The sound of a drum echoed through the courtyard, followed by a collective gasp from the other maids.

Ru Yi turned to Lang Ying who had made it a point to follow her everywhere so she wouldn’t get in trouble.

"What’s that sound?"

Lang Ying’s expression fell as she answered. "It’s coming from the department of discipline. Someone is about to be executed."

Ru Yi noticed the other maids drop what they were doing. "Should we follow them?"

Lang Ying shook her head. "There’s nothing entertaining about watching someone lose their head. I emptied my entire stomach the last time I was there."

Ru Yi nodded, but her eyes followed the other maids leaving the courtyard. She wanted to know what was going on.

"I’ll be back," she muttered, dropping the broom she was holding.

"Ru Yi—" Lang Ying sighed heavily before following her.

The department of discipline was a courtyard used for discipline and punishment. It was run by the palace guards and a few officials.

There was a wooden bench in the middle and high walls that enclosed the place.

Ru Yi joined the other maids as they stood close to the entrance.

There was a young girl on the ground. Her hair was matted in dried blood, the robe on her thorn. She wasn’t crying or pleading for her life.

Bile rose in Ru Yi’s throat.

A hush fell on the small crowd when the triplets walked in from the other entrance. Ru Yi found herself taking a step back.

Now that she was looking at the three of them at a close range, it was easier to tell them apart.

Shen Qingyue, the first triplet was slightly taller than the other two and her eyes were a lighter brown. It literally shone when the sunlight hit it at the perfect angle.

Her expression was blank when her eyes fell on the maid kneeling on the ground.

Unlike Shen Lieyin who looked excited as she wielded the executioner’s sword. Her light blue eyes sparkled with anticipation. She was just as ruthless as she was in the book.

The third triplet, Shen Yexue was—

"Looking for me?"

Ru Yi yelped when she felt a presence behind her. She turned to find a grinning Shen Yexue.

"Who’s the most beautiful of the three of us?" she rolled her eyes when Ru Yi stared in confusion. "I saw you looking, you weren’t being subtle at all."

Shen Yexue’s eyes were more reddish than brown.

"I wasn’t looking," Ru Yi finally said, tearing her gaze away. "What did she do?"

"The maid?" Shen Yexue asked, then shrugged. "She was caught trying to escape the palace." Then she bent down, her mouth stopping right next to Ru Yi’s ear.

"That would’ve been you." There was pure delight in Shen Yexue’s voice. "Good thing it was me you ran into."

Ru Yi gulped, her eyes trailing the maid who was currently on her feet.

Shen Qingyue was reading out her crime from a scroll.

"Palace maid Xiu Yue, having violated the regulations of the inner court, is hereby charged with unlawful departure and attempted escape beyond the palace gates. Such conduct constitutes disobedience to imperial order and is deemed an act of treason against the crown."

A murmur swept through the crowd.

"By decree, the sentence is death." Shen Qingyue folded the scroll. "Let it be carried out without delay."

The maid was pulled to the wooden platform and forced down on her knees by one of the guards. Her head was placed on a low block.

Ru Yi turned her head but it was pushed back by Shen Yexue’s hand on her neck.

"Look, see what happens to maids who don’t do as they’re told," Shen Yexue whispered.

Ru Yi watched on with unease as Shen Lieyin raised the executioner’s sword, waiting for the signal to proceed.

Shen Yexue’s hand slipped down to the curve of Ru Yi’s waist. "Smile."

"Huh?" Ru Yi looked at her with furrowed brows.

"Smile, unless you want your neck to be the next."

Ru Yi eased her expression into what could pass as a smile as her gaze slipped back to Shen Yexue who was already looking at her.

In the blink of an eye the sword came down and cut the maid’s head in one slick move.

Ru Yi felt the entire contents of her stomach revolt. Her smile had been the signal Shen Lieyin was waiting for.

She bent down and gagged but nothing came out.

The level of risk she took when she tried to flee the palace finally dawned on her.

Ru Yi touched her neck, fingers trembling.

Shen Yexue rubbed her back. "Come on, don’t be weak. Let’s go somewhere private and talk, it’s time for you to repay the debt you owe me."

Ru Yi backed away from her, eyes still on the severed head that rolled to the floor. She’d participated in that girl’s murder without meaning to.

Even as Shen Yexue pulled her away, she knew those dead empty eyes would haunt her for the rest of her life.

Shen Yexue took her to an empty room, closing the door after them.

"What do you want from me?" Ru Yi asked in a broken voice, feeling the need to puke again.

Shen Yexue scowled. "You owe me, remember?" she brought out a letter from the embroidered sachet on her waist. "Pass this on to Princess Lin Yuexin."

Ru Yi took it with shaky hands. "Is that all?"

"What’s the rush?" Shen Yexue folded her arms on her chest. "Never seen someone executed before?" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Ru Yi said nothing. She slipped the letter into her robe.

"You better not read the letter," Shen Yexue continued like she couldn’t care less whether Ru Yi responded or not.

She took a step closer while Ru Yi took a step back, she had to keep the space between them.

"I have one last favor."

Ru Yi’s heart started beating faster, she already knew she was going to ask for something outrageous. "If you want me to spy on the princess or—"

"Marry the crown prince."

Ru Yi hadn’t expected that. "What?"

"Marry Zhao Chen. You already love each other, don’t you?" she smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. "I don’t care if you tried to leave the palace because you fought..."

Shen Yexue closed the space between them, forcing Ru Yi to meet her eyes. "Fix whatever problem between you two, and make sure you marry him."

"What’s it to you whether we end up together or not?"

The smile from Shen Yexue was genuine this time. "Because I can’t have him marry my beloved. I won’t allow it."

Ru Yi was stunned. "You like Princess Lin Yuexin?"

Shen Yexue tilted her head to the side in a playful manner. "More like I’m in love with the princess. That thwart doesn’t deserve her, but I’d say you and Zhao Chen are a perfect match."