The afternoon sun had begun to soften when Mei Lan entered Shin Gu's courtyard.
Unlike the rest of the palace, where servants were constantly moving and voices could be heard from one corridor to another, Shin Gu's courtyard always seemed strangely isolated.
The trees were too still.
The corridors were too quiet.
Even the servants seemed to have learned how to walk without making a sound.
Mei Lan carried a small tray of tea toward the inner pavilion.
She had become accustomed to being summoned unexpectedly.
Since Shin Gu had begun giving her more responsibilities, Mei Lan had learned one important lesson:
Whenever Shin Gu became friendly, she needed to be even more careful.
"Lady Shin Gu."
Mei Lan bowed.
Shin Gu was sitting beneath the pavilion, staring toward the pond.
She wasn't reading.
She wasn't working.
She simply sat there, one hand resting against her cheek, looking unusually distant.
"Put the tea down," she said.
"Yes, Lady."
