CHAPTER 152: CHAPTER

The maid hid behind a pillar near the east gate, watching Lin Xu slip out quietly. When she saw Lin Xu get into a small carriage and leave, the maid’s eyes narrowed with interest.

"So Lady Lin is sneaking out this late?" she whispered to herself, a small smile forming on her lips. "Lady San will want to hear this."

She turned quickly and hurried back inside the Mo residence.

Inside Mo Ying’s Room

The room was dim, lit by only one lamp. Mo Ying lay on the bed, breathing weakly, his face pale. Every breath sounded painful.

San Na sat beside him, gently wiping his forehead with a warm cloth. Her movements were careful, her eyes full of worry.

"General Mo..." she whispered softly. "Please stay alive."

The door opened quietly.

San Na looked up sharply as the maid stepped in, bowing her head.

"What is it?" San Na asked, tired and annoyed. "If it’s not important, tell me tomorrow."

"It is important, my lady," the maid said quickly.

San Na paused. "Then speak."

The maid leaned closer and whispered, "I saw Lady Lin leaving the house. She was dressed like a servant and sneaked out through the east gate."

San Na straightened suddenly. "What?"

"She left alone," the maid continued. "And she got into a carriage waiting outside. I don’t know where she went."

San Na’s face changed. She stood up quickly, dropping the wet cloth on the floor.

"Follow her," she said in a low, firm voice. "Don’t let her disappear. Find out where she goes and who she meets."

"Yes, Lady San." The maid bowed again and rushed out.

San Na turned back to look at Mo Ying. Her chest felt tight. She sat down slowly, staring at him.

"Lin Xu..." she whispered. "Why would you leave tonight... of all nights?"

Mo Ying didn’t move or react. He lay quietly, fighting for his life.

San Na placed a hand gently on his arm.

"Don’t worry," she murmured. "I will stay with you... even if she won’t."

But inside her heart, fear and suspicion grew stronger.

Where was Lin Xu going?

...

The carriage rolled through the quiet night streets until it finally slowed down near the marketplace. Most shops were already closed, their doors shut and lamps put out. Only the sound of the horse’s hooves echoed softly.

The driver pointed ahead.

"The inn is just there," he said.

Lin Xu nodded and stepped down. Her legs felt weak, but she forced herself to stand straight. She pulled her hood lower so no one would see her face and walked toward the small, two-story inn. The lantern hanging outside swayed in the wind, casting shadows on the wooden door.

She paused right in front of it.

Her heart beat fast too fast. Her hands were shaking again.

No one knew the Crown Prince was staying here. That meant she could slip inside without being questioned. No guards. No palace attendants. No eyes watching him.

And no one to stop her.

She took a slow breath and pushed the door open.

The inn was mostly empty. Only the innkeeper dozed behind the counter, his head bobbing up and down. A few travelers drank quietly in the corner, but none of them even looked at her.

Good.

She walked up the stairs, trying to keep her steps steady even though she felt like she might collapse.

Halfway up, a soft glow appeared beside her.

Susu.

She floated in the air, small and bright, her expression serious.

"Lin Xu," she whispered, "this is where your mission begins."

Lin Xu swallowed hard. "My... mission?"

Susu nodded and pointed to a room at the far end of the hall.

"The Crown Prince is inside that room," Susu said quietly. "If you want Mo Ying to live, you must do what the system ordered."

Lin Xu’s fingers tightened around her cloak. Her throat felt dry.

"What exactly does it mean," she whispered shakily, "to spend the night with him? Does the system mean... I should... have sex with him?"

Her voice cracked on the last words. She had never felt so scared or confused in her life.

Susu didn’t answer right away. Her glow softened, full of worry.

"Lin Xu... the system didn’t give details," she said gently. "It only said one thing.. you must spend the night in his bed."

Lin Xu’s eyes widened.

"In his bed?" she repeated, almost in a whisper. "Then... what if he touches me? What if he expects something? What if... if it really means that?"

Her stomach twisted painfully. Her mind couldn’t stop showing Mo Ying’s face. His smile. His warmth. How he shielded her without thinking twice.

And now she was about to walk into another man’s room... for him.

Susu slowly took her hand.

"I don’t know what will happen," she admitted. "But I do know this... if you don’t go inside, Mo Ying won’t live till morning."

Lin Xu felt like the hallway was spinning. She had to lean against the wall to breathe.

Her heart hurt. Her chest felt tight. Tears rushed into her eyes again, but she blinked them away quickly.

She couldn’t break now.

She whispered to herself, "Mo Ying... I’m doing this for you."

Then she stood straight, wiped her face with trembling fingers, and took a step toward the Crown Prince’s room.

Lin Xu’s hand shook as she reached for the door. Her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it in her ears. She pushed the door open just a crack and slipped one foot inside.

The room was dark and quiet.

She took one careful step forward...

THWIP!

An arrow shot past her face so fast she didn’t even see it.. only heard it strike the wall behind her with a sharp thunk.

"Ah—!"

Lin Xu fell to the floor, shaking in fear, her hands pressed against the cold wood. Her breath came out in short, terrified gasps.

Her hood slid off.

Before she could move, a deep, cold voice echoed through the room.

"Who dares enter?"

The voice came from the bed.

Lin Xu lifted her head slowly, still trembling.

A man sat there half lit by the moonlight coming through the window.

He wore only a simple white inner garment, his hair loose and slightly messy, making him look dangerously handsome. His posture was relaxed, but the sharpness in his voice filled the room with tension.

Beside the door, two identical guards stood tall, strong, their faces expressionless. Their swords were already drawn, the blades pointed at her throat. One wrong move, and they could cut her down.

Lin Xu’s lips parted, but no sound came out.

The Crown Prince didn’t look at her yet. His eyes were still closed as he spoke again, low and calm:

"Who is it?"

One guard answered stiffly.

"A woman, Your Highness."

The Crown Prince’s eyes opened immediately.

Sharp, deep, bright.

His gaze landed straight on Lin Xu dirty from tears, kneeling on the floor, hair falling around her shoulders, her cloak slipped off just enough to show her soft features.

For a moment...

He froze.

The room went silent.

He stared at her like he couldn’t believe she was real. Her wide, frightened eyes... her delicate face... the mysterious way she appeared in his room at night.

Something inside him shifted.

Without looking away from her, he lifted a hand and gave a small wave.

"Lower your swords."

The twin guards obeyed at once, stepping back but still watching her carefully.

Lin Xu didn’t move.

She was still frozen, breath shaking, her hands on the floor where she had fallen.

The Crown Prince slowly stood from his bed, the moonlight catching the side of his face. His white garment brushed against his legs as he stepped closer, stopping only a few feet from her.

His eyes softened just slightly.

"You..." he said quietly, "who are you?"

Lin Xu swallowed, fear rolling through her body.

She wasn’t ready.

She wasn’t supposed to meet him like this.

And now, the Crown Prince of the empire was staring at her like she was the biggest mystery he had ever seen.

She didn’t know how, but she had to gather courage.. no matter what. For Mo Ying... she had to.

She bowed her head and whispered, voice shaking slightly:

"I... I am just a lowly maid, my lord. I only wanted to find a master to take me in. Please forgive my intrusion."

The Crown Prince raised one brow.

"My lord?" he repeated slowly. "You don’t know who I am?"

A small, devious smirk formed on his lips as he bent down in front of her. He reached out and gently gripped her small, puffy cheeks between his fingers. He could see clearly she had been crying not long ago.

But who was she? And why was she here?

His eyes narrowed with interest.

"You want a master?" he asked softly. "If I become your master... what will you do as my slave?"

His gaze stayed locked on her face, waiting for her to tremble or panic.

But she didn’t.

She stayed calm. Too calm for someone who claimed to be a simple maid.

Lin Xu lowered her eyes.

"If my lord agrees to be my master," she said quietly, "then this lowly maid will happily... hand herself over to him."

Her words made him pause.

Just for a moment.

Then he let go of her face and stood up, turning his back to her.

He didn’t look at her, but his voice was deep and clear:

"Leave us."

The two guards exchanged a quick look, bowed, and immediately left the room, sliding the door shut behind them.