A Love Written In The Stars

Mei's Pov

I made my way to the teahouse to see Yú Jin.

We hadn't seen or talked since I moved out, and lately, I'd been worried about her. My thoughts were so scattered that I didn't notice the large crate in my path until my foot hit it.

I stumbled, ready to fall, but strong arms caught me from behind.

"Careful," a gentle voice said, close to my ear.

Startled, I looked up and found myself staring into warm, amber eyes and a familiar grin.

"Li Ming?" I asked, surprised.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Yes, thank you." I straightened myself quickly, stepping out of his hold. "It's a surprise seeing you. I never thought I'd run into you again," I added with a smile on my lips.

"Good to see you too, Meiying. Still as stunning as ever." His grin widened, brushing a bit of dust off my sleeve.

I glanced at the crate. "That shouldn't be left in the middle of the road."

"Let me help." Before I could protest, he moved to the other side, his hand lightly brushing against mine as we both grabbed the crate. Together, we carried it to the side.

Once we moved it to the side, I lowered my end.

He looked around before asking, "Where are you headed?"

"The teahouse down the road," I replied.

"Mind if I walk with you?" he asked, stepping closer, his hand resting on my back as if to guide me.

I hesitated briefly, then nodded. "Sure." and we started walking side by side. I asked about his life since we last met at the cloth shop. He told me he had joined the imperial guard and was now stationed at the palace.

"That's an honorable position," I assured him.

Soon, we reached the teahouse and sat together, ordering cups of jasmine tea. I stared into my cup, watching the steam curl into delicate spirals. The soothing scent of jasmine filled the air, calming me, but my eyes kept wandering, searching for any sign of Yú Jin.

I took a slow sip of tea, letting its warmth settle, when Li Ming's voice brought me back to the moment.

"The teahouse is as lively as ever. The jasmine tea here truly has no equal."

"Have you tried the lotus cookies too? They're simply divine."

I smiled lightly at his enthusiasm. "You seem to know their menu well," I said, trying to keep the conversation going as I continued scanning the room.

He chuckled, sliding a small plate toward me. "Go ahead, have one. My treat. They're best when they're fresh."

I took a bite, savoring the delicate sweetness, while he kept chatting about small, unimportant things. I appreciated his effort, even though my thoughts were elsewhere. He smiled as I finished the cookies.

"So," he asked, leaning back in his seat, "where have you been keeping yourself these days?"

"At my cousin's, inside the palace," I replied with a small shrug.

"Ah, that's great! I guess we'll be seeing more of each other, then," he said.

"Yea...yeah," I managed, I was sure he could tell my mind wasn't fully present.

Li Ming leaned over, his fingers lightly brushing my wrist. "Is everything all right?"

I smiled faintly, trying to stay polite. "I'm fine," I said quickly, pulling back slightly.

By the end of the evening, he drained the last of his tea and stood, letting out a soft sigh. "I've really enjoyed this, but I should get going,"

"Take care, Li Ming," I said. "And good luck with your job."

With a final nod, he turned and walked away.

I stood and walked to the counter. A young lady approached me with a polite smile. "How may I help you?" she was probably in her early twenties.

She seemed new—I would have remembered her if I'd seen her before.

"Is Yú Jin here?" I asked quickly. "I really need to see her."

The young lady shook her head. "She doesn't work here anymore, ma'am."

Her words caught me off guard, but before I could ask anything else, another customer called for her attention, and she hurried off.

I stepped outside the teahouse. Should I go find Yú Jin now, or wait until the next day? I pondered the question as I looked upward to the sky.

"It's already late. I think I'll try again tomorrow." I decided.

————

The Minister's Estate

Yu Jin cleaned the shelves in the Minister's study, thinking about the events that had brought her here.

Yu jin's Pov:

Weeks ago, a messenger knocked at my door, carrying a formal invitation from the Minister. I had little choice but to follow the guards to the estate, where they escorted me into his study.

The Minister greeted me with a polished smile, "My dear, please accept my condolences for your family's... misfortunes. Li Wei was such a loyal and principled commander. Truly, I'm stunned by these allegations of treason against him."

I kept my face neutral, my hands clasped tightly in front of me. I didn't trust my voice to respond, and besides, I wanted him to get to the point.

He leaned back in his chair, studying me like a puzzle to be solved. "I simply cannot understand how a man of his honor could fall so far. Unless..." His sharp gaze locked onto mine. "Perhaps there are matters in his private life that I am not yet aware of?"

My heart thudded painfully in my chest, but I refused to flinch under his scrutiny. The Minister was testing me, probing for cracks, and I would not give him the satisfaction.

I met the Minister's eyes, keeping my voice even despite the storm of emotions inside me. "With respect, Minister, I cannot comment on accusations against my husband."

He gave a false smile. "Loyal to the end, I see. A noble quality. You must understand, though, that as his superior, I'm only trying to assist in the best way I can."

His tone softened, but I caught the undertone of calculation. "I realize how difficult your situation must be now. A woman alone with children—finding work in these times would be a challenge."

I stayed silent, gripping the edge of my sleeve to keep my composure.

He leaned forward, folding his hands as if offering a favor. "It just so happens that I am in need of extra staff at my manor. The position would come with steady pay and a place to stay for you and your family. I offer this because, as you know, I once held your husband, Li Wei, in the highest regard. This is my way of honoring that past respect."

His words felt like chains, polite yet impossible to escape. I knew this wasn't charity—it was a carefully crafted ploy, masked in deception.

"You are most generous, Minister," I said, keeping my tone polite. "Right now, my priority is caring for my children after everything we've been through. Might I have some time to consider such a significant change?"

The Minister's smile widened, but it didn't feel warm. "Of course, take as much time as you need. But do reflect carefully—this opportunity could bring stable income for your family. It would spare you... unnecessary hardships. I hold no grudge against you for Li Wei's actions, despite the circumstances. Let me know your decision soon."

Honestly speaking, I hated the thought of working for someone of his rank, bending to his will, but the truth was clear. My husband was in prison, our name tarnished, and finding work had become nearly impossible. I couldn't afford pride, not when my children were hungry.

I didn't trust the Minister, but perhaps there was a chance. If I played my role well, earned his favor, maybe I could use his influence to uncover the truth and seek justice for Li Wei. It was a risk, but what choice did I have?

While cleaning the shelves, my eyes caught on a locker slightly ajar. I hesitated, then closed it without a second thought and continued dusting. But as I worked, a nagging feeling pulled at me, drawing my mind back to it. Something about the locker felt... wrong.

I tried to shake the thought, but the curiosity in my mind had grown impossible to ignore. Glancing over my shoulder to make sure I was alone, I returned to it. My hand trembled as I opened the locker, revealing a neat stack of papers inside.

At first, I thought it might be nothing—just reports or records. But as I skimmed the pages, my heart began to pound. The words leapt off the pages: slave trades, opium routes, embezzled funds. Each line painted a picture more damning than the last.

My breath hitched, and I whispered, "Oh no"

The Minister—the same man I thought of pleasing to help my husband—was deeply corrupt. I had suspected powerful men like him might dabble in fraud or bribes to hold onto their positions, but this? Slave trades? Opium routes? It was beyond anything I could have imagined.

My heart beat increased rapidly as I stared at the damning papers in my hands. For a moment, I thought of slipping them into my apron, but the guards stationed nearby made it impossible. Even if I managed to take them, how could a mere maid like me ever reach the Emperor with such evidence? The risk was too great. Swallowing my fear, I carefully placed the documents back in the locker and closed it.

That evening, as dusk settled, I rushed home, my mind spinning with what I had uncovered. I had to act, but I couldn't do it alone. There was only one person I trusted—Mei. If anyone could help me navigate this, it was her.

When I reached home, I was startled—and relieved—to find Mei standing at my door. Without thinking, I threw my arms around her, holding her tightly. She returned the hug, and her voice soft but full of concern. "Are you alright?" she asked.

I grabbed her wrist, pulling her inside. My hands trembled as I shut the door behind us. In a low voice, I began to tell her everything, my words tumbling out in a rush. Mei listened without interrupting, her expression growing darker with every word I spoke.

"Going after those papers alone is too risky," she said. "And how can you even be sure they're still there?"

"I don't know, Mei," I admitted, my throat tightening as tears blurred my vision. "Liwei must have discovered something about the Minister's crimes. That's why he was framed."

Mei reached for my hands. "Your husband was a man of honor, Yu Jin. If he kept quiet, it was to protect you and the children. He wouldn't have wanted you to face this alone."

"But now I've dragged you into this, Mei," I said, my voice breaking. "I've put you in danger just by asking for your help."

Mei shook her head, her eyes unwavering. "Don't think that way. You did the right thing coming to me. The Minister doesn't know who I am, and that gives us an advantage. I'll protect you and your family, no matter what."

I took a deep breath, letting Mei's words ground me. "For Liwei, and all the others who've suffered because of the Minister, I'll do whatever it takes to bring him down," I said firmly.

"Can you return to the Minister's house without drawing attention?"

I nodded. "Yes, I can."

"Good," she said. "I'll figure out a way to get those papers myself."

She rested a hand on my shoulder, her grip reassuring. "For now, just do your job like nothing has changed. Don't give the Minister any reason to suspect you."

"But Mei," I protested, my voice rising with urgency, "I can get the documents. I work there. I have access to places like his study. If I just—"

"No," Mei interrupted firmly. "Your role is to stay invisible. Let me handle this. I'll come up with a plan to retrieve them."

"What if they move the papers before we're ready? Mei, let me—"

"Yu Jin, trust me," she said. "I'll handle it. Just trust me, alright?"

Her confidence was enough to quiet my fears, at least for now. I nodded. "I understand."

"And no one else can know what we're planning," she added. "Keep your head down and wait for me to contact you."

"Thank you, Mei," I embraced her "You've given me hope again. I don't know how to repay you for helping my family."

"It's the least I can do," she replied, already heading toward the door. "I'll see you soon."

Once Mei left, I focused on preparing dinner for my children. The simple tasks of chopping vegetables and stirring the pot felt automatic, my hands moving without much thought while my mind wandered. I forced myself to remain outwardly composed, just as Mei had advised. For the moment, it was enough to hold onto the believe that the plan we had was set in motion.