The palace felt different after stepping off the court floor.
Not safer. Just… narrower. Like the walls were leaning in a little more than before.
I didn't speak on the walk back. Neither did Zhu Mingyu. The click of our shoes was the only rhythm I followed, steady and unbroken, until we crossed into the eastern wing—my new domain. My territory.
We passed two layers of guards, four courtyards, and a pair of watchful maidservants who didn't bother pretending they weren't curious. Zhu Mingyu gave them no notice.
When we reached the inner doors, he finally spoke.
"You curtsied perfectly."
I glanced sideways. "Would you prefer I'd fallen on my face? Might've made for good court gossip."
He ignored that. "You knew when to look down. When to speak. How to hold your sleeves without even thinking about it. That's not instinct. That's training."
"Did you want the truth," I asked, "or a lie?"
He slowed, turning just enough to face me. "What do you think?"
