The maid from before had not gone far.
She had been hovering at the edge of the servants' corridor, her mind racing, her hands still trembling from the encounter with Xi Shu.
Instinctively she touched the silver still tucked in her sleeve—It was heavy, warm, hers—but it felt like it was burning through the fabric.
She knew if the plan failed that shrewd woman would not let her escape today unscathed.
But what could she do, she had already lost the vial, and she was sure that cup had long been disposed of. She had lost her chance to earn the rest of the silver what she'd been promised.
"What do I do now?" She twisted the edge of her pale blue skirt nervously
She had thought of running. Leaving the mansion, disappearing into the night, taking the silver and never looking back.
But shook her head. The guards would find her. If not princess's people, then it will be that vicious woman, she would be caught before she left the capital.
She pressed her back against the cold stone wall, trying to think.
When she heard a light sound.
A soft click of a door closing. Not far from where she stood.
She crept forward, her steps silent on the stone. Looking down the corridor, it was dim. The door to the east guest room was just shut, but a sliver of light still flickered beneath it.
Remembering the instructions she was given, she froze.
Tiptoeing down the quiet hallway only her steps were audible.
Finally close to the door she clung to the wall then slowly but carefully pressed her ear to the wood.
Silence. Then a faint murmur—a voice, too soft to make out. Then nothing.
The sound was gone.
For a second, she felt she was hallucinating. Still not sure.
She slowly pushed the door open—just a crack—and peeked inside.
The candle on the low table had almost burnt out with only a bit still left. On the bed, a figure lay sprawled. A woman in green robes on the right. On the left, slumped against the frame, a man in disheveled robes barely moved the only sign being the low movement of his chest when he breathed in and out.
Their clothes were crumpled. Their hair loose. Neither moved.
The maid's eyes widened in delight.
She stepped back, her heart hammering. She had finally gotten a way to get the rest of the silver. She didn't know who the woman was. She didn't care. What she knew was that this was something—something she could use.
Closing the door but leaving a small unnoticeable crack in between.
She smiled happily rubbing the pouch of silver hanging from her waist.
No one would believe they had simply fallen asleep, alright.
But.... for that to succeed she would have to play her cards right
Thinking about she her eyes brightened.
Taking a deep breath, she squeezed her eyes shut hard then turned and ran.
Not toward the kitchens. Not toward the servants' quarters. Toward the main hall, her steps fueled by panic and a single, desperate thought:
"This time, I won't leave empty-handed."
---
"Help"
"Someone.... please.... help"
She burst into the edge of the banquet.
The guards reacted quickly capturing the troublemaker, but she struggled breaking free from their grasp and rushing forward.
By now the commotion this side had already attracted the attention of many nobles who talked in murmurs. The royal family also paused looking in one direction the empress turning a subtle look towards Princess Fei who glanced to Fan Xinyu who immediately ordered the guards to stop the intruder.
The emperor hit his arm rest.
Everyone turned to him. Seeing his cold face they all knelt in unison no one daring to speak afraid of irritating his majesty even more.
The banquet was quiet now. No one dared to breathe too loud as they all waited.
"You may all rise" he sat down.
His face still cold but didn't say anything more.
Seeing this not only princess but everyone including the princes of the noble family sat up waiting.
Stepping forward Princess Fei bowed to her brother before gracefully stepping down, heading toward the maid who immediately lowered her head. Though anyone who knew the princess knew that right now she was angry.
Following behind the princess, Fan Xinyu glanced at the maid. He remembered this maid an orphan who had recently been hired by the head maid. A distant relative from what he was told.
Walking down the short path, everyone watched the princess stand in front of the maid with bated breaths.
" Who are you?"
"Why are you interrupting my banquet?"
The maid glanced up. Her breath ragged. Her face flushed.
"There's been an accident—in the east guest room—"
She pointed toward the corridor, her hand shaking. Her voice carried through the hall like a crack of thunder in still air.
She glanced at the Princess meeting those cold eyes and immediately lowered her head.
Conversation rose again. Heads turned. Cups were set down.
The emperor frowned.
Princess Fei frowned too.
"Who is it?" she asked, her voice quiet but carrying.
She fell to her knees, her head bowed low, her breath still ragged.
"Your Highness—I'm sorry—I didn't mean to—I just saw—"
"Speak?" Princess Fei's voice was calm, but her eyes were cold.
The maid raised her head, tears streaming down her face.
"I saw two people entering a room in the east wing," she said, her voice shaking. "A man and a woman. They seemed—they seemed to be in a hurry. They didn't look at me. I heard—I heard some strange noises—"
Her words trailed off into muffled sobs.
A louder murmur rippled through the crowd. The nobles leaned forward, their faces a mix of shock and barely concealed excitement. This was better than wine. Better than music. This was entertainment.
Princess Fei's gaze swept the room. Her expression remained composed, but her eyes were searching.
"It must be a servant," she said, her voice steady. "A misunderstanding. I will deal with it personally."
She moved to step forward—
"WAIT" A voice cut through the crowd like knife.
A noblewoman's voice cut through the murmur.
"Madam Ling," the lady said, turning with a polite, curious smile, "where is your son? I haven't seen him in quite a while."
The room went still. The crowd's attention shifted like a hunting pack scenting blood.
Madam Ling's face drained of color. Her hands clenched in her lap.
"I—he—he stepped out for some air," she stammered.
But the damage was done.
Whispers began to grow, spreading through the crowd like cracks in ice. Heads turned toward Madam Ling, then toward the doors leading to the east wing.
Princess Fei's gaze swept the hall again. Her eyes were harder now.
"Someone else's missing," she said, a voice low, barely above a murmur. "Where is Fourth Miss Shen?"
The eldest princess turned toward the empty seat.
A wave of murmurs spread through the hall. The nobles exchanged glances—some curious, some eager, some already calculating how to use this information.
Shen Yiyi, seated nearby, lowered her head slightly. Her face was still, composed, but she said nothing. She didn't need to.
One of her cronies turned to her, feigning confusion.
"Shen Yiyi, where is your cousin? I haven't seen her for some time now."
Shen Yiyi looked up, her expression innocent, her voice soft.
"I don't know. She went to meet the princess and that was the last time I saw her. I didn't think anything of it."
The words landed like stones in still water causing ripples.
The murmurs didn't stop.
Princess Fei's hand tightened on the armrest of her chair. She looked past the maid, past Madam Ling, past the murmuring nobles, to a single face in the crowd.
Shen Yao now stood near the jade pillars, his face expressionless.
But his hands—hidden in his sleeves—were clenched.
He had felt it long before the maid appeared. The wrongness. The silence where Xi Shu should have been, the absence of his sister's presence.
Now he knew.
He did not wait for permission
At least he couldn't as a slow anxiety rose in him.
Then without waiting for the princess's permission.
He turned and walked toward the east wing by himself.
---
Madam Ling rose.
Her face was pale, but her steps were measured. She did not run. She did not call out. She walked toward the east wing. Her steps anxious but relieved.
She was not pleased by the idea of her son marrying Shen Miao. She had never wanted that. But if the scandal was already unfolding, she would use it. She would not let her son be destroyed. She would salvage what she could.
Behind her, the crowd stirred.
No one announced it. No one gave permission. But one by one noblewomen rose in groups. A minister exchanged a glance with his wife and followed. The servants in the back of the hall slipped through the side doors, eager to see what the commotion was about.
In a world without theaters, without newspapers, without entertainment beyond what happened in these halls, a scandal like this was a gift. The nobles followed not because they cared about Shen Miao or Ling Feng—but because they wanted to see.
Left minister Shi sighed
Princess Fei watched them go, her face unreadable.
She did not stop them.
She couldn't or it would just make her look guilty.
Taking a deep breath, she followed.