For a second Ru Yi stood there. Frozen. Afraid to even look up.

Whoever was in front of her had their fighting gear on. Layered armor plates that looked both elegant and deadly.

"Am I so hideous that you won’t even look at me?" Shen Yexue, the third triplet asked.

She hooked her index finger under Ru Yi’s chin and pushed it up. "Are you disappointed because it’s not the crown prince?"

Ru Yi looked up then.

The woman in front of her rendered her speechless for a second. She immediately pulled away, lowering her gaze.

"Your highness," Ru Yi finally muttered, performing a bow. She bit down at her lip hard.

Why did she have to run into the hot-headed princess? The same one that had almost broken all her fingers. She immediately clutched them to her chest.

"Where are you running off to?" Shen Yexue asked, looking at the guards that already surrounded them.

"I...I..." Ru Yi struggled to come up with a lie.

A smirk graced Shen Yexue’s lips. She raised a hand to the guards. "What’s the situation?"

"She was trying to leave without a token. We were about to search her when she suddenly ran off."

"Oh..." she looked at Ru Yi before dismissing the guards. "I’ll handle it."

Ru Yi looked at the wide straight road behind Shen Yexue. Beyond it were the guest residences, homes of officials and nobles.

After that was the market.

If she listened carefully she would hear street vendors calling out prices, and the other travelers that were passing through. She should be on her way now.

"Do you know running away from the palace is considered treason and is punishable by hanging?" Shen Yexue asked, chuckling lightly when Ru Yi raised her head in panic.

"I’m not trying to run away..."

"Then what are you doing outside the palace without a token and official permission?" Shen Yexue leaned in. "Are you leaving because of that two-faced fool?"

The fool in question was no doubt the crown prince.

"No, I..." Ru Yi went down on her knees. "You told me never to appear in front of you again—" she put her palms together as if in prayer. "Just let me go this once. I promise you’ll never ever see me again. Please..."

There were already tears gathered in the corner of her eyes.

Ru Yi couldn’t imagine the type of punishment she’d have to endure, and didn’t want to think of what would happen now that she was at the mercy of a literal wolf.

Her pulse stuttered against her throat. "Please don’t break my fingers." Then she added, "Please don’t kill me."

She raised her head when Shen Yexue burst into laughter.

Had Ru Yi said something funny?

"First, I think you’re mistaking me for my sister. Only Shen Lieyin would have someone trembling the way you are."

She put a hand on Ru Yi’s shoulder and watched in dissatisfaction as she flinched.

"Relax, I’m not going to bite." Then she brushed the tip of Ru Yi’s nose with her knuckle, "Unless you want me to."

Ru Yi risked a glance, "So you’re going to let me go?"

Shen Yexue straightened up, tapping her finger against her chin. "Let’s see...Do you think I should let you go?"

Ru Yi’s nod was instant.

Shen Yexue suddenly snapped her finger, an idea blooming in her head. "How about we play a little game? I’ve had a long day, it’ll be nice to have a little fun."

There was no way this was going to end well for Ru Yi, but there was no other choice.

Her voice was barely above a whisper when she answered, "Okay."

Shen Yexue clapped in excitement. "Perfect! If you win I’ll let you go."

That gave Ru Yi a beam of hope, although the wicked glint in Shen Yexue’s eyes let her know she wasn’t going to get an easy task.

She cleaned her sweat clad palms on her robe, "What do I have to do?"

Shen Yexue bent down slowly, brushing the side of Ru Yi’s cheek.

The touch was cold, frightening, it made something in Ru Yi’s chest tighten.

"Run."

"What?" Ru Yi was confused.

The smile on Shen Yexue’s face vanished in an instant.

In place of it was a sickening wild look that gave Ru Yi a peek into the soul of a fearless predator.

"All you have to do is run. If you can get to the market then you’re free to go. But if I catch you before then—" she trailed off, her eyes blank like a wolf ready to hunt. "I’ll do with you as I please."

Ru Yi’s heart kicked hard against her ribs, frantic and uneven. She looked at the long road ahead of her.

The market wasn’t far enough, if she put all her strength into it then surely she could outrun the princess.

Pffft!

Who was she fooling?

It would require literal luck from the heavens to outrun someone so graced in martial arts and cultivation.

Ru Yi knew she already lost the game the moment it started. But it wouldn’t stop her from trying. She couldn’t go down without a fight.

With a deep breath she stood up. "When do I start?"

"Right about—" Shen Yexue smirked, "Now!"

Ru Yi sprang into action, pushing past the princess and running down the road. She couldn’t hear footsteps behind her, which meant Shen Yexue was giving her a head start.

It wasn’t until she got to the end of the road that she turned.

Shen Yexue was still standing at the same spot Ru Yi left her.

There was a reasonable distance between them but Ru Yi could still make out the planes of her delicate face.

At first Shen Yexue’s face was blank, then Ru Yi picked up the faintest lift at the corner of her lips—so subtle that she almost missed it.

There was something unsettling about that expression, it was almost cruel.

But Ru Yi wasn’t about to stick around and find out what that meant. She was right at the mouth of the market.

The princess had let her win, but why?

She turned to walk into the market only to feel an overwhelming presence at her back, keeping her in place.

She couldn’t move her leg. Like she was trapped.

There was a hot breath on her neck before that velvety deep voice spoke, sounding pleased. "Got you."