The courtyard was quiet when Ethan got back.
Mingzhu brought hot water for washing. Rui tidied the room without being asked. Cheng stood near the outer door with his hands behind his back and his eyes on the garden wall, which was exactly what a guard disguised as a servant would do if he wanted to be subtle and was not quite succeeding.
Ethan decided not to point this out.
He sat by the window and let Qingzao take down his hair. The pins came out one by one. The tension in his scalp eased. Outside, the winter sky was turning the flat grey color it got in the late afternoon, right before the cold really settled in.
"You were very calm today," Qingzao said carefully. She was clearly trying to say something without actually saying it.
"Was I?"
"Noble Consort Wei was watching you the whole time." She set a pin down on the tray with a small click. "Everyone noticed."
"I know."
"Are you not scared?"
