The morning after the banquet, the streets of the capital felt more alive than usual. Lanterns had not yet been taken down. Fragrant petals from flower arrangements scattered in the breeze, sticking to stone paths. But inside the small courtyard where Li Wei lived, there was only silence.
She sat near her stove, stirring a pot of rice porridge. Her mind was far away.
The silk dress lay folded nearby. Xiao Mei had cleaned it and returned it with care, but Li Wei hadn't even looked at it since the night before.
Xiao Ling ran in, barefoot as usual. "Jie-jie, two ladies came by earlier!"
Li Wei looked up. "Who?"
"They were dressed very fancy. They looked around like they were smelling something bad. Then they whispered to each other and left."
Li Wei didn't ask more. She already knew.
News from the banquet must have spread fast.
She couldn't stop thinking about how Shen had spoken to her. His eyes had been soft, almost too soft—as if he already believed she belonged by his side. As if he had chosen her.
But Li Wei hadn't chosen anything.
Not yet.
Meanwhile, deep inside the General's temporary command hall, Feng returned from his morning run across the city. He tossed his coat to a chair and entered the inner room.
"She's fine," he said without waiting. "Her stall is open again. She looked quiet, but not troubled."
Yan Chen looked up from his paperwork. "Good."
Feng hesitated.
"What?" Yan Chen asked.
"You've been more… silent lately," Feng said. "Since the banquet."
"There's nothing to say."
Feng raised an eyebrow. "Is it that you don't trust Shen? Or that you don't trust yourself?"
Yan Chen didn't answer. He simply returned to his documents.
Feng, ignoring the warning in his friend's silence, stepped closer. "You're protecting her from a distance. I understand that. But sooner or later, someone else will get close."
Yan Chen's jaw tightened.
Feng sighed. "At least let me do something about her stall. Word is, some men from the market board are making it difficult for her. A new tax. A limit on where she can set up."
Yan Chen's eyes narrowed. "That wasn't happening before."
"No."
"Find out who ordered it. Quietly."
"And the girl?"
Yan Chen looked toward the window.
"Leave a note. In the usual way. Let her know she's not alone."
Back at the market square, Li Wei was arguing with a large man in a brown vest and dirty boots.
"This wasn't here before!" she said, pointing at the wooden sign nailed next to her stall. "What do you mean 'special vendor fee'?"
The man grunted. "New rule. All food stalls must pay for a fire license and cleanup tax. That's two strings of copper coins a week."
"That's more than I make!"
"Then maybe you should sell something better."
Li Wei clenched her fists. Xiao Ling grabbed her sleeve tightly.
Before Li Wei could speak, the man turned and left.
She bit her lip hard, holding back her anger.
"I don't understand," she said to Mei later. "I've always followed the rules. Why now?"
Xiao Mei shook her head. "Someone doesn't want you growing. Maybe they think you're too close to someone powerful now."
Li Wei froze.
"Shen?"
Xiao Mei shrugged. "Or maybe someone who doesn't like Shen's interest in you."
The idea made Li Wei feel small. Like a pawn in someone else's game.
That night, when she lit the lantern at her window, she found another folded note tucked between the door slats.
"The world tries to bend you. Stay upright."
No name. No mark.
But it warmed her anyway.
Two days later, Shen arrived at her stall again, but not alone this time.
His servant, the one who often bought buns before, walked beside him. Shen wore plain clothes, nothing like the robes from the banquet.
"I hope I'm not disturbing," he said kindly.
Li Wei stepped back slightly. "No. Just surprised."
He looked around. "Your stall is smaller than I remember."
"That's because the market board ordered changes. New fees."
Shen frowned. "Did you ask for their records?"
"I can't afford a legal scribe."
Shen turned to his servant. "Speak to the board tomorrow. Quietly. I want names."
"Yes, sir."
Li Wei raised a hand. "Please don't cause trouble."
Shen met her eyes. "Sometimes trouble is the only way to stop unfairness."
She didn't know how to reply. So instead, she asked, "Would you like something to eat?"
He smiled. "Always."
She served him warm ginger buns. As he ate, he watched her carefully.
"You've been quiet," he said. "Even when you're angry, you're quiet."
Li Wei shrugged. "I learned not to make noise unless it matters."
"You do matter," he said softly.
She looked away.
That evening, as Shen rode away, his servant remained behind for a moment. He stepped back to the stall and smiled at Li Wei.
"These are still the best buns in the city."
"Thank you," she said, surprised.
"I remember the first time I bought one. My master didn't even notice. But I kept coming back."
Li Wei chuckled. "You're the one who always wanted the lotus filling."
"Still do."
Then he leaned in slightly. "He talks about you. Even when he's not trying to."
Li Wei blinked.
"Just thought you should know," he said, and left.
Later that night, Feng reported everything back to Yan Chen.
"She's struggling. Shen is helping. But it's becoming more… visible."
Yan Chen nodded once. "And the board?"
"The official who approved the new fees has ties to Minister Gao."
Yan Chen's gaze sharpened. "Figures."
"You want me to intervene?"
"No. I'll go myself."
Feng's eyes widened. "What? That's risky. Someone could recognize you."
"I'll go at night. I want to speak to the official directly."
Feng sighed. "She'll know someone's helping."
"I'll make sure she doesn't know it's me."
Feng tilted his head. "And if she finds out later?"
Yan Chen didn't answer.
The next day, Li Wei received a surprise visit.
A servant from the market board came to her with a letter.
"Your fees have been waived. You're now considered an 'honored small vendor' under city protection."
Li Wei stared at the paper.
"By whose order?" she asked.
The servant bowed. "They didn't say."
Xiao Mei danced in joy when she heard. "See? Someone's on our side!"
Li Wei wasn't so sure.
That night, the same paper note returned—this time tied with a small red thread.
"The world notices your fight. Keep moving."
Meanwhile, in a quiet teahouse far from the city square, Shen sat across from his father.
Minister Gao sipped bitter tea and gave his son a cold look.
"I heard you're still visiting the street girl."
Shen set his cup down calmly. "Her name is Li Wei."
"She sells buns. She's not one of us."
"She was. Before your court allies took everything."
Gao's eyes narrowed. "You think I don't know who her father was? He played politics poorly. That's not my fault."
"She's not asking for pity," Shen said. "She's rebuilding what your people destroyed."
"And you want to marry that?"
"I didn't say that."
"But you thought it."
Shen didn't reply.
Gao leaned forward. "You are my only remaining heir. You think you'll be allowed to marry a vendor girl with no title and no land?"
"I don't need permission," Shen said quietly.
Gao slammed the table. "Don't be foolish. You want to help her? Fine. But don't bring her into our house."
Shen stood up.
"Then maybe I don't want your house."
If you enjoy the story, don't forget to hit "Add to Collection" 💫