Li Wei turned to Ying, his voice calm but firm. "Don't do anything else. Just serve her food and obey her. She'll like you more that way."
Ying gave a small nod, taking in her brother's advice. After some more brief, silent exchanges between them, she got to her feet and went back to the East Wing, leaving softly behind her fading footsteps.
The night passed softly. All was still.
In his room, Sebastian had briefly taken notice of something: the parchment on his desk had been moved slightly out of its place, not quite where he had left it. He gazed at it with narrowed eyes but dismissed it as a petty distraction without any further evidence of a break-in, and hit the bed.
The morning passed, and before long, it turned into the vat of afternoon. A warm breeze swept across the estate; the sky burned golden, and the air was flavored with soft jasmine from the gardens. It was a strikingly beautiful day-an almost trustworthy day.
Li Wei had not woken up early today. The burden of last night perhaps weighed heavily on him. He sat there on the edge of the bed for a long time, running through the slivers of memory-Sebastian's room, the journal with the parchment, then Ying's words.
Eventually, he donned the dress of fieldwork and stepped out to begin the day. He spent almost an hour on routine tasks-lifting water cans, removing and checking storerooms. It was grounding.
When he was done, he sat on his usual bench, facing the estate's main gate. He was drawn from his thoughts by the rhythm of footsteps.
He froze. Has Sebastian found out?
He didn't turn. Not yet.
Then a soft, composed voice: "Miss Mei demands your presence."
Li Wei relaxed a little. It was the handmaiden.
He turned calmly and followed her through the winding hallways to the East Wing. At Miss Mei's chamber, he knocked lightly.
The answer was just as immediate. The huge royal doors slid open-and there stood Ying.
"Madam, I beg you, Miss Mei requires my presence," he said, half-mock-serious, grinning at his younger sister, giving her the full measure of the new title.
"She'll be here in a minute," said Ying with a polite smile, not wanting to break the mood.
Then, as if remembering, she added, "Oh-and she said you'll be taking her to visit the factory today… with Sebastian. So… prepare."
The words hit Li Wei straight in the chest like a blow.
Why him? he thought. With Sebastian? Mr. Xing? The factory-could it be the sugar factory?
He blinked and then nodded. "You can go, girl. I'll get prepared."
Without further ado, he turned and walked down the stairs, passing briskly through the marble halls, and entered his little room.
There, hanging neatly on the wall, were elegant gentleman's clothes. Deep navy robes with silver embroidery at the cuffs. A wide collar with soft lining, and a sash wrapped just tight enough to hint at nobility. He changed quickly, took a sharp breath, and stepped out.
As he walked back through the corridor, servants along the way paused to stare.
"He's back? Like a friend of Miss Mei now?"
Their whispered gossip did not escape his hearing. But he kept his eyes focused ahead on the polished floor, shining like still water.
When he reached the East Wing, Miss Mei was already descending the staircase.
Her hand was looped around Sebastian's arm.
"You're here. Good. Let's hurry," she said, giving a nod to Li Wei without breaking stride.
Sebastian turned his head and laid eyes on Li Wei.
For a moment, he said nothing, but his stare lingered-dark hair neatly combed, elegant robes, not quite servant-like, strong posture. The sight unsettled him.
"Is he coming along?" Sebastian asked Miss Mei, the edge in his voice barely concealed.
She gave him a look and answered, "Yes. Let's go."
Li Wei strode ahead, stepping forward on those below him. He did not want to walk beside them-not now. Not when it would hurt worse. Not when jealousy would push Sebastian over the edge.
Whispers and giggling behind him.
"He let someone else take her arm…."
The carriage, polished with rich wooden panels and silk curtains, was waiting at the gate-large enough for three.
Miss Mei stepped into the carriage first, assisted by Sebastian.
Then, with a flourish, as only he could, Sebastian climbed in after her and sprawled enough to take up the remainder of the little space left.
He looked down at Li Wei from within the carriage, cold eyes. "Hope you go and come another time," he muttered with a crooked smile.
Li Wei looked to Miss Mei, expecting her to say something-somehow. Take the other carriage, Wait a while. Even just a Sorry.
But she said nothing. She only looked afar.
And that was it.
Li Wei stood there in his fine, pressed robes, abandoned and disgraced.
He turned quietly, head bowed, and walked away, and his footsteps carried him through the narrow paths between flower beds. Laughter followed him-louder at this time. Clearer.
Even the thin servant boy with yellowed teeth was laughing.
He reached his room, shut the door behind him, and sank onto the bed. His jaw set, eyes burning, but the tears didn't fall.
"Why's he doing all this?' he thought bitterly. "Why's she letting him do this to me?"
He lay on the bed, burying his face in the wall, his shame licking up inside him like a slow fire.
But tinder for that fire was something else.
Anger.
"Next time…" he whispered to himself with tense jaws. "Next time I shall do something."