The banquet ended in a blur of laughter, music, and veiled stares. By the time Haein returned to the Xiu mansion, her head buzzed with exhaustion. The heavy hairpins dug into her scalp; her silk robes felt like shackles. She wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed in her sweatpants with instant ramen—but instead, she collapsed onto embroidered cushions.
Her maid, Meiling, carefully unpinned her hair. “Milady, you did well tonight. You did not anger His Majesty.”
Haein groaned. “That was me barely holding it together. Do you know how hard it is to recite poetry when all I can remember is subway announcements?”
Meiling tilted her head. “Sub… what?”
“Never mind.” Haein sighed, staring at the flickering candlelight. Day by day, this is getting harder. And Zhao Tian… why does he keep staring at me like that? Does he know?
---
The Palace
Meanwhile, in the golden halls of the palace, Concubine Yan Bai reclined on a couch, stroking the sleeve of her crimson gown. Her beauty gleamed under lantern light, but her eyes were sharp, restless.
“His Majesty watched her all evening,” she whispered to her maid. “Tell me, since when has Zhao Tian spared more than a glance at Xiu Ying?”
The maid bowed her head. “Never, my lady.”
Yan Bai’s smile was thin. “Exactly. Which means something has changed. And I intend to know why.”
Her gaze shifted to the moonlit courtyard. “Prepare a letter. I want every servant in the Xiu household watched. I want to know what that girl does from the moment she wakes to the moment she sleeps. If she is hiding something… I will find it.”
---
The Next Morning
The following day, the Xiu mansion stirred early. Haein awoke to the sound of birdsong and Meiling pulling back the curtains.
“Milady, today you are invited to the palace gardens. The empress herself has requested your company.”
Haein nearly choked on the tea she had just sipped. “The empress? You mean… His Majesty’s mother?”
Meiling nodded. “Yes, and she is known for her wisdom. Many fear her, but she is said to be kind if one shows respect.”
Haein muttered under her breath, “Great. Meeting the queen mother. No pressure.”
---
The Palace Gardens
The palace gardens were a tapestry of color—peonies in bloom, koi ponds glittering, willow trees swaying softly. Haein walked nervously along the stone path, guided by attendants until she reached a pavilion.
There, the empress sat. Elegant, poised, her presence radiated quiet authority. She was accompanied by two ladies-in-waiting, yet it was clear all eyes revolved around her.
“Xiu Ying,” the empress said warmly, though her gaze was sharp, assessing. “Come, sit.”
Haein bowed awkwardly before taking her seat.
The empress studied her carefully. “I have heard whispers that you are… different, lately. More polite. More thoughtful. Tell me, child, what has changed?”
Haein’s throat tightened. For a moment, she considered lying. But the empress’s eyes seemed to pierce straight through falsehoods. So she chose half a truth.
“I… had an accident. I do not remember everything. So I try to live… better than before.”
The empress’s lips curved faintly. “Better. Hm. Then perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. The old Xiu Ying was charming, yes, but reckless. If this new version is wiser, I am glad.”
Relief flooded Haein’s chest, though she forced a humble nod.
Just then, footsteps approached. Zhao Tian appeared, his golden robes flowing lightly in the breeze. He bowed to his mother before turning to Haein.
“You are early,” he said simply.
Haein raised her brows. “And you always watch me as if I’m a puzzle you’re trying to solve.”
The empress chuckled softly. “Ah, young people. Always circling words instead of speaking plainly.”
Zhao Tian’s gaze did not waver. “Plainly, then—Xiu Ying, you are not who you once were. And I intend to discover why.”
Haein’s heart stuttered at his bluntness, but she met his stare with stubbornness. “Maybe people can change, Your Majesty. Or maybe you’ve just never paid close enough attention before.”
For the first time, Zhao Tian blinked, as though caught off guard. The empress, amused, dismissed them with a wave.
“Go. Walk the gardens together. Perhaps the moon has shifted, and perhaps it is for the better.”
---
In the Gardens
They walked side by side beneath the willow trees, silence thick between them. Finally, Haein spoke.
“Why are you so determined to corner me?”
“Because truth is power,” Zhao Tian replied calmly. “And you, Xiu Ying, are no longer a woman who can be predicted.”
Haein laughed softly, though it carried an edge. “Maybe unpredictability is a good thing. Maybe it makes life less boring.”
His lips curved into the faintest smile. “Perhaps.”
Before either could continue, shouts echoed from the outer courtyard. Guards rushed past them, and Zhao Tian’s expression hardened instantly.
“Stay here,” he commanded, striding toward the commotion.
But Haein, stubborn as always, followed at a distance.
---
Trouble in the Courtyard
A group of unruly merchants had been dragged into the palace courtyard, accused of smuggling. One defiant man shouted his innocence, struggling against the guards.
As Zhao Tian stepped forward, the man suddenly broke free, lunging with a hidden blade.
“Your Majesty!” someone cried.
Before Haein realized what she was doing, she moved. The smuggler’s sleeve brushed against her as she stumbled forward, and in the chaos Zhao Tian caught her by the wrist, pulling her safely against him.
The blade was knocked away by the guards, but in that heartbeat, Haein found herself pressed to the king’s chest, his arm firmly around her.
Their eyes locked—hers wide with shock, his narrowed in both anger and… something else.
“You disobeyed me,” he said coldly, though his grip did not loosen.
She whispered back, breathless, “Maybe unpredictability saved your life.”
For a moment, silence hung heavy, broken only by the guards restraining the smuggler. Then Zhao Tian released her, stepping back as though nothing had happened.
“Take her back to the Xiu mansion,” he ordered curtly. “Now.”
But as Haein was led away, she caught one last glimpse of him—still watching her, his mask of steel cracked ever so slightly, revealing the fire beneath.
---
Back in her carriage, Haein touched her wrist where he had held her. Her heart raced.
This world is dangerous. And yet… why do I feel safer in his arms than anywhere else?
Meanwhile, in the palace, Concubine Yan Bai stood in the shadows, eyes burning with fury. She had seen it all—the king protecting Xiu Ying.
And in that moment, she swore: If Xiu Ying thinks she can take what is mine, she will regret ever breathing.
End of Chapter 4.
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