At least my concerns about Shuyin had faded, but soon I realized that a new problem awaited me.
As I slipped from the back of the pavilion toward the front, the last thing I expected was to bump into another familiar nuisance. My luck, unfortunately, had other plans.
Jinmei.
"Who's there?!" she yelled, her voice carrying the tremor of someone startled. Then, narrowing her eyes, she squinted through the shadows. "Wait—Meilina?!"
I froze. Instinct screamed at me to run, but something told me it wouldn't work. If she had already recognized me, sprinting off would only make her chase me harder.
Not to mention that I was dressed as a man, if anyone caught a glimpse of my real face, they'd know it was me. This was not good.
"What—what are you doing here?! Didn't that… that man say you were being punished?" she stammered.
Did Renshu actually say that? Couldn't he have come up with a better reason as to why I had suddenly dissapeared?
I could never take Jinmei seriously. It was always hilarious when she tried to twist the truth about me to Shuyin, only to get brushed off.
Still, I couldn't deny I felt pity for her, she looked exhausted. Shuyin was probably working her to the bone with the maid shortage. If I bolted, she'd be forced to run after me. I should make sure she doesn't follow after me. Perhaps...
I lowered my voice into a mock-ominous whisper.
"I've already been punished, Jinmei. Beheaded, in fact. This isn't Meilina anymore." I stepped forward, letting my shadow stretch toward her. "I've come back for revenge. You've tormented me long enough… and now it's your turn—"
Her eyes widened in terror, believing me. "No, please! Stay back! I'm sorry… I'm sorry!" she whimpered, clutching her sleeves.
This was the same woman who had hurled ten insults at me in one night, reduced to a trembling mess in seconds. Seems like she wasn't living up to the expectations, unfortunate.
Suppressing a laugh, I turned and walked away, hoping I hadn't traumatized her so badly she'd never step outside again. It would be sad if I could never do this again.
Behind me, I heard her fumbling at the pavilion gates, desperate to get inside. It seemed to have taken her an entire hour to find the keys and lock herself safely away.
By then, I was far enough to let my laughter spill out, unable to hold it in any longer. The night had been unexpectedly entertaining.
Eventually, I returned to my quarters. Thankfully, Renshu wasn't awake, and it seemed no one had noticed my presence outside.
---
Morning
The following day, I dressed and went downstairs. To my surprise, breakfast had already been prepared, though the one who made it was nowhere in sight.
I ate quickly, then returned to my original plan, visiting Gao Ming's study. Those scrolls weren't going to read themselves.
I dismounted from my horse and walked in.
The sight that greeted me as I arrived was predictable yet disheartening: dust blanketed the shelves, and cobwebs hung like stubborn ornaments in the corners.
The shelves were lined with scrolls and books, neatly sectioned but clearly untouched. Five men were supposed to be using them, yet it looked as though no one had cracked them open in months.
I ran my fingers over a stack, reading the labels.
"Previous Massacres and How the Past Handled Them."
Interesting, but not exactly what I needed.
"The Rise and Fall of the Qin Dynasty."
"That one might be more useful than you think."
The sudden voice startled me. I whipped around, half-expecting a hostile guard. Instead, I found someone far less threatening. The man who had defended me that day.
I noticed that he looked to be around Renshu's age, his hair the usual black but his eyes, startlingly green. They almost reminded me of the jade hairpin I owned.
"Sorry, did I startle you?" he asked with a warm smile. "I don't know if you remem—"
"Yes, I remember you," I interrupted, narrowing my eyes. "But I've forgotten your name. My apologies."
"Oh, it's fine. I'm Rong Xu," he replied lightly. "Do you need help figuring out what to study for the task Colonel Gao Ming assigned you?"
I frowned. "How do you know what he gave me?"
He chuckled. "Ah, he always gives newcomers the same question. Don't worry, I'm not supposed to say this, but… based on your answer, he'll decide your future tasks. Whether you'll be better suited for foreign relations, maintaining peace inside the country, or… let's just say, abnormal problems."
"So the problem he gave me isn't even real?"
"What?" Rong Xu laughed, his voice boyish yet confident. "Of course not! He'd never give an actual mission to someone who just started."
Well. That was oddly comforting. At least I wasn't accidentally deciding the fate of actual people.
"Here," Rong Xu said, handing me a book.
"Ensuring Peace Among the Nation."
"This helped me when I was struggling. Colonel Gao Ming gave it to me back then. Honestly, I almost quit. Being a foreigner here… it isn't easy."
I raised a brow. "Wait, you're a foreigner too?"
His smile widened. "Most don't realize it. But yes. My eyes are proof enough, aren't they? No one in this land has colored eyes. My father was a merchant from the northeast. He married my mother here and settled down, though he still travels often."
It was shocking, yet strangely comforting. Another foreigner… at least now I wasn't entirely alone.
"So the reason you defended me the other day," I asked carefully, "was because you're a foreigner yourself?"
He shook his head. "No, you're wrong. I'd defend anyone. It's… abnormal to treat others so harshly."
We spoke for a while longer, drifting between small talk, then went back to our work.
I spent hours poring over the book he'd given me. Most of it was historical anecdotes, but nestled among the stories were structures and rules for ensuring peace, principles from Sun Tzu, Liu Bowen, and other strategists.
When midday approached, I finally rose, the weight of the book still in my hands.
"I'll take this with me," I said.
Rong Xu nodded, his green eyes calm. "Goodbye, Aryan. Hope to see you tomorrow."
I inclined my head and left, though unease lingered in my chest. He seemed genuine, but should I trust him?
That, I supposed, was something only time would reveal.