Ru Yi knew the triplets were breaking into the Empress’s residence, she’d overheard them making the plan.

She was sleeping at first until their voices had woken her up. But instead of making them aware of her presence, she’d kept her eyes closed and listened.

That was how she knew the triplets had no intention to keep her alive, she was merely a tool they were using in their grand plan to have their revenge.

A small pain had pricked her chest, and it had taken everything in her to keep the whimper from slipping past her lips.

No one knew how ruthless they were more than Ru Yi herself. Hadn’t she read it? How they’d killed everyone who stood in their path.

On the bright side, Shen Yexue had saved her.

If anything she owed them her life, but she wasn’t going to stick around until they deemed her useless and cast her aside.

The sound of a window cracking open had Ru Yi bolting up on the bed. She’d told herself the reason she couldn’t sleep was because she wanted to know what they triplets found at the Empress’s residence—

And not the fact she was nervous that they might get caught.

"Shen Yexue..." she called out, wondering why the last triplet was entering her own room through the window.

Ru Yi took a step back—

The figure that tumbled in was dressed in an all black tire, just like Yexue, and with the same black mask covering her face.

Except...that wasn’t Yexue.

Ru Yi felt herself freeze, instinctively taking a step back. "Who are you?"

Instead of answering, the figure raised their hand which made Ru Yi flinch in fear.

A strangled cry tore from Ru Yi’s lips when the mask came off and she saw that it was Han Shuying. It looked like her end was nearer than she thought.

"What do you want from me?" Ru Yi asked, even though she knew the answer to that question. Her gaze swept the room, looking for anything she could use as a weapon to defend herself.

"I’m not here to kill you." Han Shuying’s voice was monotonous...cold...like she was saying something she’d rehearsed a thousand times.

Ru Yi eyes her in disbelief. "I’d be a fool to take your word for it."

Han Shuying tilted her head, the moonlight from the window casting a glow on the right side of her face.

The black strands of hair that framed her face made her eyes look even more magnetic than they already were.

"You’d be dead right now if that was what I wanted," Han Shuying said in a bored voice. "If anything...you should be grateful to me.

Ru Yi said nothing as she took a couple more steps back, only stopping when her back hit the wall softly.

"I’m not here to cause you harm." Han Shuying followed, only stopping when there was a mere inch between them. "I just think you deserve the chance to escape all of this. Don’t you think so?"

Every nerve in Ru Yi went at high alert when Han Shuying raised her hand before gently tracing the curve of Ru Yi’s face with her knuckles.

"I don’t believe you," Ru Yi replied through gritted teeth. She was tired of everyone trying to play her.

"Want to know why I spared your life then?" Han Shuying asked, before tipping Ru Yi’s face up until their gaze was locked into each other.

Ru Yi opened her mouth to answer, but the words died on her tongue before she could say them. She settled for shaking her head.

"Because you offered to help me the first time we met." Han Shuying brushed her chin with the pad of her thumb. "If I really wanted you dead, I would’ve made sure to put your six feet under..."

Han Shuying pushed Ru Yi’s head to the side. "So don’t stand there and look at me like I’m some predator you should be scared of."

She bent down, her lips right on the shell of Ru Yi’s ear and whispered, "If anything you should be on your knees thanking me."

Ru Yi had barely registered her words when the taller woman pushed her down until she was on both her knees against the hard floor.

"Thank you?" Ru Yi wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do. "Are you here just to gloat about saving me?"

Han Shuying released her hold on Ru Yi. "I’m here to give you another chance at life."

Ru Yi had learned the hard way not to trust anyone. "And what do you want in return? I refuse to believe that you’re helping me from the goodness of your heart."

"I see you’re becoming smart. But not to worry." Han Shuying finally put some space between them.

Instead she walked around the room, touching everything in her line of sight like a child that couldn’t sit still.

"There’s nothing you have on you that’s worth my time," she finished before pausing briefly to look at Ru Yi. "I’m just here to help, it’s left for you to believe it or not."

Ru Yi knew better than to believe the brown eyed devil had gone through the trouble of breaking into Shen Yexue’s room just to help her.

"And how do you intend to do that?" Ru Yi asked, remaining where she was, knees still planted on the floor even though it hurt.

"I’ll help you run away from the palace. And no...I don’t want you to do anything in return."

Ru Yi narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Are you trying to frame the triplets?"

Han Shuying didn’t bother hiding her intention. "Yes." She raised her brows at Ru Yi’s surprised expression, "did you want me to lie?"

"Why?" Ru Yi asked.

Han Shuying gave her a slight shrug, "Why not? I’m sure you know they have no intention of actually helping you."

Ru Yi’s head fell, "there’s no need to rub in. It’s not like I expected them to."

"Which is why you should be grateful for a savior like me, willing to help you. There’s no need for you to even lift a finger."

More like the devil leading her to her damnation. But what other option did she have?

"Come to the west gate two nights after this, we’re already out of time." Han Shuying turned back to the window at the same time there was a rattle outside the door. "Remember, I’m the only one that can help you."

"Wait—"

The door opened and a disheveled Yexue stormed in.

Ru Yi looked at the spot Han Shuying was standing, but she was long gone, the window shut tightly after her.

"Ru Yi..." Shen Yexue’s voice was strained, one hand reaching out to grab Ru Yi. "Can you hold me?"

A stunned Ru Yi stood there, Yexue’s arms wrapped tightly around her, wondering if she could really take the hand Han Shuying was offering her.