Yuan Wei returned to his chambers, the quiet finally a relief. The morning air had been deceptively pleasant, but Princess Lian's relentless attention left him drained. He closed the door softly behind him and leaned back against it, running a hand over his face.
"Alright," he muttered to himself. "Time to think. Vines, hidden doors, missing papers… and a princess who apparently has no concept of personal space."
He sat on the edge of the bed, eyes narrowing. That eastern wing door had been far too perfectly placed to be coincidental. If the original Yuan Wei had really hidden something, this was a likely spot. But scouting it without drawing suspicion would take careful planning—something he'd have to do while keeping Princess Lian at arm's length.
---
