In the east guestroom
It was small, clean, dimly lit, and smelled faintly of old incense.
By the closed window stood a lit lavender incense candle that overshadowed the old scent in the room.
As Ling Feng paced, he took in a whiff of it calming his tightening nerves.
He had been waiting for what felt like hours. The wine had worn off. The anger had settled into something colder. He had drunk but now he felt more sober. Patient.
His fingers traced the edge of the low table. The bed was made, the curtains drawn. Everything was ready.
Now all he needed was her.
He stopped pacing. listening for footsteps in the corridor? No. Just the creak of old wood. A servant passing. But nothing.
His jaw tightened.
"Where is she?"
"How long did it take to drag unconscious girl to a room?"
His mother had told the maid would be quick. A simple task. Find the girl, give her the cup, lead her here. They had paid well. They had been very clear.
And still, nothing.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, his hands resting on his knees. His thumb tapped against his thigh—once, twice, three times.
"Patience," he told himself. "She will come."
"She'll come"
His eyes kept drifting to the door.
Time passed and after what felt like an hour, he finally had a sound.
He sat up quickly heading to the door. Ready to lash at the useless maid for taking so long. But it was a false alarm, instead he had a group of maids gossiping about the relationship between General Shen and his little sister.
His face twisting in annoyance. he took a step back then turned around heading to the bed.
After thinking about it he realized his plan might have flopped, He stood up hurriedly to leave the room, but he felt light-headed and he stumbled falling back on the bed.
Ling Feng blinked. His vision blurred for a moment. He rubbed his eyes and shook his head, blaming the wine.
But the wine had worn off hours ago.
He stood, intending to move again—and swayed slightly. His hand caught the edge of the low table to steady himself.
He frowned.
His breathing had become slower.
His limbs suddenly felt... heavier.
"...What?"
His vision blurred.
He turned to where the candles were on the side table—they seemed ordinary, unremarkable. Their scent was faint, floral, pleasant.
He hadn't thought anything of it.
But now.
His eyes widened.
He sat back down, his head bowed, waiting for a door that would not open.
---
In the Kitchen, Wei Mei wiped her hands on her apron and looked around. After a long shift she had finally gotten a break.
The kitchen was still crowded, still loud, still hot. Steam rose from the cauldrons. Servants rushed past with trays of food and empty cups. The head cook was shouting something about the fish.
But she couldn't see her brother.
She had last seen him near the firewood, dodging her pinch with that quick laugh of his. That had been... she wasn't sure. A while ago.
She walked to the kitchen entrance and peered out into the dim corridor. No small figure. No grey robe. No bright eyes watching her from the shadows.
A knot tightened in her chest.
"He said he would stay."
"Where did he go to?"
She called his name. Softly at first
"Wei Lin"
"Wei Lin"
"Lin'er...Don't scare Jie jie like this"
"Wei Lin, where are you?"
Then louder. No answer.
She glanced at a passing attendant just like her and asked if she had seen her brother. The woman kept silent for a while before shaking her head.
Her heart sank further.
She stepped into the corridor, looking left, then right. Empty. Quiet.
"He knows better than to wander off in a place like this."
She bit her lip. She told herself it was fine. He was a clever boy. He would find his way back.
But she didn't believe it.
She hesitated—then taking the first step on the stone she prepared to walk deeper into the corridor
---
Xi Shu reached the kitchen entrance and looked inside.
The kitchen was still in full motion—steaming pots, clattering trays, voices layered over each other in a familiar chaos. And near the far wall, a young woman in pale blue was pulling on her sleeves, her head turned toward the corridor beyond the kitchen.
Wei Mei.
She was leaving.
He moved quickly, circling through the service tables to intercept her before she disappeared into the dark.
Wei Mei heard rushed footsteps approach and turned vigilantly.
Xi Shu stopped a few paces away, his face calm, his hands visible.
"Are you Wei Mei?" he said, his voice low.
Wei Mei glanced at Xi Shu and shook her head " I'm so sorry sir, but my brother went missing I don't have the time maybe later"
"Just a moment of your time." Xi Shu said
"I'm sorry ... but my brother is far more important" She frowned, taking a half-step back.
She immediately took two steps forward ready to walk away. When she had-
"If you leave this kitchen, you'll be in danger"
"Someone bribed one of the maids to drug you"
Wei Mei paused in her steps.
"After you fell unconscious, you were supposed to be taken to the east guest room"
Wei Mei immediately turned around. "Who are you? How do you know all of this?"
"I serve the Shen household. My name is Xi Shu." He paused. "Your brother should be safe. I'll help you look for him I need you to listen carefully."
Her eyes widened. "Wei Lin—where is he?"
"That's his name. ...from what I know he should still be in the mansion." Xi Shu kept his voice steady. "But just because I stopped one attempt tonight. Doesn't guarantee he won't try again."
Wei Mei's face went pale. Her hands curled at her sides.
"Please," he said, "do not go back to the kitchen alone. Stay close to me until I find your brother and get you both to safety."
She stared at him for a long moment. Then she nodded—a small, shaky motion.
"Who are you?" she asked again, quieter this time.
"I am Xi Shu and unfortunately just like you, I lost my miss," Xi Shu admitted, his gaze flicking briefly to the window.
"Wei Mei....Yes, my name is Wei Mei"
"Alright, Let's go then"
Wei Lin was missing.
Shen Miao was lost.
Somewhere inside the palace, someone else's plan had already begun to unravel.
Xi Shu intended to unravel the rest.
He left the kitchen, Wei Mei following closely behind.