Shen Gong began to draw his sword, but a high-pitched voice suddenly rang out from the shadows.
“No need for blades. I co bearing a ssage from the Crown Prince.”
From the darkness erged a pale-faced palace eunuch, his every movent deliberate. He held an envelope extended in both hands, presenting it toward Jin Shu.
Shen Gong completed his motion, pointing the tip of his blade toward the eunuch. “Stop there.”
“I an no harm,” the eunuch replied, his voice eerily gentle. “Young Prince, if I may?”
“Toss it over,” Jin Shu ordered, his voice firm.
The eunuch inhaled sharply, his thin lips curling slightly. “I wouldn’t dare toss a letter personally penned by the Crown Prince.”
Jin Shu’s eyelid twitched in irritation. He hated pretentious rules—in both his lives. Snorting in annoyance, he relented. “Fine, hand it over. But try anything, and you’ll die.”
As his earring flashed with a faint light, Jin Shu’s M17 materialized in his hands. He raised the weapon, aiming it squarely at the eunuch’s head.
The eunuch spared the pistol a curious glance but showed no fear. Maintaining his calm deanor, he stepped forward and delivered the letter, then retreated back into the shadows with an unhurried gait.
Breaking the wax seal stamped with the Crown Prince’s insignia, Jin Shu unfolded the letter. Tilting it toward the moonlight, he read aloud:
“Dear Cousin,
I would be most honored if you were to et at the Raising Dragon Pavilion at the Hour of the Tiger, just before the palace opens at the Hour of the Rabbit.
Sincerely, your elder cousin, Sun Ming.”
Jin Shu frowned, his mind parsing the unfamiliar term. Hour of the Tiger…? Is that 5 a.m.?
“It is 3 to 5 a.m,” Nano answered, breaking into his thoughts.
Jin Shu turned toward Shen Gong, folding the letter. “What can you tell about my cousin?”
“Unlike you,” Shen Gong replied, sheathing his sword with deliberate precision, “he’s a cunning man. A genius politician.”
Jin Shu arched a skeptical brow at the large man. “And how do you know I’m not?”
Shen Gong’s lips curled into a faint smile as his steady gaze locked onto Jin Shu. “Since the mont I laid eyes on you, I could feel it. The scent of your blood, the ash and steel that runs through your veins—you’re no politician. You’re a soldier, through and through.”
Jin Shu offered him a silent nod, his expression unreadable.
***
Dinner was a modest affair at Shen Gong’s residence. The small mansion was quiet, devoid of the usual bustle of servants. The only staff present were an elderly steward and a young chef, who prepared the simple yet satisfying al.
“You don’t keep many servants or guards,” Jin Shu observed as they sat down at the table.
“With my demotion ca a significant pay cut,” Shen Gong explained, his tone calm but tinged with bitterness. “And there’s a stigma attached to working for now. Few are willing to risk offending the Empress.”
Jin Shu nodded thoughtfully, filing the information away for later consideration. As the al progressed, he turned his attention to Li Xue.
“I don’t think I ever caught your na,” he said.
She blinked, startled by the sudden question, before replying, “Li Xue.”
“Hmm,” Jin Shu murmured, giving her an appraising look.
Li Xue shifted nervously under his gaze, offering a tentative smile as she wondered what he was thinking.
From the corner of the table, a loud voice broke the silence. “More at!” Yin’er demanded, her plate already ssy with untouched vegetables scattered around the edges.
Jin Shu raised an eyebrow. “Finish your vegetables first,” he ordered. “Then we’ll see about more at.”
Yin’er glared at the offending greens and scrunched up her nose. “Yin’er will just go hungry, then.”
“How are you already in your rebellious phase? You’re only a month old,” Jin Shu muttered, exasperated.
Shen Gong chuckled softly, a rare smile gracing his face as he glanced at Li Xue. “Girls—they’re always rebellious.”
“What? I’m not rebellious!” Li Xue exclaid, her cheeks puffing in a pout.
Jin Shu let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head as the lighthearted banter continued.
After the al, he retired to the guest room Shen Gong had offered him. As he lay on the simple bed, his thoughts drifted to the letter from his cousin and the upcoming eting with his uncle. The weight of what awaited him in the palace settled heavily on his mind.
***
Waking early in the morning, Jin Shu decided to investigate his cousin for himself. With ti to spare before the palace opened, he figured it was a prudent use of his ti.
After gathering his things, he bid Li Xue and Shen Gong farewell. Now that he was certain the palace guards recognized his seal, he no longer needed their assistance.
“You’re leaving?” Shen Gong asked.
“I’ll et my cousin first,” Jin Shu replied. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
However, as he stepped out the door, Li Xue stopped him. “Do you know where you’re going?” she asked, tilting her head.
Jin Shu blinked and pulled the letter from the eunuch from his pocket. Unfolding it, he revealed a small map enclosed within.
“Oh… w-well, I could still lead you there…?” Li Xue offered hesitantly, clasping her hands.
Jin Shu paused, weighing her words. She had proven helpful so far, even if she had nearly thrown him into a dungeon. After a mont, he gave a small nod.
“Hold on, let change!” she said suddenly, her voice bright with urgency.
“What’s wrong with what you’re wearing now?” Jin Shu asked, his brow furrowing slightly in irritation.
“I can’t et the Crown Prince in this!”
“But it’s okay for to see?”
Li Xue’s face turned crimson as she shyly nodded. “It’s okay… I’ll let you see in whatever you’d like,” she muttered, before scampering off to change.
Jin Shu stood there for a mont, puzzled. “What is she even talking about?”
“She seems to want to beco your life partner,” Nano chid in, their voice dry, if not slightly amused.
“My what?” Jin Shu shot back, incidentally speaking aloud in surprise.
“The voice in Daddy’s head is right,” Yin’er added cheerfully. “Yin’er can sll her desire!”
Jin Shu froze. “Okay, hold on. Since when can you hear Nano? And where did you even learn that word?—Actually, no. Never mind. I already know. You can’t listen to my mother anymore.”
“Blee! Daddy can’t decide that. Also, Yin’er could always hear the voice!”
Before Jin Shu could respond, Li Xue returned. She was now dressed in a sleek, dazzling dress the color of black jade, its shimring fabric catching the light beautifully.
Jin Shu was montarily taken aback. “What’s with your getup? Are you going to a ball or sothing?”
Li Xue’s eyes widened, her hands fidgeting nervously. “Y-you don’t like it…? Should I change?”
Jin Shu sighed, already stepping toward the gates. “We don’t have ti. We’re nearly late as it is.”
He pressed a hand to his temple. “Why didn’t you tell sooner?” He asked Yin’er once out the gate.
“Daddy never asked,” Yin’er replied innocently.
Jin Shu muttered sothing under his breath, earning a confused glance from Li Xue. He quickly waved her off and kept walking.
***
The Rising Dragon Pavilion lood above the surrounding buildings, its golden roof catching the morning sun and gleaming like a beacon of opulence.
“This is the most famous restaurant in the capital,” Li Xue explained as they approached its grand entrance. “There’s a year-long waiting list just to eat on the ground floor. The upper floors are reserved for the highest nobility. They say only cultivators at the Spirit Realm or above are allowed on the top floor.”
“Sounds excessive,” Jin Shu remarked, his tone indifferent.
An attendant greeted them at the entrance and led them up a grand staircase to the third floor. The opulence of the pavilion only grew more apparent as they ascended. Upon entering the room, Jin Shu noted the lavish decor—silk drapes cascading from the ceiling, jade carvings adorning the walls, and golden accents on every surface.
At the center of the room sat a man in his mid-twenties, dressed in an exquisite brocade robe of blue and gold. His sharp features and calculating eyes gave him an air of authority, one that matched the aura of a prince.
The man rose as they entered, a practiced smile on his lips. “Jin Shu,” he greeted, his voice smooth. “It’s been far too long.”
Jin Shu gave a curt nod. “Cousin.”
The Crown Prince’s smile didn’t waver, but his gaze was piercing, as if he were already sizing Jin Shu up. “Shall we talk over breakfast?”
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