Upon reaching the palace, I noticed that Renshu seemed more distant than usual. His silence was heavy, sharp, like something stuck between us.
But another thought crept into my mind.
How long had it been since I sent that letter to Lianyu? She still hadn't replied.
Perhaps the messenger was delayed. Or maybe she was still writing it. Still, I wondered, how did she manage to address her letter to me properly at Lanxuan Pavilion? She definitely did not know where I worked.
I brushed the thought aside and finished my lunch in silence before deciding to return to Colonel Gao Ming's workstation.
Just as I stepped out, Renshu's hand clamped around my shoulder.
Before I could react, he dragged me toward his room.
"You—did you go to visit Shuyin last night and get caught by Jinmei?!"
The force in his voice made my heart leap. I froze, eyes wide.
How—how did he know? Did Jinmei—
"Answer me, Meilina!"
"I—yes, but she thought—"
"I know what she thought!" His tone snapped like a whip. "Do you know why? Because she's been going around hysterically, screaming about seeing your 'ghost'—and she made Shuyin call me!"
His face was flushed with anger, his usual restraint gone. For the first time, I saw just how much chaos I'd caused.
I couldn't speak. What could I possibly say? Even if I tried, he wouldn't listen in this state.
After a long, suffocating silence, his expression finally got a bit better.
"I... do you even realize the things I've had to make up so the Consort doesn't get suspicious?" he sighed, "She never cared about you before—but now she's suddenly annoyed about losing a maid. She wants you back at work."
He sighed, exhausted. "I told them you were being punished. But now they want to know why I—" He looked at me meaningfully. "—why I beheaded you."
My breath caught. I lowered my gaze, feeling guilt crawl up my throat.
I couldn't even look straight at him. My eyes were fixed straight at the ground.
"My apologies for lashing out," he said finally. "But you need to be more careful. For now, stop visiting Shuyin. I can't risk sending her letters for you anymore—the Consort's curiosity will only grow."
"I understand," I replied quietly.
"Yes. You can... go now."
I turned to leave, my mind spinning. How had so much happened in just one night? I wanted to blame Jinmei—but deep down, I knew I'd been reckless.
As I stepped out of the palace gates, a familiar voice greeted me.
"Good afternoon, Aryan."
It was Bao Qin. She looked tired, her usual brightness dimmed, but I wasn't in the mood for conversation.
"Listen, Meilina," she whispered quickly, glancing around to make sure no servants could hear. "I know about the situation. And I know Renshu probably... got angry. But you need to understand—he's been overworked. He only heard about that maid girl's outburst an hour ago. It just added to everything else."
She paused, hesitant. "I know it's selfish of me to ask, but... please don't be angry with him."
"I'm not," I interrupted. "What he did was right. I should've hidden my face when I saw Jinmei."
Bao Qin blinked, surprised by my calmness, but before she could say more, I left. I didn't want to stay in this palace for now, especially with Renshus anger and everything.
As I mounted my horse and rode out of the palace, the cool air brushed against my face. I realized something.
I had always run away when I felt cornered.
When I was little, I'd hide in my room after stealing the desserts my mother made for guests. I thought if I disappeared long enough, the anger would fade. That somehow, time could erase my mistakes.
Some things never changed.
"Oh wow, you're back again?"
I turned to see Rong Xu leaning against the entrance of Gao Ming's office.
"You didn't go back for lunch?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Carried my food here. The problem I'm working on is too complicated—and the deadline's tomorrow. I needed the extra time."
Hopefully my work won't be that difficult, I thought.
He questioned, "Why did you come back? Didn't you finish your assignment?"
"I wanted to review a few things," I said, before realizing he might actually be able to help. "Actually... could you predict what type of work Colonel Gao Ming might assign based on my written answer?"
He laughed. "You want me to predict it?"
"Why not?"
He carefully listened as I explained my answer. "Hmm... your answer's simple but thoughtful. It leans toward long-term vision rather than short-term gain. If I had to guess, you might get assigned to something related to foreign relations."
We ended up talking far longer than I expected.
He told me about his father's travels, how he became a chief strategist, and the little sudden situations of palace politics. In return, I shared bits of my own story.
It was easy. And for the first time since the afternoon, I felt the weight on my chest ease a little.
But soon, afternoon melted into evening, and the sky deepened into indigo.
I realized that I barely studied and wasted all my time.
"Hey, it's already dark," Rong Xu said. "Do you want me to escort you back? You're still new here—and the palace grounds aren't exactly safe due to the recent case of servants robbing people."
I hesitated. Renshu's residence was supposed to be hidden. But... I still had questions for Rong Xu.
"All right," I said finally.
We rode our horses side by side, the clatter of hooves echoing under the moonlight.
"You live with General Renshu, right?" he asked casually. "I've been to his office a few times, but never to his actual palace."
"Yes, I stay there," I said carefully. "When did you become a chief strategist, anyway?"
"I was eighteen," he said with a laugh. "Hard to believe that was six years ago. How old are you?"
"Nineteen. I'll turn twenty soon."
"Ah, so much younger than me." He smiled, eyes glinting in the dim light.
We eventually reached the shadowed outline of the storehouses that guarded Renshu's palace.
"This is far enough," I said, dismounting. "He doesn't like visitors."
"Understood." He nodded and rode off.
I opened the gate quietly—and froze.
Renshu stood there, arms crossed, gaze sharp enough to cut glass.
"For someone who gets caught so easily at night," he said dryly, "you certainly enjoy spending time outside during it."
I was too tired to argue. I walked past him and sat at the table, reaching for my dinner.
His voice came again, low and cold.
"Who was that man who brought you here?"