By moonlight, Shen Xi crept toward the rear wall of the Prince’s residence, her fingertips searching the rough stone surface for footholds.
She avoided the main gate on purpose—going through the front would mean announcing her arrival. Just thinking about having to deal with Yun Zhao’s usual cold, distant demeanor gave her a headache. Climbing over the wall was cleaner: grab Snowball and leave without anyone the wiser.
Truth be told, this was her first time entering the Prince’s residence. The moment she dropped down into the courtyard, she looked up to see half the yard planted with pear trees. Their branches stretched across the moonlit sky, heavy with glistening white petals that fluttered down like scattered snow when the wind passed through.
So the famously cold and unyielding Prince Yun Zhao kept such delicate, plain flowers in his home?
Shen Xi paused to take this in, but her foot accidentally kicked a loose stone. It clattered to the ground with a sharp thump that echoed through the quiet night.
Her heart lurched as she glanced around. Not far away, under the corridor, stood a guard. Panicked, she ducked behind a haystack—surely she hadn’t been spotted…
Luckily, the guard scanned the area and seemed to dismiss the sound as just a stone moved by the wind. He didn’t look toward the haystack and soon turned to head deeper into the compound.
Shen Xi finally let out a breath of relief.
Inside the Prince’s study, candlelight flickered over military texts spread across his desk.
Charcoal braziers in the warm chamber chased away the night’s chill. Yun Zhao leaned back against a cushioned couch, his fingertips absently combing through Snowball’s fluffy fur.
Looking down at the white bundle in his lap, he saw the little creature had somehow gotten hold of half a piece of osmanthus cake, hugging it with its paws as it nibbled happily. Crumbs covered its face, even dusting its nose with golden specks—adding an unexpected touch of cuteness to its usual bearing.
“Your Highness.” Chang Yu stepped quietly into the chamber, his voice low and tentative. “Miss Shen… seems to have arrived.”
Yun Zhao didn’t stop petting the fox as he lifted his eyes slightly: “Where is she?”
“Ah…” Chang Yu hesitated. “She didn’t enter through the main gate. Your servant noticed her horse, Treading Snow, tied up outside, so we’re certain it’s her. From what we saw, she climbed over the wall.”
Yun Zhao’s eyebrow quirked slightly as he gently scratched behind Snowball’s ears, making the little creature twitch with pleasure. “Climbed over the wall? What does she want?”
“Your servant isn’t sure,” Chang Yu bowed deeply. “We saw her sneaking around the courtyard a short while ago—acting rather suspiciously. We didn’t dare disturb her, so we came to report first.”
Yun Zhao looked down at Snowball, who had fallen asleep clutching the cake. He plucked a crumb from its mouth, a faint knowing smile crossing his eyes.
She must have come to steal back the fox.
Seeing his master showed no signs of displeasure, Chang Yu continued: “Shall… shall your servant invite Miss Shen over?”
“No need,” Yun Zhao stroked Snowball gently. “Don’t disturb her yet—let her look on her own.”
Sure enough, rustling sounds came from outside the courtyard—someone moving carefully through fallen petals, pausing occasionally to whisper “Snowball” in a voice so low it seemed to fear waking the night.
Yun Zhao slowed his movements, listening as the sound circled from the corridor to behind the rockery, then lingered outside the warm chamber’s window—carrying a note of careful hesitation.
As if hearing its name, Snowball lifted its head from Yun Zhao’s lap, sniffed the air, and let out soft whimpers, its tail tip brushing his wrist.
“Patience,” he murmured soothingly, rubbing its furry ears. “Let her walk a little longer.”
When Shen Xi heard footsteps approaching along the corridor, her heart tightened. In her panic, she darted into the nearest room—the door was slightly ajar, and without thinking, she slipped inside and moved to bolt it shut.
But the moment her feet touched the ground, she felt slick moisture underfoot, and rich scents of steam and pine resin filled her nose. This wasn’t a guest room at all—it was a steaming bath chamber!
The footsteps drew closer, so near she could hear the rustle of fabric.
Shen Xi’s mind went blank. As the door was gently pushed open a crack, she acted on instinct, leaping into the pool.
There was a loud splash as warm water rose to her waist, drenching her face with warm droplets. She quickly covered her mouth and nose, leaving only half her face above water as her heart hammered against her ribs.
The pushing stopped, and the figure stepped slowly inside.
Moonlight streamed through the windows onto him—his dark robes emphasizing his tall, straight posture. It was Yun Zhao.
Huddled in the water, Shen Xi held her breath, her cheeks burning hot. The steam blurred her vision, but she couldn’t miss the figure drawing closer. She clutched her soaked skirt, her fingertips trembling.
Dammit—why isn’t he leaving? Is he going to bathe here? I can barely hold my breath!
Just as she was about to suffocate, his voice came from above—neither loud nor soft, but striking her like a stone dropped in water:
“The Prince’s bath chamber makes an odd place for Miss Shen to cool off.”
Shen Xi jerked her head up, meeting his amused gaze.
The smile was faint, like mist over his eyes, yet unmistakable. He paused, his gaze sweeping over the ripples spreading across the water as his tone took on a teasing edge: “Though I suspect the water isn’t quite cool enough for that.”
The warm pool water already had her cheeks flushed, but his words made her ears burn too. She gripped her skirt tighter, twisting the fabric into deep folds.
“Who said I was cooling off?” Shen Xi retorted through gritted teeth, her voice as unsteady as the steam rising from the pool. “I fell in by accident.”
Yun Zhao didn’t respond, his eyes fixed on the water’s surface.
Moonlight caught the bridge of his straight nose, casting a sharp shadow below. His dark robes lent him an air of quiet gravity as his fingertips tapped lightly on the stone edge of the pool: “The guards here aren’t just for show. Next time you want to enter, use the front gate. You don’t need to go to such lengths to steal a fox.”
Shen Xi was left speechless, her face growing hotter as she glared at Snowball in his arms, her fingers clenching tighter until her soaked skirt wrinkled deeply.
The warmth of the water was fading, and a damp chill crept up her skin. She shivered slightly—a small movement that didn’t escape Yun Zhao’s notice.
Finally, he looked up, his gaze passing over her pale lips, her wet dress clinging to her form and outlining soft curves. The cold fabric rubbed against her skin with each tiny shift, sending tendrils of steam curling through the air, even as water dripped from her hair.
Without expression, he turned to leave: “There are clean clothes in the side hall—”
He was cut off by Chang Yu’s urgent voice from outside, carrying a note of panic: “Your Highness! Master Shen is here—he’s waiting at the gate and asking… asking if Miss Shen is in the residence!”
Clang—Shen Xi nearly choked on water, scrambling to shrink deeper into the pool like a startled turtle: “My brother? What’s he doing here?”
Her face drained of color. How had he found her? If he saw her like this… she didn’t want to imagine the chaos that would follow.
“Your brother at least understands proper etiquette—he used the front gate,” Yun Zhao remarked dryly.
Chang Yu’s loud voice crashed through the stillness like a stone through water: “Master Shen said he saw Miss Shen’s horse tied up outside! He says if you don’t let her out, he’ll storm in and search the place himself—”
Yun Zhao glanced at the half-hidden head in the pool, then toward the door, his voice cold as ice: “Tell him Shen Xi is not here.”
Shen Xi broke out in a cold sweat. So that’s how she’d been found out—she’d been in too much of a hurry to hide her horse properly…
Frantic, she splashed water as she moved, droplets flying across her face: “Curse that stupid horse! I should’ve tied it farther away!”