plucked the first note, he prepped his voice.

 

I can no longer see through your wandering soul.

I can no longer make out the colors deep within your eyes.

A gust of wind, like waking from a dream, love is unmeasurable just like life is.

Just who is it that has bewitched your heart?

Your silhouette is drowned out by the approaching dark night.

I watch the peach blossoms carefully to see just how they will bloom.

I look at you, embracing me, with eyes as lonely as the moonlight.

I'll let you find happiness in someone else's arms.

Loving you is untouchable just like a heartbeat.

Though I am painting you, I can no longer paint your bones.

Still remembering your expression, it's the only reason why I am so determined to continue waiting for you.

You are a song that I will never be able to finish singing.

I can no longer see through your wandering soul.

I can no longer make out the colors deep within your eyes.

A gust of wind, like waking from a dream, love is unmeasurable just like life is.

Just who is it that has bewitched your heart?

Loving you is untouchable just like a heartbeat.

Though I am painting you, I can no longer paint your bones.

Still remembering your expression, it's the only reason why I am so determined to continue waiting for you.

You are a song that I will never be able to finish singing.

Loving you is untouchable just like a heartbeat.

Though I am painting you, I can no longer paint your bones.

Still remembering your expression, it's the only reason why I am so determined to continue waiting for you.

You are a song that I will never be able to finish singing.

My heart will only break for one person, and that's you.

As Bai Mengxiang sung, he couldn't help it as a memory from the original soul popped up in his head. He used this to help him capture his emotion and for Xu Yongheng to maybe feel pain in his heart. To feel the betrayal and pain the original Bai Mengxiang felt when Xu Yongheng had betrayed him for Shilian.

~original Bai Mengxiang's memory~

"Yongheng," Bai Mengxiang started before noticing the look in Xu Yongheng's eyes. They seemed so distant, so far away, Bai Mengxiang couldn't tell who this man that held him was.

Bai Mengxiang sadly smiled, his tears fighting against him as he saw how Xu Yongheng treated him. It looked like Xu Yongheng was forcing himself to hold him in his arms.

Before, Xu Yongheng would always tell him that he loved him, would always hold him in his arms even when he didn't want him to. Now, looking at this person that he once knew, his heart couldn't help but feel pain. 

He tried to calm himself. He knew that he would have to let go one day.

"Yongheng, I love you." 

I love you, my heart has already been given to you.

But who have you given your heart to, who is now the one living inside your heart?

The one that you now love and would promise a lifetime with is no longer me.

The one that took over my place, the one who you chose over me.

I wonder how that person has taken your heart from my grasp, how that person made you change your feelings.

I wonder how much better that person is compared to me.

The one that you had once promised a lifetime with, the one that you once said you would love forever.

That person was once me, but now, it is no longer me.

And I can do nothing but let you go.

Because I love you, and I want you to be happy.

Even if I'm not by your side...

 

 

 

 

An: Original song is Painted Love.