After a long day of shopping, Shen Yao and Xi Shu headed back to the Shen Manor.
The main gate loomed ahead, flanked by two stone lions and a pair of guards who bowed as they passed. Lanterns swayed gently in the evening breeze, casting warm pools of light across the cobblestone path. Shen Yao pulled down his hood as he crossed the threshold, his features no longer hidden.
He made his way to his courtyard, eager to freshen up. The moment he stepped inside in threw off the hood he had been wearing; his hand combed through his long inky black hair feeling exhausted. He glanced down his eyes landing on the hairpin still sticking out of his pocket — a flash of light green and pale purple in the dimness.
Xi Shu walked in shortly after, having instructed the maids to prepare everything that needed to be done. He found his young master standing by the side table, holding the hairpin under the flickering candlelight. The room smelled of sandalwood essence — calming, familiar. Shen Yao turned the hairpin slowly, watching the light catch the dangling flowers.
Xi Shu wanted to say something but stopped himself.
Shen Yao placed the hairpin in the side table next to his bed, then stretched and went to freshen up. A basin of warm water had been left on a stand in the corner. He washed his face and hands, changed into a clean inner robe, and ran his fingers through his hair.
Xi Shu, still standing by the window, sighed hopelessly. His young master had always been the unemotional type, so the fact that he had actually chosen to buy that hairpin showed improvement. Ever since the ambush last time, Xi Shu had been afraid that Shen Yao was still too cold — no matter how much the young miss had been taking the initiative. But it turned out he wasn't being polite. He just cared.... a lot.
Xi Shu glanced at the moon outside the window and smiled. "Master would be happy."
He turned and picked up the hood from the bed, lifting it from where it lay. As he did, a small object fell out — a half-phoenix seal, as big as his thumb, embedded with three small rubies at its core. The metal was dark, tarnished with age, and the break was clean, as if snapped deliberately.
Xi Shu paused. The symbol on the seal felt familiar somehow, but after a moment, he decided he was overthinking it. Perhaps his young master had purchased it today while Xi Shu was busy looking at other items. He shook his head and placed the seal on the side table.
By the time Shen Yao returned from washing up, Xi Shu had already left with only the uniform footsteps of the guards making their rounds outside. Only the seal remained, resting beside the candle.
Shen Yao walked forward calmly and reached for it. He held it in his palm, running his thumb over the broken edge, the rubies cool against his skin. But he couldn't remember getting it from anywhere.
He stood where he was for a while, staring at the seal.
"Are you there?" he asked the empty room.
Silence. Then, from the darkest corner near the door, a shadow moved.
Yu Xie stepped out and knelt without hesitation.
"Young master."