Su Shu had regained her strength in full. The wounds had healed and her vitality ran through her like a river from which the winter's icy fetters had been removed. However, she was still imprisoned in the quarters of Lei Yǔlín. Guards roamed outside like bothersome specters, and any effort at escape was practically impossible.
She walked back and forth inside, her eyes jumping to the doors and windows. The air was thick with the smell of incense and something else — something dark — something she couldn't shake.
The door swung open slowly and Wuji stepped inside, bearing in his hands a tray of food. He looked at Su Shu as he entered, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
"Oh?" Wuji said, putting down the tray. "Didn't know the prince was having company. Who's this?"
Seated in the sidelines, Lei Yǔlín reclined against the wall with his arms crossed. "None of your business."
"Oh, tell me—when exactly did you stop being a force of your own, commander and start playing the waiter at my pity party?"
Wuji's gaze stayed on Su Shu for an instant before he furrowed his eyebrow. "I do not recall having seen her before. She does not resemble a servant."
Yǔlín's eyes darkened. "She's a guest. That's all you need to know."
Su Shu grit her teeth, sensing Wuji's piercing glance on her.
"Well, I was dispatched to bring this," Wuji said, moving the tray in Su Shu's direction. "The queen's been questioning all of us about the assassin. You know, the one who attempted to murder the king."
Yǔlín's glance shot to Su Shu, but his face was still inscrutable.
Wuji sighed dramatically. "Imagine? A person actually got as close to the king as that? The palace must be in uproar."
Su Shu had her eyes cast downwards, her fists tightly closed in her sleeves.
Wuji spoke in low tones to Yǔlín. "You need to be careful, Your Highness. Whoever it is, he's good."
Yǔlín's jaw tensed. "Noted."
With that, Wuji cast Su Shu one final wary glance before he exited the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.
As soon as they were by themselves, Su Shu exhaled, releasing a breath she wasn't aware of holding.
Yǔlín observed her for a brief time before asking, "Why so nervous?"
Su Shu looked at him in anger. "You should have introduced me to him. Perhaps he would have murdered me for your sake."
Yǔlín's mouth twitched into a half-smile. "Well, perhaps people do have some reason for saying things about me."
Su Shu's forehead creased. "So, it's because it's inconvenient?"
Yǔlín drew closer, his eyes shining under the mask. "Something like that."
He turned before she could say anything and left her to the suffocating silence.
---
In the training arena, meanwhile, Commander Xiéyàn observed as the warriors struck at each other with blades locked, grunting and shouting. Supreme General Kǒngyún walked up to his side, arms crossed.
"The king has commanded for the soldiers to be trained more rigorously," said Kǒngyún in an icy tone. "He believes it may be the commencement of war."
Xiéyàn smirked as he stared at the soldiers. "A war? On whom?"
Kǒngyún's mouth curved into a mischievous smile. "That's what we're here to discover."