Chapter 126: Terms of the Heart

The inn, though modest compared to the other ones they visited, felt like a small mercy after the long search.

Inside, the noise of Emberfall dulled into a distant hum. The walls were painted in warm tones, the wood polished from years of use, and the faint scent of leaves lingered in the air.

It wasn’t anything extravagant, but it was enough to spend the night in.

Keys were pressed into Qingyue’s hand, and with a few quiet instructions, the group began to split.

Qingyue and Lieyin would share a room, while Yexue and Ru Yi would share another.

"Your room is on the second floor. End of the hall," Qingyue told Yexue before giving her the key.

Ru Yi felt a flicker of something warm and sultry at the thought that she’d be sharing a room with Yexue. It meant they would be all alone, with enough privacy to do whatever they wanted.

Yexue didn’t comment as she took the key, but the small smile on her lips showed she was thinking just the same as Ru Yi.

They moved up the stairs together. The soft creak of wood beneath their steps was the only sound between them.

By the time they reached the door, the exhaustion from the journey had begun to settle into Ru Yi’s limbs. Heavy but unwelcome.

Yexue pushed the door open.

The room was simple. A single bed, a low table, a basin near the window where faint lantern light filtered through the sheer curtains. It wasn’t large but it was enough for the two women.

Ru Yi stepped inside first, taking it in slowly.

Behind her Yexue lingered in the doorway, eyes on Ru Yi.

"Yexue..." Qingyue’s voice called out from the other side of the hallway.

Ru Yi turned, catching the shift in Yexue’s posture.

"I’ll be back," was all Yexue said before closing the door behind her.

By the time Yexue stepped into the room on the other end, both sisters were already waiting. Lieyin was leaning against the table with her hands crossed over her chest. Qingyue stood near the window, her back half-turned.

Yexue sighed. "What is it this time?"

"What’s really going on between you and Ru Yi?" Qingyue asked in all seriousness.

"What do you think is happening?" Yexue asked in an irritated voice. "Of course we’re together if that’s what you’re on about."

Yexue exhaled her, running a hand loosely through her hair. "Please tell me this is not an intervention where you ask me to put an end to whatever is going on between us. Because I don’t think I can’t."

Qingyue studied her sister, searching for any trace of deflection but found none. "So, you’re saying that you’re in love with Ru Yi?"

Yexue nodded. "I’m very serious about her."

The words landed quietly in the room even though none of the sisters were surprised.

Yexue huffed faintly, a hint of her usual ease slipping back in. "What, you thought this was one of my casual arrangements?"

Lieyin didn’t smile or share in her humor. Qingyue didn’t either.

Yexue’s grin flickered, then faltered under their silence. "I even told her we’d get married here in Emberfall. I know it’s impossible to believe my feelings are serious, but—"

"Explain what you mean by getting married to her?" Qingyue’s voice was fierce but not loud.

"You know...when two people decide to spend their life together," she answered, half-joking, as if it might ease the growing tension in the room.

Qingyue raised a brow.

"It’s to keep other men away from her," Yexue explained, all traces of humor gone. "I don’t want what happened to her to repeat itself. We’re travelling in the disguise of men, no one would dare attempt to get close to her if we acted like we were actually married."

Lieyin tilted her head to the side. "And you believe that will be enough?"

"It’s a start," Yexue replied with a shrug.

Qingyue stepped closer, her presence calm but unmistakably firm. "You are clearly not thinking far into the future."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Having Ru Yi act as your partner is not just a shield or form of protection. It makes you...it makes us vulnerable. It creates leverage for those who want to see us fail."

Yexue held her gaze. "Then I won’t let them."

"That is not always a choice," Qingyue said quietly.

"What else will you have me do?"

Qingyue sighed. "It’s already too late to separate the both of you. Anyone can see you’re both in love from miles away. Which is essentially the problem."

"I’m failing to see how my love life is a concern."

"Remember what I said about the dangers of any of us falling in love?" Lieyin asked from her spot but didn’t look at Yexue. "We have a goal, to take back the throne that belongs to us. Flimsy emotions like love—"

"No!"

"I’m not even finished." Lieyin’s voice was raised. "It’s a distraction—"

"Oh, please... I saw the way you’ve been looking at Ru Yi too." Yexue narrowed her eyes on Lieyin. "How about you worry about yourself instead."

"I’m not falling in love with a maid," Lieyin argued, wincing on the inside from how she addressed Ru Yi.

"Sure. That’s why you severed a man’s hand like it’s your favorite thing to do."

Qingyue tapped the table which made two of them go quiet. "I didn’t bring you here to fight." She looked at Yexue. "I just want to be sure you still have our goal in mind so you don’t get distracted playing house with her."

Yexue’s lips were set in a thin line. "The goal is as important to me as it is to the two of you. It matters as much to me. No matter how much I love Ru Yi, our mission comes first."

Lieyin pushed off from the table. "You’ve chosen her over us before. How are we sure you wouldn’t do it again?"

Yexue sighed. "I won’t."

"And what if you had to choose between Ru Yi and our goal in the future?" Qingyue asked the question that had plagued her mind all night. "What if one day Ru Yi stands on the other side of what we’re fighting for?"