The
moon hung low in the sky, its pale light casting soft shadows over the prince's
estate. The halls were silent, the servants long since retired to their
quarters. Xu Xin Duo stood by the open window of her chamber, her sharp gaze
fixed on the flickering torches along the outer walls. The mansion was under
constant watch, not only by the prince's guards but by hidden sentinels Zhao
Wei had stationed to monitor the estate.
Ying'er
stood nervously behind her, the dowry maid's hands twisting the hem of her
robe. "Miss," Ying'er whispered, her voice barely audible, "you don't have to
go alone. I can come with you—"
"No,"
Xu Xin Duo interrupted, her voice calm but firm. She turned to face Ying'er,
her expression composed. "You will stay here and ensure no one enters my
chambers in my absence. If anyone asks, tell them I am resting."
"But,
Miss," Ying'er protested, her brows furrowed with worry, "what if you're
caught? The guards—"
"I
won't be caught," Xu Xin Duo said, her tone leaving no room for argument. She
reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Ying'er's shoulder. "This is
something I must do alone. Trust me."
Ying'er
bit her lip but nodded reluctantly. "Yes, Miss. I'll do as you say."
Xu Xin
Duo returned her attention to the window. She adjusted the folds of her dark
cloak, pulling the hood low over her face. Her clothing was deliberately plain,
designed to blend into the shadows of the night. The jade pendant at her neck
pulsed faintly, a comforting presence against her skin.
'Artemis,'
she thought, closing her eyes briefly, 'analyze the guard patterns around the
estate.'
'Patrol
frequency: six-minute intervals,' Artemis replied, his synthetic voice calm and
precise. 'Weakest point of egress is the eastern perimeter, near the servant's
garden. Probability of detection: 19% if you move within the next three
minutes.'
'Understood,'
Xu Xin Duo thought, a faint smirk touching her lips. 'Let's make it zero.'
She
slipped through the window with practiced ease, her movements as fluid as
water. The air was cool against her skin as she dropped silently to the ground
below. She crouched for a moment, her sharp eyes scanning the area for any
signs of movement.
The
estate was vast, its outer edges shrouded in darkness save for the flickering
torchlight along the walls. Xu Xin Duo moved swiftly, keeping to the shadows as
she made her way toward the eastern perimeter. The faint scent of damp earth
and blooming jasmine filled the air, masking the sound of her footsteps against
the gravel paths.
'Two
guards approaching from the west,' Artemis reported. 'Advise detour through the
orchard.'
Xu Xin
Duo altered her course without hesitation, slipping through the narrow path
that led to the orchard. The trees provided ample cover, their dense branches
casting deep shadows that swallowed her entirely. She paused briefly, her keen
ears picking up the faint murmur of the guards' voices as they passed nearby.
'Clear,'
Artemis said. 'Next patrol in four minutes. Continue east.'
Xu Xin
Duo resumed her journey, her focus unwavering. When she reached the servant's
garden, she paused just shy of the outer wall, her sharp gaze taking in the
surrounding area. The wall itself was low here, designed more to define the
garden's boundary than to deter intruders.
She
placed her hand on the jade pendant, the faint ripple of its energy reassuring
her as she prepared to climb. Her movements were swift and efficient, her body slower
then she was use too… but time would practice would hone this new body of hers.
Within moments, she was over the wall and into the shadows beyond.
'You
are outside the estate,' Artemis noted. 'No immediate pursuit detected. Proceed
toward the dowry estate. Estimated travel time: forty-five minutes on foot.'
Xu Xin
Duo adjusted her hood, ensuring her face remained hidden as she slipped into
the empty streets of the city. The air was cool and quiet, the distant sound of
guards patrolling the city gates reaching her ears. Her thoughts were focused
on her destination: the estate her birth mother had left for her. It was a
place Xu Xin Duo had never seen, hidden away by her father and untouched for
years.
Her
steps were purposeful as she moved through the twisting streets, her sharp eyes
scanning the shadows for any sign of danger. The journey was a risk, but the
potential rewards outweighed the danger. Supplies, food, medicine—everything
she needed to ensure her survival and maintain control in the days to come.
The
streets of the city stretched before Xu Xin Duo like a labyrinth, each twist
and turn bringing her closer to her destination. The moonlight barely touched
the uneven cobblestones beneath her feet, but she moved with confidence, her
every step calculated and deliberate.
'The
dowry estate lies beyond the merchant district,' Artemis noted, his synthetic
voice breaking the silence in her mind. 'The property is walled and accessible
only through a single gate. Security risks: minimal.'
'Any
patrols nearby?' Xu Xin Duo thought, her sharp eyes scanning the empty alleys
ahead.
'City
guards are concentrated near the central square,' Artemis replied. 'Probability
of encountering resistance en route: 8.2%. Maintain current pace.'
Her
lips twitched faintly, though the hint of a smile never fully formed. Artemis's
presence in her mind was a constant reassurance, an analytical lens that
sharpened her already formidable instincts.
The
merchant district loomed ahead, its narrow streets lined with darkened stalls
and shuttered windows. The faint scent of dried herbs and leather goods
lingered in the air, remnants of the day's trade. Xu Xin Duo moved quickly, her
cloak blending into the shadows as she slipped past the silent market.
At
last, she reached the outer edges of the city, where the narrow streets gave
way to open fields and the towering walls of the dowry estate. The property was
unassuming from the outside, its stone walls weathered by time and ivy creeping
along their edges. The iron gate stood slightly ajar, its once-proud emblem of
her mother's family now tarnished and barely visible in the moonlight.
Xu Xin
Duo paused at the gate, her hand brushing the cool iron as a faint pang of
emotion stirred within her. She had no memories of her mother, but this
place—hidden away and forgotten—felt like a piece of the family she had been
denied.
'No
signs of recent activity,' Artemis observed. 'The estate appears undisturbed.'
'Let's
hope it stays that way,' Xu Xin Duo thought as she pushed the gate open and
stepped inside.
The
path leading to the main house was overgrown with weeds, the once-grand garden
now a tangle of wildflowers and untamed vines. The house itself was modest
compared to the prince's mansion, its wooden beams and stone foundation bearing
the marks of neglect. Yet there was an understated elegance to it, a warmth
that the grandeur of the palace could never replicate.
Xu Xin
Duo entered cautiously, her sharp eyes sweeping the dim interior. Dust coated
the furniture, and cobwebs hung in the corners of the ceiling, but the
structure was sound. She moved toward the back of the house, where her father's
letter had indicated the supplies were stored.
The
storage room was small but well-organized, its shelves lined with crates and
barrels sealed tightly against time. Xu Xin Duo approached the first crate, her
fingers brushing against the wooden lid before prying it open.
Inside,
she found bundles of silver notes carefully wrapped in cloth, their crisp edges
untouched by time. Her breath caught briefly—a flicker of surprise breaking
through her composure. Beneath the notes were bags of rice and jars of
preserved fruits, her father… he loved her. Xu Xin Duo's eyes lowered, hiding
her expression.
'Estimated
value of silver notes: sufficient for three years of expenses at moderate
living standards,' Artemis calculated. 'Food and medicine stores are intact.
Nutritional and medicinal viability: 91%.'
Xu Xin
Duo's hand lingered on one of the jars, its label bearing her mother's delicate
handwriting. A strange warmth spread through her chest, a feeling she couldn't
quite name. This wasn't just a cache of supplies—it was a lifeline prepared by
someone who had cared for her, someone who had thought of her future even when
she couldn't. Her mother… and her father had protected it and passed it down to
her.
For a
moment, the walls of her carefully constructed composure wavered. She closed
her eyes briefly, the weight of her emotions pressing against her, but she
steadied herself quickly.
'This
will suffice,' she thought, her tone calm once more.
'Transfer
the items to the storage space?' Artemis prompted.
'Yes,'
Xu Xin Duo replied.
She
activated the jade pendant, its faint glow illuminating the dim room. The air
rippled as the first crate dissolved into motes of light, each particle drawn
into the swirling portal of her Spatial Storage. The shelves emptied one by
one, every bag of rice, jar of medicine, and bundle of silver notes
disappearing into the space with meticulous precision.
'Transfer
complete,' Artemis reported. 'Capacity utilized: 19.6%.'
Xu Xin
Duo straightened, her sharp gaze sweeping the now-empty room. The supplies were
secured, and the dowry estate had served its purpose. Yet as she turned to
leave, she couldn't shake the faint sense of connection lingering in the air.
For the first time in years, she felt as though she had been cared for—by
someone who mattered.
She
adjusted the folds of her cloak and stepped back into the night, her resolve
hardening once more. The journey back would be more dangerous than the one
here, but she had no intention of failing.
The
journey back to the prince's mansion was cloaked in shadows and tension. Xu Xin
Duo moved swiftly through the overgrown path leading away from the dowry
estate, her sharp eyes scanning the darkened surroundings. The supplies she had
gathered weighed heavily in her mind, a quiet reminder of the risks she had
taken—and the dangers still ahead.
'Artemis,'
she thought, her voice calm but purposeful. 'Monitor patrol patterns near the
city gates. Are they still concentrated in the central square?'
'Negative,'
Artemis replied. 'Patrols have expanded to the outer districts. Probability of
encountering guards near the eastern gate: 37.8%. Recommend altering route to
minimize exposure.'
Xu Xin
Duo's lips pressed into a thin line beneath her hood. She adjusted her path
accordingly, slipping through the narrow alleys that cut between the outer
district's abandoned buildings. The faint scent of damp earth and mildew
lingered in the air, masking the sound of her soft footsteps.
As she
approached the city gates, the faint glow of torchlight illuminated the area
ahead. Two guards stood at the entrance, their weapons glinting faintly in the
moonlight.
'Probability
of detection if you proceed: 62%,' Artemis noted.
'Unacceptable,'
Xu Xin Duo thought, her sharp gaze narrowing. She crouched low, blending into
the shadows cast by the crumbling stone wall beside her.
The
guards' voices carried faintly through the night air. "This shift's quieter
than usual," one of them said, his tone laced with boredom.
"Don't
jinx it," the other replied, shifting his stance. "Last time you said that, we
had to chase down that smuggler near the docks."
Xu Xin
Duo remained still, her breathing steady as she waited for the guards to grow
complacent. Patience was a skill she had honed over lifetimes, and tonight, it
served her well.
After
several minutes, one of the guards leaned against the gate, his posture
relaxing slightly. The other turned away briefly, his attention drawn to a
faint noise in the distance.
'Now,'
Artemis prompted, his voice cool and precise.
Xu Xin
Duo moved silently, slipping through the narrow space between the shadows and
the torchlight. Her dark cloak blended seamlessly into the night, and her
footsteps were no louder than a whisper.
She
was nearly past the gate when the faint scuff of her boot against loose gravel
betrayed her.
"Who's
there?" one of the guards called sharply, his hand moving to his weapon.
Xu Xin
Duo froze for the briefest of moments before pulling the hood of her cloak
tighter over her face. Without hesitation, she darted into the nearest alley,
her movements swift and fluid.
"After
her!" the guard shouted, the sound of their pursuit echoing through the narrow
streets.
'Three
pursuers,' Artemis reported. 'Distance closing rapidly. Recommend diversion.'
Xu Xin
Duo's mind worked quickly, calculating the best course of action. She turned
sharply into another alley, her sharp eyes catching sight of a stack of wooden
crates near a shuttered shop. Without breaking stride, she leapt onto the
crates, propelling herself upward and onto the rooftop above.
The
guards' footsteps thundered below as they searched the alleys. "They can't have
gone far!" one of them barked.
From
her vantage point, Xu Xin Duo crouched low, her dark cloak blending into the
shadows of the rooftop, this gave her the chance to catch her breath. They body
wasn't in the best of shape. She watched as the guards fanned out below, their
torches casting erratic patterns of light against the walls.
'Pursuit
probability decreasing,' Artemis noted. 'They are losing your trail.'
Xu Xin
Duo's lips curved faintly, a small victory amid the tension. She moved across
the rooftop with practiced ease, her steps silent as she navigated the uneven
tiles. Once the guards' voices faded entirely, she descended into another
alley, her movements swift and deliberate.
The
rest of the journey back to the prince's mansion passed without incident. Xu
Xin Duo slipped through the outer walls as easily as she had left, her sharp
mind replaying the events of the night.
When
she finally reached her chambers, she closed the window behind her and leaned
briefly against the frame, her breathing steady despite the rush of adrenaline
that lingered in her veins.
'Mission
complete,' Artemis noted. 'Probability of future detection remains minimal if
current protocols are maintained.'
Xu Xin
Duo pulled back her hood, the faint glow of the room's single lantern casting
shadows across her composed features. The supplies were safely secured in her
Spatial Storage, and her presence in the dowry estate remained undetected. Yet
the warmth she had felt upon discovering her mother's preparations lingered, a
quiet reminder that, even in this calculated game of survival, she was not
entirely alone.
She
adjusted her robe and moved toward the low table near the window, her sharp
gaze settling on the flickering lights of the estate beyond. The storm was
coming, and she would be ready.