Shumin lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying flashes from last night like a broken lantern—
warm light, blurred voices, someone's hand holding her arm, a scent she couldn't place…
And a face.
Li Zhan's face.
Clear. Too clear.
She groaned and rolled over, burying her face into the pillow.
"Why do I remember that part so clearly…?" she muttered.
Nothing else made sense.
How she ended up in the King's chamber?
Who brought her there?
Blank. Completely blank.
The only thing her memory generously kept was her own embarrassing mouth.
Did I really say all that…?
Did I really call him handsome?
Did I really...
She kicked the blanket.
"No...No...No...This is why people shouldn't drink in ancient palaces."
She sat up abruptly, clutching her head.
"Calm down, Lin Shumin. You're here for one purpose only," she lectured herself seriously.
"Happy ending. King and Queen. That's it."
She nodded to herself, as if reassured.
"Yes. I was just… drunk. Accidentally drunk. Temporarily blind to reality drunk."
Her heart, however, disagreed—beating a little too fast for someone who was supposedly calm.
Just then, Shu Yan entered quietly with water.
"My lady… are you feeling unwell?" she asked, noticing Shumin's restless state.
Shumin froze for half a second, then forced a smile.
"Me? Perfectly fine. Never better. Just… spiritually embarrassed."
Shu Yan didn't understand, but she had long given up trying.
Shumin slipped out of bed and washed her face, splashing water like she could erase last night with it.
As the cool droplets ran down her cheeks, her reflection stared back at her—
alive, breathing, still in one piece.
Her hand unconsciously touched her neck.
Still there.
Head still attached.
Good. Excellent. Successful survival.
She exhaled in relief.
"…Whatever happened," she murmured softly, "it's over."
She straightened, resolve returning.
Operation Cupid was still active.
The mission hadn't failed.
One awkward night didn't change the ending she wanted.
Shumin froze mid-thought.
Her eyes widened.
"…WAIT."
She shot up straight on the bed, nearly knocking over the cup beside her.
"The masked man."
Her heart skipped hard.
She had told him to come.
She had told him tonight.
She had even fixed the time—after dinner.
And then she drank.
And then she blacked out.
And then she woke up in the King's bed.
Her soul quietly tried to leave her body again.
"Oh no. Oh no no no no no."
She pressed both palms to her face, fingers digging into her cheeks.
"He must've come," she muttered in horror.
"And I wasn't there."
Images rushed in—
a masked figure waiting in the shadows,
checking the moon,
waiting… and waiting…
then leaving silently.
Her chest tightened.
"That's so rude," she whispered.
"So unbelievably rude."
She groaned and flopped backward onto the bed.
"I told him to help me. I dragged him into this mess. And then I disappeared like a ghost."
She turned her head, staring at the window where pale morning light slipped in.
"Maybe he came… didn't see me… and went back," she reasoned softly.
"Yeah. That's probably it."
She nodded to convince herself.
"He's a mysterious type. Definitely not the 'wait patiently forever' type."
Still… something tugged at her.
A small, uncomfortable guilt.
She hugged the pillow and sighed.
"…I should apologize."
Her lips curved into a determined little line.
"Next time I see him, I'll say sorry properly. No excuses."
Then she paused.
Next time.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Actually," she murmured, sitting up again, "why wait?"
Her gaze slid toward the window.
Tonight.
Same place.
Same time.
"If he comes again, good," she said to herself.
"If he doesn't… I'll still go."
She clenched her fist lightly.
"I can't just disappear after asking someone for help. That's bad character development."
She nodded firmly, as if sealing a vow.
"Tonight," Shumin declared quietly,
"I'll go alone."
---------
Shumin had barely finished convincing herself about her very responsible night plan when a soft knock sounded at the door.
"My Lady...."
A palace maid stepped in, head lowered, holding a sealed letter with both hands.
"This… came from your father's side, my lady."
Shumin blinked.
"…Father?"
That single word hit her harder than the King's threats.
Shu Yan accepted the letter first, then carefully passed it to Shumin, her expression cautious.
Shumin stared at the seal.
Wen Qian's family?
Her heart thumped.
In the novel…
Concubine Wen Qian's parents were not mentioned.
No background.
No letters.
No involvement.
Which meant—
"This wasn't supposed to happen," she muttered.
She broke the seal and unfolded the paper.
The message was short.
Too short.
'You still haven't given the information.
Send it immediately.
We will act once we receive it.'
Shumin's fingers stiffened.
"…Information?"
She reread it once.
Twice.
Her stomach slowly sank.
"What information?" she whispered.
"And… act on what?"
A thousand questions exploded in her head.
Did Wen Qian promise something?
Was she involved in something dangerous?
Is this political? Treason? Spying?
Her heart raced.
Shu Yan noticed her pale face and grew worried.
"My lady… is something wrong?"
Shumin quickly folded the letter, forcing a laugh that sounded a little too light.
"No. Nothing."
She waved her hand dismissively.
"Just… family being family. Annoying."
Shu Yan didn't look convinced, but she didn't push further.
When the maid left, Shumin stared at the folded letter in her palm.
Her brows knitted together.
"This is bad," she murmured.
"Very bad."
But after a moment, she shook her head hard.
"No....Not now."
She slipped the letter under her pillow.
"I have bigger problems—like keeping my head attached to my neck, fixing the King–Queen relationship, and apologizing to a masked man I ghosted."
She exhaled slowly, trying to calm herself.
"I'll think about this later," she decided.
"Way later."
For now…
She had a night mission to prepare for.
-----
After dinner,
Shumin waited by the window.
She waited long enough for the candle to burn low, long enough for the moon to climb higher,
long enough for her hope to quietly thin out.
No masked man came.
She leaned her forehead against the wooden frame, sighing softly.
"So you really didn't come…"
Behind her,
Shu Yan was tidying quietly, stealing glances at her lady's unusually silent back.
Finally,
Shumin straightened and turned around, resolve suddenly firm.
"Shu Yan."
"Yes, my lady?"
"I'm going to Guixia Market tonight."
Shu Yan froze.
"…Tonight?"
"Yes." Shumin nodded seriously.
"If you want to come, it's okay. If you don't, that's okay too."
Shu Yan's eyes widened in alarm.
"My lady, that's dangerous! It's night, and the market area..what if something happens ? And the King...."
"I know,"
Shumin cut in gently.
"But I still have to go."
She smiled,
a little stubborn,
a little sincere.
"There are people there who need help. And I promised myself I wouldn't pretend not to see them."
Shu Yan clenched her sleeves.
"But my lady..."
Shumin stepped closer and held her hands.
"I'll be careful...I swear...
I won't do anything reckless."
Shu Yan looked at her lady's determined eyes, then slowly lowered her head.
"…Then I'll go with you."
Shumin blinked.
"You don't have to..."
"I do," Shu Yan said firmly, lifting her head.
"If you're going, I'm going....
I won't let you go alone."
Her voice softened.
"If danger comes… I want to be there."
For a moment, Shumin just stared at her.
Then she smiled...warm, touched, a little emotional.
"Alright," she said quietly.
"Let's go together."
Outside, the moonlight spilled across the palace roofs.
And somewhere beyond the walls, Guixia Market waited...
unaware that two women were about to step into the night,
carrying courage, worry…
and secrets neither of them fully understood yet.