The moment her father's gaze locked onto her, her heart dropped.
This was too soon.
She had expected to get caught—eventually. She wasn't naive enough to think she could waltz into one of the most guarded estates in the kingdom unnoticed.
But not like this.
Not out here.
Not when she was still outside the gates.
She had come up with the plan on the road, and it was simple—get inside first. Once past the gates, once her feet touched the grand courtyard, they wouldn't be able to throw her out so easily.
At least, that had been the plan.
Now, instead of standing triumphantly on noble grounds, she was being dragged out of a cargo crate like a misplaced vegetable.
Her mind spun wildly.
This is bad.
Very bad.
Her father's expression was unreadable, but his presence alone felt like a weight pressing down on her.
If she didn't act fast, they'd pack her up and send her back before she could even open her mouth to protest.
Her hands clenched.
No. That can't happen.
The Shang family was one of the most powerful noble houses in the empire. They carried themselves with grace, composure, and absolute control.
That meant their reputation mattered.
If she made the situation big enough, they wouldn't be able to simply dismiss her.
She just had to force their hand.
No other choice. Shameless mode: activated.
"Bring her here."
The order sent a jolt down her spine.
A guard reached for her, but Yao Yao instantly threw herself backward, pressing against the crates.
"Ahh! Careful!" she yelped, eyes widening. "I'm fragile! What if you drop me? What if I get hurt? Then Father will be very, very angry!"
The guards hesitated.
In the small pause, she switched gears.
Waiting for them to pry her out? No chance.
She bolted.
Straight for Shang Jun.
Shang Jun.
The very brother who had carried her yesterday. The only one who had smiled at her instead of scolding her. The one person in this family who treated her like she wasn't a problem to be solved.
If there was anyone who would stand up for her here…
It was him.
"Brother!!" she wailed, flinging herself at his legs. "Help me!!"
Shang Jun barely caught her. "…What?"
The gathered nobles, servants, and even a few passing guards paused at the scene.
A noble child, wailing pitifully, clinging to her older brother's legs as if she'd been wronged by the heavens.
The more people looking, the better.
"I—I missed you so much!!" Yao Yao sobbed. "They wouldn't let me come! I was so lonely without you!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"The Third Miss… snuck in because of this?"
"She must really adore the Young Master."
"She traveled all this way just to see him?"
Yao Yao peeked up at Shang Zhao.
The more eyes on her, the harder it would be for them to simply brush her aside. And she had no intention of making this easy for them.
"Explain yourself." Shang Zhao's tone was strict, sharp, and utterly unamused.
Yao Yao tilted her chin up slightly. "I just wanted to see the ceremony!" she said defensively.
From the carriage, Ying Ying and Min Min peered out, faces pressed against the window.
Min Min's mouth hung open. "Wait. She—she actually sneaked in?!"
Ying Ying crossed her arms, her voice dry. "How shameless."
Min Min, still watching, whispered, "But kinda impressive, right?"
Ying Ying scoffed. "Or completely reckless."
"If Min Min can observe, why can't I?!" Yao Yao persisted.
"You are too young."
"Min Min is young too!" Yao Yao shot back. "But she gets to watch! I'll just sit in the corner and be quiet! You won't even know I'm here!"
A new voice cut through the air—calm, icy cold.
"Enough."
It was Shang Qing Ye.
Yao Yao stiffened.
She didn't raise her voice. She didn't lash out.
Yet somehow, her disapproval was absolute.
Shang Qing Ye stepped forward, her gaze resting on Yao Yao for only a fleeting second before shifting toward Shang Zhao.
"There's no need for unnecessary disruption." Her tone was smooth, almost indifferent. "It's already been decided. There's no reason for her to be here."
She wasn't speaking to Yao Yao.
She was speaking over her.
Like she wasn't even worth addressing directly.
Yao Yao's fingers tightened around Shang Jun's sleeve.
Shang Qing Ye wasn't making a scene.
She wasn't openly calling her an illegitimate child.
She was doing something worse.
She was erasing her presence entirely.
And that was something Yao Yao wouldn't allow.
"I just want to watch," Yao Yao pushed, raising her voice slightly. "I promise I'll be quiet! I won't cause trouble!"
"You already have," Shang Qing Ye replied sharply as she glared at her.
That stung.
But Yao Yao refused to waver.
She turned to Shang Jun, gripping his sleeve. "Brother, please!! I worked so hard to get here! I—"
Her voice wavered slightly, desperate. "If I get sent back alone… I'll be all by myself for the whole journey. What if something happens? What if the carriage breaks down? What if bandits come?!"
Shang Jun sighed. "Yao Yao, that's not going to—"
"What if I cry the whole way?!" she cut in dramatically, her voice rising in a perfect, trembling wail. "What if the driver gets distracted and crashes the carriage?!"
A noblewoman in the crowd gasped, whispering to her companion. "That would be… a terrible scandal."
Yao Yao, seeing an opening, doubled down.
"What if we veer off the mountain road?! What if I get lost in the wild and have to fend for myself with nothing but a twig and my tiny hands?!"
Shang Jun opened his mouth, then closed it again. "Yao Yao—"
"What if wolves find me first?!" she gasped, lifting both tiny hands and staring at them in horror. "What if—what if they decide I look like a delicious little dumpling, ready to be eaten?!"
Min Min choked on a laugh.
Even Ying Ying, who had been silently observing, exhaled sharply through her nose, barely restraining a smirk.
Somewhere in the back, a servant murmured, "…What a wild imagination..."
At this point, Yao Yao was just trying her luck. At five, she could get away with almost anything.
Shang Jun exhaled slowly. Then, without another word, he bent down and lifted her into his arms.
Yao Yao blinked.
…That worked?
She sniffled again, just to be sure. Then, cautiously, she nuzzled into his shoulder.
"Big brother," she murmured pitifully.
A chuckle escaped his lips. "You're quite the handful," Shang Jun said, amusement in his tone.
Then, he turned to Shang Zhao.
"I will take care of her," Shang Jun said firmly.
Shang Qing Ye's gaze flickered just slightly. "That won't be necessary."
Shang Jun, ever composed, smiled faintly. "She's already here. Sending her back now would only cause more trouble."
Shang Qing Ye's eyes sharpened. "That is not your decision to make."
Yao Yao felt it in that moment.
This wasn't just a disagreement.
They… didn't seem to get along.
A ripple of tension spread through the onlookers.
Shang Qing Ye's posture remained poised, but her shoulders were too rigid.
And Yao Yao saw it.
The storm behind her mother's eyes.
Not at her.
At Shang Jun.
And Shang Jun was unfazed.
They were at a standoff.
Yao Yao had always assumed that Shang Jun and Shang Qing Ye, as two of the most powerful figures in the family, would be aligned.
But now…
Watching the way they locked eyes, cold and unwavering—she wasn't so sure.
She frowned, trying to make sense of the tension. Something is definitely going on between them.
Shang Zhao on one hand, had no desire to let this standoff escalate. The tension between mother and son was palpable, teetering on the edge of something unsaid. His gaze lingered on Shang Jun for a moment, as if weighing something, before shifting back to Yao Yao.
She was still clinging onto her older brother, playing up her innocent, pitiful act. But there was a sharpness in her eyes, barely hidden beneath the childish wailing.
She knew exactly what she was doing.
The fact that she had made it here at all, forced her way into this moment despite every obstacle, could not be ignored.
Shang Jun's words from yesterday echoed in his mind.
"You say you're keeping her safe. But what happens when she's alone? When no one is there to shield her? Will she still be safe then?"
"The more you cage her, the more she will escape."
Shang Zhao exhaled slowly.
Finally, he spoke.
"Do as you wish."
Yao Yao's eyes widened. Then, just as quickly, her entire face lit up.
I did it!
She buried her face into Shang Jun's robes, her grin hidden against the fabric as she clung to him—her golden ticket—tighter than ever.
From the carriage, Min Min let out a gasp. "She actually did it."
Beside her, Ying Ying said nothing, yet her expression shifted, as though reevaluating Yao Yao for the first time.
Yao Yao didn't care.
She was in.
Now… she just had to figure out how to summon a spirit.