The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of the gardens and polished stone corridors. The palace had a way of making everything look tranquil, almost serene, but I knew better. Tranquility here was an illusion. Danger hid beneath every smile, behind every bow, lurking in every corner.
Still, I needed an excuse to move, to observe, to gather information without drawing suspicion. A walk around the palace, I decided. "Morning exercise," I muttered to myself as I stepped out. A cover-up, yes—but also an opportunity. If the original Yuan Wei had hidden the papers, the palace itself might hold clues. Guards' routines, servants' whispers, tiny overlooked details—they could lead me to the missing documents.
I kept my pace casual, hands behind my back, pretending to enjoy the crisp air. But my eyes swept over everything: windows, doors, staircases, even the occasional loose tile. Any detail could be a hiding spot—or a trap.
It wasn't long before I realized I wasn't alone. A soft shuffle, followed by a delicate laugh, drew my attention. I turned, and my stomach clenched.
The second princess, Princess Lian, was strolling toward me, her silk robes flowing like water, a faint glimmer in her eyes that practically screamed love-struck. Her gaze was fixed entirely on me, lips curved in a smile that could melt hearts—and make one very, very uncomfortable.
"Gege," she said, her voice soft but flirty, almost musical, as she approached. She was beautiful, no denying it—soft features, perfectly coiffed hair, the kind of elegance that made courtiers pause mid-step. She walked as if the ground beneath her were irrelevant, entirely focused on me.
I froze. Gege? My mind scrambled for the appropriate response. In the novel, she had always admired the original Yuan Wei, yes—but never this… relentless. She was practically radiating infatuation, and for a moment, I considered sprinting back to my chambers. Too strong. Way too strong.
"Princess…" I started cautiously, trying to mask my panic with polite formality. "Good morning, Your Highness."
Her smile widened, eyes sparkling like the morning sun hitting dewdrops. "Gege! You're awake so early! I was hoping to catch you walking." She stepped closer, hands clasped demurely but with an unmistakable purpose. "The gardens are beautiful this morning, but they pale in comparison to you."
I blinked. Slowly. Did she just—? My mouth opened, but only a soft cough came out. Panic bubbled under the surface. I'd dealt with suspicious princes, cryptic whispers, and potentially deadly accusations, but I had never dealt with a love-struck princess. Especially one who seemed to have zero concept of personal boundaries.
"I… thank you, Princess," I said cautiously, bowing lightly, hoping my words sounded polite enough while signaling that I had no intention of encouraging her. "The gardens are indeed… pleasant this morning."
She giggled, stepping even closer, eyes never leaving mine. "Gege, I've admired you for so long! Every time you walked through the halls, I thought… if only I could be near you." Her words were soft, but the intensity of her gaze made my chest tighten. Near me? She means everywhere I go, doesn't she?
"Ah… that is very kind of you, Princess," I said, my voice carefully measured. I tried to take a small step back, but she mirrored me effortlessly, keeping the same distance—or rather, eliminating it entirely. My pulse raced. I was good at charm, manipulation, and navigating palace politics—but romantic attention? From a girl like this? I was completely unarmed.
She tilted her head, smiling. "Gege, have you been walking alone for long? I thought I might accompany you. Surely someone as clever and charming as you shouldn't stroll through the palace without company."
I forced a polite laugh, waving a hand vaguely. "Your Highness, I assure you, I am quite capable of walking alone. It is… good exercise." My brain was firing a hundred thoughts at once. Hide. Distract. Excuse. Disappear. Anything.
But Princess Lian was persistent. She fell into step beside me, soft steps on the garden path, hair brushing against my sleeve as if intentionally, eyes shining with admiration. "Gege, you're always so clever. I wonder… how do you manage to see everything, notice all the details?"
Details. My mind immediately jumped to the missing papers, the eastern wing, the guards' patrols. She's trying to make conversation, but could I steer it toward clues without her noticing? I had to be careful. Too casual, and she might become suspicious. Too probing, and I'd reveal my ignorance.
"I… observe carefully," I said lightly, forcing a small, charming smile. "One must notice the small things to survive here, don't you think?"
Her eyes sparkled, and she let out a soft laugh. "Gege, you always know exactly what to say. Even the smallest words seem… profound." She brushed a hand against mine, just lightly, but enough to make me stiffen. I swallowed. Too much, too fast. Calm, Yuan Wei. Calm.
As we continued walking, I carefully steered my gaze toward the eastern wing, pretending to admire the scenery while silently scanning for clues. Every window, every door, every tiny architectural detail could hide something, even just scraps of paper or a hidden nook. If only the original Yuan Wei had been a little more precise in the novel.
Princess Lian chattered incessantly, her voice a soft hum around me, yet filled with intent. "Gege, tell me… what do you see when you look at the palace? Not just the gardens, but the halls, the rooms, the corridors? You always seem… aware."
I blinked. She's curious. Too curious. "I… notice things others might overlook. A misplaced tile, a door slightly ajar, footsteps out of rhythm…" I gestured vaguely, hoping to sound as if I were speaking in general terms while mentally noting every guard movement I could see.
Her gaze never left me. She smiled softly, reaching out as if to touch my arm again, and I flinched inwardly. Gege? More like trapped. "Gege, you always make everything so interesting. I wish I could… learn from you. Spend more time with you."
I laughed lightly, careful to keep it neutral, but my heart raced. Never had anyone been this bold, this relentless. I'm used to cautious admirers, polite glances, subtle infatuation… not this level of direct attention.
"Princess, Your Highness, I… I am honored," I said carefully, bowing slightly. "But… you must understand, walking alone also has its advantages. Observing quietly, reflecting on… matters of importance."
She pouted, clearly not impressed with my attempt to deflect. "Gege, you always make excuses. I just want to walk with you, that's all. Please… don't hide from me."
I froze, trying to think. Hide? Not physically, of course, but mentally. I had to navigate this carefully. Any misstep, any reaction that seemed too eager—or too dismissive—could have consequences I wasn't prepared for. Cleverness, Yuan Wei. Charm. Subtlety. Now more than ever.
As we strolled, I noticed a small door partially hidden behind climbing vines along the eastern wing. My heart skipped. Could this be it? A hiding spot? A clue? I tried to steer my steps subtly closer without drawing her attention to my sudden interest.
"Gege?" Princess Lian's voice drew me back. She had tilted her head, curious, sensing a shift in my attention. "What is it?"
I forced a casual smile, waving at the vines. "Ah, just… the architecture. Fascinating how the vines grow over hidden doors, almost like the palace is hiding secrets."
She giggled, eyes sparkling. "Gege, you always see everything, don't you? Maybe you can teach me to notice secrets too." She leaned a little closer, voice soft. "I'd love to spend every moment learning from you."
My pulse raced. Every moment? She means all of them. I had survived the streets, debts, loan sharks, and even being suspected of theft in a palace with deadly princes—but this was a new battlefield entirely. Charm, survive, don't encourage, and if possible, escape.
"Of course, Princess. Observation is… valuable," I said carefully, smiling faintly. "But one must also be careful. Not all secrets are safe to uncover."
Her eyes widened, playful yet eager. "Gege, are you telling me… some secrets are dangerous?"
I chuckled nervously. "Yes. One must tread lightly, or risk trouble. Very serious trouble."
She tilted her head, clearly intrigued, but continued walking beside me, utterly captivated. I sighed inwardly. No girl has ever been this relentless. No one. And now I have to keep her distracted while figuring out the missing papers without being noticed.
The morning continued, sun rising higher, shadows shifting, but I had found a delicate balance. Walk, observe, dodge romantic entanglement, and subtly scout for clues. The eastern wing remained a mystery, the missing documents still out of reach, and now I had a love-struck princess who wouldn't take no for an answer.
By the time our stroll ended, my chest was tight, my mind buzzing with both panic and analysis. I had survived another delicate encounter, gathered subtle clues about the eastern wing, and yet felt the impossible weight of having a princess obsessed with me, all while navigating the deadly potential wrath of the crown prince.
As I returned to my chambers, I muttered softly under my breath, "Wonderful. Missing documents, love-struck royalty, and a crown prince ready to execute me for the slightest misstep. Just a normal morning in the palace, Yuan Wei. Nothing could possibly go wrong next."