The night fell like a secret. Ru Yi stood in the middle of the small, bare space she called a room. It was already beginning to feel like a place she didn’t belong to.

Moonlight slipped through the narrow window, casting pale silver across the floor. Her gaze drifted to the royal pass on her bad, a movement she’d performed every second since she got it.

It was a bit unreal that the Empress had actually kept to her word. Even more fascinating that she’d gone from almost getting executed to having a chance to live the life she really wanted.

One free of chores and almost unpaid labour, scheming girls, and powerful women that could end her life if they wished it.

Ru Yi knelt beside her bed and started to fold the few things that she owned.

There were two plain robes, a worn hair ribbon and the remaining small pouch of coins that Han Shuying had given her. And the royal pass, which she kept closest as if it might disappear, was tucked carefully into the inner lining of her sleeve.

This was all her life amounted to. And yet, her hands trembled. She had her freedom, but uncertainty about what the future held was finally creeping in on her.

Ru Yi shook her head.

The last time she’d had the opportunity to leave the palace, she’d made the mistake of turning back. But that won’t happen this time.

She’d already said her farewell to Lang Ying, and even the head maid who’d given her a nod of acknowledgement and a rare pat at the back.

She turned to the door at the same time a soft sound broke the stillness around her.

Ru Yi froze.

It was certainly not the wind.

"Who’s there?" she asked, but there was no answer.

Then—

A hand clamped over her mouth.

Ru Yi’s body jolted in fear, a muffled cry swallowed against a rough palm as she was yanked back into a soft chest.

Panic surged through her...instant, wild and sharp. She struggled, twisting, trying to break free. There was no one else she could think of that wanted her demise.

"Stop moving."

The voice was low and familiar.

Too familiar.

Her movements immediately stilled.

Yexue.

Ru Yi’s heart slammed against her ribs.

"What—" she tried to speak, but her grip tightened, silencing her again.

"I said don’t move," she muttered, her breath brushing against Ru Yi’s ear. "Unless you want the guards to find us like this. You’ll be executed for harbouring a criminal."

The implication burned.

Slowly—very slowly—Yexue loosened her hand from Ru Yi’s mouth, her fingers slowly grazing the side of her neck. Reluctant to let go.

Ru Yi sucked in a deep breath, spinning to face her, fury and fear colliding in her chest. "Have you lost your mind? Do you know what—"

Yexue immediately grabbed her neck, shaking her. "Do you think you can talk to me as you please because I no longer have a title?"

Ru Yi shook her head, already gasping for hair. "I’m sorry. I just...you caught me unaware."

"That’s usually how kidnapping works. You wouldn’t remain here if you knew I was coming."

Ru Yi froze. "Kidnapping?"

Shen Yexue frowned. "Does it look like I’m here to chitchat?"

"Why?" It was a stupid question, Ru Yi knew that. But it was the only thing she could think of.

She struggled to make sense of what Yexue was doing. Why she was in her room. Why her hand was currently around her neck like it belonged there.

"Because..." Yexue drew her closer until there was merely an inch of space between them. "It suddenly occurred to me that there was no way my maids would’ve planted the Empress’s seal in my chamber. Only Han Shuying could’ve done it."

Anger flashed in Yexue’s eyes.

"And you were there that day. She couldn’t have done it without you knowing." Yexue could feel Ru Yi’s pulse, and hear her heart start to race. "Or was it you that planted it with your own hands?"

Ru Yi’s eyes widened. "No...I..."

Shen Yexue already knew the answer, and the red-cheeked girl in front of her couldn’t even lie to save herself.

Ru Yi started to shake her head frantically. "I know nothing about the seal. I swear! I had nothing to do with it."

Yexue narrowed her eyes. "How did it get there if it wasn’t you? You must’ve done it to save your own neck right? What else did that conniving Han Shuying offer you?"

"Nothing..." her gaze fell.

"I..." she sighed when she realized there was no point in lying. Shen Yexue would not have risked her life sneaking into the palace if she didn’t have any proof of what Ru Yi had done.

"I had no choice! Besides, you abandoned me first." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Yexue’s forehead pinched. "What?"

"I heard the three of you that night. You already planned to get rid of me, you turned your back on me first."

Realization shone in Yexue’s eyes.

"I had to protect myself since no one else was going to do it. Your punishment was just exiled...for me it would’ve been instant death."

"And you think being exiled is better than dying?"

"Of course!"

Shen Yexue nodded, like she was truly taking in Ru Yi’s words. "And what now? You had the Empress give you a high position?" She looked at the packed items on the floor. "You’re even going to stay at her residence? Is all of it worth the betrayal?"

Ru Yi made a strangled sound and Yexue immediately released her. Even under the dim light she could see the marks her fingers had left behind start to form.

"Betrayal? As if you’re any better. I just beat you at your own game."

"All to end up as the Empress’s puppet."

The anger Ru Yi started to feel overrode her sense. "I’ll let you know that I’m nobody’s puppet! Unlike you the Empress kept to her word and gave me a pass to leave the palace and live as I wish."

A feeling very similar to relief settled into Yexue’s chest. "You’re free to leave the palace?"

Ru Yi frowned. "Yes."

"Even better." In the speed of light, Yexue immediately hit the tender spot at the side of Ru Yi’s neck. She caught Ru Yi’s slackened body with ease. "Come be my puppet instead."