Chapter 83: Fault Lines
The room was dim, lit only by the only surviving lantern that was placed at the center of the low table. It cast shadows around the room, making everything feel even more tense than it already was.
Heavier.
Madam Xiao sat with her hands folded tightly in her lap, her usual composure strained but still intact.
Across from her, the three sisters occupied their usual positions—Qingyue upright and composed, Lieyin restless and sharp, Yexue unusually silent.
The air between them was charged.
"I think this was a targeted attack," Qingyue said. Her voice was as calm as ever, but it carried weight."
"Definitely," Lieyin added, leaning back slightly, though her fingers tapped faintly against her arm. "They were not here for the house, or the supplies we managed to scrap together."
Her gaze flickered to the room. "They’d come specifically for the boy."
Xiao Yi.
"That won’t be the first time," Madam Xiao said in a grave voice, and all three sisters looked at her.
She hesitated...
"The night you helped me," she continued, her voice even more quiet now, "those men...they were not just after their money. They wanted to take Xiao Yi in exchange for the money I owed them." Her hands tightened slightly.
"Which means they’ve possibly been watching this whole time," Lieyin replied.
"Either way, this was a message." Qingyue looked at them all. "A warning. Their timing was very convenient."
"Do you think it might have anything to do with bandits I caught during my patrol?" Lieyin asked. "They could’ve also come for revenge."
"Two possible scenarios," Qingyue said. "Possibly connected. Possibly not."
"Everything is connected," Yexue finally spoke. "Whether it was for the debt or revenge for killing their own...the truth remains that we’ve been targeted."
"We’ll patrol together from now on," Qingyue finally said. "They might come in numbers next time, it’s better to be prepared than sorry."
Lieyin raised a brow at her. "You don’t think I can handle them all on my own?"
Qingyue shot her look. "You know that’s not the case here."
That earned a small, humorless smile. "Fine," Lieyin said. "Together, then."
Yexue was the first to stand up. "If that’s all, then I’ll be retiring for the night. I’ve had a long day."
Madam Xiao followed shortly after, leaving Qingyue and Lieyin alone in the sitting area. The night outside was already colder, quieter, but it did nothing to ease the tension that remained.
Qingyue decided to start with an easy question. "What happened to your face?"
Lieyin laughed, the sound short of humor. "I thought you’d never ask." Lieyin flexed the side of her face. If it still hurts...she didn’t show it. "I got punched in the face by our beloved sister."
"I didn’t expect anything less." Her expression turned even more serious. "And to be honest, you deserved it."
"Looks like the little maid has my own sisters turning against me," Lieyin whined in mock betrayal. "What did I ever do to deserve this?"
"You went overboard with what you said to her," Qingyue asked, already used to Lieyin’s usual tactics when she wanted to deflect. "You were in the wrong."
Lieyin scoffed. "Like you’re any better."
The muscles on Qingyue’s jaw tightened. "We’re not the same. I was looking out for her, but you were being downright cruel. You told her she was better off dead."
"I mean, someone had to say it," Lieyin protested. "It’s the truth. We wouldn’t even be stuck here if it wasn’t for her and meddling in other people’s business."
Qingyue sighed, her shoulders sagging in exhaustion. There was really no reasoning with Lieyin most of the time.
"In fact..." Lieyin smirked. "I think you should be worried about Yexue more. She’s the one getting attached."
"And you were the one who literally bound yourself to her." Qingyue ran her palm over her face. "I don’t get the thoughts that run through your head."
Shen Lieyin merely shrugged. She didn’t get it either.
But...if she were to be truthful to herself. She’d say it started the night she mistakenly got into bed with Ru Yi.
The maid must’ve thought she was Yexue when she wrapped her small arms around her waist, and nuzzled her face into Lieyin’s neck.
For some reason— that moment had stayed with her even in her waking moments. But she didn’t have the time, nor the energy to deal with what that meant.
Above all, it was the fact that night was the first time she didn’t have a nightmare...she hadn’t even woken up with a mix of tears and sweat dripping down her face.
But it hadn’t mattered, she convinced herself it was just a coincidence. She’d get over it when they left the palace.
Until Yexue had the poor maid delivered to her literal doorstep. And the only thing she could think of was keeping the maid by her side.
"Do you like her?" Qingyue broke Lieyin out of her thoughts.
"As if!" Lieyin scoffed. "I didn’t know you thought so lowly of me."
Anyone else would’ve taken Lieyin’s response at face value, but not Qingyue. They’d been together all their lives, knew each other’s mannerisms. Even the most subtle ones.
"You didn’t give a proper answer."
Shen Lieyin touched her chest like she was truly offended. "I do not like the maid. Not now, not ever. I mean...I do think we’re better off without her, that’s without question."
Qingyue knew Lieyin never said what she truly meant, especially when she was angry.
"Like I said before, it’s Yexue you should be worried about. But not to worry, I’ve given her a little reminder on why being involved with anyone is a bad idea. Especially now."
Qingyue nodded. "Good. We have a mission to accomplish and I will not let anyone get in the way. As for Yexue, soon enough she’ll find something more interesting to put her attention on. She has never been the type to like someone for a long time."
The two sisters had a feeling it wasn’t the case this time.
"Not to worry," Lieyin said in a voice that made Qingyue weary. "I’ll always be here to set her straight if she starts to stray from our plan."
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