The carriage rolled forward with a steady rhythm, the sound of hooves muffled against the stone road as the city slowly slipped away behind them. Lantern light flickered through the small window, painting soft shadows across the inside of the carriage.
Lian An sat upright, hands folded neatly in her lap.
Across from her, the Emperor watched in silence.
Not the sharp, assessing gaze he used in court. Not the cold, distant look of a ruler weighing gain and loss. This was something else—quiet, unguarded, almost curious.
Fen Yu noticed first.
"Ohhh," the female ghost whispered dramatically, floating upside down near the carriage ceiling. "He's staring again."
Lian An ignored her.
Li Shen chuckled softly.
"He's been doing that since you sat down."
Wei Rong crossed his arms.
"If this continues, he'll wear a hole in her face."
Lian An shifted slightly, uncomfortable. Finally, she lifted her chin and looked directly at the Emperor.
"…Is there something on my face?"
