Meili hurried down the stone path to Prince Zhiyuan's quarters, her heart racing. The imperial physician, Cheng, would be arriving soon to administer Zhiyuan's daily tonic. After discovering the sinister magic within that poisoned brew, Meili couldn't allow even one more sip to pass his lips. But how to stop him from drinking it without arousing suspicion?

Bursting into Zhiyuan's chamber, Meili found him lounging on the bed, strumming his guzheng. "There you are!" he exclaimed with a teasing smile. "I thought you might have tired of attending me so diligently."

Meili flushed at his playful tone, fixing him with a stern look. "Your physician will be here shortly with your tonic. I must speak with you before he arrives."

Zhiyuan raised one eyebrow. "Must you? I see no reason to avoid my usual treatment. Your concern for my health seems rather overzealous today." His eyes gleamed with mischief, seeing an opportunity to provoke her usual quick-witted annoyance. Their daily battle of wits had become a source of entertainment to relieve his boredom, her reactions a puzzling delight.

Meili fumed at his willful obstinance. How could she make this fool of a prince listen and obey without giving away her secret purpose? Her mind raced as she heard footsteps approaching. In a flash of desperation, she seized Zhiyuan's half-empty teacup and threw its contents onto his silk robe.

Zhiyuan bolted up, staring in outrage at the spreading tea stain. "Have you gone mad?" he cried. "This robe was a gift from my father!"

"My deepest apologies, Your Highness," Meili said with a bow. "I was overcome with horror at seeing a spider crawling on your sleeve. I acted without thinking to brush it off. Please forgive my rash clumsiness in attempting to protect you, though I have clearly caused greater offense." She bit her lip to keep from laughing at the ridiculous tale, hoping her act of contrition would appease him.

Zhiyuan sighed, shaking his head at her foolishness. How had he allowed this maddening girl's constant attendance upon him, and why did her familiarity not grate? "Very well, you are forgiven. But in the future, do restrain your protective impulses before destroying any more of my wardrobe!"

A knock sounded at the door. "Your Highness, I have brought your tonic," the physician announced from without.

Meili's eyes widened in panic. Her ploy had worked thus far, but how to keep the physician out? In a flash of inspiration, she hurried forward and unlocked the door, opening it just a crack.

"Please excuse us, doctor," she whispered, "but the prince has had an... accident. His fresh robe and bedding are being fetched now. I beg you allow us a little time to make His Highness presentable to receive you once again."

'An accident?' Zhiyuan mouthed in confusion from across the room. Meili silenced him with a pleading look.

"I see," replied the physician, perplexed but obedient. "Very well, I shall return again later. My apologies, Your Highness, for the disruption." His footsteps retreated down the hall.

Meili shut the door with a sigh of relief, leaning against it as she met Zhiyuan's questioning gaze. Her heart swelled to see a glimmer of gold returning to those eyes as the sinister magic's effects continued fading each day. Though the path remained obscured, her guiding light had come. The dawn was breaking.

A short while later, Lady Xia arrived with her maidservant Liang in tow, bearing a tray of honey sweets. "Your Highness, I have brought your favorite treats to cheer you," Lady Xia said sweetly.

Zhiyuan sighed, his annoyance evident. Must everyone insist upon disturbing his solitude today? "Thank you, Lady Xia, but I am in no mood for sweets. You may leave them." He waved his hand in dismissal, turning away.

Lady Xia's face fell at his indifference. Meili frowned, seeing again his callous disregard for this friend's kind gesture.

Liang leaned close to Meili with a conspiratorial whisper. "Do not let His Highness' foul temper distress you. Our mistress remains devoted to lightening his burdens, no matter his ungracious reception."

Meili nodded, pitying Lady Xia's patient longing to connect with one so determined to spurn all fondness. She resolved to speak to Zhiyuan about this, though she doubted he would heed yet another of her attempts at wise counsel.

After Lady Xia and Liang had retreated, Eunuch Jiang arrived with a junior servant in tow. "A message from Her Highness the Consort Ruolan," the servant announced with a bow.

Jiang hurried forward, fussing with officious excitement. "The message, quickly now!" he cried, snatching it from the servant's hands.

Zhiyuan waved the eunuch over and accepted the missive with a heavy sigh. Unfolding the delicate paper, he read:

My dearest son,

I hope this day finds you well and your usual treatments progressing. I count the moments until we may meet again. Your presence by my side is all the cheer I need to lift my spirits. Please say you will join me for a quiet supper this evening. To see your face would be joy enough to end my loneliness. I await your reply.

All my love,

Your devoted mother

Zhiyuan's eyebrows drew together as he read his mother's tender appeal. Meili glimpsed a flash of pain behind his eyes at this reminder of Consort Ruolan's unfaltering love and his inability to fulfill her simple wish.

"Reply that I regret I must delay our supper for a few days more," he said stiffly, handing the letter back. "Affairs of importance keep me to my chambers. Send my devoted greetings to Her Highness."

"Your Highness, surely one evening in your mother's company outside your quarter would do no harm," Jiang ventured. But seeing Zhiyuan's stony expression, he bowed hastily. "Very well, I shall convey your message at once. Good day, Your Highness."

The eunuch scurried off, leaving an awkward silence behind. Meili ached with pity for Zhiyuan's inner struggle, torn between love and hopelessness and fearful of causing his mother anguish should the shadow return.

With patience and care, she would help guide his heart home once again; her quest's purpose had never seemed so grave and necessary. But for now, her place was to remain silent at his side. Only together would they find the path through shadows into dawn. Her light would lead the way.

Zhiyuan studied Meili pensively as they sat across from each other, the awkward silence lingering. "You are a curious creature," he remarked. "I have realized I know little about you, though you have attended me for some time now."

Meili tensed, unprepared for his probing. "There is little to know, Your Highness. I am simply a servant."

"An unusual servant, with your quick wits and wisdom," Zhiyuan countered. "How did you come to be in my household? Clearly, you are educated and possessed of talents unsuited to most domestic roles."

Meili grasped for a plausible tale, anxious not to reveal her true origins or purpose. "I was orphaned as a child and grew up in the care of Buddhist nuns, who provided me with education and training in healing arts to give me a path in life. When they could no longer shelter me, I sought work in the palace."

Zhiyuan studied her, as if determining the truth of this story. "And you remain here, attending to my various needs, though you must find it taxing to endure the demands and moods of one so frequently vexed as I." A glint of self-deprecation entered his eyes.

"You mistake me, my prince," Meili replied gently. At her slip of the tongue in calling him 'my prince,' she flushed. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I mean only to say your temper does not dissuade my service. You have shown me kindness, and it is my duty and purpose to see to your well-being."

"Is it?" Zhiyuan countered. "And do you think you aid my wellbeing, or prove an increasing disruption?" But his tone held a tease, eyes alight.

Meili laughed. "I believe I do both, Your Highness." She paused, reflecting. "Once, you were called the Golden Prince, destined to lead our empire into a bright future. I see glimpses of that promise still, behind the shadows seeking to dim your light."

Zhiyuan's expression became shuttered at this reminder of destiny and hopes now lost to him. "That was long ago. I am forgotten and forsaken, a concubine's son of little account or purpose now."

"You are mistaken," Meili insisted gently. "Though hidden from view, your light continues guiding us toward the dawn." She reached forward and took his hand, forgetting herself in her earnestness.

Zhiyuan stared in surprise at their joined hands, a jolt of warmth spreading through him at her touch. Yet instead of pulling away, his fingers curled around hers as if by instinct.

Meili gasped, torn between delight and dismay at her bold action in reaching out to him so, and his apparent acceptance of her forwardness. But in his eyes, she glimpsed again that spark of gold - her guiding light, leading the way through shadows into day.