Shen Miao's fluttered open slowly.
For a moment she couldn't remember where she was
Glancing around she realized she was no longer in the dark room. She had entered before.
Raising her weak hand she lightly rubbed her forehead feeling a bit sore. As the memories from before she fell unconscious came flooding in. She remembered she had smelt something sweet then her limbs grew heavy, her thoughts slow. She had barely registered the sound of footsteps when what looked like a small figure opened the door.
Wei Lin frowned immediately his nose covered by a cloth. He turned toward the candle laying by the closed window.
Who would set such a vile trap?
After they had separated, he had thought about how this girl had got herself lost before so he had come back looking for her.
Walking back through the path, he had shown her earlier he frowned.
She should have returned to the banquet by now right.
He looked around a few rooms down the corridor before he heard someone mumble. He froze and quickly hid at the curve of the corridor.
He stack his head. Only to see a strange woman dressed in the same clothes his sister was in, peek through the door of a room at the edge of the corridor. It wasn't his business but for some reason he didn't like the look of it.
After she had left, he had hesitated, but then at the other side of the corner he had seen a strange man walking forward looking around with his sister following behind him moving through the halls.
Surprised he had rushed to her.
Before Wei Mei could fully understands what was actually happening, she felt someone pull her into an embrace.
She froze then realizing what happened she tried to resist trying to pry the hands off her when she heard.
"Jie jie"
Wei Mei glanced down her eyes welling with tears as she quickly reached for the boy's ears pulling them hard.
"Didn't I tell you to stay in one place"
"Why are you running around like a monkey?"
"Don't you know how to keep your promises"
"You scared your Jie...." She quickly pulled him into a tighter embrace.
Her voice broke.
"I thought something had happened to you.
"You naughty child"
Tears flowed down her cheek landing on the boy's shoulder.
" I'm not a child" he said in a low voice but didn't pull away.
In the quiet corridor only the sound of silent sobs was heard.
" I'm sorry. Jie jie"
"I promise I'll never do it again"
As if triggered by his words his sister pulled back from the embrace and pulled his ear harder.
"Jie jie ....please.... I already said I'm sorry"
"Please let go...."
"It hurts.."
Xi Shu watched from the side glancing at the person in the woman's arms. Then as if remembering something his eyes widened.
He stepped forward. His eyes sticking to the boy in front of him.
His sudden movement alerted Wei Lin who quickly pulled his sister behind him leaving him to face Xi Shu head on in case he tried anything.
Wei Mei frowned seeing his actions and flashed an apologetic smile to Xi Shu as she pulled the boy by the collar to the side.
"Don't be rude" then glanced at Xi Shu introducing her brother Wei Lin to him. And introducing Xi Shu as the nice man who saved her life.
Wei Lin glanced at his sister really questioning if all women had no self-awareness. First that Shen girl, now his Jie. He didn't need to be any closer to feel the cold oppressive air emitting from this man and yet his sister dares to call him nice.
He sighed rubbing his forehead feeling helpless. If this continued, he would have to teach his sister defense moves so she could keep herself safe even without him because it seems she had an overly trusting issue.
Feeling a large shadow drawing closer to him Wei Lin took a step back. But Xi Shu was not bothered and glanced down at the boy in worn out shoes that seemed to be covered with dirt if he wasn't wrong.
"Wei Lin right.... you wouldn't happen to have been in the royal garden earlier today by any chance" He glanced up at the boy's face.
Wei Lin quickly scrambled to hide his shoes. But following Xi Shu gaze he already knew he was found out.
He clenched his fist and nodded obediently.
Seeing his willingness to cooperate Xi Shu tight face loosened a bit when he glanced at the boy.
"That's good... then did you see a young lady a noble dressed in Jade green robes a hair pin light green with dangling flowers"
Wei Lin's eyes widened. he nodded hard forgetting his momentary fear and anxiety from a few minutes ago.
Relief crossed Xi Shu's face for the first time since this whole thing started.
Then he saw the boy frown. Seeing this Xi Shu froze.
"What's wrong?"
"I... I told her to come this way to find the banquet, but when I came back to check she was gone"
Xi Shu frowned " Alright"
"Let's check around she shouldn't have gone far if she came through here"
"For now I can't leave you alone especially when you have a child with you" Xi Shu said to Wei Mei.
"I said am not a child"
Wei Lin pouted slightly in his sister's arms.
Thinking about it she nodded. Smiling as she looked at her brother.
As if remembering something Wei Lin freed himself from his sister's arms and pointed to a room not far away.
"Let's check there first" Wei Lin said rushing towards that direction.
Glancing at the direction the boy ran in. Wei Mei apologized once again to Xi Shu. They stepped forward and followed anyway.
Pushing the door in, he paused glancing around. Was it really his imagination he thought he heard something close.
Wei Lin paused so abruptly that Xi Shu nearly walked into him. It was stronger. He quickly covered his nose with his sleeve and ran to open the nearest window inside the room.
Fanning his hand around.
"It's here"
He finally felt the air lighten in the room, no longer feeling suffocated he finally glanced at the bed.
Xi Shu stepped forward, his eyes already scanning the room. He saw Shen Miao on the bed, her robes intact, her breathing slow. He pressed a hand to her shoulder.
"Fourth Miss."
She stirred, her eyes fluttering open. A face swam into view. Familiar. Worried.
Behind him, Wei Mei appeared in the doorway, her face pale from the smell. Wei Lin moved to stand beside her, his gaze fixed on Shen Miao.
Xi Shu helped Shen Miao sit up, then lifted her gently, supporting her weight as he guided her toward the door.
She was too dizzy to resist.
As they passed through the threshold, Xi shu paused glancing back for the last time.
In his hands Shen Miao stirred again her vision blurry as she glanced behind them catching sight of the other bulge on the bed.
She did not understand what she was seeing. She did not have the strength to ask.
Wei Mei frowned "I think we should go quickly "
Xi Shu nodded.
He snapped out of his thoughts and led her down the corridor, away from the east guest room, away from the scent, away from the crowd that was already gathering near the main hall.
Wei Mei followed close behind. Wei Lin in the rear, his sharp eyes watching the corridor behind them.
They did not stop until they reached a small, quiet corner near the garden. Xi Shu lowered Shen Miao onto a stone bench and knelt beside her.
"Fourth Miss," he said, his voice low. "Stay here. I will return soon."
He turned to Wei Lin.
"Stay with her. Do not leave her side."
Wei Lin nodded. He settled onto the bench beside Shen Miao, his small frame tense, his eyes scanning the shadows.
Wei Mei hesitated, then crouched beside him patting his head to comfort him.
Xi Shu disappeared back into the corridor.
Shen Miao leaned against the cool stone, her eyes closing. She did not know where she was. She did not know how she had gotten there.
But beside her, a boy with sharp eyes watched the dark. And his sister stood close, one hand patting his hair and other resting on his shoulder.
She couldn't tell why but for once.
Shen Miao felt safe.