The next day
The sun had barely risen over the capital when Shen Yao stepped into the training courtyard.
His movements were measured. Each strike of his sword cutting through the cool morning air with precision. His breath was steady, his muscles taut. That cold feeling had long disappeared like it hadn't happened, but he did not trust its absence.
He finished his forms and sheathed his sword. Nearby a servant stood waiting.
Seeing him finish, he quickly approached with a basin of water and a clean cloth. Shen Yao washed his face and hands, the water cool against his skin, then changed into his court robes.
By the time he reached the main hall, the household was already stirring with the maids rushing around the place.
Shen Miao walked through the entrance, a basket of pastries in her hands she glanced around eagerly as if waiting for someone. Behind her, Wei Mei and the Bai twins stood at a respectful distance, their eyes watchful, their postures relaxed.
"You're up early," Shen Yao said.
"Brother" she stepped forward quickly
Shen Yao raised his brow before glancing down at the basket in her arms.
Following his gaze, Shen Miao lifted the basket in her hands.
"Here"
She smiled. "I wanted to make sure you ate before you left."
She then handed him the basket directly. He sighed and took it with no comment, but his fingers lingered on the handle for a moment longer than necessary before handing it to Xi Shu behind him.
"Thank you." he said
She nodded, satisfied, and stepped back.
Wei Lin appeared at the edge of the hall having followed his sister. His eyes scanned the courtyard before settling on Shen Miao and her brother standing together. He did not approach and just watched everything silently.
Maybe feeling his gaze Shen Yao turned and glanced at him. It was brief. Then he turned and walked toward the gate where his horse was waiting.
---
Luckily, it was still early, so court had not yet begun when Shen Yao arrived at the palace.
Walking into the outer hall, it was already crowded with ministers. Their voices were low and urgent; their heads bent together in hushed conversation. The air was thick with the scent of incense and the weight of whispered conversations.
Shen Yao stepped into the open space, his footsteps echoing against polished stone. He didn't want to announce his presence, and so he simply walked to the edge of the crowd and stood still.
Standing near the entrance to the main hall, Prime Minister Shi stood among a group of military ministers, listening as they spoke in hushed voices. His expression was calm and unreadable, but his eyes moved occasionally tracking the room until his gaze met Shen Yao's.
He paused briefly before nodding toward Shen Yao briefly as a sign of acknowledgment before turning his attention to the ministers in front of him.
Shen Yao sighed
Thank goodness he didn't call him there at least less work for him.
On the other side of the hall, Pei Shu stood with a group of younger military officials, his arms crossed, his gaze distant. He had seen Shen Yao as well, but he did not approach and simply watched, his expression unreadable, before turning back to the conversation.
Finding a quiet corner near a pillar, away from the other officials. The morning light streamed through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the floor. He could hear the faint hum of conversation, the rustle of the wind, the distant echo of footsteps.
He closed his eyes for a moment just a breath and let the calm settle around him.
---
After a while of peaceful silence, Shen Yao felt a tap on his shoulder.
He turned. No one was there.
Did he imagine it?
Turning back his gaze immediately collided with another young man
He stood before Shen Yao, dressed in white robes, his face completely exposed, his expression gentle. He was holding a closed fan, its surface marked with a simple phoenix pattern at its base, its edges smooth. His pale blue eyes were fixed on Shen Yao with an intensity that was difficult to ignore.
Shen Yao suddenly stepped back feeling very uncomfortable under the young man's intense gaze.
Even after seeing his intense reaction, the young man did not seem discouraged. He merely smiled calmly as if he had all the time in the world.
"Forgive the intrusion," he said, his voice low, carrying just enough to be heard. "I am Guo Yun."
Shen Yao's expression remained neutral. He didn't immediately introduce himself. Actually, he found this young man's appearance really strange to begin with but considering the number of ministers especially the younger ones who he had hardly interacted with.
He felt that maybe this young man may be a scholar who got promoted.
Guo Yun's eyes swept over him. Not exactly lingering nor rushing. There was something almost like satisfaction in his gaze, a quiet recognition that he did not explain.
Did he know the original Shen Yao? He thought feeling it was the only logical explanation for his weird reaction.
Feeling that the chances of his guess being correct he felt really awkward for the first time in a long while. He was about to turn away when his gaze caught the base of Guo Yun's fan. A small pattern, barely visible, carved into the wood. From the pattern he could tell it was very familiar.
He had seen it before.
He did not react much. But his attention sharpened.
Feeling the sudden shift in the air, Guo Yun's smile widened slightly. But he quickly masked it looking at Shen Yao with inquiry.
"Excuse me, you are?"
Snapping out of his thoughts. Shen Yao glanced at Guo Yun in front of him.
Seeing the obvious confusion written on the young man's face. Shen Yao realized that maybe he might have over thought it.
"I apologize I'm Shen Yao."
"Shen Yao" Guo Yun's eyes squinted with delight
"Yes" Shen Yao answered awkwardly
"I came here for a visit," Guo Yun said.
Shen Yao frowned.
Guo Yun snapped his fan shut—a crisp, deliberate sound that cut through the murmur of the hall.
"Perhaps we will meet again," he said.
Then he turned and walked away, his white robes trailing behind him like smoke.
Shen Yao watched him go.
He stood in silence for a while then it clicked.
It seems he really had seen it.
The pattern at the base of his fan. He had seen it before
He remembered the seal he had found, the one that had been hidden in his hood. The one he had not yet had time to investigate.
Could that young man really be related to him?
The thought surfaced slowly, deliberately.
Who was Guo Yun?
He had to find out.
---
After a long waiting period, the ministers filed into the court chamber.
Shen Yao followed them, keeping his pace, though his thoughts were still turning. The image of the pattern lingered at the edge of his mind like a thread waiting to be pulled.
Standing in the throne room, he took his place among the military officials, his gaze fixed on the raised throne. Though his eyes darted around looking for the shadow of the white-robbed young man.
Where did he go?
He glanced around briefly. The young man in white was not in the hall. He wanted to go out to see if he could still find him, wanting to question him about that mark but before he could.
The emperor entered and all the ministers bowed including Shen Yao as the emperor walked past him Shen Yao happened to catch a glimpse of a white figure.
"You may all rise" The emperor said taking his seat on his throne.
All ministers rose slowly and as Shen Yao suspected his gaze caught a figure seated near the emperor, in a position reserved for honored guests.
Guo Yun.
He was now in a mask, his face half-hidden, his fan placed neatly beside him. His posture was relaxed, his gaze calm.
But as the court settled into its rhythm, his eyes swept over all the other ministers before settling on Shen Yao.
He smiled gently meeting Shen Yao's gaze.