Chapter 421: no proof

One afternoon, Mei Lan carried tea into the courtyard.

Shin Gu looked up.

"Mei Lan."

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"Come here."

Mei Lan’s heart jumped.

She approached.

Shin Gu studied her.

"You’ve been working hard lately."

Mei Lan smiled.

"It is my duty."

"You’re very loyal."

"I should be."

Shin Gu smiled.

"Of course."

Mei Lan lowered her head.

Inside, she was sweating.

Shin Gu’s gaze lingered on her for a few moments longer.

Then she waved her away.

"You may go."

"Yes."

Mei Lan turned.

Only after walking several steps did she allow herself to breathe.

Shin Gu had not accused her.

But the encounter had been a warning.

Be careful.

Very careful.

---

Prince Liang’s Frustration

That evening, Prince Liang returned to his residence.

The moment the door closed behind him—

His shoulders dropped.

He collapsed into a chair.

"I cannot do this."

His attendant stood nearby.

"Your Highness?"

"I said I cannot do this."

"Do what?"

Prince Liang covered his face.

"Pretend to be affectionate."

The attendant struggled not to laugh.

"You seemed quite convincing."

"That is the problem."

He lowered his hands.

"I was so convincing that I almost embarrassed myself."

The attendant smiled.

"Her Highness seems to believe you."

Prince Liang’s expression became serious.

"That is what worries me."

"Why?"

"Because I don’t know whether she believes me or whether she is pretending to believe me."

The attendant became quiet.

Prince Liang leaned back.

"She’s cautious."

"She notices things."

"If she suspects that I’m investigating her, she’ll change everything."

He stared toward the window.

"I need her to think I have stopped suspecting her."

The attendant nodded.

"Then you must continue."

Prince Liang sighed.

"I know."

He rubbed his forehead.

"For the sake of the empire, I apparently have to become the most loving husband in history."

The attendant lowered his head.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Prince Liang muttered,

"Don’t sound so pleased."

---

A Day of Ordinary Things

The following morning, Prince Liang arrived again.

This time—

He brought nothing.

Shin Gu looked at him.

"No gift?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Do I need to bring something every day?"

She almost smiled.

"You were doing it before."

"I don’t want you thinking I’m trying to buy your affection."

Shin Gu stared at him.

Then—

She actually laughed.

A small laugh.

Prince Liang froze.

It was the first genuine reaction he’d received from her.

He smiled.

"There."

"What?"

"You laughed."

Shin Gu immediately composed herself.

"I didn’t."

"You did."

"No."

"I saw it."

She looked away.

"You must have imagined it."

Prince Liang smiled.

"Then I’ll imagine it again tomorrow."

Shin Gu looked at him.

For a moment—

There was no suspicion in her eyes.

Only confusion.

Perhaps she truly didn’t understand him anymore.

And that was useful.

Prince Liang sat beside her.

"Let’s have tea."

They spent the next hour discussing completely ordinary things.

The weather.

The palace gardens.

Food.

Books.

The upcoming ceremonies.

Nothing dangerous.

Nothing suspicious.

Nothing that could expose his intentions.

Yet while they spoke—

Prince Liang watched.

He noticed which servants Shin Gu trusted.

Which rooms she avoided.

Which messages made her expression change.

Which names made her become quiet.

He remembered everything.

Every detail.

Every hesitation.

Every inconsistency.

He did not need to catch her today.

He had already decided—

He would wait.

---

A Suspicious Change

One afternoon, however, Shin Gu suddenly said,

"Your Highness."

"Yes?"

"Why have you been coming here so often?"

Prince Liang looked at her.

There it was.

The question he’d been expecting.

He smiled.

"Because I missed you."

Shin Gu stared.

He almost winced at his own words.

But he continued.

"Is that strange?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you never used to."

His expression softened.

"Perhaps I was foolish before."

Shin Gu’s eyes narrowed.

"Foolish?"

"I didn’t appreciate what I had."

That answer silenced her.

Prince Liang looked down.

"I’ve realized something."

"What?"

"People often understand someone’s importance only when they think they might lose them."

Shin Gu’s expression changed.

Only slightly.

But he saw it.

She was thinking.

Prince Liang continued quietly,

"The palace has been dangerous lately."

"Anyone could become a target."

"I don’t want anything to happen to you."

Shin Gu looked away.

For the first time—

She didn’t have an immediate response.

Prince Liang kept his expression gentle.

Inside, however, he was counting.

One.

Two.

Three.

She was affected.

Good.

Not because he wanted her affection.

Because emotional comfort could lower defenses.

He had learned that people were often careless around those they believed loved them.

So he would become that person.

The devoted husband.

The worried husband.

The husband who wanted nothing more than to sit beside his wife.

And when the time came—

He would be there.

---

The Palace Watches

His frequent visits did not go unnoticed.

Servants whispered.

"Prince Liang visits Consort Shin Gu every day now."

"Perhaps their relationship has improved."

"I heard he brings her food."

"He even waits for her to finish eating."

Others smiled.

Some thought it was romantic.

Some thought it was strange.

The Dowager heard everything.

When Mei Lan secretly reported the change, the Dowager’s expression became thoughtful.

"So he is getting closer."

"Yes."

"Has he found anything?"

"No."

The Dowager frowned.

"Then why continue?"

Mei Lan answered quietly,

"Perhaps His Highness is waiting."

The Dowager nodded.

"That boy has always been patient."

She looked toward the palace windows.

"Let him wait."

---

Meanwhile, Shin Gu’s Unease

That night, Shin Gu sat alone.

The courtyard was silent.

She stared at the tea in front of her.

Prince Liang’s behavior kept replaying in her mind.

His smile.

His questions.

His gifts.

His concern.

His patience.

She couldn’t decide whether he was sincere.

That uncertainty bothered her.

She had always understood hostility.

Hostility was simple.

Suspicion was simple.

Hatred was simple.

But affection—

Real or false—

Was harder.

Because affection created trust.

And trust created vulnerability.

Shin Gu slowly closed her eyes.

"Why now?"

She whispered.

Why had Prince Liang suddenly changed?

Had something happened?

Had someone spoken to him?

Had the investigation uncovered something?

Or—

Was he simply trying to repair their relationship?

She opened her eyes.

"No."

She rejected the thought.

Something was wrong.

She could feel it.

But what?

---

The Perfect Husband

The next morning, Prince Liang arrived carrying breakfast again.

Shin Gu looked at him.

"You came."

"Yes."

"You really have nothing else to do?"

He smiled.

"Apparently not."

She almost laughed.

He sat beside her.

"Eat."

"You always tell me to eat."

"Because you often forget."

"I don’t."

"You do."

She stared at him.

He stared back.

Then both laughed quietly.

From outside the room, Mei Lan watched.

She couldn’t help feeling confused.

Was this really an act?

Or had Prince Liang genuinely changed?

She didn’t know.

But she knew one thing.

Something was happening.

And both sides were hiding their true intentions.

Shin Gu was hiding what she feared.

Prince Liang was hiding what he knew.

Mei Lan was hiding whom she truly served.

Three people.

Three secrets.

One courtyard.

And none of them trusted the others completely.

---

The Evening Visit

That evening, Prince Liang stayed longer than usual.

The sun had already disappeared.

Lanterns illuminated the courtyard.

Shin Gu sat beneath the veranda.

Prince Liang sat beside her.

Neither spoke for some time.

Finally, Shin Gu said,

"You should go."

"I know."

"But you’re still here."

"Yes."

"Why?"

He looked at her.

"Because I like being here."

She lowered her gaze.

Prince Liang smiled.

Then he deliberately changed the subject.

"Tomorrow, I may be busy."

Shin Gu looked at him.

"Court?"

"Yes."

"Then you don’t have to come."

He nodded.

"I know."

A pause.

"But I’ll probably come anyway."

She shook her head.

"You’re strange."

Prince Liang laughed.

"Perhaps."

He stood.

"Rest well."

She looked up.

"Good night."

He turned and walked away.

Only after leaving the courtyard did his smile disappear.

His expression became cold.

His eyes sharpened.

The performance had ended for the night.

He looked back once.

The lantern light of Shin Gu’s residence glowed behind him.

"She still suspects."

His attendant approached quietly.

"Yes."

Prince Liang nodded.

"That is why we continue."

"How long?"

"As long as necessary."

He paused.

Then smiled faintly.

"Three days."

His attendant looked at him.

"Three days?"

Prince Liang’s eyes became calculating.

"No."

He corrected himself.

"Until she believes she has nothing to fear."

He turned away.

"And then..."

His voice became quiet.

"...she will make a mistake."

---

Inside the courtyard—

Shin Gu remained seated.

She watched the direction in which Prince Liang had disappeared.

Her fingers slowly tightened.

"He is hiding something."

She was certain now.

But she did not know what.

And that uncertainty made her even more cautious.

She looked toward Mei Lan.

The maid was standing nearby.

Their eyes met.

Mei Lan immediately lowered her head.

Shin Gu looked away.

For now—

She would wait.

Prince Liang was waiting too.

Neither knew exactly what the other was planning.

But both understood the same thing.

The next mistake—

Would belong to whoever became careless first.

And Prince Liang had no intention of being the one who made it.