Midnight Confession
(The moon slices through palace lattices,181Please respect copyright.PENANAzOgArRUt4a
carving my desk into181Please respect copyright.PENANA5CMDJVqte5
light and shadow—181Please respect copyright.PENANABNEg9ls1cs
two choices,181Please respect copyright.PENANAU0kTibUgMJ
two betrayals,181Please respect copyright.PENANAXk16DiRvWm
both wearing my face.)
I. The Prince’s Ultimatum181Please respect copyright.PENANA9lzZR5la6f
His fingers trace my nape—181Please respect copyright.PENANAwf2EXQdIfg
where the mole hides,181Please respect copyright.PENANA0Ww6bO885E
where the noose will tighten—181Please respect copyright.PENANAtUaBRkXXbp
as he whispers:
"Be my knife or my sheath.181Please respect copyright.PENANAog7vGp39Be
Either way,181Please respect copyright.PENANAz7N02gssY5
you’ll hold my secrets181Please respect copyright.PENANAjRYN8AXRPw
until they rust you hollow."
II. The General’s Bargain181Please respect copyright.PENANAdqZV7LH4lx
Chen Qing’er’s token burns in my sleeve,181Please respect copyright.PENANAVP8WruOFkg
its jade carved with northern constellations—181Please respect copyright.PENANA9mrxTgpH2j
a map to freedoms181Please respect copyright.PENANA1ER6wODpit
that taste like181Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3KIeCI6GQ
fresh blood on snow.
III. The Mirror’s Verdict181Please respect copyright.PENANAjuF9oYBSP7
Alone again, I press the blade181Please respect copyright.PENANAM9VKZrvihL
to my reflection’s throat—181Please respect copyright.PENANAo5SPvMfwEC
who will die tonight:181Please respect copyright.PENANA426izqfZKE
the loyal eunuch,181Please respect copyright.PENANA8oQkSN3djP
the traitorous woman,181Please respect copyright.PENANAlEQYjL3eGY
or the third self181Please respect copyright.PENANAYuI5HByPOG
who dares to want181Please respect copyright.PENANAmB5LLTp7Jl
neither?
Final Revelation181Please respect copyright.PENANANEnCY0jVXn
When dawn comes,181Please respect copyright.PENANABXiVuUt5zP
they’ll find only181Please respect copyright.PENANARBeGDWXPda
an empty desk,181Please respect copyright.PENANA4zdQMP0KYy
an open window,181Please respect copyright.PENANAouenItwZUx
and the scent of181Please respect copyright.PENANAUCm7gLCx4m
peonies181Please respect copyright.PENANAzKDcYc3M45
(which bloom brightest181Please respect copyright.PENANAhA2rZ7hjhV
when roots are torn apart).