As Ru Lingyi hurried back to Chengqian Palace, her mind raced, heart pounding. The familiar walls seemed to close protectively around her as she finally slipped through the gates. She stopped for a moment, leaning against the cool stone and letting her breath slow. The fear from moments before lingered, but the safety of Chengqian Palace's embrace felt comforting.
Once inside, she made her way to her quarters, the embroidered package she had retrieved from the Imperial Embroidery Department clutched tightly in her hands. She tossed it onto the low table beside her, almost forgetting it in the wave of panic still lingering in her chest. Sitting down, she ran a hand through her hair, trying to collect herself.
"Who… who would want to kill me?" she muttered, staring blankly ahead as her mind ran through her few interactions and connections since arriving at Chengqian Palace. She hadn't had time to make enemies—or so she thought.
The image of those men flashed before her eyes, their cold, unyielding stares and strong grip. Lingyi shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. And then, just as her panic began to spike again, her thoughts drifted to the figure who had come to her aid. Her Hero.
She let herself remember his face: sharp, composed, yet very familiar .He had appeared like a phantom, with an air of authority that struck fear into her would-be attackers. She blushed, shaking her head. How could she even think about such things after narrowly escaping an attempt on her life? And yet, the warmth she felt thinking about him momentarily chased away the chill of fear.
"Who are you lingyi?" she whispered to herself, letting her fingers trace over her cheeks, which were growing warmer just at the thought.
--
Meanwhile, there was no rest for the guards who had returned empty-handed. They stood in front of their master, their heads lowered, their expressions tense and composure shaken.
"What do you mean you failed?" Consort Shu's voice was dangerously calm, but her eyes flashed with a rage that had her guards cowering.
The first guard, swallowing hard, lifted his head to respond. "We… had her cornered, niang niang," he explained, voice quivering. "But then, someone… interfered."
Shu's brows shot up, her fury replaced momentarily with a flicker of surprise. "Someone?" She leaned forward, her gaze narrowing. "Who?"
The second guard answered,with his voice barely above a whisper, "Prince Lan of First Rank, niang niang."
The title seemed to reverberate in the air, settling over the room with a weight that Consort Shu couldn't ignore. Prince Lan. It was a name that even she had to respect. He was no ordinary prince—his influence was vast, his actions known to be decisive and calculated.
Shu caught herself, trying to steady her breathing as she processed the news. She had expected to deal with a lowly maid, someone who could easily be removed from the scene. But now that Prince Lan had intervened, things had taken a turn that even she hadn't anticipated.
"Prince Lan…" Shu repeated softly, her fingers tapping against the armrest rhythmically. She quickly masked her shock with a feigned disinterest. "Well, then," she said, voice cold and dismissive, "since it's no longer just a matter of a disobedient servant, we'll leave her for now."
The guards shared a glance of visible relief, realizing they had avoided Consort Shu's wrath—for now. But Consort Shu wasn't finished with them yet.
"But make no mistake," she continued, her voice dropping to a menacing whisper, "just because we leave her today doesn't mean she's safe tomorrow. If there's one thing I cannot stand, it's incompetence."
One of the guards stepped forward, his head lowered in submission. "Our apologies, naing naing . It won't happen again."
"you better see that it doesn't," Shu replied, waving her hand dismissively. "Now go, before I change my mind."
The guards hurried out, leaving Shu alone, her mind already whirring with plans and counterplans. She had thought Lingyi was a loose end to be quietly tied up, but with Prince Lan involved, she would need a different approach. Not one to be easily deterred, she settled back in her seat, fingers drumming as she considered her next move.
In her quarters, Lingyi tried to shake off her nerves. For a moment, she considered confiding in Consort Xian about the incident, but quickly discarded the thought. Telling her mistress would only endanger her, and besides, Lingyi wasn't sure how much Consort Xian could do against those who wanted her gone. She resolved to keep it to herself, at least for now.
But as the night deepened, Lingyi found herself lying awake, unable to shake off the weight of the day. She was aware that she was only a pawn in the palace's grand scheme, someone barely worth a passing thought to those in power. Yet, tonight had changed something. She was more than just a servant now, and if someone wanted her gone, she needed to be careful. This world was her reality now, and she couldn't afford to take anything for granted.
Back in Shu's palace, the Consort sat alone, her gaze fixed on the flickering candlelight. Cai, her maid, entered quietly, sensing her mistress's dark mood.
"Naing naing , the guards await your next instructions," Cai said softly, bowing her head.
Shu looked up, her eyes gleaming with renewed determination. "There will be no further moves against Lingyi. Not yet."
Cai frowned, but her mistress's expression silenced her questions. "But Naing niang, what if—"
"Are you muddled or something?" Consort Shu cut in sharply...With Cai bowing immediately at the sudden change of tune.
"we must be careful...that maid…" Shu mused, her tone laced with disdain. "She's insignificant, but now she's become troublesome."
"Niang naing ..how do you mean troublesome," Cai asked, her voice calm, afraid not to make another misstep.
Shu scoffed, a hint of bitterness in her gaze. "Prince Lan," she muttered, as if the name itself left a sour taste. "Always where he shouldn't be, always meddling."
"Prince Lan of First rank is involved!?" Cai asked surprisingly.
"But perhaps…" Cai began tentatively, "this could be turned to your advantage. Prince Lan's interference gives her protection, yes, but it also makes her a liability to him. If we allow rumors to spread, suspicions to rise…"
Consort Shu turned slowly towards Cai, considering this as a slow smile creeped onto her face. "Ah, Cai, you do know how to stir the pot." She leaned forward, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Yes. Let's see how long his protection lasts once the right rumors start circulating. After all, even princes aren't immune to a little… scrutiny."
"But we should wait for this pot to cook and simmer well..we mustn't risk this chance" Consort Shu concluded.
"As you wish .. Mistress" Cai replied with a mischievous smile.
With her plan set, Shu dismissed Cai with a wave, allowing herself a moment of satisfaction. The palace was like a game of chess, each piece a pawn to be maneuvered. And now, with Prince Lan's unexpected intervention, she found herself devising a new strategy to put pressure on him as well as Ru Lingyi.
Even as the enemies prepared for her downfall, Lingyi resumed her duties with quiet resolve. Though she couldn't shake the feeling of unease, she focused on her work, making sure Consort Xian's every need was met without flaw. She was determined not to let her fear show, even as she felt the weight of the palace's whispers and hidden gazes around her.
As she moved through the palace, she wondered if she would ever see her mysterious savior again. The thought lingered, warming her despite the chill in her heart.