The chamber had fallen into silence after Jing's sharp words. Hanying did not dare to speak again, for she already understood what her brother truly meant when he spoke of "her life and blah blah blah." Jing was not merely warning her in vague riddles—he was reminding her of the cruel truth. He was the only family she had left, and should trouble fall upon them, both she and Jing would surely lose their lives. The weight of this realization pressed against her chest like an iron chain. For that reason alone, she held her tongue, unwilling to argue further.
The princess, too, recognized the danger in pushing the matter. Yura had always been clever enough to know when to remain silent, and so she quietly returned to her bed. Pulling the silk covers over herself, she lay in stillness, though her heart pounded against her ribs. A cold fear seized her, for she truly did not understand what was happening anymore. How had the Emperor discovered her presence here? She had been careful—so careful. Each message she had sent had been falsified, every report of her journey crafted with precision to conceal her true location. Yet somehow, despite all her efforts, His Majesty had seen through her ruse and knew she had arrived here already.
A sealed letter had arrived from him, declaring that he would personally come to retrieve them. They had chosen to ignore it, convincing themselves that it was nothing more than intimidation, a means to sow panic in their hearts. But the truth could no longer be denied. That very morning, Jing had received another letter from back home—one that scolded him bitterly, threatening heavy punishment should matters descend into chaos.
Yura and Hanying, fearing what Jing might do in his fury, had concealed the earlier message from him. But somehow, he had uncovered even that. It infuriated him and also terrified him. Jing had expected such reckless behavior from the princess, but from his own sister, Hanying—it wounded him more deeply. Yura, of course, would never lose her head for such schemes, but he and Hanying? If the tide turned against them, their heads would be the first to fall.
---
That night, the eve of the Emperor's arrival, unease clung to every corner of the princess's room like a dark mist.
Yunxi returned in the dead of night. He had slipped back unnoticed, weary and pale, only to find Jing seated at the table within their chamber. Jing had not spared him even a word. As Yunxi moved toward his bed, Jing rose immediately and walked out, his silence like a blade of rejection. The sound of the lock sliding into place echoed in the stillness, a sound that gnawed at Yunxi's chest.
He tried the door, only to find it firmly bolted. He turned to the windows—every one of them sealed, and worse still, it seemed someone had even stacked obstacles outside to bar his escape. A chill ran through him.
His thoughts immediately turned to Yura. Based on what he remembered of her temperament—proud, sharp, yet not cruel—he doubted she would resort to such tactics. Though his memories of her were faint, blurred by years gone by, these past days had revealed enough of her character to convince him that this was not her doing. The thought unsettled him even more.
Who then?
Who wished to confine him in such a way?
Yunxi's face paled. He was not meant to be here. His very presence was forbidden, a violation of imperial command. If the Emperor were to discover his absence from the capital, the consequences would be disastrous. It would not be long before His Majesty demanded his return. He could not stay trapped here. He had to escape—but how?
The night passed with those thoughts gnawing at him like rats at the edges of his sanity.
---
In the morning,every room was silent, all customers were no where to be seen.
The silence was broken by urgent knocking.
"Jing! Big Brother, the princess wishes to speak with you. Open the door, please!" Hanying's voice rang out in a desperate plea as she pounded against the wooden door.
"Hello!…" she continued, until at last the lock scraped and the door creaked open. Jing entered, his face grim.
"Did Brother Yunxi return? Is he well? I wish to see him." The princess's voice trembled with both worry and impatience.
"You cannot see him now," Jing answered at once, his words clipped. He hesitated only a moment, but when Yura's brows furrowed in confusion, he continued. "The Emperor has sent me to inform you—he will see you only after speaking with someone else."
At those words, Yura rose abruptly, her heart thundering. He had already arrived?
"I asked you to gather information about Brother Yunxi…" she began, but Jing cut across her sharply.
"He is on trial. He was forbidden from being anywhere accept his house, yet he dared to sneak out of the capital without His Majesty's knowledge or permission. I do not think he is the man you imagine him to be."
"You have no right to speak of him so," Yura retorted fiercely. "I will meet Yunxi this instant. Stand aside! What crime could he possibly have committed that you would dare keep him from me? You—"
But Jing's voice thundered over hers. "He is on trial for murder and treason, Princess."
The words struck her like lightning. Yura stood frozen, unable to comprehend.
Jing did not relent. "He is also suspected of killing another man—a soldier who uncovered evidence against him and his father. And do you know? The shadow who followed him yesterday was an agent of the Emperor himself. Yunxi knew this, and yet he hurled a dagger to kill him."
"That is false!" Yura cried. "He was merely being followed—he did not even realize it until we warned him. You know this, Jing. And he did not kill anyone."
"Well, the man is dead," Jing said coldly. "Slain in a manner most terrifying, just last night."
"You cannot prove Yunxi was the killer!" Hanying interjected. "You too saw the stalker running away. He fled—but we were with Brother Yunxi all the while. He slept in the same room as you."
"For heaven's sake, cease calling him 'Brother'!" Jing's voice rose, raw with frustration. "I am your brother. You do not know him at all, yet you defend him so blindly. Whatever you believe, the Emperor sees none of it. And His Majesty is on his way to him even now."
Jing turned on his heel, unwilling to remain. He had no intention of feigning kinship with Yunxi merely because of childhood encounters long past.
---
Meanwhile, within the locked chamber, Yunxi sat upon his bed, his strength spent. He had abandoned his futile attempts to break free. But when the lock at last scraped and the door swung inward, he rose in fury, ready to scold whoever dared imprison him.
"You—"
The words died in his throat.
The figure standing in the doorway was no servant, no guard. It was the Emperor himself—Han Ji.
Yunxi staggered back, his blood running cold. How could he be here?
Han Ji entered with measured steps, his robes flowing like water behind him, the weight of his crown heavy upon his brow. His expression was carved from stone, sharp with questions unspoken.
"What is that look?" the Emperor's voice carried with effortless authority. "Have you seen a ghost? Are you not pleased to see me? I have come to free you from this place. Surely, you must have longed to escape."
His words, gilded with imperial pride and dressed in silks as fine as his robes, struck Yunxi like a blow.
Yunxi dared not say a thing only the thoughts who would never say out loud.
Happy? Happy my foot.