Eating Alone

Inside the Crown Prince’s bedchamber.

Luo Zhao had risen nearly an hour earlier than usual that day.

It wasn’t because she was diligent, nor because there was pressing court business to attend to.

It was because she couldn’t sleep—hadn’t been able to since the night before.

Luo Zhao lay sideways on the bed, holding a soft pillow to her chest, her chin resting on its surface.

Her eyes were fixed intently on the painting hanging on the opposite wall.

The painting depicted winter red plum blossoms, an authentic work by some master artist.

The branches were vigorous, the petals lush and vibrant—truly excellently painted.

But though Luo Zhao appeared to be looking at the painting, her mind was on the dream she’d had last night.

She had tossed and turned until midnight before finally drifting into a restless sleep.

And she had dreamed—strange and jumbled things.

She dreamed that Lin Qingyan was holding a baby, saying it had just been born.

Then she said the child’s surname was Gu and asked Luo Zhao to help pick a name.

After that, she woke up.

Thinking about it now, Luo Zhao couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.

This dream was utterly ridiculous.

Little Aunt’s child, bearing the surname Gu.

As if it could have been fathered by Gu Chengyin?

Wait.

No.

Lin Qingyan’s child, surname Gu?

Luo Zhao blinked, then suddenly sat bolt upright in bed.

“Someone!”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it rang out sharply in the empty chamber.

From outside, there was the patter of hurried footsteps, and the door creaked open.

A young female official with her hair in twin buns poked her head in, bowed respectfully.

“Her Highness is awake? This servant will go prepare—”

“Where is Yunying?”

Luo Zhao cut her off.

“The Chief went to the front hall early this morning; she said she needed to reconcile this month’s expense ledgers...”

“Summon her.”

Luo Zhao’s tone brooked no argument. “Now. Immediately. This instant.”

The young official froze for a moment, quickly replied in acknowledgment, and retreated with quick, soft steps.

Luo Zhao collapsed back onto the bed, hugging the soft pillow as she rolled over, burying her face in the smooth brocade.

The fabric carried a faint scent of incense—her usual kind.

Meant to calm the mind and settle the spirit, but at this moment, it tasted bland and vapid to her.

Shangguan Yunying arrived sooner than Luo Zhao had expected.

When the door opened, Luo Zhao was still sprawled face-down on the bed, clutching her pillow like a turtle that couldn’t turn over.

Shangguan Yunying stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the light, tall and poised.

Her official robes were immaculate, no wrinkles at the collar or sleeves.

Her hair was combed perfectly, not a single strand out of place.

As the Chief female official, she had many things to prepare in advance.

So she rose earlier than Luo Zhao, with many affairs to arrange.

“Your Highness.”

Shangguan Yunying entered, bowed before the bed, and said:

“You called for me?”

Luo Zhao peeked one eye out from behind the pillow, glanced at her, and then said:

“Close the door.”

Shangguan Yunying blinked, asked nothing, and turned to shut the door.

The light inside the chamber dimmed slightly, leaving only a few beams of morning light streaming through the lattice windows, illuminating the dust motes as they drifted lazily.

“What’s wrong, Your Highness? Has something happened?”

Shangguan Yunying came over and sat down at the bedside.

Luo Zhao was silent for a moment, then abruptly sat up again.

Her long hair swung in an arc with the movement; a few strands stuck to her cheek, but she couldn’t be bothered to brush them away.

“Let me ask you—after Little Aunt and Gu Chengyin left last night, where did they go?”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Shangguan Yunying’s face.

“Why does Your Highness ask?”

Shangguan Yunying’s tone remained steady.

But Luo Zhao caught the faint tension beneath that steadiness.

“Answer me first.”

Shangguan Yunying was silent for two breaths.

“Gu Chengyin... I don’t know where he went either. Only that he wasn’t in his own quarters.”

As she said this, her gaze shifted slightly, landing on the soft pillow in Luo Zhao’s arms rather than on her face.

Luo Zhao’s eyes narrowed.

“And Little Aunt?”

This time, Shangguan Yunying replied quickly.

“I don’t know. After all, Lord Jingzhe has profound cultivation. If she doesn’t want to be found, no one can find her.”

Luo Zhao’s fingers tightened around the pillow, her knuckles turning pale.

Though neither Gu Chengyin’s nor Lin Qingyan’s whereabouts were clear, Luo Zhao’s instincts told her that these two had definitely been together last night.

Not just together, but extremely close.

Because right now, she had a vague feeling—almost like she’d been betrayed.

No, not betrayal.

Luo Zhao couldn’t quite name it.

It was like she had painstakingly planted a tree, watered and fertilized it every day, waiting for it to bloom and bear fruit.

Then one morning, she woke up to find someone else had picked the fruit.

And the one who picked it was the person closest to her, the one she trusted most.

“Those two are definitely together!”

Luo Zhao’s voice came out muffled, as if squeezed through gritted teeth: “When Gu Chengyin left last night, I already felt something was off.”

Shangguan Yunying didn’t respond, but her fingers twitched slightly as she shifted her clasped hands on her lap.

“And Little Aunt! She was strange too!”

Luo Zhao grew more agitated, hopping off the bed and pacing barefoot on the rug, her long hair swaying behind her.

“And it was so late—why did they leave together?!”

“Your Highness...”

“Something’s wrong! There’s definitely something wrong!”

Luo Zhao spun around abruptly, pointing at the window, her finger trembling slightly:

“I should have seen it sooner! What Little Aunt said—it was deliberate!”

“She knew Gu Chengyin would never want me! That’s why she said it!”

“So... she was using me!”

Shangguan Yunying opened her mouth, as if to say something, but Luo Zhao gave her no chance to interrupt.

“She used me to provoke Gu Chengyin! She made me a stepping stone!”

Luo Zhao’s voice rose, then dropped sharply: “And then she swept in to reap the benefits! With Little Aunt’s charm, she only needs to make a slight move, and even if it’s Gu Chengyin...”

Luo Zhao stopped mid-sentence.

She stood in the morning light, barefoot, hair loose, still clutching the soft pillow—looking both furious and wronged, like a cat whose fish had been stolen.

“We clearly had a deal...”

Luo Zhao’s voice suddenly softened, so low it was almost to herself: “And the moment it fell apart, she dropped the act and turned around to use me...”

The corner of Shangguan Yunying’s mouth twitched.

“Not only did she use me, she didn’t even help me!”

Luo Zhao lifted her head, the rims of her eyes faintly red, but she stubbornly refused to let anything fall: “And she hoarded everything all to herself!”

Shangguan Yunying: “...”

Though she didn’t fully grasp what Luo Zhao was imagining—since, based on all the information available, there wasn’t a single piece of evidence that Gu Chengyin and Lin Qingyan were together—and knowing Gu Chengyin as she did, she felt Luo Zhao’s suspicions were a bit unfounded.