Yǔlín positioned himself in front of the king's chambers, his back rigid, his jaw set. The massive doors yawned ahead of him like a beast's maw. The guards looked at each other and one of them gave a sharp nod and pushed the doors wide apart.
Within, King Moyao sat upon his throne, his eyes narrowing through a veneer of calm. Supreme Commander Kǒngyún stood beside him, forearms crossed over his chest, his eyes locked onto Yǔlín as he stepped into view.
"Prince Yǔlín," echoed the king's words. "I hear you've been hosting guests without informing me."
Yǔlín's heart raced. "Father, I promise you—"
"Save it," Kǒngyún broke in suavely, his eyes flashing like a killer. "A housemaid saw a suspicious woman in your rooms. She thinks she could be associated with the assassin."
Yǔlín's face did not change expression. "A maid? How valid is a maid's testimony in treason cases?"
Kǒngyún's mouth curled up. "You realize how many eyes this palace has, Prince."
King Moyao inclined his head, his expression serious. "So, Yǔlín... who is she?"
Yǔlín gazed unyieldingly and coldly at his father. "Simply a servant. That is all."
The king's gaze pierced him, his silence oppressive. "Then you wouldn't object if I requested a search through your rooms?"
Yǔlín's fists were clenched at his sides. "If that is your desire, Father."
—
At the same time, in Wuji's chambers, tension filled the air as well. Wuji's mind raced with fear and anger as he paced his chambers. He had been warned by Yǔlín to leave it alone, to allow events to unfold as they might, yet every part of him urged him to act. He clenched his jaw as he recalled Kǒngyún's taunts, the arrogant glint in his eye.
"Damn," Wuji cursed under his breath, pounding his fist into the wall. "Why is he doing it himself?"
But even while he seethed, he held himself in place. Yǔlín's words rang through his mind: "Don't interfere."
But all his muscles were clenched into tension and set to spring into action.
—
In Yǔlín's quarters meanwhile, Su Shu hid out of sight, her heart thumping away like a war drum. Footsteps sounded in the corridor and voices whispered outside her door. The strain grew as the guard who had addressed the maid approached and grumbled under his breath, "She's not just a maid, I swear she resembled an assassin."
The other guard quieted him, keeping his eyes darting about. "Be quiet. You know that prince's quarters are out-of-bounds without express command."
The first guard scowled. "But if she is hiding in there..."
They passed her by but Su Shu was stuck in an immobile trance-like state, each gasp struggling against the paralyzing fear threatening to engulf her.