"Who's going?" Yao Yao asked, kicking off the blanket.
"The Master, Young Master, Madam, Miss Ying Ying and Miss Min Min," Lily replied, folding a fresh set of clothes. "Miss Min Min will observe this year. It will be her turn next year."
Yao Yao frowned slightly. "So she gets to go, but I don't?"
That is unacceptable.
Lily chuckled softly. "Miss Yao Yao, you're only five. It's still early for you. Your time will come."
Waiting until she was ten? No way.
By then, she'd be a refined, well-mannered young lady, completely brainwashed by etiquette lessons!
She needed to act now.
Her pink eyes glimmered as an idea struck. "Lily, I want to pick some flowers from the courtyard garden. I want to make a small bouquet for my brother to thank him for the present yesterday. Can you help me?"
Lily's expression softened at the request. "Of course, Miss Yao Yao. That's very thoughtful."
Yao Yao's pink eyes gleamed with urgency as she grabbed Lily's hand. "Lily, we have to go pick the flowers now! Before my brother leaves!"
Lily blinked, startled. "Miss Yao Yao, there's still time—"
"There's no time!" Yao Yao insisted, tugging her forward. "What if he leaves early? What if I miss my chance? We have to go now!"
The timing was perfect—Xiu Lin had yet to arrive, as she and the other attendants rotated their duties. Right now, Lily was the one watching over her.
That meant, for now, she was free.
The morning air carried the scent of damp earth and dewdrops were still clinging to the delicate petals. Yao Yao bent down, carefully plucking a few blossoms, her small hands working diligently. She hummed under her breath, every movement slow and deliberate.
Then, she glanced up, her pink eyes staring at the rose bushes further away.
"Lily, it's missing a rose," she pouted slightly. "Can you get me two? I'm afraid of thorns."
Lily smiled. "Of course. Wait here, I'll find the best ones for you."
The moment Lily turned her back, Yao Yao took a slow step backward.
Then another.
Then—
She bolted.
"Sorry, Lily!" she thought. "But I have a summoning ceremony to attend!"
She darted across the courtyard, slipping past a pair of maids carrying laundry. Ducking behind a stone pillar, she pressed herself flat against the cool surface, her tiny heart hammering. No one had seen her yet.
Taking a deep breath, she peered out, scanning the quickest path toward the stables. Her tiny feet barely made a sound against the stone pathway as she sprinted across the field.
The scent of hay and fresh earth filled the air as Yao Yao dashed into the stables. Su Mi was already awake and tending to the horses when she heard hurried footsteps approaching.
Su Mi turned, eyes widening. "Yao Yao?! What are you doing here so early?"
Yao Yao skidded to a stop, catching her breath. "Su Mi! Su Mi! I'm going to the ceremony!"
Su Mi blinked. "What?"
"I'll be back with a powerful spirit! Wait for me to save you!!" she declared dramatically.
"SAVE ME FROM WHAT—YAO YAO, GET BACK HERE!"
But she was already gone, disappearing before Su Mi could grab her.
Yao Yao ran through the estate, hiding nimbly from passing servants as she made her way toward the main house. The closer she got, the louder the commotion grew—voices overlapping in hurried exchanges, the heavy thud of trunks being hoisted onto carriages, the clatter of wheels against the stone courtyard, and the rustle of fabric as maids bustled about with last minute preparations.
She pressed herself against the nearest pillar, her pink eyes scanning the courtyard. She needed to get across the open space without being seen.
Just then, she noticed a row of large potted plants lining the pathway.
Perfect.
Sticking close to the shadows, she darted to the first pot, crouching low behind the broad leaves.
A pair of servants walked past, chatting as they carried bags toward the carriages.
The moment they turned their backs, she moved again in a silent hop to the next pot.
Then the next.
And the next.
Each time, she shrunk her small frame further, squeezing into whatever space the leaves allowed. If anyone had been paying attention, they might have thought the plants were mysteriously growing legs and shifting places.
Bit by bit, she inched her way toward the end of the courtyard, where it was quieter, where the last of the carriages stood. At the very edge, a carriage sat, already covered with a thick tarp with crates of supplies secured beneath it.
Her eyes gleamed.
That one.
She steadied her breath, waiting for the right moment, for a brief gap when no one was looking. And then, in a flash, she sprinted forward, darting toward the supply carriage. With one final glance around, she seized her chance, clambering inside and wedging herself into a tight space between the crates.
It was dark, cramped, and smelled faintly of dried herbs.
Yao Yao crouched low behind several crates of supplies, her small body neatly tucked away in the shadows. It wasn't the most elegant way to travel but it worked.
...Wait. How long is the journey?
Yao Yao's brow furrowed.
She bit her lip, shifting again. Maybe she should have packed snacks.
Too late to worry about that now.
First—survive. Then—stay undetected. Then—find a way to summon a spirit.
Play it by ear. Play it by ear.
The journey took about an hour.
As the carriages rumbled forward, Yao Yao huddled deeper into her cramped hiding spot. The journey felt endless, and by the time the wheels began to slow, signalling their arrival, her legs had already gone numb.
Yao Yao shifted slightly, wincing as pins and needles prickled her feet. She wanted to stretch out, but she barely had room to breathe and her body ached from being curled up so long.
Through the gaps between the crates, she could hear the sharp voices of the guards outside.
"Shang family. Here for the Grand Summoning."
"Proceed."
There was a creak of the gates and the carriages rolled forward.
Yao Yao exhaled softly, already feeling victorious.
I made it.
She exhaled slowly and leaned back against the crates. The tension in her body eased, and with it, the dull ache in her legs became impossible to ignore. She tried to stretch her feet, shifting slightly to shake off the numbness—
Thud.
Her foot knocked into something.
Yao Yao froze.
And then—
A voice sharper than the others.
"Wait. Stop."
Footsteps approached.
Yao Yao's heart leaped to her throat. She squeezed herself tighter into the crates, her mind racing.
The tarp rustled.
Oh no.
She held her breath, pressing herself flat against the crate.
Maybe they wouldn't see her. Maybe they will move on. Maybe she was small enough to be mistaken for a sack of potatoes—
Before she could even move, a hand yanked the cloth away.
A guard stared down at her, his eyes widening in shock.
"…What the—"
Yao Yao blinked innocently.
Run? No. Too late. Bribe? I have nothing to bribe with.
Her pink eyes darted around, mind racing. Then, she remembered—tears.
Then, without missing a beat—her eyes welled up with tears.
"Waaaahhh!!" she wailed. "Don't hurt me!"
The guard jerked back in alarm.
A commotion immediately broke out.
"What's going on?"
"There's a child in the supply carriage!"
"Wait… isn't that—?!"
Yao Yao sniffled dramatically, clutching at her small hands.
"I—I was just trying to see my big brother!" she sobbed. "I missed him so much! And they wouldn't let me come!"
Her little shoulders shook, her pink eyes shimmering with the perfect balance of heartbreak and innocence.
The younger guards faltered.
A few even looked guilty.
A burly, older guard frowned. "That's—"
"She's the Third Miss of the Shang family," someone whispered. "The one from the rumors…"
At that moment, a familiar voice cut through the noise.
"…What's happening here?"
Yao Yao froze. She recognized that voice.
Slowly, she peeked over the edge of the carriage—
Only to meet the sharp eyes of her father.
Shang Zhao stood tall, his dark robes flowing as he approached, flanked by Shang Qing Ye and Shang Jun.
His gaze immediately landed on her.
"…Yao Yao."
Yao Yao gulped.
Well.