The market roared with life.
Spices stung the air.
Merchants shouted over each other.
Children darted between stalls, chasing copper coins.
Li Wei saw none of it.
He moved through the crowd like a blade, his personal guard trailing behind.
Every sense was honed, searching.
He had followed a lead on the physician's secret meetings.
If the traitor was here, he would find him.
Then—
A flash of white.
A veil, caught in the wind.
And a laugh.
Light. Familiar.
Li Wei froze.
Leena.
She was running across the street, breathless, laughing—
Her hand tangled tightly with Chen Yu's.
Li Wei's chest went cold.
Then hot.
Holding hands.
In public.
With him.
He didn't move.
Didn't blink.
He simply watched as they skidded to a stop in a side alley, cheeks flushed from running.
They hadn't seen him yet.
Chen Yu noticed first.
His grin faltered. "…Ah."
Leena followed his gaze.
And her stomach dropped to the earth.
Li Wei stood in the crowd like a storm given form.
Black robes rippling in the market wind.
She dropped Chen Yu's hand like it burned.
The prince walked toward them, each step deliberate.
The crowd seemed to peel away on instinct.
When he finally stopped in front of them, his voice was soft—
Too soft.
"Did I not tell you…"
His eyes flicked to Leena, sharp as blades.
"…to stay in the palace?"
Leena's throat went dry.
Words tangled on her tongue.
"I—"
Chen Yu cut in, forcing a laugh that cracked at the edges.
"Ah! Your Highness, forgive us! I was only… helping her choose a gift for you. A… birthday gift!"
Li Wei's gaze flicked to their still-warm hands.
Then back to Leena.
He didn't believe a word.
"Return to the palace. Both of you.
Now."
Neither dared to argue.
As they followed him through the streets of Chang'an, the market noise faded into a distant hum.
Leena's heart pounded in her ears.
For the first time since stepping into the palace…
She had seen it.
The prince wasn't just cold.
He was angry.