The palace did not sleep.
Not after what had happened.
Not after what had been discovered.
—
Inside her chamber, Zhou Ye stood by the window, her fingers lightly resting against the wooden frame.
The night air brushed against her face—
cool, quiet—
but her thoughts refused to settle.
—
He wanted to be caught.
—
Doctor Lin's calm expression lingered in her mind.
That faint smile.
That unsettling certainty.
—
"This was part of my plan."
—
Her fingers tightened slightly.
—
What kind of plan begins with capture…
and ends with escape?
—
Zhou Ye closed her eyes briefly.
—
This isn't how I wrote it.
—
In her story, things were simpler.
Predictable.
Every move had a purpose she understood.
—
But now—
—
The story was no longer listening to her.
—
Or… the characters aren't.
—
A soft knock broke the silence.
"Princess?"
—
Song Lan stepped in carefully, her face filled with concern.
"You haven't rested."
—
Zhou Ye turned slightly, her expression calm but distant.
"Do you think it's over?" she asked.
—
Song Lan hesitated.
"…Doctor Lin escaped, but the guards are searching everywhere."
—
Zhou Ye gave a faint, almost hollow smile.
—
"No," she said quietly.
—
"It's not over."
—
Before Song Lan could respond—
—
A scream echoed through the palace.
—
Sharp.
Sudden.
Too close.
—
Both of them froze.
—
Another scream followed.
—
Zhou Ye's eyes sharpened instantly.
—
"…Again."
—
Without waiting—
she rushed out.
—
"Princess!" Song Lan called, hurrying after her.
—
The corridors were in chaos.
Guards ran.
Servants whispered in fear.
The air itself felt unstable—
as if something unseen had begun tightening its grip around the palace.
—
Zhou Ye reached the eastern wing.
—
And stopped.
—
Xu Yang was already there.
—
Of course he was.
—
His presence alone seemed to steady the chaos—
yet his expression was darker than before.
—
Their eyes met briefly.
—
No words.
—
Just understanding.
—
Zhou Ye stepped forward.
Another body lay on the ground.
—
Still.
Lifeless.
—
No wounds.
—
No blood.
—
Only that same expression—
—
Fear.
—
Controlled fear.
—
Zhou Ye's breath slowed.
"…It's the same."
—
Jing Mo frowned.
"That's impossible. Doctor Lin escaped only moments ago."
—
Jing Yen crossed his arms, his gaze sharp.
"Unless he didn't act alone."
—
Silence fell.
—
Zhou Ye's eyes darkened slightly.
—
Not alone…
—
Her thoughts moved quickly.
—
Or… this was planned before.
—
"He prepared this," she said quietly.
—
Xu Yang looked at her.
"You're certain?"
—
Zhou Ye nodded slowly.
—
"He knew he would be captured."
A pause.
—
"He knew he would escape."
—
Her voice lowered.
—
"And he knew this would happen after."
—
A chill ran through the room.
—
Jing Yen let out a low breath.
"So we're not chasing a killer anymore…"
—
He glanced around.
—
"We're walking into a plan."
—
Xu Yang's expression hardened.
"Seal the palace. No one enters. No one leaves."
—
The guards moved immediately.
—
Zhou Ye stood still for a moment.
—
Something didn't feel right.
—
This is too clean.
—
Too perfect.
—
Too controlled.
—
Her gaze shifted slightly—
toward the shadows at the edge of the corridor.
—
For a brief moment—
she felt it.
—
Like someone was watching.
—
Then—
—
A sharp sound cut through the air.
—
A needle.
—
Fast.
Silent.
—
Heading straight for her.
—
"Zhou Ye—!"
—
Xu Yang moved instantly.
—
He pulled her back—
his arm wrapping tightly around her waist—
the needle grazing past her sleeve.
—
It struck the wall behind them.
—
Blackened instantly.
—
Poison.
—
Zhou Ye's breath hitched.
—
Too close.
—
Too close.
—
"Stay behind me," Xu Yang said sharply.
—
His voice—
different.
—
Not calm.
—
Not controlled.
—
Angry.
—
The guards rushed forward, searching—
but nothing.
—
No one.
—
The corridor was empty.
—
Zhou Ye slowly steadied her breathing.
—
He was here.
—
Watching.
—
Waiting.
—
Her fingers curled slightly.
—
Doctor Lin…
—
"You're trembling."
—
Xu Yang's voice was quieter now.
—
Zhou Ye blinked slightly.
Only then did she realize—
—
He was still holding her.
—
His grip firm.
Protective.
—
She quickly stepped back.
"…I'm fine."
—
But her voice wasn't steady.
—
Xu Yang studied her carefully.
—
For a brief moment—
his expression softened.
—
"You're not," he said quietly.
—
Zhou Ye looked away.
—
In my story…
—
He would have let me die.
—
Her chest tightened.
—
So why…
—
does he keep saving me?
—
She turned back to him.
—
"Why did you follow me?" she asked suddenly.
—
Xu Yang frowned slightly.
"I didn't."
—
Zhou Ye narrowed her eyes.
"You were already here."
—
A pause.
—
"I knew something would happen," he said.
—
Her gaze sharpened.
"How?"
—
Xu Yang hesitated.
Just for a second.
—
Then—
he spoke.
—
"My father."
—
Zhou Ye stilled.
—
"He's involved," Xu Yang continued.
"Along with Minister Wen."
—
The words settled heavily.
—
Zhou Ye's heart sank slightly.
—
So it's true…
—
This was never just about survival.
—
This was a game.
—
And she was already inside it.
—
"…Then I was never the real target," she said softly.
—
Xu Yang looked at her.
—
"No," he replied.
—
A pause.
—
"But you've become important."
—
Zhou Ye blinked slightly.
—
"…Why?"
—
Xu Yang didn't answer immediately.
—
His gaze lingered on her—
something unreadable passing through his eyes.
—
"…I don't know," he said finally.
—
Zhou Ye frowned.
—
That answer again.
—
Uncertain.
—
Unplanned.
—
This isn't the Xu Yang I wrote.
—
Her thoughts stirred again.
—
He was supposed to betray me.
—
So why does it feel like he won't?
—
Before she could speak—
—
Jing Yen stepped forward.
"Well," he said lightly,
"whoever's behind this clearly has excellent timing."
—
Zhou Ye glanced at him.
—
"You're not worried?" she asked.
—
Jing Yen smiled faintly.
—
"I am," he said.
—
A pause.
—
"But not for myself."
—
His gaze shifted—
to her.
—
"For you."
—
Xu Yang's expression darkened slightly.
—
Zhou Ye noticed.
—
And for some reason—
her heartbeat became uneven.
—
This is dangerous.
—
Not the palace.
—
Not the enemies.
—
Them.
—
All of them.
—
Elsewhere—
Deep within the palace—
hidden beyond the reach of guards—
—
Doctor Lin stood in the shadows.
—
Unharmed.
—
Free.
—
A faint smile rested on his lips.
—
"The game has begun," he murmured.
—
Behind him—
a figure stepped forward.
—
"Everything is in place," the man said quietly.
—
Doctor Lin nodded.
—
"Good."
—
His gaze lifted slightly—
as if looking beyond the walls—
beyond the palace—
—
toward something only he could see.
—
"Now…"
—
His smile deepened.
—
"Let's see how long they can survive."
—
Back in the corridor—
Zhou Ye stood silently.
—
The palace felt different now.
—
Heavier.
—
Darker.
—
This is no longer my story.
—
Her fingers tightened slightly.
—
But I'm still the one inside it.
—
She looked at Xu Yang.
—
For a moment—
just a moment—
—
she wanted to trust him.
—
But—
—
If the story can change…
—
Then so can he.
—
Her gaze lowered.
—
"…I'll survive," she said quietly.
—
Xu Yang looked at her.
—
"I know," he replied.
—
A pause.
—
"Because I won't let anything happen to you."
—
Zhou Ye's breath softened slightly.
—
And for the first time—
—
her doubt wavered.
—
Just a little.
—
Outside—
the night deepened.
—
And somewhere in the darkness—
—
the next move had already begun.
—