Tian Lei listened in silence, then gave a small nod. "Very well. I'll watch."
The City Lord let out a quiet breath, the faintest trace of relief flickering across her composed features. She gestured to an attendant. "Prepare a guest room for him."
Tian Lei was escorted through a side corridor to a spacious chamber overlooking the lantern-lit gardens. He could feel faint wards humming along the walls—precautionary defenses woven into the mansion itself. He sat, calm as a stone, and waited.
By the time evening fell, the mansion's great dining hall had been prepared. The fragrance of roasted meats, spirit grains, and herbal broths lingered in the air. He entered with steady steps, joining the City Lord, Lin Yao, and—at last—the daughter.
