When they finally reached Consort Ling's quarters, the door swung open before Xiao Zhi could even knock. The maid bowed and let them in.
Consort Ling was pacing around the room with a small velvet bundle in her hand. The moment her eyes landed on Ruhan, they widened in surprise. She quickly hid the small gift she had prepared for her daughter behind her back.
"Ah… Envoy Ruhan," Consort Ling said lightly, as if it were a coincidence. "Good to see you here. Perfect timing. I was just about to have tea with my daughter before she leaves for… faraway lands."
Xiao Zhi couldn't read what was in her mother's mind. She could see the look of fear in her eyes, as if she was hiding something. But for sure, she knew that bringing Ruhan to her mother's room was not something she was expecting.
"Forgive my unannounced visit. I hope you don't mind if I join you." Ruhan offered a polite bow.
"I do," Xiao Zhi muttered under her breath.
Consort Ling gave her a soft but disciplined look, "Zhi'er, don't be so rude. He's an envoy, after all. You should start learning diplomacy." She gestured them to a seat. "Come, sit. Tea is meant to be shared."
"Shared with him?" Xiao Zhi huffed as she dropped into a chair.
Ruhan sat across from them with his posture calm and poised as always. He sniffed the tea and said softly to Consort Ling, "The tea smells wonderful." Then, glancing slightly at Xiao Zhi, he added, "Princess Lian Zhi, this tea will surely make you calm."
Xiao Zhi narrowed her eyes. "Calm? I am calm!" she snorted, completely betraying her words.
Consort Ling shot Xiao Zhi a warning glance, "Be polite," she mouthed, before pouring another tea for Xiao Zhi and herself.
"Forgive my daughter, Envoy. I think I have spoiled her too much."
Ruhan's gaze lingered on her before continuing to speak. "Princess Lian Zhi, you are very fortunate to have a mother so attentive."
Xiao Zhi clenched her fists under the table, clearly annoyed by the comment. "Yes… fortunate."
Ruhan leaned forward, just slightly. "Though I wonder, do daughters always notice just how much their mothers do for them?"
She had no patience for small talk. Every word Ruhan spoke sounded like a puzzle she didn't have time to solve. Her mother had obviously summoned her for a reason, and Ruhan's presence was getting in the way. She needed to get him out of the room, fast.
Xiao Zhi's face heated as she pointed at Ruhan's cup of tea. "If you're done with your tea, envoy, maybe you should tend to your own business somewhere."
He chuckled, unbothered by her dismissive remark. "Oh? But I'm really enjoying this tea."
"Well, if you enjoy Hua's tea so much, perhaps we should pack some and send it to your room."
Consort Ling gave her a look, a signal for her to calm down and not provoke an envoy from a barbaric land.
Finally, Ruhan stood and inclined his head. "Very well, I will leave you alone. I dare not interrupt a family moment."
"Oh, but you already did." Xiao Zhi grunted.
"Consort Ling, I shall leave the rest of the wedding arrangements in your capable hands. Time is precious." He offered one last smooth bow.
A faint smirk flickered toward Xiao Zhi, and then he glided out with the same effortless grace he'd arrived with.
Xiao Zhi exhaled, as if she had been holding her breath for years. "Mother, are you all right?" she whispered as soon as the door clicked shut.
Consort Ling smiled at her daughter's concern. "I'm okay, my child. Here, I have something for you." She reached under her sleeve and pulled out the small bundle she had been hiding. "If you go to Tughril, you'll need these for protection."
Xiao Zhi untied the ribbon with anticipation. Inside, there was a short blade and a tiny ceramic bottle.
"What is this, Mother?" She lifted the bottle.
"To protect yourself," her mother said, eyes wet with worry and something like pride. "Use them wisely."
Consort Ling reached out and patted her hand. "Be brave, my child."
Xiao Zhi returned the touch with a smile, then held up the small bottle. "I know what the blade is for, but… what's this?"
"A last‑resort poison." Her mother's expression turned serious. "Something to use only in the direst of circumstances."
And then a wild idea lit up Xiao Zhi's brain like a light bulb. "Poison! That's it!"
Consort Ling raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Not deadly ones, of course." Xiao Zhi leaned in to whisper in her mother's ear. "Just enough to get me sick. An unmarriageable sickness." She made a mischievous face. "I'll pretend I have a horrible disease. Spots, a rash, something everyone fears. They'll back away. Who wants a diseased princess as a bride?"
Her mother tilted her head in confusion before she finally understood what her daughter was planning. She let out a small chuckle. "You really do think like a strategist, Zhi'er. But be careful, this plan must not put you in any real danger."
"It won't," Xiao Zhi convinced her, "Something mild. Enough to repel, but won't kill me. "
Consort Ling's worry softened at her words. "Very well. But promise me you'll stop the moment it's too much."
"I promise." Xiao Zhi's voice was firm, even though her heart raced with nervousness.
She flung open the door and headed towards her room. Almost running.
When she reached her room, she grabbed her maid by the sleeve. "Do you have anything… rash-inducing? Something that makes people scream?"
The maid blinked, confused. "What do you mean, Princess?"
"I need something that can make me develop a rash on my body, something that will make me look awful... really awful."
The maid's mouth fell open. "Princess… that's bold. Even for you."
"Bold saves lives," Xiao Zhi shot back. "Survivors improvise. I will survive this doomed marriage."
The maid swallowed hard and nodded. "I'll ask the apothecary. I'm sure there's something that could work."
"Good. But make sure no one finds out. If you have to, bribe the apothecary."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Xiao Zhi grinned. Half victory, half terror.
By sunset, a small bottle of harmless but foul‑smelling liquid sat in her hand. She uncorked it and sniffed. Bitter. Disgusting. She winced.
This has to work.
Then, bracing herself, she brought the bottle to her lips. She didn't dare drink the whole thing. She wasn't suicidal, just desperate. She took a gulp, just enough. The taste was awful, but she didn't care. For the first time since the raid, she finally had another plan. A risky, ridiculous plan that might just save her.