For a brief moment—Shayue did not respond, then—she spoke with certainty, "That will not happen." No hesitation, no doubt, just certainty. Xinyi held her gaze for a long second. Then she suddenly signed, "…You are impossible." A faint smile returned to her face, "But listen to me carefully." She stepped closer, pointing lightly toward Shayue. "If you ever find yourself even slightly wavering…" A small grin formed, "…even a little—I will remind you of this day and this exact moment for the rest of your life." Shayue glanced at her, "…That will not be necessary." Xinyi only smiled wider, "…We will see."
Silence returned—but this time, it was lighter. "Still…" she said with serious yet teasingly tone, "but, how can he reject a beautiful princess like you?" A dramatic pause, "Does he not have eyes?" Shayue looked at her, for a second—her gaze softened just slightly. Then, "…If he does not," she replied calmly, "then that is his problem, not mine." Xinyi laughed softly. "See? That's exactly what I mean." She pointed at Shayue as if proving a point. "You speak as if rejection does not even exist for you." Shayue's expression remained composed. "It does." A pause, "I simply do not concern myself with it." Xinyi tilted her head, watching her closely now. "…Then let me ask you properly."
She stepped closer again, voice lowering just slightly. "What if he is not as the rumors say? What if he is not entirely cold? What if…" She narrowed her eyes playfully. "…He turns out to be a good husband?" This time— Shayue did not answer immediately. Her silence lingered—just a moment too long and again—her eyes betrayed her. A faint flicker, not doubt, not even hope, but… consideration. Xinyi caught it instantly, she said with a smirk on her face. "…You're thinking about it."
Shayue's fingers tightened slightly against her sleeve. 'Shayue… wake up. What are you even considering?' Her gaze sharpened faintly, as if scolding herself, then she spoke—calm again, controlled as ever. "I will only respect him…" A pause before she spoke again, "…only if he respects me." The words were simple they were but firm. Xinyi smiled knowingly. "…So that is your condition. Respect first, everything else comes later." Shayue did not deny it.
Xinyi leaned in again, voice softer now—teasing, but curious too. "Then tell me…" A pause, "Do you think he would ever be willing to be that kind of husband?" Silence followed between them after Xinyi's question. The air felt lighter—yet something deeper had settled beneath it. Wang Xinyi watched Yu Shayue carefully, Shayue looked at her steadily. "…So you feel nothing about this?" Shayue said after a brief pause, "Marriage, A husband. A life in another empire…" Her voice softened slightly. "…none of it matters to you?" Shayue did not answer immediately.
Instead—
She walked slowly towards the table, her fingers brushing lightly against the edge of the red silk laid neatly upon it. Her voice came calm and steady. "It matters." Xinyi stilled watching her, Shayue's gaze lowering slightly. "I will enter the Longlin Empire as their Crown Princess." A pause, "I will uphold their customs. I will respect their court. I will not bring disgrace to the position I am given to." Her tone remained steady, measured and controlled.
"I will fulfill my duties as his wife and as Longlin Empire's Crown Princess. I will not treat the Longlin Empire as an enemy once I enter it." Silence followed, Xinyi blinked once. "…Then what is the difference." Shayue's fingers stilled against the silk. Then—she lifted her gaze, clear and sharp, "The difference…is that I do not belong to anyone." A faint breath, she signed, silence deepened. Xinyi's expression shifted. Shayue continued, her voice quieter now—yet far more dangerous. "I will stand beside him if required. But I will not stand beneath him."
The words settled heavily in the room. She made herself clear… "I will fulfill the role…but I will not lose myself within it." Her eyes darkened faintly, Xinyi stared at her. "…So even if you become his wife…you won't give yourself to him?" Shayue did not look away. "What is given…must first deserved it." The meaning was clear, not rejection, not defiance but control. A faint smile appeared on Xinyi's lips. "…I almost feel sorry for him." The words lingered for a brief moment. Then—she paused, her expression shifted slightly. "…No." A soft exhaled followed. "…That's not right." She straightened a little, her tone changing, more grounded. "I don't really feel sorry for him. I don't even know what kind of person he truly is." Her gaze lowered slightly, thoughtful. "All I know about him…is that he is the Crown Prince of the Longlin Empire. And that same empire once sent troops against ours."
The air stilled for a moment. Her voice softened—but did not lose its edge. "So whether he is cold, ruthless… or something else entirely—he is… still… not someone to take lightly." She lifted her gaze back to Shayue. A faint silence followed, then—a small smile returned to her face, "…If anything…I should probably be worried for you instead not him." She tilted her head slightly. "But then again…" Her eyes narrowed just slightly, studying Shayue. "…he might be the one who ends up in trouble."
Silence, Shayue did not respond, but the faint stillness in her gaze—was enough. After a moment—she spoke quietly. "…Don't." Xinyi blinked her eyes. "He made his move." Shayue's gaze shifted slightly—distant, thoughtful. "…so will I." Silence returned, this time—not uncertain, but inevitable.
The fragrance of tea lingered softly in the air as the steam curled upward in thin, delicate lines. Yu Shayue sat by the low table, her posture straight, her movements unhurried as she poured another cup of tea. Across from her, Wang Xinyi leaned slightly forward, watching her with a look that was no longer entirely playful. "…So," Xinyi began, resting her chin lightly on her hand, "now that he has accepted…" Her gaze lingering on Shayue, "…what will you do now?"
Shayue did not answer immediately. She placed the teapot down with quiet precision, her fingers steady, her expression unchanged. For a moment, she simply looked at the surface of the tea, as if the answer might be reflected there. Then she spoke. "I will go." Xinyi blinked looking at her, "…That's it?" Shayue lifted her cup, her gaze calm, "What else should I do?"
Xinyi straightened slightly, clearly dissatisfied. "Oh, I don't know," she said, her tone carrying a hint of mock frustration, "perhaps tell me the part where you turn this entire situation upside down?" A faint curve touched Shayue's lips—barely there, almost unnoticeable. "That part," she replied quietly, "does not need to be spoken." Xinyi narrowed her eyes immediately, looking at her closely. "…You're hiding something, aren't you?"
Shayue took a sip from her tea. "I am thinking." Xinyi shot back. "That is not the same thing," Shayue replied calmly, "It is, when speaking too early ruins the outcome." Xinyi stared at her for a moment, than leaned back with a soft huff. "…You're impossible." Shayue said without looking up, "and yet, you are still here." That earned a small, unwilling smile from Xinyi, "…For now." before Shayue could even respond, footsteps approached from the hall, measured and familiar.
At the entrance—
Nanny Wei paused briefly before stepping closer to Ying and Mei Yi, her voice lowered. "The Third Princess has arrived." Ying's expression instantly stilled, Mei Yi blinked, than she frowned slightly. "…Now?" she muttered under her breath. Ying cast her brief glance before stepping forward the courtyard.
Moments later—
Ying and Mei Yi approached Shayue, stopping at a respectful distance. "Your Highness," Ying said quietly, "the Third Princess had come." Mei Yi added, unable to completely hide her tone, "…she did not seem inclined to wait." Xinyi's expression changed immediately. "…Of course she didn't," she muttered. Mei Yi added in a lower voice, "…she is waiting in the front hall."
Shayue sat her cup down gently. Her gaze did not shift much—but something in it cooled. "…In the hall?" Ying inclined her head, "She did not enter the inner courtyard." Xinyi let out a quiet, knowing sound. "…Of course she didn't…" She tilted her head slightly, lips curving with faint amusement. "…she wants to be seen—but not overstep." Shayue set her cup down gently. Her gaze cooled—subtle and controlled. "…We will go."
Shayue rose to her feet, adjusting her sleeve with quiet elegance, every movement measured, neither hurried nor delayed. Xinyi turned her head slightly towards Shayue, "…She really chose to come today of all days." Xinyi followed beside Shayue, lowering her voice slightly. "…You know," she muttered, "standing in the hall like that…she's making it very obvious, she wants attention. If she starts speaking too sweetly, I might actually get worried." A small pause followed, "…That would mean she's planning something."
Shayue did not respond, but the faint stillness in her gaze—meant she already knew "…Should I pretend to be polite, or honest?" Shayue looked at her and gave her a faint smile. "As long as you remain within the reasons and don't try something dangerous." She replied. Xinyi smiled. "…That I'll decide when I see her face. It also depends on my mood when I see her face."
They stepped out beneath the drifting petals, moving from the quiet of the courtyard toward the open space of the front hall…
To be continued...