Chapter 423: mei lan

Prince Liang Returns

Prince Liang returned to his residence shortly before dawn.

His attendant was still awake.

The moment he entered, the attendant stood.

"Your Highness!"

Prince Liang raised a hand.

"Don’t ask."

The attendant blinked.

"I wasn’t going to."

"You were."

"I was."

Prince Liang sat down.

His expression was strangely amused.

The attendant stared.

"You look..."

"Don’t."

"...injured."

Prince Liang glared.

The attendant immediately lowered his head.

"Forgive me."

Prince Liang rubbed his forehead.

"Mei Lan attacked me."

The attendant’s eyes widened.

"She did what?"

"She kicked me."

"Your Highness..."

"I know."

"Where?"

Prince Liang stared at him.

The attendant immediately stopped.

"I understand."

Prince Liang sighed.

Then he pulled out the token.

"But she also dropped this."

The attendant’s expression changed.

He recognized the symbol immediately.

"...Your mother’s network."

Prince Liang nodded.

"So you know."

"Yes."

"How did I not know?"

"Because the network was deliberately kept separate from the royal intelligence system."

Prince Liang leaned back.

"That explains it."

He studied the token again.

"She must have been placed near Shin Gu long ago."

"Most likely."

"Then she knows something."

"Yes."

"But she isn’t going to tell me everything."

The attendant smiled.

"Not if she thinks you’re threatening her."

Prince Liang sighed.

"I may have made a mistake."

"A large one."

Prince Liang glared.

The attendant coughed.

"Forgive me."

---

Morning in Shin Gu’s Courtyard

The next morning, Shin Gu woke as usual.

She had no idea what had happened during the night.

Mei Lan entered carrying tea.

Shin Gu looked at her.

"You’re late."

"Forgive me, Mistress."

Shin Gu studied her.

Her clothing was slightly disordered.

Her hair wasn’t perfectly arranged.

"You look tired."

"I couldn’t sleep well."

"Why?"

Mei Lan paused.

"Too many mosquitoes."

Shin Gu stared.

"Mosquitoes?"

"Yes."

A beat of silence.

Then Shin Gu nodded.

"Hmm."

She accepted the tea.

Mei Lan lowered her head.

Inside—

She was relieved.

Prince Liang had not told Shin Gu anything.

At least not yet.

But there was another problem.

Prince Liang now knew about the hidden network.

And that meant he would likely come looking for answers.

Mei Lan silently sighed.

What am I supposed to tell him?

---

The Unexpected Visit

That afternoon, Prince Liang arrived.

Shin Gu looked up from her book.

"You came again."

"Yes."

She narrowed her eyes.

"You seem to have become very free lately."

Prince Liang smiled.

"I missed you."

Shin Gu gave him an unimpressed look.

"You say that every time."

"Because it’s true."

She looked away.

Mei Lan stood nearby.

Their eyes met for only a moment.

Prince Liang saw it.

Mei Lan saw that he saw it.

Neither reacted.

A silent conversation passed between them.

Later.

Prince Liang sat beside Shin Gu.

He behaved normally.

He asked about her health.

He spoke about the court.

He even brought fruit.

Shin Gu slowly relaxed.

She didn’t notice the brief glance Prince Liang gave Mei Lan when Shin Gu turned away.

---

A Private Conversation

That evening, Mei Lan was carrying empty cups toward the kitchen when a voice came from behind.

"Mei Lan."

She stopped.

Prince Liang stood beneath the corridor lantern.

She turned slowly.

"Your Highness."

He held up the token.

Mei Lan’s eyes widened.

He smiled.

"So."

She sighed.

"I knew you would figure it out."

"You could have told me."

"You threatened me first."

Prince Liang looked embarrassed.

"I apologize."

Mei Lan raised an eyebrow.

"You threatened to kill me."

"I was trying to frighten you into speaking."

"It worked."

He laughed.

"I suppose it did."

She folded her hands.

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything."

"That will take a long time."

"I have time."

Mei Lan studied him.

Then she said quietly,

"I’m not working for Shin Gu."

"I know."

"I’ve been watching her."

"I suspected."

"My orders came from someone outside the palace."

"Your mother’s network?"

She nodded.

Prince Liang’s expression became serious.

"What did they find?"

Mei Lan hesitated.

"That Shin Gu is hiding something."

"Black magic?"

"I don’t know everything."

"Then tell me what you do know."

Mei Lan looked around before lowering her voice.

"There are things entering the palace that should not be here."

Prince Liang’s expression hardened.

"What things?"

"Objects."

"Messages."

"And sometimes..."

She paused.

"...people."

"Who?"

"I don’t know."

"Shin Gu?"

"Possibly."

"Is she practicing black magic?"

Mei Lan shook her head.

"I have seen strange rituals."

"But I have never personally witnessed her performing one."

Prince Liang frowned.

"That isn’t enough."

"I know."

"Then why haven’t you reported this?"

"Because I don’t know whom to trust."

The words silenced him.

Mei Lan looked directly at him.

"Your Highness, the palace is not divided into good people and bad people."

"It is divided into people who know the truth..."

"And people who don’t."

Prince Liang’s eyes sharpened.

"You think someone inside the palace is controlling events?"

"I think someone is trying to."

"Who?"

"I don’t know."

She stepped back.

"But I think Shin Gu is only one piece of it."

Prince Liang fell silent.

That answer was more troubling than he expected.

---

The Warning

Before leaving, Mei Lan stopped.

"There is one more thing."

Prince Liang turned.

"What?"

"Don’t confront Shin Gu yet."

"Why?"

"Because if she realizes you’re investigating her, she’ll stop."

"Stop what?"

"Whatever she’s doing."

"And then?"

Mei Lan looked toward the dark palace roofs.

"Then we’ll never know who is behind her."

Prince Liang understood.

They needed Shin Gu to believe she was safe.

They needed her to continue.

Only then could they follow the trail.

He nodded.

"You’re right."

Mei Lan smiled.

"Then don’t threaten me again."

Prince Liang laughed.

"I’ll try."

She turned to leave.

Then he called after her.

"Mei Lan."

She looked back.

"Thank you."

She bowed slightly.

"Your Highness."

Then she disappeared down the corridor.

---

A New Alliance

Prince Liang remained beneath the lantern.

His mind was racing.

For weeks, he had thought he was hunting an enemy alone.

Now he discovered another player had been watching from the shadows.

His mother’s spies.

Mei Lan.

Perhaps others.

The palace suddenly seemed much larger.

And much more dangerous.

He looked toward Shin Gu’s residence.

"She doesn’t know."

A faint smile appeared.

"Good."

If Shin Gu believed Mei Lan was loyal to her—

That could become their greatest advantage.

Prince Liang turned away.

But before taking more than two steps—

He stopped.

A strange sensation passed through him.

The wind had suddenly gone cold.

The lantern flame beside him flickered.

Once.

Twice.

Then steadied.

Prince Liang looked toward the dark garden.

For a moment—

He thought he saw a shadow move between the trees.

He narrowed his eyes.

Nothing.

Only darkness.

He slowly clenched his fist.

The mystery surrounding the palace was becoming deeper.

And somewhere within those shadows—

Someone was waiting.

Someone who knew much more than they were willing to reveal.

Prince Liang smiled faintly.

"Fine."

"Then let us see who makes the first mistake."

The moon continued its journey across the sky.

And beneath its pale light—

Two investigations had quietly become one.

Prince Liang had found an ally.

Mei Lan had found someone who could finally understand the danger.

And Shin Gu—

Still believed no one had discovered the truth.

For now.

That illusion was exactly what they needed.

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