The door closed behind Shen Yao.
Emperor Wei sat motionless behind his desk, his eyes still fixed on the space where the young man had stood. Since that time in the imperial court, he had always had a feeling that something about Shen Yao had changed.
"Too calm," he thought. "Too composed. The Shen boy was never like this."
He had known the original Shen Yao—arrogant, loud, easily provoked. The young man who had just bowed and walked out of his study was none of those things at least he didn't show any signs of being like that. He had entered a room with five hidden guards and shown no reaction at all.
That was either him showing control or complete ignorance.
The emperor didn't believe in ignorance.
He raised one finger.
The shadows behind the silk screens moved jumping down in front of him.
Five figures emerged—dark robes, masked faces, weapons sheathed. They knelt in a row before the desk, heads bowed.
Emperor Wei glanced down at them.
"Well?"
The leader spoke. "Your Majesty. The young master's heartbeat remained steady. His breathing did not change. His eyes did not linger on any corner or shadow."
The emperor's eyes narrowed as his fingers tapped the armrest. Once. Twice.
"No reaction at all?"
"None, Your Majesty."
A long silence.
The emperor's jaw tightened, but not with anger—with calculation. He could not afford to alienate the Shen family. Not now. Not with Dalishu envoys weeks away and the northern border still unsettled. The Pei family was already watching, waiting to see which way the wind blew. If he moved against Shen Yao without cause, both military families would close ranks and turn on him.
"Patience," he reminded himself. "The boy will make a mistake. They always do."````
"Leave him," the emperor said finally. "For now. But watch. Quietly. From a distance. I want to know who he meets, where he goes, and what he says"
The five bowed. "As Your Majesty commands."
They rose and melted back into the shadows.
Emperor Wei sat alone.
He picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and returned to the decrees on his desk. The celebration of allied kingdoms was approaching. Dalishu would send envoys. Other kingdoms would send representatives. The capital would be flooded with foreigners, spies, and opportunities for disaster.
He needed the Shen and Pei families on his side.
He needed Shen Yao stay alive.
For now.