The sound of breaking porcelain echoed through the room.
Zhao Meilin stood still, her chest rising and falling sharply.
A shattered teacup lay at her feet.
No one dared to speak.
"…Leave," she said coldly.
The maids quickly bowed and rushed out.
The moment the door closed—
Her composure shattered completely.
"He defended her."
The words came out low.
Unstable.
Uncontrolled.
Her reflection stared back at her from the mirror.
Perfect.
Untouched.
And yet—
It felt like something had been taken.
"…For her," she whispered.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
"I've known him longer."
"I've been beside him."
"I'm the one who—"
She stopped.
Her expression twisted.
Because deep down—
She knew.
He had never looked at her—
The way he looked at Xueying.
—
Her breathing slowed.
Her expression changed.
From anger—
To something colder.
More dangerous.
"…Fine."
Her lips curved slowly.
"If you want to protect her…"
Her eyes darkened.
"Let's see how you handle this."
—
Later that afternoon—
The palace buzzed again.
But this time—
The whispers were different.
"Did you hear?"
"The princess…"
"She met a man outside the palace."
"What?"
"They say she's been secretly seeing someone else."
"Another one?!"
The rumors spread faster than before.
Dirtier.
More damaging.
—
Xueying stood in her chamber as Qingyu rushed in.
"Princess!"
Her voice was panicked.
"They're saying terrible things about you again!"
Xueying didn't react immediately.
"…What kind of things?"
Qingyu hesitated.
"…That you're involved with more than one man."
Silence.
Heavy.
Still.
Then—
Xueying exhaled slowly.
"I see."
Qingyu blinked.
"…Princess?"
A pause.
Then—
"Prepare my clothes," Xueying said calmly.
Qingyu froze.
"…What?"
"We're going out."
—
For the first time—
Xueying wasn't going to stay still.