A few minutes later
Master Ling came rushing after hearing the news, smiling apologetically.
Glancing to the side, his eyes happened to catch Shen Yao's cold expression that hadn't changed since started.
His face grew pale
After pushing the door open, his face twisted as he glanced at his son.
He was baring his teeth
His hands clenched tightly
Turning away he resisted the urge to walk over to teach his outlaw of a son a lesson.
Taking a deep breath
He turned back to face his family
Waving his hands as he ordered the servants to hurl his son and wife out.
Bowing apologetically with every step. Promising to take his family to apologize to the fourth miss soon.
With everyone gone now.
Shen Yao stood in silence, but he wasn't looking anywhere in specific but if one looked closely his eyes were directed not too far away from where everyone had just stood.
He walked forward a bit before crouching down to observe the floor
He raised his brow
Muddy Footprints
His face wrinkled slightly
Multiple ones at that
He sighed
Thinking about it
Whoever came up with this scheme....
Was it really Madam Ling
He had to find his sister
Standing up his eyes moved along the path following the hardly visible footprints
And as he suspected didn't go far ending at the entrance of the next room.
He sighed.
It seems there's a lot he had to look into after tonight's drama.
"Yu Xie"
Even in the quiet of the halls Yu Xie's steps were barely audible as he appeared behind Shen Yao.
"Young master"
Shen Yao turned around to look at him.
His eyes turning to the empty room.
Before turning to him again.
"Find out what happened here"
"Understood" Yu Xie said before blending back into the shadows.
Just like that the halls were silent again.
Shen Yao stood in the silence for a while. His eyes moving to the closed door one last time before walking the opposite way from where he came from.
Shen Yao walked through the halls.
The sound of his steps reverberating across the quiet walls of the mansion.
After a turn he paused glancing at the walls surrounding him.
His brows furrowing together
He turned back heading in the opposite direction
But after a few turns
Shen Yao visibly frowned glancing around.
Most of the walls here all looked the same.
Feeling slightly helpless, he turned ready to walk back.
But before he could he spotted a shadow not too far away
Walking forward hastily, he spotted Xi Shu not far away and from the looks of it.
He seemed to have also noticed him too.
Walking towards him Xi Shu bowed
"Young Master"
Shen Yao nodded but when he noticed Xi Shu alone. His gaze grew colder
"Where's the fourth miss?"
Xi Shu paused
He glanced up at his young master but in the end, he lowered his head having met his cold azure eyes that seemed as deep as an abyss
After a few seconds of silence, Xi Shu turned leading the way.
A few minutes later
Rushed footsteps approached
Shen Miao looked up.
Her eyes lighting up as tears slowly welled in her eyes.
Shen Yao stood at the entrance to the garden, his face unreadable, his robes slightly rumpled from the night's events
"Brother, you-" She sniffled
He looked at Shen Miao.
She immediately shut her mouth.
Neither spoke for a while.
Then she said in a low voice "I'm sorry."
"Young Master Shen she didn't mean to -" Wei Lin stood up beside Shen Miao
But his words where interrupted by his sister who immediately pulled him back by his collar.
"It's not our business" Wei Mei said
Wei Lin immediately clumped his mouth his eyes locking onto Shen Yao's before quickly lowering his head.
His fingers trembling slightly
Shen Yao glanced at the siblings before turning to his sister.
"Don't be."
As if noticing his gaze, Xi Shu then explained that the Wei siblings helped him save the fourth miss.
Shen Yao nodded
Then he crossed the space between them and knelt beside her, his eyes moving across her face, checking for any sign of injury. He found none.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
"No," she said. "I just... I got lost. I followed a child. And then—"
Shen Yao turned to Xi Shu.
He lowered his head further
"It was his mistake "he thought
Shen Yao didn't say anything.
He turned to Shen Miao
She looked down at her hands. "I didn't mean to cause you any trouble, brother."
"It wasn't her fault it was-" Wei Lin said
Before his sister pulled his ear
"Can't you keep your mouth shut"
"Jie Jie..."
"I... I'll stop"
Shen Yao didn't even bother turning his head
"You didn't cause trouble, for me" he said. "You walked into a trap that someone else set. That's not your fault."
She looked up at him to see if he was angry but not seeing any, she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"I asked someone to investigate"
He didn't elaborate.
Neither did his expression change.
"So, we'll find out. Soon."
He stood and offered her his gloved hand. She took it, and he pulled her to her feet.
She staggered
"Do you need help?" He frowned looking down at her feet.
She shook her head
Though her hand around his tightened.
"Let's go home," he said.
---
In the far end of the princess's mansion
From the shadowed the edge of the garden, Princess Fei watched them go.
She had followed the crowd to the east guest room. She had seen everything, the forced engagement, the fall of the Ling family. And she had seen Xi Shu lead Shen Yao to his sister.
She had not stopped them.
She turned to Fan Xinyu, who stood a few paces behind her, his hand resting on his sword.
"The night is done," she said quietly.
"Let's go"
Fan Xinyu nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."
As they walked down the quiet hallway a slow smile bloomed across the princess's cold face
"Did you see that.... the children seem to be getting along well"
"It seems Old Shen was right...."
"He has changed"
Fan Xinyu smiled slightly
"Indeed"
"I'm sure Sister Luo and Brother Shen should be happy in their grave now"
Fan Xinyu nodded
Then she sighed
"It's a pity I had to see it like this"
"Xinyu" she didn't turn back
"Send word to the emperor's attendants. Tell them we will speak in the morning."
"You should also retire early too" She turned at glance at him
"As you wish your highness" Fan Xinyu bowed.
Princess Fei glanced at him helplessly
"I told you to stop calling me that we have been friends for such a long time so there's no need for formalities"
"I apologize your highness" Fan Xinyu said
The princess shook her head amused
She looked up at the moon. The sky was clear, the stars sharp and beautiful under the glow of the moon.
She had seen many nights like this in her life—nights when power shifted, when masks fell, when the truth of a person was laid bare in a single moment.
This one would not be forgotten.
She turned and walked back toward her royal chamber as Fan Xinyu followed not too far behind.
He glanced back toward the garden
"It seems I'll have to pay more attention to the Eldest young master Shen"