Chapter 22: Entangled in Shadows

The halls of the Bai estate were eerily quiet as Bai Yue and Weishan slipped through the darkness, moving away from the west wing with careful, calculated steps. The tension between them was palpable, but neither spoke until they were safely hidden in the quiet courtyard garden.

Weishan finally released his grip on Bai Yue's wrist, though the lingering warmth of his touch remained on her skin like an unspoken warning. His expression was unreadable, but his dark eyes bore into her with a mixture of frustration and something else—something possessive.

"You're relentless," he muttered, folding his arms across his chest. "Do you have a death wish?"

Bai Yue straightened her posture, refusing to let him intimidate her. "I told you, I can take care of myself."

Weishan exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "That's not the point, Bai Yue. You're being reckless. You have no idea what you're dealing with."

She crossed her arms, her voice calm but firm. "Then enlighten me. If you know something, tell me."

Weishan's jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer. Then, his voice dropped to a whisper, low and intense.

"The man staying in the west wing isn't just any noble. He's connected to the Imperial Court—someone with enough influence to ruin you with a single word."

Bai Yue frowned. "And what does the second mistress want with someone like that?"

Weishan's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Power. Influence. The usual vices."

Bai Yue's mind raced. If the second mistress was aligning herself with such dangerous figures, then whatever was happening inside the Bai estate was far worse than she had imagined.

"I need to know more," she said, determination burning in her voice.

Weishan stepped closer, his fingers brushing against her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "And what will you do with that knowledge, Bai Yue? Knowledge alone won't save you."

Her breath hitched slightly, but she didn't pull away. "I'll find a way to protect myself."

Weishan's eyes darkened, his thumb grazing her jawline lightly. "That's where you're wrong. You're not alone anymore."

Bai Yue swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling deep inside her. She hated how easily he could shake her composure, how his presence wrapped around her like a lingering shadow she couldn't escape.

Before she could respond, he stepped back, his expression hardening once more. "You're too stubborn for your own good."

"And you're too overbearing for yours," she countered, though her voice lacked its usual bite.

Weishan smirked, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. "Get some rest, Bai Yue. I'll handle things for now."

Before she could protest, he disappeared into the darkness, leaving her standing in the garden, heart pounding in her chest.

Back in her chambers, Bai Yue paced restlessly, replaying Weishan's words in her mind. He knew more than he was telling her, and that frustrated her more than she cared to admit.

She had spent years surviving on her own, relying on no one. And now, Weishan had inserted himself into her life with an unwavering determination that left her both irritated and… unsettled.

With a sigh, she sat down at her desk, pulling out a blank parchment. If she couldn't rely on Weishan to tell her everything, she would figure it out herself.

She began jotting down everything she knew about the second mistress's dealings—the stolen herbs, the shipments that arrived without record, and now, the mysterious noble in the west wing.

A soft knock at the door made her tense.

"Miss Bai Yue?" Ah-Liang's voice came through softly.

"Come in."

Ah-Liang entered, his face filled with worry. "Miss, I heard something else."

Bai Yue gestured for him to continue.

"One of the kitchen maids said that special meals are being prepared for the guest in the west wing—rare ingredients, ones usually reserved for high-ranking officials."

Bai Yue's eyes narrowed. "What else?"

Ah-Liang shifted uneasily. "She also mentioned that the second mistress has been in and out of the wing all day. It's like she's… preparing something big."

Bai Yue tapped her fingers against the desk, her mind working quickly. If the second mistress was trying to win favor with an Imperial official, it could mean she was planning something more dangerous than mere financial gain.

"Thank you, Ah-Liang. Keep listening, but don't get caught."

Ah-Liang nodded quickly and left, leaving Bai Yue alone with her thoughts once more.

She didn't realize how much time had passed until another knock sounded at her door—this one firm, deliberate.

Weishan.

She sighed, standing to open it, only to find him standing there, his expression unreadable.

"You're still awake," he observed.

Bai Yue leaned against the doorframe, eyeing him warily. "What do you want now?"

Weishan's gaze swept over her, his eyes lingering for a moment longer than necessary. "I came to make sure you weren't planning something foolish."

Bai Yue smirked. "Foolish? Or necessary?"

He stepped closer, his presence once again overwhelming. "You're walking a fine line, Bai Yue."

She met his gaze without flinching. "Then let me fall."

Weishan's jaw tightened, and for a brief moment, something raw flickered in his expression. "I won't let you."

Bai Yue swallowed hard, the air between them thick with unspoken tension.

Finally, she sighed and stepped back, allowing him inside. "Fine. Tell me what you know."

Weishan's smirk returned, but his eyes remained dark. "I knew you'd come around."

As he stepped inside, Bai Yue realized that whether she liked it or not, she was entangled in something far more dangerous than she had ever imagined.

And Weishan was right in the middle of it with her.