Rui kept her face perfectly blank, her eyes widening with practiced confusion.
Years of court politics had taught her the value of a convincing performance.
"I don't understand what you mean, brother." she said, layering her voice with just the right amount of bewilderment.
She scanned the space for options, but the corridor offered little advantage; there were no servants nearby or weapons within reach.
Zhang Jie leaned closer and lifted a strand of her hair between his fingers, bringing it to his nose and inhaling deeply.
"You even smell different," he murmured.
His eyes narrowed, studying her face with unsettling intensity.
"The real Ming would be trembling by now. She'd be begging me not to tell Father about her escape attempt."
Rui maintained her facade despite the revulsion crawling beneath her skin.
"Perhaps my illness changed me. The fever was quite severe."
"No," Zhang Jie said, his grip tightening on her shoulders.
