Slightly calloused fingers wrapped around Ru Yi’s neck, pulling her close. "Why did you stop? You should’ve ran faster.

Ru Yi opened her mouth and closed it, unable to form actual words. A nervous rhythm fluttered beneath her ribs.

"How did you..." she was struggling to process what happened. "You were standing there, you didn’t even move."

"I’ll tell you how I did it on the way back," Shen Yexue said, sounding ecstatic. She spun Ru Yi, turning her back to the road that led to the gate.

Every step sent a feeling of dread down Ru Yi’s spine. What was Shen Yexue going to do to her? Was she going to get executed for trying to run?

Why did she go and turn like a fool instead of running? If only she had—

"Stop beating yourself up over it?" Shen Yexue said, hand still on Ru Yi’s neck. No doubt it was going to leave a bruise.

"But...you were standing right there. You didn’t even run after me."

"You saw me standing there because that’s what I wanted you to see."

"What do you mean?"

Shen Yexue’s hand finally fell to her side. "Fear slows you down. Your eyes, your thoughts, your sense of time." Her voice dropped low. "What you saw was a lingering projection, a copy of my presence made from my qi and shaped through my meridians."

Ru Yi did not know what that meant so she just nodded.

"Why didn’t you ask the crown prince to give you a pass. There was no need to go through all this trouble," Shen Yexue mused. "Or you’re doing this behind his back?"

Ru Yi was tight lipped.

There was no way she could tell the third princess what the problem was.

Even as they walked back to the gate she looked around for any other means of escape.

"Your silence means you don’t want him to find you," Shen Yexue continued. "Why is that? Are you having a lover’s quarrel because he’s marrying princess Lin Yuexin?"

Ru Yi did not bother with an answer.

"Come on, he can keep you as his royal consort. It won’t be too bad. Even better..." Shen Yexue clapped her hands in excitement. "We can get rid of the princess so he can marry you."

It was of utmost difficulty that Ru Yi didn’t lash out.

One triplet had almost broken her fingers. And this one was trying to talk her ears off.

"I don’t want to marry the crown prince," Ru Yi finally muttered. It seemed like Shen Yexue would not stop talking until she got a response out of her.

"Why not? I thought you loved him?"

Ru Yi took a deep breath. "What’s my punishment for losing the game?"

"I’ll think about that later. For now let’s find a way to get you in without causing any trouble. You can add it to the list of favors you’re owing me."

Shen Yexue led them back to the palace through the east gate. It turned out that princess Lin Yuexin was just passing.

"Princess Lin Yuexin!" Shen Yexue called out, her voice taking a high-pitch.

She ran over to where Lin Yuexin was standing with her maids. They must’ve been taking a walk.

Ru Yi followed a step behind, lowering her gaze. She would be in trouble with Princess Lin Yuexin if she learned that Ru Yi tried to escape.

Princess Lin Yuexin gave a half bow. "Shen Yexue, to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you?"

Instead of answering, Shen Yexue kept her gaze down while playing with her fingers.

Ru Yi noticed the faint red in her cheeks.

Wait—

Did Shen Yexue like princess Lin Yuexin?

It couldn’t be.

"I was on my way back from doing patrol in the village—" she turned to point at Ru Yi, "when I met a little rat trying to escape."

Princess Lin Yuexin looked at Ru Yi who avoided her gaze. "Can I ask you for a favour?"

Shen Yexue looked up then, a sweet smile on her face. "Of course, anything for you."

"Can I have the rat in question? I sent her on an errand, she seems to have forgotten."

Shen Yexue’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You want the maid?"

Lin Yuexin nodded. "If that is okay with your highness."

"Of course." Shen Yexue grabbed Ru Yi by the arm and threw her to the ground, right at Lin Yuexin’s feet.

Lin Yuexin curtsied. "Thank you."

Shen Yexue nodded, then bent down to whisper something in Ru Yi’s ear.

"I’ll find you when it’s time to collect the favors you owe me." Then she straightened up. "I’ll leave you to it."

Lin Yuexin waited until Shen Yexue was out of hearing distance before she kicked Ru Yi who was still on the floor.

"You better have a good explanation for this mess."

She turned and started walking back to her chambers, Ru Yi following at a distance.

It was hard to keep the tears in her eyes at bay. Her side hurt from where she hit the floor. She was also frustrated because she was all out of options.

Princess Lin Yuexin invited her to her inner chamber after sending the other maids out. Her gaze softened when she looked at Ru Yi’s tear streaked face.

"Sit down," she instructed. "Then tell me what happened. Were you really trying to leave the palace on your own? I thought we had a deal."

Ru Yi tried to hold everything in but her chest hurt and it felt like she was going to explode. She broke into a sob.

"I was going to wait till I got permission from you," Ru Yi said, crying. "But I found out I was pregnant and I had to do something before it was too late. I had no one else to tell and..." she hiccuped then backtracked when she realized what she said.

"You’re pregnant?" Lin Yuexin asked, concern taking over her features. "How do you know that? Who is responsible?"

"The crown prince," Ru Yi mumbled. "That was what he told me. But you don’t have to worry, I have no intention of marrying the prince or having his child."

She expected Lin Yuexin to lash out at her, punish her even. Or worse take her to the royal court and have her executed.

Which was why she raised her head in surprise when Lin Yuexin’s soft voice reached her ears.

"Come here."

Ru Yi stood up and walked over.

Slim elegant fingers wiped the tears away from her cheeks. "Can you trust me?"

"Trust you?" Ru Yi repeated and the princess nodded.

What other choice did Ru Yi have?

She simply nodded.

Lin Yuexin reached out and touched Ru Yi’s shoulders with soft affection. "Take off your clothes."