Xiao Zhi couldn't sleep again that night. The night before, she slept like a baby, smiling happily, thinking her nightmare was finally going to be over. But her hope was shattered.
She lay awake on her bed, staring at the embroidered birds on her ceiling. At this point, they had become her friends.
"Why didn't he die?" The question looped in her mind. "We planned it perfectly. Shen Han's men disguised as bandits... we were supposed to have killed him. How is he still standing?"
Her fingers twisted the blanket until it burned her palms.
That smile, what did it mean? Why did it feel like he knew something?
Her instincts screamed warning.
I can't trust him. I have to find out what he knows before it's too late.
By dawn, she was exhausted but still couldn't rest. If she didn't act soon, her mother could be in danger again.
She decided to get up and head to the garden. Maybe some fresh air would help her think.
By the time she reached the gazebo, exhaustion hit her like a wave. She sank onto the bench, her body getting heavier, until sleep finally crept in. Her eyes fluttered once, twice, almost closing. Then a voice cut through the quiet, startling her awake.
"Princess Lian Zhi."
Her heart stuttered at the familiar voice. Now she was fully awake.
Ruhan.
He wore plain clothes today, a simple tunic, hair tied neatly in a modest bun. But everything about him still radiated an intimidating presence. Dark hair, perfect posture, sharp and delicate features. An idol in another life.
She bit back the thought. If you weren't so evil, I'd take a photo of you and post it just to make my friends jealous.
Ruhan stopped a few paces away and bowed. "I trust you didn't sleep well?"
Xiao Zhi narrowed her eyes at the fake concern.
"I… slept fine," she lied. "What are you doing here?" She didn't even bother to try to hide her annoyance.
He didn't flinch at her coldness. Instead, he smoothed a nonexistent wrinkle from his sleeve, his movements infuriatingly calm. "I am here to inform you that we leave for Tughril next week. The Emperor has requested a week of preparation."
She forced a nod. Leaving for Tughril meant a one-way trip to her doom, to the hands of the barbaric prince who would torture her to death.
It also meant…
Mama could be in danger.
Ruhan's lips curved faintly. "Where is your mother, by the way? I hope she is well. It would be a shame to depart without ensuring her safety." Ruhan seemed to be able to read her mind.
Xiao Zhi gripped the stone table. Safety?What did he mean by that? Did he know about Mama's tragic fate? He shouldn't know that.
"Yes… she is well."
His smile deepened, too smooth to be genuine. "Good. One must always ensure family is safe before embarking on… an unpredictable journey."
Unpredictable?
Did he mean her? Her mother?
She inclined her head slightly. "Of course."
His gaze lingered too long before he finally said, "Very well. I've done what I came here for. I shall leave you be. I would suggest you get some proper sleep. It might improve your complexion, Princess."
And with that, he left.
Xiao Zhi scoffed at his comment, but something about his words before that made her uneasy.
Why did he sound so sure?
What does he know that I don't?
"Princess Lian Zhi?" Shen Han's deep voice cut through her thoughts. He'd noticed her tension.
She wasn't even surprised he was there. In this strange story world, coincidences didn't exist.
"I don't like him." She crossed her arms, brows frowning. "He's too perfect. Too calm. That smile… It's like he knows something. About my mother. I can feel it."
Shen Han frowned. "You worry about your mother? But you said the killing was supposed to be accidental."
"I know," she admitted, the certainty she had felt before vanishing. "But now… I'm not sure anymore."
Shen Han crossed his arms. "Then we act. Keep her away from the envoy at all costs."
Xiao Zhi sighed. "What if Ruhan is scheming something again? I mean, he survived our fake bandit raid."
Shen Han's expression darkened. "I'm sorry about that." He lowered his head, feeling deeply ashamed at his failure. "I heard from my men that the envoy we thought was killed wasn't him. He wasn't even in the caravan."
"What?!" Her jaw clenched. How is that possible? Did he know beforehand?
"Either he planned ahead, or he suspected something," Shen Han answered her unspoken thought. "Either way, he's not random. We must be careful."
"So he knew. That's why he's so calm."
Shen Han placed his hand on hers. "We'll think of something. But we must not act blindly. We gather information first, watch his every move." He stepped back and met her eyes. "I'll handle the rest. For now, we protect your mother first."
Xiao Zhi let the words settle like armor. "Thank you, Shen Han."
***
That evening, she scribbled strategies again: escape routes, half-mapped scenarios, all of them seeming fruitless. Shen Han stood in the doorway, arms folded, watching her.
"I don't know what to do," she dropped the brush in defeat. "Every plan has a hole. And Ruhan, he's not lucky. He's calculating."
Shen Han's look turned firm. "Then we change tactics. Let's protect your mother first. Wait for our moment."
"I hate waiting." Xiao Zhi buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled by her palms. "Waiting gets people killed."
"Patience is a weapon. Use it right," he said, as if reciting a motivational quote.
Xiao Zhi peeked up through her fingers. "You make it sound easy."
"It's not easy. But trust me. I'll handle it." Shen Han pulled out a chair and sat across from her. "How about we move your mother to somewhere safe. Completely hidden. No one will know. For now, her safety comes first."
Xiao Zhi blinked. "Move her away? Completely hidden?"
"Completely." Shen Han tapped a finger on the map Xiao Zhi doodled, pointing toward the outskirts of the city. "We'll find a place far outside the palace. My best men will escort and guard her. You don't have to worry."
She let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Even so, unease lingered. Ruhan's calmness had cut deeper than any blade.
She knew she didn't have another choice for now, but peace wouldn't come easily.
Ruhan was a dangerous threat.
She frowned, whispering under her breath,
"What is this pretty boy up to?"