Shu Min rushed back to her room like a startled chicken, dragging Shu Yan with her.
"Quick! Quick! Hide my face!" she whispered in panic.
Shu Yan blinked. "My Lady… you are going with His Majesty. Hiding your face is—"
"—LIFE-SAVING!" Shu Min grabbed a cloth from the wardrobe.
"But it must match my outfit! If it doesn't match, he'll notice!"
Within minutes, she wrapped a soft veil around her face—same color as her dress—only her anxious eyes showing.
Shu Yan stepped back, impressed.
"My Lady… you actually look elegant."
Shu Min: "I'm not going for elegance. I'm going for survival."
She didn't waste time.
She marched out of the room, Shu Yan chasing behind to adjust the veil properly before she embarrassed herself in front of the king again.
---
At the Palace Gate
The guards stood straight when they saw her.
The King's carriage was already waiting, dark and intimidating.
Li Zhan had already settled inside, curtains half-lifted, his expression calm but eyes sharp—watching her approach.
Shu Yan whispered urgently,
"My Lady, behave! And remember—no more plant branches!"
Shu Min hissed back,
"Obviously!"
She took a deep breath and stepped toward the carriage, veil in place.
Li Zhan didn't speak at first.
He simply lifted the curtain higher, gaze sweeping from her neatly wrapped veil to her trembling hands.
"Get in," he said.
Shu Yan bowed and quickly retreated—leaving Shu Min alone with the King.
Shu Min gulped.
Inside the carriage…
Just the two of them.
She climbed in carefully, trying not to make any sound, and sat as far from him as the carriage allowed.
Li Zhan glanced sideways.
"…Do you plan to suffocate yourself with that cloth?"
Shu Min sat up straighter. "N-No! This is… sun protection?"
Li Zhan's eyebrow twitched.
The carriage door closed.
And the ride began.
The carriage rolled forward smoothly, but inside…
the air was tight enough to choke a ghost.
Shu Min pressed herself against the corner like the King carried contagious arrogance.
Li Zhan sat with perfect posture — straight back, hands resting calmly on his knees — but his gaze kept sliding toward her… like he was observing a suspicious creature.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"…Concubine Wen."
Her heart jumped. "Y-Yes, Your Majesty?"
He stared directly at her face-veil.
"Are you planning to accompany me," he said slowly,
"or rob the market stalls one by one?"
Shu Min choked on her own breath.
"I—I'm just avoiding unnecessary… misunderstandings."
Li Zhan's voice carried a dry edge.
"So hiding your face like a fleeing convict helps with that?"
She quietly shrank into herself.
"…It helps with something."
Li Zhan didn't miss the nervous, guilty eyes peeking through the veil.
His gaze softened for one brief moment — one that he immediately wiped away from his expression.
"Concubine Wen," he said flatly,
"I've allowed you one chance. And yet… you cover your face even inside my carriage. What exactly are you hiding?"
Shu Min tightened the veil like a survival instinct.
"My… my fate?"
Li Zhan blinked once.
Then, to her shock, a faint curve touched the corner of his lips — so quick she almost thought she imagined it.
"Ridiculous woman."
The carriage hit a small bump.
Shu Min wobbled, her hands flailing—
and accidentally grabbed his sleeve.
She froze.
He froze.
The air froze.
Shu Min slowly released his sleeve like she was returning a borrowed life.
"对...对不吃!!…(s.. sorry)… reflex!"
Li Zhan didn't look angry.
Just baffled.
"…Are you always this chaotic?"
Shu Min whispered,
"I'm usually worse."
Silence.
Then—
"Concubine Wen."
"Yes?"
"Sit properly. We are almost at the market."
His tone lowered—calm but carrying authority.
"And don't run away or hide behind vegetables this time."
Shu Min made a tiny squeak of offense.
"I didn't hide, Your Majesty… I was… appreciating nature."
"…Behind a cabbage cart?"
Shu Min: "ummm..yes...no..."
Li Zhan exhaled deeply.
A king exhausted by one woman's existence.
Outside, the city sounds grew louder as they approached the market.
Inside, Shu Min clenched her fists, whispering to herself:
"This is for Queen's happy ending…
This is for Queen's happy ending…
This is for Queen's happy ending…"
Li Zhan heard every word.
And his brows furrowed in confusion.
The moment the carriage door opened, a wave of noise, spices, and panic-filled gasps washed over them.
Because the moment people saw the royal guards—
Every merchant instantly stiffened.
One fruit seller dropped an apple.
A butcher froze mid–chop.
A child eating sugar candy quietly hid behind his mother.
Whispers spread faster than wildfire:
"The King is here—!"
"Stand straight!"
"Don't breathe too loudly!"
"Quick, hide those fake weights!"
Li Zhan stepped down first, cold and regal as ever.
The crowd parted instantly, terrified.
Shu Min followed behind him…
trying to look invisible with her little cloth mask.
Not very successfully.
Just two steps into the market—
Her foot caught on a tiny rock.
She flailed.
She rotated.
She silently cursed gravity.
"Ai—ai—ai—a..!!"
Before she could meet the ground face-first…
A firm hand grabbed her waist.
Another steadied her shoulder.
Her entire fall stopped inches from disaster.
Shu Min's eyes widened.
Li Zhan's face was right in front of hers—
serious, sharp, and unexpectedly close.
For a second, one small second,
time paused like a cheesy romance drama.
Shu Min blinked.
Li Zhan blinked.
Shu Min whispered,
"…Oho?"
Li Zhan immediately straightened, jaw tightening.
"Walk properly," he said, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve.
"I am a King, not your personal stabilizing pillar."
Shu Min pouted behind her veil.
(Even though… she definitely saw his hand linger one extra second.)
They continued walking.
Shu Min's eyes sparkled when something caught her attention—a small stall filled with hand-carved pendants.
One in particular:
a star shape made of pale jade.
She stopped, stared, tilted her head,
even reached out to touch it—
But quickly withdrew her hand.
"No buying," she muttered.
"Focus. Cupid mission. No luxury."
She hurried after Li Zhan.
The King, however…
Saw everything.
His gaze flicked back toward the pendant.
His expression unreadable.
He didn't say anything.
But his steps slowed just a little…
almost as if memorizing the exact stall.
Li Zhan began walking through the market with a purpose now.
He scanned the area, noticing guards, hidden alleys, merchants' expressions.
People straightened like wooden boards whenever he passed.
A merchant stammered,
"Y-Your Majesty, t-the taxes....everything is clean...!"
Li Zhan didn't even glance at him.
His voice calm, cold, commanding:
"I am here to inspect the security. Not your trembling conscience."
Shu Min snorted softly behind her veil.
The King shot her a sideways look.
She instantly stood stiff like a bamboo stick.
"Your Majesty," she whispered,
"people fear you too much. Maybe try smiling?"
Li Zhan gave her a blank stare.
"…I am not a street performer."
Shu Min whispered under breathe: yeah! An arrogant man
As they continued walking, Li Zhan suddenly spoke:
"Don't wander off again."
Shu Min jumped. "I didn't!"
"You almost fell into a cabbage cart."
"…That was one time."
He didn't argue—just kept walking.
But Shu Min noticed…
His hand stayed slightly extended behind him,
as if he was prepared to catch her again.
Just in case.