The sun streamed through the windows of the lecture hall. Qin Yufei entered quietly, her steps light. She slipped into her usual seat and immediately lowered her gaze to the desk in front of her.

The other maidens began filing in shortly after, their soft whispers filling the room like a rising tide. Yufei tuned out the chatter, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the wooden desk. She was nervous, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly why.

Suddenly, the room fell silent. The whispers ceased abruptly, like a candle being blown out. Feeling the sudden change in atmosphere, Yufei glanced up. Her gaze shifted toward the front of the room, expecting to see Tan Cheng's familiar figure. But the man standing at the desk was not him.

The man before them was tall, his black robes exuding an imposing, almost menacing presence. His figure seemed carved from stone, cold and unyielding. The room seemed to shrink under the weight of his aura. His face was sharp, with high cheekbones and piercing eyes. His hair was long and was tied back neatly, emphasizing the severity of his face.

Yufei's heart skipped a beat. Did she not see him before?

His eyes swept across the room, and though he said nothing, the sheer intensity of his gaze silenced even the boldest of the maidens.

Yufei tightened her grip on the edge of her desk, her nails digging slightly into the wood. Something about the man made her feel uneasy. He was unlike anyone she'd ever encountered before—cold, unapproachable, and utterly indifferent to the tension he caused.

After a long silence, the man finally spoke, his voice low and sharp, like the edge of a blade.

"Lord Tan has been called away to attend to palace matters. I will oversee your lessons for now."

His tone was devoid of warmth, each word clipped and precise.

"I am the Imperial Preceptor, Shen Wei," he said simply.

The name sent a ripple through the room. Even Yufei felt her stomach twist. Shen Wei—the imperial instructor, the man whose reputation preceded him wherever he went. Even she heard about him the other day.

Yufei kept her gaze fixed on her desk, willing herself to become invisible. She had no intention of drawing his attention, no desire to be the target of his infamous wrath.

Shen Wei continued, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Your lessons will continue as planned. Do not waste my time. Do not try to play tricks with me."

His words sent a chill down Yufei's spine. She didn't dare look up, but she could feel his gaze moving across the room, as if assessing each of them individually.

She only looked up for a second and when Shen Wei's piercing gaze met Yufei's, her breath hitched, and she quickly dropped her eyes back to her desk. Yet, even with her head lowered, she could still feel the intensity of his eyes lingering on her. It burned into her like the sun, leaving her fidgeting uncomfortably. The air seemed heavier around her, and no matter how hard she tried to focus on the lesson, her thoughts kept straying.

This routine persisted for the next five days. Shen Wei's cold stare would meet hers at some point during every lesson, and Yufei would feel like a cornered rabbit, unable to escape the predator's gaze. It was maddening, and yet she dared not speak or react to it.

But... The other maidens began to notice too. Quiet whispers and curious glances shifted toward her during breaks, some filled with envy, others with suspicion. And... Qin Yuli was not blind to the change in the room either. Watching Shen Wei's subtle fixation on her younger sister made her blood boil. How dare Yufei draw such attention, especially from someone as esteemed as the imperial instructor?

When the lesson finally ended that day, Yufei tried to make her way out of the hall quickly, eager to escape Shen Wei's presence. But Yuli's sharp voice called after her.

"Yufei," she said with a saccharine tone that made Yufei's stomach churn, "come to my room before dinner. We need to discuss something."

Yufei froze mid-step, dread pooling in her chest. There was no mistaking the look in her sister's eyes—it was not a request but a demand. With a quick nod, she lowered her head and hurried away, the weight of Shen Wei's stare still haunting her every step.

Shen Wei's sharp eyes didn't miss the subtle change in Qin Yufei's posture. Her shoulders, already slightly hunched during the lesson, seemed to stiffen even further after her sister spoke to her. Was it fear? Anxiety? He wasn't sure, but it intrigued him. Did that brief exchange between the sisters make her more tense? His gaze followed her until she disappeared out of the hall, trailing behind her older sister like a shadow.

The tension between the two sisters wasn't difficult to discern, even without direct evidence. Yufei's demeanor was too quiet, too reserved, while her sister radiated authority and control. He said nothing as the hall emptied, his expression unreadable, but he kept his focus on the door they had left through.

Qin Yufei followed Qin Yuli to her room, each step dragging as if the air had grown heavier with her dread. The silence between them was almost worse than any words Yuli could throw at her. Since the incident at the pond, her older sister hadn't said a thing or attempted another act of malice, and that lack of confrontation left Yufei on edge. She didn't know what to expect now.

Reaching Yuli's room, the elder sister pushed the door open and stepped inside. Yufei hesitated briefly before entering, her hands clenching the fabric of her dress nervously.

Yuli turned to face her, her lips curving into a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Close the door," she said softly, but there was an unmistakable edge to her tone.

Yufei obeyed, her heart hammering in her chest. The room felt suffocating, the walls pressing in as Yuli began to pace.

"Do you think I don't notice, Yufei?" Yuli finally said, her voice cold and sharp. "Do you think I'm blind to the way Shen Wei looks at you?"

Yufei's breath hitched. Of course, this would be about him. She had felt the stares, heard the whispers during every lesson, but she never imagined it would come to this.

"Sister, I—"

"Don't," Yuli snapped, cutting her off. Her smile vanished, replaced by a sneer. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Drawing attention to yourself. Where did you even meet him? Did you try to get close to him to get the Crown Prince attention?"

"No, I—" Yufei's voice trembled, but Yuli advanced, silencing her again.

"Stop playing innocent," Yuli hissed. "Do you think Shen Wei's interest in you will get you anything? Let me tell you something, little sister—it won't. You're nothing but a pale copy of me."

Yufei lowered her head, her fists tightening at her sides. She didn't know what to say or how to defend herself. Yuli's words stung, each one digging deeper into the insecurities she already carried.

After a moment of heavy silence, Yuli's voice softened, but it was no less venomous.

"Stay in your place, Yufei. I keep saying this but you never listen. Do you need me to remind you constantly?"

With that, Yuli turned her back on her, a clear dismissal. Yufei swallowed the lump in her throat and quietly left the room, the door closing behind her with a soft click.

Xiao Tong was waiting just outside the door, her brows furrowed with worry as she watched her lady emerge. She immediately noticed Yufei's pale face and whispered urgently.

"Did First Miss hurt you again, My Lady?"

Yufei shook her head and offered a soft, reassuring smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"I'm fine, Xiao Tong," she said, her voice calm but tired.

Not entirely convinced but knowing better than to press further, Xiao Tong followed Yufei back to their room. The air was quiet, almost fragile, as Yufei sat down at her desk.

"Get me some ink please," she murmured.

Xiao Tong nodded and began grinding ink while Yufei selected a brush. Her strokes on the paper were delicate, the soft scratch of the bristles against the paper filling the room. Quiet moments like this were rare, a fleeting solace that both cherished in their own ways.

A cup of tea sat steaming on the side of the table, and every now and then, Yufei would pause to take a small sip. Xiao Tong glanced at her lady from time to time, watching the tension in her shoulders slowly melt away as she painted.

But peace never lasted long in Yufei's world. After a while, her hand faltered, and the brush slipped slightly on the paper. She winced, placing the brush down with a soft clink. Her fingers trembled as she flexed them, her knuckles reddened and sore from the strain.

"My lady, are you all right?" Xiao Tong asked, quickly moving to her side.

Yufei gave her a small nod, though her expression betrayed her discomfort.

"I'm fine. It's just my hands... they hurt after a while," she admitted, looking down at them.

Her palms still bore faint bruises under the bandage, and her fingers were stiff.

Xiao Tong frowned, her heart aching at the sight.

"You should rest, my lady. Painting isn't worth hurting yourself over. You already write all day long, take a break."

Yufei hesitated but eventually leaned back in her chair, her shoulders slumping. She turned her gaze toward the window, where the moonlight filtered through the lattice, casting soft shadows across the room.

Xiao Tong poured another cup of tea and placed it in front of her lady.

"Here, drink this. I'll clean up the table for you."

Yufei offered her a faint smile. "Thank you, Xiao Tong." She took the cup, the warmth spreading through her hands as she held it.

As Xiao Tong carefully tidied up the painting supplies, the room once again fell into silence. But this time, it was heavier, weighed down by Yufei's thoughts. Her sister's words from earlier echoed in her mind, and she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered. Even in the safety of her room, she felt like a cup on the edge of a table, on the verge of breaking.

✤

The night was still, its silence broken only by the rustling of bed sheets. Qin Yufei woke with a start, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she struggled to shake off the remnants of her nightmare. Her heart thudded in her chest, and beads of sweat dotted her brow. She turned her head and saw Xiao Tong behind the curtain, still fast asleep on the small bed by the side of the room. Her breathing soft and steady.

Not wanting to disturb her, Yufei quietly got up, slipping on her outer robe. She lit a small lantern, its soft glow casting flickering shadows on the walls, and stepped out into the courtyard.

The night air was cool against her skin, a soothing balm to her nerves. She placed the lantern on the small table in the courtyard and sat down, resting her chin on her hands as she gazed at the sky. It was clear and starry, the kind of night that felt almost too peaceful.

She lost herself in thought, the weight of the day pressing heavily on her. The faint flicker of the lantern's light danced on her face.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps broke the stillness. Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively turned her head toward the source. Emerging from the shadows was the man she had seen at the pond that day.

He stopped a short distance away, his tall figure illuminated by the lantern's light. Yufei couldn't help but feel a pang of unease. She stood quickly, her eyes wide with surprise.

"You..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man raised a hand, a gesture meant to calm her.

"I apologize for startling you," he said, his voice deep and steady. "I know it is improper to be here at this hour, but..." He glanced briefly at the lantern on the table before continuing, "I saw the light and dared to come inside."

Yufei's fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the table as she studied him. His expression was unreadable, but there was a certain gentleness in his tone that caught her off guard.

"You shouldn't be here," she said softly, her voice tinged with both caution and curiosity. "If anyone finds you..."

He interrupted her, his eyes meeting hers. "I meant no harm. I merely wished to see if you were well... after what happened at the pond."

Her breath hitched at his words. He had been the one to save her, and yet she still knew nothing about him. Why would he involve himself in her troubles?

For a moment, silence stretched between them, the night seeming to hold its breath. The man's gaze never wavered, and Yufei found herself unable to look away.

"What... what do you want from me?" she finally asked, her voice trembling slightly.

The man's lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile, though it was fleeting. "Nothing," he said simply. "I only wished to ensure you were safe."

Before she could respond, he took a step back, only now looking at her hands, as if preparing to leave. "Forgive me for disturbing your night," he said, his tone formal once more. "I will take my leave now."

Yufei stood frozen, watching as he turned and disappeared back into the shadows from which he had come. The soft flicker of the lantern seemed dimmer now, and the quiet of the courtyard felt heavier.

She sat back down slowly, her mind racing with questions. Who was he? Why had he come? And why did his words, so simple and brief, leave her feeling both unsettled and oddly comforted?

The stars above seemed to offer no answers, their silent vigil continuing as Yufei sat there for another while, lost in thought.