Yueyin's POV
I asked what you're doing here, Zhengming repeats, still smiling that dangerous smile.
My mind races for an excuse. Any excuse.
I got lost, I say quickly. The palace is so large, and with all the chaos...
Lost. He says it like he doesn't believe a single word. In the west wing. Near my mother's private chambers. How unfortunate.
He knows. He absolutely knows.
Zhengming steps closer, and every instinct screams at me to run. But guards stand at both ends of the corridor. I'm trapped.
You've been acting very strange tonight, Yueyin. His voice is soft, almost gentle. Which makes it more terrifying. First you avoid me at the festival. Then you're seen talking privately with my brother. Now you're wandering near restricted areas during a crisis.
I wasn't
Don't lie to me. The gentleness vanishes. I've been watching you. Something's changed. You're not the sweet, naive girl you were this morning.
Because that girl died five years from now and came back knowing exactly what you are.
I don't know what you mean, I say.
No? He tilts his head. Then explain why you looked at me earlier like you wanted to kill me. Why you flinched when I touched your arm. Why you practically ran away when I tried to give you a gift.
He did notice. He noticed everything.
I was just overwhelmed
You were terrified. Of me. His eyes narrow. Why? What do you think I'm going to do to you?
Beat me. Use me. Eventually have me executed when I'm no longer useful.
But I can't say that.
Your Highness, I think you're reading too much into
Am I? He moves even closer, backing me against the wall. Or are you hiding something? Some secret you don't want me to know?
My heart hammers. If he suspects I know about his treason, about his plans with the Northern Kingdom...
I have no secrets, I lie.
Everyone has secrets, Yueyin. His hand comes up, fingers brushing my cheek in a gesture that would look tender to anyone watching. But his touch is cold. Possessive. The question is whether those secrets make you useful... or dangerous.
A door opens down the corridor. Voices approach.
Zhengming steps back immediately, his charming smile returning like a mask being pulled back on.
Lady Xia, I do hope you find your way back to your father soon, he says loudly, voice warm and concerned. These corridors can be quite confusing.
Two ministers appear around the corner, deep in conversation. They bow when they see Zhengming.
Your Highness! We were looking for you. The council needs to convene regarding His Majesty's condition
Of course. I'll come immediately. Zhengming glances at me one last time. Lady Xia was just leaving. Weren't you?
It's not a question. It's a command.
Yes, Your Highness. Thank you for your concern.
I bow and walk away as calmly as I can, feeling his eyes burning into my back.
Only when I turn the corner do I let myself run.
My hands shake. My breath comes in gasps. That was too close. Way too close.
Zhengming suspects something. And if he suspects, he'll watch me even more carefully now. Make it impossible for me to investigate or gather evidence.
I need to be smarter. More careful.
But I also need those documents. Need proof of his treason before he becomes Emperor and destroys everyone.
I take a different corridor, heading back toward where they're treating Yizheng. Maybe he's conscious enough to tell me something useful. Give me another plan.
But as I pass a servants' passage, someone grabs my arm and yanks me into the darkness.
I open my mouth to scream
It's me, a familiar voice hisses. Don't scream.
Qingyi.
She pulls me deeper into the passage, away from the main corridor. Her perfect face is twisted with anger now, all pretence of friendship gone.
What do you think you're doing? she demands.
Let go of me!
Not until you explain what's going on with you! Her nails dig into my arm. You've been acting insane all night. Ignoring Prince Zhengming, refusing his gift, sneaking around the palace
I'm not sneaking
Yes, you are! I followed you! I saw you near the Empress Dowager's chambers! Her eyes are wild now. What were you planning? To steal something? To spy?
My blood runs cold. She saw me. She knows where I was.
Which means she'll report it to Zhengming. Or the Empress Dowager. Or whoever's paying her to watch me.
I told you, I got lost
Liar! She shoves me against the wall. You're up to something. I can feel it. And whatever it is, it's going to ruin everything!
Ruin everything. Meaning ruin her plans. Her chance to replace me as Crown Princess.
In my first life, I never understood Qingyi's obsession with Zhengming. Thought she was just being a supportive friend, encouraging our relationship.
Now I see the truth: She wanted him for herself. Wanted the power, the status, the crown. And I was standing in her way.
Get out of my way, Qingyi.
No. Her voice drops to a vicious whisper. You're going to go back to the festival, smile at Prince Zhengming, and accept whatever he offers you. You're going to play your role like a good little noble lady.
And if I don't?
Then I'll make sure everyone knows about your suspicious behaviour tonight. How you were lurking near the Empress Dowager's chambers during an assassination attempt. How you were seen privately with Prince Yizheng multiple times. Her smile is cruel. People will wonder if you're involved somehow. If your family is plotting treason.
It's a threat. A direct, vicious threat.
My father could be accused. Investigated. Executed.
Just like in my first life.
You wouldn't dare, I breathe.
Try me. I've worked too hard, played this game too long to let you ruin it now. She leans in close. I don't know what's wrong with you tonight. But you need to fix it. Fast. Before people start asking questions you can't answer.
She releases my arm and steps back, composing herself. The sweet mask returns.
Now come on. Let's go find your father. I'm sure he's worried about you.
She turns and walks toward the exit of the passage, expecting me to follow like always.
And I realize: I can't fight them all at once. Zhengming, the Empress Dowager, Qingyi, all the nobles playing their political games.
I'm one person. One girl with memories of a future nobody else believes in.
How am I supposed to win against all of them?
But then I remember Yizheng's words: Find the documents.
If I can get proof solid, undeniable proof of treason it won't matter what Qingyi threatens or what Zhengming suspects.
The truth will destroy them.
I just need to survive long enough to find it.
Coming? Qingyi calls back sweetly.
I follow her out of the passage, my mind already planning.
The Empress Dowager's chambers. Hidden compartment behind a painting. Documents that prove everything.
Tonight everyone's distracted with the Emperor's collapse and Yizheng's assassination attempt. Guards pulled in multiple directions. Chaos everywhere.
It's the perfect opportunity.
I just need to get away from Qingyi. Away from all of them.
We emerge into a main corridor where nobles are still rushing around in panic. Father appears, looking relieved.
Yueyin! Thank the heavens. I thought you were lost.
She was, Qingyi says smoothly. Poor thing got turned around in all the confusion. I found her and brought her back.
Father looks at me closely. Are you alright?
No. Nothing's alright. The emperor's dying, Yizheng's wounded, Zhengming suspects me, and Qingyi's threatening my family.
I'm fine, I lie. Just tired. Can we go home?
Not yet. The council is meeting to discuss the succession. I need to attend. He squeezes my shoulder. Wait in the guest chambers. I'll come get you when it's time to leave.
Guest chambers. Where I'll be under watch. Unable to move freely.
Father, I'd rather
That's not a request, Yueyin. His voice is firm. Stay in the guest chambers until I return. Don't wander off again.
He doesn't trust me not to get into trouble. Smart man.
A servant escorts me to the guest chambers. Qingyi follows, still playing the concerned friend.
I'll stay with you, she says brightly. Keep you company while we wait.
Translation: Make sure you don't do anything suspicious.
We reach the chambers. It's a large room with comfortable furniture, but right now it feels like a prison.
Qingyi settles onto a cushion, watching me like a hawk. Sit down, Yueyin. You look exhausted.
I perch on the edge of a chair, every muscle tense.
Time's running out. The emperor's dying. The council's deciding succession. Zhengming's moving into position to take the throne.
And I'm stuck here with a spy pretending to be my friend.
Hours pass. Or maybe just minutes. Time feels weird when you're trapped.
Qingyi chatters about meaningless things festival gossip, dress fashions, noble marriages. I tune her out, thinking about the documents. Trying to figure out how to get to them.
Then suddenly, she stops talking.
Yueyin, she says slowly, staring at me. Your wrist. What happened to your wrist?
I look down. There's a faint bruise forming where Qingyi grabbed me earlier. And another older bruise, almost faded, from
My breath stops.
From where Zhengming grabbed me in my first life. At the festival five years from now, right before everything fell apart.
But that hasn't happened yet in this timeline. That bruise shouldn't exist.
Unless my body remembers. Unless I brought back more than just memories.
I... I must have bumped it, I stammer.
That's not a bump. That's a handprint. Qingyi stands up, coming closer. Someone grabbed you. Hard. Who?
Nobody. Not in this timeline. Not yet.
I don't remember
You're lying again! Her voice rises. Everything tonight, you've been lying! What's wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?
Because I died and came back and I know all your secrets!
The door bursts open.
A guard stands there, face pale. Ladies, you need to evacuate this wing immediately!
What? Why? Qingyi demands.
Fire. Someone set fire to the Empress Dowager's chambers. It's spreading fast!
My heart stops.
The Empress Dowager's chambers. Where the documents are hidden.
Someone's destroying the evidence.
And I think I know who.