The sound of iron on the bars of the damp cell had Ru Yi stirring awake. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, the numbing pain in her scalp from when Yexue had dragged her away, still haunting her.

"Who’s there?" she whispered, her voice still echoing in the dark.

The reply was instant, the silhouette of the figure in front of her bending down to her eye level. "How’re you feeling?"

Ru Yi recoiled.

It was Han Shuying.

"You tricked me," Ru Yi hissed, pushing herself back with one arm. "This was not what you promised."

"Tricked you?" Han Shuying’s voice was that usual bored flat tone. "Come on, I saved you."

"There’s currently poison in my bloodstream. I don’t see how that’s any better than my situation before."

Ru Yi could swear there was a smile in her companion’s voice when she spoke again.

"Better than having your neck chopped off."

"That would’ve been swift and merciful," Ru Yi replied, like the thought alone didn’t make her want to throw out all the contents of her stomach.

"The instruction was to help you run away..." Han Shuying paused— "Then send guards after you and accuse you of trying to escape. You would’ve been killed on the spot."

Ru Yi scoffed. "You want me to be grateful?"

"It might not be the most convenient means, but I did buy you some time."

Ru Yi didn’t know what or who to believe anymore. "There’s no need to be worried about my side of the bargain. I planted the seal in her room like I was asked to."

There was a brief silence.

"I’m not worried about that."

"Then why are you here?" Ru Yi was irritated, more so by the wet ground she was lying on. The constant rumbling in her stomach didn’t help either.

Han Shuying didn’t answer at first.

Then—

Her hand stretched out, past the small space between the bars that barricaded the cell. "Come here."

"What do you want now?" Ru Yi huffed, hesitant.

"Don’t make me repeat myself."

Ru Yi moved forward, until Han Shuying’s hand was right beside her ear. She flinched when her cold touch grazed her bottom lip.

"Open your mouth." Han Shuying’s voice left no room for arguments, only obedience.

Ru Yi found her lips slowly parting. She inhaled sharply when Han Shuying’s fingers thrust through the barrier of her mouth and placed something solid and rough on her tongue.

"You’re only supposed to take the first antidote after the trial tomorrow," Han Shuying spoke, fingers still inside Ru Yi’s warm mouth. "But..."

Ru Yi immediately swallowed the drug dry, the movement pushing Han Shuying’s fingers against the roof of her mouth.

She would’ve been marveled if she could see the expression on Han Shuying’s face.

There was the look of pure horror which quickly morphed into surprise, and then something no one could put a name on. But the after effect of it was a smirk that was gone as quickly as it came.

Ru Yi pulled away and Han Shuying’s fingers slipped out of her mouth with a pop sound.

"You could’ve just given it to me in my hand," Ru Yi muttered, heartbeat increasing slightly when she realized what she’d done.

It took a couple seconds before Han Shuying finally recollected herself. She cleared her throat and the spell was broken.

She sat down in front of the cell, her back pressed against the bars. "Have you had anything to eat?"

Ru Yi could not afford any amount of dignity considering her situation. "No." Then in a soft voice, "do you have anything I can eat?"

Han Shuying’s cheeks burned.

How could Ru Yi ask something like that when she’d just had her fingers in her mouth seconds ago?

"Please?..." Ru Yi added softly, a warm almost painful feeling traveling through her stomach. It had to be the drug.

Han Shuying got to work on the small parcel she brought with her. She’d intended to just deliver the drug and be on her way.

But—

"Take." She pushed the roasted duck she’d wrapped in a thin cloth towards Ru Yi. They’d already been chopped into small pieces.

Ru Yi grabbed it, moaning in pleasure when the sweetness of it hit her nose. She was so engrossed in the food before her that she didn’t notice Han Shuying freeze briefly when their hands brushed against each other.

"Eat slowly—"

Ru Yi was already devouring the food, only stopping in between bites to catch her breath. This was too good, the meat so tender it immediately melted against her tongue.

With a mouth filled with food she muttered, "thank you."

Even if they ended up killing her, at least she’d die with a full stomach and a warm mouth.

The sound of her munching echoed around them, while Han Shuying listened calmly. It was a bit soothing to all the noise that was going on in her head.

Empress Shen Lihua had predicted that the triplets would bring her back to the cell, which they’d done.

It was only a matter of time before the first sign of dawn and a long day would follow.

Han Shuying pressed her fingers into her palm.

Whether she survived or not was a matter out of her own hands. She knew the Empress would throw her to the wolves if it ever came to it, but then it meant Shen Lihua had at least found her useful.

That the plotting woman had wanted her—whether it was for her person or the things she would willing do for her.

The only thing that mattered was that the Empress needed her.

Ru Yi was about to have the last piece when she paused, meat halfway into her mouth. "You know...you’re not as evil as you want to be."

That was the most ridiculous thing Han Shuying had ever heard.

"Even when you tried to kill me..." Ru Yi hesitated a bit, "You’d hit me where you knew major damage wouldn’t be done. And you left me where I could be found."

Even Ru Yi didn’t know where she was going with this. "All I’m saying is...Thank you. I mean it. You just need someone to direct you to the right path."

Han Shuying didn’t know how to react. "Shut up and eat your food."

Ru Yi ate the last piece, unaware of the huge smile that was blooming on the face of the woman in front of her.