Midnight Confession
(The moon slices through palace lattices,27Please respect copyright.PENANA9a5heLssqe
carving my desk into27Please respect copyright.PENANAttf1BoyhkW
light and shadow—27Please respect copyright.PENANALSXsfT9jUq
two choices,27Please respect copyright.PENANA795Z6vvele
two betrayals,27Please respect copyright.PENANAQGmng31Qhy
both wearing my face.)
I. The Prince’s Ultimatum27Please respect copyright.PENANA56C8I9mahU
His fingers trace my nape—27Please respect copyright.PENANAIFX6Te8erW
where the mole hides,27Please respect copyright.PENANAa7vkfWxJSa
where the noose will tighten—27Please respect copyright.PENANAB4AUMwYQtf
as he whispers:
"Be my knife or my sheath.27Please respect copyright.PENANAwEs34Ful7P
Either way,27Please respect copyright.PENANA1oMBcjKdxX
you’ll hold my secrets27Please respect copyright.PENANALdtoMFb8Fr
until they rust you hollow."
II. The General’s Bargain27Please respect copyright.PENANAk4fIV6INXv
Chen Qing’er’s token burns in my sleeve,27Please respect copyright.PENANAS1gexrn1cA
its jade carved with northern constellations—27Please respect copyright.PENANADIcOK8HwH6
a map to freedoms27Please respect copyright.PENANAzZVygkFh58
that taste like27Please respect copyright.PENANAmJbWq4Sf2S
fresh blood on snow.
III. The Mirror’s Verdict27Please respect copyright.PENANA1Ac7elw52T
Alone again, I press the blade27Please respect copyright.PENANAl2g35BIvBh
to my reflection’s throat—27Please respect copyright.PENANAYENY4QYAyu
who will die tonight:27Please respect copyright.PENANAuUHDK0fR3Q
the loyal eunuch,27Please respect copyright.PENANA80uFiUwxz5
the traitorous woman,27Please respect copyright.PENANAlCCQSUhg81
or the third self27Please respect copyright.PENANAIijXrgiLK9
who dares to want27Please respect copyright.PENANATsj9Fwyp4j
neither?
Final Revelation27Please respect copyright.PENANA9KfqTz2ste
When dawn comes,27Please respect copyright.PENANARWMGv3jmLh
they’ll find only27Please respect copyright.PENANAGwwlmtlqJd
an empty desk,27Please respect copyright.PENANAArwvPEoB5I
an open window,27Please respect copyright.PENANAlCLpL3mTFW
and the scent of27Please respect copyright.PENANAWHEhxNnwZn
peonies27Please respect copyright.PENANAerYWD0Oe73
(which bloom brightest27Please respect copyright.PENANAC2ZgWTV20H
when roots are torn apart).