The ride back from the palace was quiet. Zhu Mingyu didn't speak, and I didn't press him. He sat on the opposite side of the carriage, hand resting on his knee, eyes fixed on nothing in particular. Not anger, not fear—just silence. A man measuring the limits of the box he had willingly climbed into. I didn't bother to disturb him.
The estate gates were already open when we arrived. The guards stood in formation. The servants bowed as we passed. Orderly. Predictable. Just as I preferred it.
I didn't speak until we reached the central courtyard. "Where is she?"
Zhu Mingyu stopped as he studied my face. "Lady Yuan is still under confinement," he said as if that explained everything.
I rolled my eyes. "Confinement doesn't mean isolation," I reminded him. "Confinement only means that you need the people to come to you first."
