The Crown Prince's study smelled of old paper and cold tea.
The windows were shut against the evening air, and the candle on the desk had burned low enough that the shadows pressed close around the map of the northern border. The edges of the map were curled and worn from long use.
Prince Zuo sat behind the desk, his fingers resting flat against the parchment. Across from him, Prince Zen leaned against a bookshelf, arms crossed, the leather of his boots creaking softly as he shifted. Prince Shenji sat near the window, his fingers drumming a slow, rhythmic tap against his knee.
No one spoke for a while. Each was occupied with his own thoughts.
Then a servant entered, his footsteps rustling against the woven carpet. He placed a sealed letter on the desk.
"Your Highness. A message from the young miss Feng has arrived."
Prince Zuo's expression softened—just slightly—as he took the scroll.
"You may go."
The servant bowed and withdrew.
Prince Zuo broke the seal. The wax cracked cleanly, leaving a faint purple stain on his fingertips.
I send my regards to your Highness and wish his highness a long and healthy life.
As per your Highness's wishes, today I visited the Shen residence. After a few incidents, I and the fourth miss of the Shen family have become acquainted. And so, I'm happy to tell you that she's recovering well. She is still as warm and kind as she was before. From the looks of it, it seems she hadn't been affected by the incident that much. I presented some gifts from the princess and the empress.
And also met Young Master Shen Yao briefly. But he quickly withdrew for the night.
I apologize for my silence, but my parents continue getting more anxious as our wedding banquet nears. I'll try to send more letters as long as I get time to inform you of the current developments.
Prince Zuo set the letter down. His fingers rested on the edge of the paper a moment longer than necessary.
"What's wrong, Brother?" Prince Zen glanced over, a sly glint flickering past his eyes. "It's only been a few days since sister-in-law came to find you. Don't tell me you miss her already."
Prince Zuo paused, turning to look at his brother helplessly as he watched the smug look on his face.
He sighed, then picked up another letter and read through it before placing it beside the first. This one was from his uncle, Left Minister Shi. Its seal was already broken, its edges softened from repeated reading.
The emperor's attention has been tightening around the affairs at the border. Now with the Xeng crisis arising, the threats of attack have increased since the last time. Right now, any sudden movements would alert the emperor, so it's better to avoid any scandals. I suggest we stay down for now to avoid the crossfire that may arise.
Prince Zuo straightened and looked at his brothers. The candle between them flickered, casting shifting shadows across their faces.
"Dalishu," he said quietly. "Have any of you managed to get more information about the imperial envoy, Guo Yun?"
Prince Shenji looked up. "I sent spies north. I lost a few men, and the ones who came back provided no further information."
Prince Zuo sighed and rubbed his brow. "Anything else I need to know?"
"In the three days he's been in the capital, apart from meeting the emperor, walking through the markets, and visiting a tea house, nothing else has been found."
Prince Zuo frowned. "Nothing?"
"Yes." Prince Zen glanced at the map in a daze.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes." Prince Zen frowned. "Brother, is something bothering you?"
Prince Zuo thought of the first court session after the envoy arrived. His fingers tapped once against the parchment.
"Has he interacted with the eldest young master of the Shen family yet?"
Both Prince Shenji and Prince Zen shook their heads.
"No reports show he has," Prince Zen said.
Prince Shenji leaned forward. "What? Do you think he's watching Shen Yao?"
"No." Prince Zuo looked up. "But I think he's *interested* in him. And I want to know why."
---
The air in the emperor's study was close and warm, thick with sandalwood incense that had been burning too long.
A single candle burned low on the desk. The flame barely moved in the still air.
Emperor Wei sat alone behind the desk, a report open before him. Eunuch Tan stood nearby, head lowered, hands folded.
The shadow guard's report was detailed.
After Envoy Guo Yun left the palace this morning, he requested a guide to explore the capital and was granted one. He visited the eastern market, three tea houses, one of the kingdom's temples, and an antique shop. He returned to his quarters before dusk. He met no one else in the middle of his journey before retreating home.
The emperor read it twice. With every turn, his brows furrowed deeper.
The paper rustled as he turned it over again, checking the back for any additional notes.
Nothing.
He set it down and leaned back. The chair creaked beneath him.
"Nothing," he murmured. "Really."
His brows tightened into a straight line.
He remembered the envoy's request that morning—the polite bow, the gentle smile, the way his pale blue eyes had swept the room as he asked permission to roam the capital. He had granted it without hesitation, relieved that Dalishu's representative seemed content to play tourist.
Nothing unusual. Nothing suspicious.
He felt oddly relaxed—and at the same time tense, as if he were missing something.
"Eunuch Tan."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"What do you make of this report?"
Eunuch Tan paused briefly. He knew this tone. His hands, hidden in his sleeves, tightened.
"This servant only makes of it what Your Majesty makes of it," he said carefully, bowing. "If the envoy's movements are unremarkable, then there is nothing to fear."
The emperor nodded slowly. He wasn't sure why he felt something was off, but he told himself it was only frustration from the ongoing conflict at the border.
"And the factions? My sons?"
"They grow restless, Your Majesty. But they remain within bounds, with no direct alliances among the noble families."
Another nod.
The emperor rose. His robes whispered against the floor.
"I'm going to Concubine Ke's courtyard. Send word ahead."
Eunuch Tan bowed. "As Your Majesty commands."
The emperor left, his steps lighter than they had been in days.
Eunuch Tan exhaled slowly, alone in the silent study. The candle flickered.
Pardoned, he thought, instinctively touching his neck as a chill passed through his body.
I'm safe for now.
Then, remembering the emperor's instructions, he composed himself and hurried out toward the Lilie Pavilion to carry out the order.
---
The Sixth Prince's Pavilion
The night air was cool and clean here, carrying the scent of damp stone and distant rain.
The pavilion was open on all sides, its wooden pillars draped with thin silk curtains that stirred in the faint breeze. The lanterns swayed, their light soft and golden against the dark.
Prince Xie lounged by the window, one leg drawn up, the other dangling. His elbow rested on the sill, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky where the first stars were appearing.
Behind him, Prince Ren and Prince Yu sat at a low table, a scroll open between them. A pot of tea sat untouched, its steam long since faded.
"The Crown Prince is moving cautiously these days," Prince Ren said. "I suppose even he is afraid of Father's wrath."
"Of course," Prince Yu said. "At a time like this, any step forward feels like a mine waiting to explode."
"He's just careful."
"Did you check what I asked you to?"
Prince Ren frowned. "The envoy—Guo Yun. The reports I received show he hasn't met anyone since his arrival. Except His Majesty, of course."
Prince Yu nodded. "See, brother? I told you there's nothing going on between that envoy and General Shen. Maybe it's just interest—especially with the similar eye color."
"Speaking of eye color," Prince Ren muttered. "General Shen seems to have a one-of-a-kind shade. I wonder where he inherited it from."
"I heard it's from his mother's side. General Luo's grandparents were northerners..."
The conversation continued.
Prince Xie did not participate.
He sat by the window, head tilted, eyes half-closed. His fingers tapped idly against his knee.
*Tap.*
*Tap.*
Hearing no reply for a long while, Prince Ren and Prince Yu turned to look at him.
"Brother?"
No answer.
"Sixth Brother?"
Prince Xie's gaze remained fixed on the sky. A faint smile touched his lips—barely visible.
The weight of their stares finally pulled him back. He spoke—not to answer their questions, but to ask one of his own.
"Don't you think," he said slowly, "that the envoy's eyes look similar to Young Master Shen's? And thinking about it—isn't that a sign of the Dalishu royal family? I heard it's a trait of all direct descendants."
The room went silent.
Ren blinked. "What?"
"I mean his eyes." Prince Xie tilted his head, still staring at the sky. "They may look slightly different, but they're still the same."
Prince Yu frowned. "That's—"
"A coincidence, brother." Prince Ren said it quickly. "Honestly, with the foreign kingdoms integrating together, eye color alone doesn't prove anything." He paused. "Brother, were you even paying attention to what we were saying?"
Prince Xie paused. "Go on."
He finally turned to look at them, his expression unreadable. The lantern light caught his eyes, making them glint.
The room fell silent again.
Prince's Ren and Yu exchanged a glance. Neither spoke.
They both sighed and repeated the explanation they had already prepared.
And though neither said it aloud, the doubt in their hearts had already taken root.