On the other side of the second floor, Shen Yao sat in one of the private rooms
"Fragrance Tea House had indeed lived up to its name "Shen Yao thought taking a sip of the tea that been delivered to his room.
Across the room Xi Shu leaned toward the attendant and said something quietly — too quiet for Shen Yao to hear, the attendant nodded then withdrew.
Shen Yao didn't ask what it was about. After knowing Xi Shu for this long he trusted him enough not to suspect him.
The food arrived a few minutes later — his earlier order carried out efficiently. Xi Shu had excused himself shortly after claiming he had something to attend to.
Shen Yao watched him go. and now he sat alone in the private room drinking his tea and eating calmly
He thought about all the clues he had found and assassination and shook his head placing them aside here wasn't the best place or time to get distracted
He finished his meal calling the attendant to clean up everything since he was done. Glancing done he looked at the fresh pot of tea brought in and poured some tea in one of the porcelain cups his mind rewinding to that night the figure in black who had saved his life.
He glanced at the corner of the room mid sip his eyes narrowing tilting his head and placed the teacup down. It was dark and looked normal but Shen Yao couldn't help but suspect there was something more to it
And he knew, with the certainty that someone was hiding in the empty room he was in.
He picked up his cup and took a sip
"You're the one who saved me," he said to the corner "Before right"
The room then fell silent the only sound being Shen Yao lightly blowing on his tea
Then the shadow moved.
It separated from the corner the movement swift — stepping forward into the room's light and lowering itself to one knee in a single fluid motion. One hand crossed over the chest. Head slightly bowed.
Shen Yao glanced at him with a tilt of his head placing his cup of tea down
"Shadow soldier," he thought, the pieces assembling themselves from all the information he had ever heard of in his past life. His eyes narrowed as he glanced at the shadow in front of him." Death soldiers, the kind only the highest families raise. The type the emperor keeps for himself the type he had seen stories of and now here was one kneeling in front of him
He kept his face neutral
Whoever sent this person was either dangerous or just didn't care about the emperor
Neither option is simple.
"Who are you," he said. "Why are you following me."
The shadow knelt in silence. That lasted long enough that Shen Yao had begun to consider whether an answer was coming at all
"Yu Xie." he answered his voice hoarse and travel worn
Shen Yao blinked then chuckled
Finding it amusing that he hadn't noticed he was being tailed this whole time