Chapter 183: Keep Quiet

Ru Yi had barely managed to take another bite when Han Shuying’s fingers pressed into the center of her folds.

A gasp escaped her before she could stop it. The entire table went silent as Han Shuying slowly withdrew her hand without anyone catching on.

"Ru Yi, are you alright?" Qingyue asked. "Do you not like the food?"

Ru Yi’s face burned as she quickly shook her head. "The food is fine, I’m fine."

Qingyue studied her with concern. "You don’t look fine to me. I can have them get you something else to eat."

Ru Yi forced a smile. "No, really. The food is okay."

Han Shuying remained beside her with an infuriatingly calm expression, like she wasn’t responsible for that startled reaction.

Ru Yi pushed her chair back, standing up. "I need some air." Before anyone could stop her, she stood up and hurried out from the dining hall.

The moment she stepped into the corridor, she released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding and pressed a hand against her chest. She’d only taken a few steps towards the stairs when she heard footsteps behind her.

Qingyue approached slowly, her expression still filled with concern. "What happened back there?"

"Nothing." Ru Yi couldn’t look her square in the eyes.

"You gasped like you’d been hurt. Was it Lieyin and Yexue’s teasing? Did they do something to you?"

"No, I was just embarassed!" She blurted out.

Qingyue raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

Ru Yi’s mind went completely blank. "I—" She couldn’t exactly tell Qingyue that Han Shuying had been touching her under the table. Especially not when she’d just spent time with her sisters.

Everything was fast becoming a complete mess.

Qingyue reached out and briefly touched her shoulder. "You’ve been through a lot since we left the capital. Maybe it’s time for you to rest, there’s no need to push yourself anymore."

Ru Yi looked down at her feet. "But, I want to help you the best way I can."

"There’s something I wanted to tell you." Qingyue glanced down the corridor before continuing. "I’m going to start training the soldiers tomorrow."

Qingyue’s eyes brightened despite the exhaustion that still lingered on her face. "Officer Liang will gather the remaining men capable of fighting. There aren’t many, but it’s enough to start with."

"That quickly?"

"We don’t have the luxury of waiting," Qingyue replied. "We have to fight back before Empress Lihua finds a way to put herself on the throne. It wouldn’t be far-fetched."

"What about supplies?" Ru Yi asked.

"I’m looking for a way to establish trade routes before winter makes the mountain roads impossible to cross. The closest cities are Yunhai and Baihe. Han Shuying said both routes are possible."

"Han Shuying?"

Qingyue nodded. "She is." There was something strange in the way she answered, the other woman picked up on it.

"What did she want in return?" Ru Yi moved closer to her. "You must’ve made some sort of deal with her."

Qingyue gave her a small smile. "It’s not something you should worry yourself over. I’ve already handled it."

Which was precisely the reason Ru Yi had to worry. What was Han Shuying playing at? She could never understand what the woman had up her sleeves.

"Qingyue...can you not involve Han Shuying?"

"Why?"

"Because I don’t trust her. What if she tells all your plans to Empress Lihua?" Ru Yi gestured into the empty space between them. "What happens then? These peoples’ lives would be at her mercy."

"I don’t have a choice right now," Qingyue tried to explain. "Han Shuying is the only—"

Footsteps echoing down the corridor cut her off. It was Kael that appeared around the corner, his lips set in a thin line that showed his dissatisfaction.

"Princess Qingyue," he called in a soft voice that didn’t match his expression. "Officer Liang is looking for you."

"Now?" Qingyue asked, a bit relieved that the conversation had been interrupted.

"He said it was important," Kael replied.

Qingyue looked at Ru Yi. "I’ll see you later in the room." Qingyue hesitated for a moment before walking away.

Ru Yi remained where she was, watching Qingyue disappear around the corner. Kael’s face was cold when she turned to look at him.

The certainty in his eyes made the dread already twisting inside Ru Yi’s chest grow heavier.

"So it really is you," he said quietly.

"What are you talking about?"

"The woman I’ve been looking for."

Ru Yi’s heart sank.

Kael took another step closer. "Remember when I told you I had a role?" He didn’t wait for her to answer. "I’m supposed to stop the woman responsible for the princesses’ downfall. I just never knew who she was. Until now..."

All the color drained from Ru Yi’s face.

"You’re the one who framed them," Kael continued. "You made them lose everything they had, and somehow you’re still shameless enough to follow them here and pretend to care about them."

Ru Yi opened her mouth and closed it a couple times without uttering any word.

"Don’t try to deny it. I heard your conversation with Han Shuying."

Ru Yi’s voice trembled. "I did not have a choice."

"You always have a choice," he bit out.

"No." She shook her head desperately. "You don’t understand what happened. I was only trying to survive. It was either plant the seal in their chamber or get executed. I never meant for them to be exiled—"

"But it happened, and you need to take responsibility for it."

"I plan to tell them what happened."

"When?" Kael asked, tilting his head. "Now? Tomorrow? Maybe when you betray them again?"

"Kael..."

"I’m going to tell the princesses’ what you did. They deserve to know the type of woman they’re pledging their heart to."

Ru Yi grabbed the sleeve of his robe. "You can’t do that. I already planned to tell them myself."

Kael pulled his hand free. "I’m not going to let you betray them again."

A voice suddenly came from behind them. "Betray who?"