The courtyard was quiet.
Too quiet.
Xueying stood still, holding a tray of tea.
A summons.
From Zhao Meilin.
She had expected this.
She had known it would come.
Still—
Her fingers tightened slightly.
Then—
She stepped forward.
—
Zhao Meilin sat elegantly beneath a pavilion, surrounded by a few noble ladies.
Laughter filled the air.
Light.
Sharp.
Cruel.
"Ah," Meilin said as Xueying approached. "You're finally here."
Xueying bowed slightly.
"You called for me."
"Of course," Meilin smiled. "Who else would serve us?"
The ladies chuckled.
Xueying didn't react.
She stepped forward, placing the tray carefully on the table.
"Tea," she said softly.
Meilin didn't touch it.
Instead—
She leaned back slightly, studying her.
"…You've changed."
Xueying remained silent.
"Not as quiet as before," Meilin continued. "Not as… obedient."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Do you think being a princess protects you?"
Xueying met her gaze.
For the first time—
Directly.
"I never thought it did."
The air shifted.
The laughter faded.
Meilin's expression stilled.
"…Then why are you acting differently?"
A pause.
Then—
"Because I'm tired."
The words were quiet.
But they hit harder than shouting.
"Tired?" Meilin repeated.
Xueying's voice remained calm.
"Yes."
"Tired of what?"
Xueying looked at her.
Really looked.
"At pretending I deserve this."
Silence.
Heavy.
Sharp.
The noble ladies exchanged glances.
No one spoke.
Because something had changed.
Completely.
Meilin's smile faded slowly.
"…Careful," she said softly.
"You're forgetting your place."
Xueying didn't look away.
"No," she replied.
"I'm finally remembering it."
The words landed like a strike.
For a second—
No one moved.
Then—
Meilin laughed.
Soft.
Dangerous.
"Good," she said.
"Then let's see how long that confidence lasts."
She picked up the cup of tea.
And without warning—
Threw it.
The hot liquid splashed across Xueying's hand.
A sharp burn.
Pain shot through her fingers.
Gasps echoed.
But this time—
Xueying didn't kneel.
Didn't apologize.
Didn't flinch back.
She stood still.
Her hand trembling slightly—
But her gaze steady.
The silence that followed was different.
Because for the first time—
She hadn't broken.
—
From the edge of the courtyard—
Gu Yichen stood.
Watching.
Everything.
His expression darkened.
Because now—
He could see it clearly.
This wasn't coincidence.
This wasn't misunderstanding.
This was deliberate.
And for the first time—
Something in him shifted too.
—
As Xueying turned to leave, her steps were calm.
Measured.
Different.
Because something had been drawn.
A line.
Invisible.
But unbreakable.
And this time—
She refused to cross it again.