Standing in front of the queen's quarters, Yǔlín hesitated. His fingers hovered over the intricate handle of the gold-plated doors, feeling the chilly metal cut into his skin. He folded his fists, inhaled quickly, and gritted his jaw to keep his features expressionless. "Don't get agitated. She can't find out," he told himself.
He entered, and his senses were filled with jasmine scents and incense. The queen sat beside the window, her dark hair spilling over her shoulder, her eyes glinting with insincere warmth. "Yǔlín, my sweet son," she said, her voice heavy with pretended fondness. "You haven't seen me in days. How have you been?"
Yǔlín gritted her teeth. "I've been... fine. Just giving myself some space."
Her eyes rested upon him, her gaze too sharp, too intense. "Time alone? You've been keeping to yourself a lot in recent days. Why haven't you been training with your brother? He misses you. And I miss you as well."
"I'm fine, Mother," replied Yǔlín, his jaw clenching. He wondered in his mind what she was after. Was she suspecting? Did she have a clue about Su Shu? Was it another of her maneuvers to ensnare him in her grasp? He didn't have a clue.
"You can tell me anything, can't you? I'm concerned about you," she said, taking his hand in her cold fingers, her smile even icier. "You know I have only your best interests at heart."
Yǔlín felt a shiver run down his spine, yet his smile was unbroken. "Thank you, Mother. I appreciate it."
The queen reclined, her eyes wandering to the garden beyond. "Don't you forget, Yǔlín. Family, that's all we have. We can always rely on each other."
Yǔlín swallowed hard, nodding. But in his head, he could not rid himself of a feeling that her words carried a more hidden, sinister intent as if she noticed about su Shu already
---
At the same time, in Yǔlín's room, Wuji and Su Shu sat opposite each other. Su Shu was leaning toward him, her gaze piercing. "Do you think the queen needed him for something?"
Wuji crossed his arms, his eyes far-off. "Might be anything. But whatever it is, he'll deal with it."
Su Shu let out a sigh. "I still can't understand him. Sometimes he's icy, then suddenly he's..."
"Kind?" Wuji sneered. "You can expect that from Yǔlín."
Su Shu didn't have time to react before the door creaked open. Yǔlín walked in, closing it shut behind him with a resounding bang. He looked around in surprise, his gaze resting upon Wuji and Su Shu sitting in close proximity.
"Well, what's this then?" said Yǔlín, his tone heavy with pretended suspicion. "Looks like the two of you have become close friends, then?"
Wuji smiled. "Or perhaps we were scheming ways to kill you instead?" He erupted in a fit of laughter, and Su Shu laughed along, though a little unconvincingly.
Yǔlín smiled a bit in his dark metal mask, shaking his head. "Right. Like either of you could defeat me."
Wuji reclined, his smile dissipating. "Did the queen have any suspicion?"
Yǔlín's expression shifted for a moment before forcing a new smile. "No. I think she was only worried that I have not been visiting her."
"Hmm," said Wuji, tapping his chin. "Well, you must watch out more carefully than that."
Yǔlín's jaw set, and his eyes narrowed. "I know."
Wuji and Su Shu briefly locked eyes, a thick tension building in the room as Yǔlín's smile faded.