Fengxi's POV
Morning came, brushing pale light over the snow-covered courtyard. The snowfall had finally stopped, but the cold lingered in the air like an unspoken thought. I stood from the floor where I'd barely slept, dressed slowly, then crossed to the door.
When I opened it, the icy breeze slipped into the room and met me like an old enemy. Outside, Liyu was still kneeling, motionless, her back straight despite the snow crusted over her shoulders and sleeves.
My heart twisted, but I refused to let it show.
> "You can go."
My voice was calm, restrained.
She slowly stood, her joints stiff from the cold. Without a word, she turned and walked back to her room.
A moment later, Yilin appeared at the hallway's edge, carrying a bowl of soup between her trembling hands.
> "Miss Liu… I'm sorry. For everything I said yesterday."
I took the bowl silently and gave her a small nod.
She bowed and left.
Liyu's POV
The hot water from the bath stung against my cold skin, but I didn't complain. After changing into dry clothes, I tried to steady my breathing. My limbs still ached from the long night.
Just then, Yilin entered quietly with a tray.
> "Miss Liyu, I brought you soup. Please drink it while it's warm."
> "Did you take some to Master first?" I asked.
> "Yes, I went there before coming here."
> "Alright."
She gave a small nod and exited the room, leaving me in the quiet clink of porcelain and silence.
Yilin's POV
As I stepped into the kitchen, my thoughts drifted to the man in the storeroom.
> "Maybe… I should take some soup to him too."
I poured another bowl, added a cloth to keep it warm, and walked down the quiet hallway.
When I entered the storeroom, he was sitting up slightly, eyes half-lidded, his expression unreadable.
> "Who are you?" he asked as I approached. "Why are you here?"
> "You've already forgotten me?" I teased lightly, placing the bowl on a stool beside him. "Well, it's fine. I just came to give you some soup."
He looked at his bound hands.
> "How am I supposed to drink it?"
I blinked.
> "Ah… right."
I knelt beside him, lifted the bowl gently to his lips, and helped him sip.
But as I did, I realized something strange. I couldn't look away from his eyes—sharp, yet tired. There was something there. Something that pulled at me.
He noticed.
> "Stop staring. Go back before Miss Liu finds out and punishes you."
I straightened quickly.
> "You're right. I'll go now."
I left, my cheeks warm despite the cold.
Fengxi's POV
I knocked once and entered Liyu's room.
She looked pale, her face slightly drawn, but she stood as soon as she saw me.
> "Master, what is it?"
> "Come with me. There's something I want to discuss."
She followed without question as I led her to the storeroom.
There, Lei Zi remained seated against the wall, still restrained. Liyu paused at the threshold.
> "Master… isn't he Bai Long's bodyguard? Lei Cong?"
> "He calls himself Lei Zi. This is his last chance to speak the truth."
I turned to him.
> "Was Bai Long behind the assassination?"
> "No," he said calmly. "I've told you everything I know."
I nodded to liyu.
> "Bring Zhang Shoudao."
She left and returned moments later with the old advisor.
Before I could speak, Yilin arrived, holding another tray of food.
> "Why are you all here?" she asked.
> "Why did you bring food?"
She looked down, unsure.
> "Go to your room," I said firmly. "I'll speak to you later."
She left.
I turned to Zhang Shoudao.
> "Tell me everything. Why did my father agree to marry me off to Bai Long? What was done to rush the wedding?"
He sighed deeply.
> "We received a letter…"
He pulled a folded paper from his robe, trembling fingers holding it up.
> "It read: 'I will make sure your kingdom is ruined, and your entire family dies. You have one month to save them. –Your enemy.'"
I swallowed hard.
> "Then we heard you were returning from the borders. And Bai Long too. The emperor decided to fix your marriage immediately. To protect the kingdom. So…"
> "What did you do?"
He hesitated.
> "We… we drugged you both. To create a bond. To make it harder to undo the marriage."
Lei Zi's eyes sharpened.
> "That maid… the one who brought the wine. She was sent by you?"
> "Yes," Zhang admitted. "She was under the emperor's orders."
> "And him?" I pointed at Lei Zi. "Was he there during the attack?"
Zhang stepped closer, studying Lei Zi's face.
> "No. I've seen him before. He wasn't involved. He was investigated thoroughly. He's clean."
> "So… we can trust him?"
Zhang nodded.
> "Yes."
I turned to Liyu.
> "Unbind him."
She obeyed without hesitation. Once free, Lei Zi rubbed his wrists and knelt.
> "Thank you for trusting me, Princess Fengxi."
> "Don't call me that. Miss Liu will do."
I looked at Zhang.
> "You, too. You're older than me. Call me Mengxia Liu."
They both nodded.
Liyu watched me quietly.
> "Mr. Zhang, I don't have spare rooms. Can Lei Zi stay with you?"
> "My son already stayed there," he said.
> "Then he can stay in Yilin's room," Liyu offered. "I'll share with her."
> "Alright. But never speak of my past in front of Yilin," I warned.
Both men nodded.
I caught Liyu's hand and led her back to my room.
> "Are you alright?" I asked once we were alone.
> "Yes, Master. But… are you still angry?"
> "No."
She hesitated.
> "Why are you trusting Lei Zi?"
> "Because Mr. Zhang believes in him. And I believe in Mr. Zhang."
> "But why him?" she pressed. "Why do you trust Mr. Zhang so much?"
I looked away.
> "Because he treated me like his daughter, not a princess. He's… like a father to me."
Liyu softened.
> "Then I'll trust him too. Master, I'll go prepare lunch."
> "Alright."
She left quietly.
I sat on my bed, fingers tracing the hilt of my sword—Xuanyue.
My reflection flickered faintly in the polished steel. Thoughts rose like ghosts—of my father, of my brother, of Bai Long.
> "You toyed with my feelings," I whispered. "You betrayed my heart. You took my father from me. My brother vanished because of you."
The blade caught a glint of pale sunlight.
> "Bai Long… I will never forgive you."