39 The Queen is Informed
In the quietest part of the Wu Clan palace, beyond a series of locked gates and shadowed halls, Xia hurried through the silk-draped corridor. The scent of sandalwood lingered in the air, and the flicker of lantern light cast moving patterns across the floor.
She reached the last door and knelt respectfully.
Xia: "Your Majesty… they've all arrived."
From within, a calm voice answered — soft but carrying a weight that made the air tighten.
Wang Xiao: "All?"
Xia lowered her gaze. "Yes. The princes, princesses, clan leaders… every one of them."
For a moment, there was only silence. Then the rustle of fabric — the Queen rising from her seat. Still in her fool's disguise, her posture was slouched, her hair slightly messy, lips curved in a faint, playful smile.
Wang Xiao: "Good… let them rest. Tonight… I will greet them."
Xia hesitated. "As… the Queen?"
Wang Xiao turned her head slightly, eyes glinting like a hidden blade beneath moonlight.
Wang Xiao: "No… not yet. For now, they'll only see the fool they believe me to be."
Outside, rain began to patter against the rooftops, the sound mingling with the distant roar of the waterfalls.
In the guest wing, Wang San was already plotting how to "accidentally" annoy Yun Zhan before dinner.