Qin Yufei's head snapped up from the palace etiquette book she had been reading all day. She had hoped to bury herself in the text to distract from her growing unease about her new life in the palace. But now, Xiao Tong stood in the doorway.

"A visitor?" Yufei repeated, her voice uncertain.

"Yes, my lady," Xiao Tong replied, stepping closer. "It's Imperial Preceptor Shen. He said it's time for your first lesson, and he requests that you join him in his study."

Yufei froze, her hands tightening on the edges of the book. Shen Wei... She hadn't expected him to come so soon. Her mind raced, replaying the moments from the garden the other day when he agreed to teach her. She wasn't sure how to feel about him, but the idea of being alone with him in his study made her chest tighten.

"I... I see," she said, rising from her seat.

Her hands instinctively brushed her robes, as though trying to compose herself.

"Help me prepare, Xiao Tong."

"Yes, my lady," Xiao Tong said, bowing quickly before bustling around the room to fetch a more appropriate outer robe for Yufei to wear.

Moments later, Yufei followed Xiao Tong through the quiet palace corridors. Her footsteps were hesitant, her palms slightly damp despite her efforts to calm herself. Xiao Tong, sensing her lady's unease, walked closely beside her, holding her zither.

When they reached Shen Wei's study, the heavy doors were slightly ajar, revealing a warm glow of lamplight spilling into the hallway. A servant stood nearby, bowing as he gestured for them to enter.

Summoning all the composure she could muster, Yufei looked at Shen Wei servant pushing the door open and invited her to step inside.

Shen Wei was seated at a large wooden desk, his posture as rigid as ever. His black robes seemed to absorb the lamplight, accentuating the sharp lines of his face. He glanced up as she entered, his dark eyes briefly scanning her from head to toe.

"Lady Qin," he said, his voice low and deliberate. "I see that you brought your zither. That's a good start."

Yufei bowed, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "Imperial Preceptor Shen," she greeted him, her voice steady but soft.

Shen Wei motioned for her to take a seat at the small table near the center of the room. Xiao Tong took the zither out, its polished surface gleaming in the light. After that, she went to wait near the door, leaving it open.

"Since this is our first lesson, we will begin with reviewing your main issue," he said, standing and walking toward her. His movements were intimidating.

"I need to correct this before we proceed further."

Yufei sat down, her heart pounding as she ran her fingers lightly over the strings of the zither. She could feel Shen Wei's gaze on her, as intense as ever.

"Begin," he said simply, standing a few steps away with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

Yufei took a deep breath, steadying her hands before plucking the first string. The soft, melodic sound filled the room, but her fingers faltered slightly under the weight of Shen Wei's scrutiny.

As the melody continued, Shen Wei's gaze never wavered. His sharp eyes seemed to dissect every movement, every note, as though searching for something beyond the music.

When she finished, the room fell silent. Yufei's hands rested lightly on the zither, her breathing shallow as she awaited his judgment.

Shen Wei stepped closer, his shadow falling over her.

"Your posture is wrong," he said bluntly, his tone neither cruel nor kind.

Yufei looked up at him, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. She didn't realize he was standing that close to her.

He leaned down slightly, his face just inches from hers. "Do not let your emotions control you. I can see your hands trembling. Try to calm yourself and " he said, his voice a quiet command.

"Your shoulders are too tense. And your back..." He narrowed his eyes, gesturing toward her stiff frame. "You're slouching. Sit up straight."

Yufei flushed faintly, immediately trying to adjust herself, but her movements were hesitant and unsure.

Shen Wei sighed, stepping even closer. Looking straight into her eyes like asking her, he placed his hands slowly on her shoulders. His touch was firm, and Yufei stiffened even more under the contact.

"Relax," he said, his voice low and steady. He pressed lightly against her shoulders, guiding them downward. "If you keep playing like this, you'll keep tiring yourself."

Yufei nodded quickly, her gaze lowering to her hands on the zither.

"And your back," he continued. "Straighten it. "

He moved to stand behind her, his hands hovering near her shoulders as he observed her posture. "There," he said after a moment, stepping back. "Now try again."

Feeling strangely determined, Yufei adjusted her position and let her fingers glide over the strings. The sound that emerged was smoother, more fluid than before.

Shen Wei gave a slight nod, his sharp features softening—just barely. "Better. You'll improve faster if you maintain this posture."

As Qin Yufei played, the soft notes of the zither filled the study with a melancholic melody. Shen Wei stood behind her, his arms behind his back, his sharp eyes fixed on her hands. Her fingers moved delicately over the strings, but he noticed the way they trembled slightly and the faint redness blooming at her fingertips.

His jaw tightened. Even if he was enjoying the sight, she was pushing herself too hard. He could see it in the subtle quiver of her fingers, the way her grip faltered ever so slightly after each pluck of the strings.

His hands clenched into fists, the sharp pain from his injured hand barely registering. Every passing minute, the tension within him grew. He wanted to tell her to stop, to let her rest, but something held him back. He kept looking at her hands moving in front of him.

When the melody came to a close, Yufei exhaled softly, her hands finally leaving the strings. She flexed her fingers discreetly, trying to soothe the ache without drawing attention to it.

"Enough," Shen Wei said abruptly, his voice harsher than he intended.

Yufei froze and turned her head slightly, peering at him over her shoulder.

"Imperial Preceptor Shen?"

He stepped forward, his shadow falling over her as he reached for her hands. His grip was firm but not rough as he took her wrist and turned her palm upward, exposing the raw, reddened tips of her fingers.

"Straining yourself to this extent? You'll ruin your hands if you continue like this."

Yufei blinked, her lips parting slightly in surprise.

"I... I didn't realize—"

"And what are those scars? Did you hurt yourself?", he asked, his tone cold.

Yufei lowered her gaze, feeling both chastised and confused by his sudden outburst.

"This... this is nothing."

Shen Wei turned away abruptly, his back stiff as he walked to his desk. The zither before him gleamed under the soft lantern light, its strings reflecting a faint golden hue. Without a word, his fingers descended onto the strings, and the first note resonated through the room, sharp.

The piece was unlike anything Yufei had ever heard. The melody was both turbulent and disciplined, a storm. His hands moved with a startling intensity, each pluck of the string carrying both force and elegance. The rhythm was fast and unrelenting, yet every note rang clear, as if he poured every ounce of himself into the music.

Yufei's eyes widened as she watched him, utterly captivated. She had never seen someone play the zither with such strength, as though each note was a battle to be won. His expression was unreadable, his dark brows furrowed slightly, and his lips pressed into a firm line. There was an almost obsessive quality to his playing—an intensity that made her heart race.

His fingers danced across the strings with an almost inhuman precision, and yet, there was something deeply human in the emotion that radiated from the music. It wasn't a performance meant to impress; it was raw and deeply personal, as though he was unraveling a part of himself with every note.

Unable to look away, Yufei felt a strange pang in her chest. For all his coldness and sharp words, Shen Wei's music revealed something she hadn't expected.

When the final note lingered in the air, Shen Wei's hands stilled. He remained seated, his head bowed slightly, his shoulders rising and falling with his steady breaths.

Yufei realized she had been holding her breath and exhaled quietly.

"Imperial Preceptor Shen, how can I one day play like this?" she murmured, unable to stop herself.

Shen Wei lifted his head and turned toward her, his dark eyes meeting hers. For a moment, there was a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze—but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

"Then come to me, I'll play for you" he said, his voice low.

Yufei sat there frozen. Shen Wei's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before leaving his seat. Now standing just in front of her, he held out his hand.

"Practice your stance and return in two days" he said not looking at her anymore. "Ask your maid to bring you medicine for your scars."

"Yes, Imperial Preceptor Shen," she replied softly, bowing before leaving the study.

Xiao Tong behind her, she walked back to her pavilion. Yufei couldn't shake the memory of the haunting melody or the image of Shen Wei's intense expression as he played. It was as though, for a brief moment, she had glimpsed a side of him that no one else had. And for reasons she couldn't quite understand, it made her heart pound faster.

✤

When Qin Yufei arrived at her pavilion, she was surprised to see a palace lady standing at the entrance, her posture stiff and formal, as though she had been waiting for some time. The lady bowed deeply the moment Yufei approached, her voice calm yet urgent.

"Royal Concubine," the palace lady began, "your elder sister, Lady Qin Yuli, is currently outside the palace gates. She has requested an audience with you."

Yufei froze in place, her mind reeling at the unexpected situation. Qin Yuli had been conspicuously silent ever since the results of the crown princess selection. She hadn't caused trouble, nor had she come to beat her. But now, her sudden presence at the palace gates sent a ripple of unease through Yufei.

"Did she say why she's here?" Yufei asked, her voice steady despite the sinking feeling in her chest.

The palace lady shook her head. "She only asked that you meet her. She seemed insistent."

Yufei hesitated. A part of her wanted to ignore the summons—whatever her sister wanted, it was unlikely to bring her any peace.

"Very well," Yufei said after a moment, nodding. "I will meet her."

The palace lady bowed again.

As the palace lady stepped aside, Yufei entered her pavilion briefly to collect herself. Xiao Tong took her inside. Xiao Tong's face was darkening with worry.

"Do you think it's wise to meet her, my lady? After everything that's happened..."

"I don't know," Yufei admitted. "But I can't ignore her. If I don't go, she might cause a scene, and that's the last thing I need right now."

Xiao Tong hesitated but eventually nodded. "Then at least let me stay with you."

Yufei gave her a faint smile.

With that, she adjusted her robes, ensuring they were presentable, and sat at her tea table.

When she finally saw Qin Yuli standing at the entrance, dressed in an elegant gown of deep red. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes held a sharpness that made Yufei's heart tighten.

"Sister," Yufei greeted. "I was told you wished to see me."

Qin Yuli tilted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"So formal, little sister. It seems the palace is already changing you."

Yufei stiffened slightly but didn't respond."What brings you here?"

Qin Yuli took a step closer, taking a sit in front of her.

"I thought it was time we spoke, don't you agree? After all, so much has happened between us... and so much is about to happen."

The ominous tone in her sister's voice sent a chill down Yufei's spine, but she forced herself to remain calm.

"If you have something to say, Sister, please say it."

Qin Yuli's smile returned."Oh, sister. We are a family. Now that it has come to this, I hope you will allow me to care for you now. I should be there to accompany you now that you are getting married."

Before Yufei could respond, Yuli reached out and gently touched her shoulder, surprising Yufei who thought she would hit her.

"Do you not hate me for marrying the Crown Prince?

— No sister. Why would I? We should be glad that this family finally receive such a honor.

— Is it...

— Yes little sister! Let me help you choose your dress for the wedding. I should do that in our mother's stead."