Once Lady Natalia's curiosity was satisfied she made an excuse and swiftly took her leave.
Dima said a few congratulatory words to Dai Zhi about his sister's soon-to-be wedding and followed after her. He stayed quiet for the most part keeping only to himself. He seemed troubled about something but no one was willing to strike up a conversation and actually ask what was bothering him or offer any kind of help.
Feng Huang said something to Dai Zhi and left as well, leaving only a drunk Xue Meng and Stasa behind.
Hao Xuan's headache did not quiet down even after he started smoking so he stood up and was about to walk out when Dai Zhi called out to him.
"Since you have said nothing else I will take that as you agreeing to my demands. It is good that you have come to your senses but in case you still have some doubts, remember where you are. You can never leave this place without my permission, ever. I see all and hear all."
Hao Xuan paused for a moment but continued walking without saying anything. Of course he didn't agree but he wasn't going to say it to Dai Zhi's face without a proper plan in place first.
He went through the solitary gold-encrusted door that was standing in the middle of the camp and stepped back into the same hallway as before. But one other person had left and no one had been the wiser.
The bald flutist with the mustache was gone.
Hao Xuan walked along the empty hallways that twisted and turned without end while thinking of what to do. He needed to first confirm that the webway could still be accessed because if not, he really might be trapped in here.
One minute, two minutes, three….fifteen minutes later Hao Xuan finally came to a stop in front of a door. The journey back had taken far too long and this door was not the same as the one he had rested in after coming here.
'Dai Zhi's tricks? How childish,' he rebuked inwardly and pushed.
*Bang*
But before it even fully opened a slender fist came shooting out. Hao Xuan reacted by instinct and sliced forward with his right hand while dodging to the side. A simple but powerful move that he had to pull back upon realizing who the attacker was.
Princess Ceni's astonished face stared back at him in just as much as a shock if not more.
"What…are you doing here?" she asked with no small amount of distrust.
She kept looking him up and down unsure if this was another one of her brother's tricks or really him.
"What-"
But the moment he spoke up Ceni realized he was real and not a hallucination or illusion that her mind had conjured up in this moment of desperation.
'You came for me!' was what she wanted to say but upon hearing the rest of Hao Xuan's sentence she realized that wasn't the case and the words got stuck in her throat.
"-What's going on? Why are you here?"
Hao Xuan's frown deepened further until his mind automatically connected the dots a moment later.
Dai Zhi had just warned Hao Xuan that he could see and hear everything within the palace. He was under the impression that Hao Xuan had given up and was now working for him so there could only be one reason why he would bring him right to Ceni's doorstep.
He needed proof of Hao Xuan's loyalty because otherwise there was no reason to keep him alive.
After she was taken away Princess Ceni was brought to this room by the squad of fully armed guards right before Micha told her about the arrangement Dai Zhi had come up with.
She was to be wed within a day and had until then to get ready. She had tried to escape but the attempts were obviously unsuccessful. Even the bracelet her master had given her was not working in this place which meant she truly was stuck here.
So even without realizing it, she had pinned all her hopes on Hao Xuan. Thinking that once he got the news he would come to rescue her.
Hao Xuan sighed inwardly at what needed to be done. It had to be believable without a shadow of a doubt.
His expression turned cold as he took a step back.
"I heard about your marriage. Congratulations, Princess Ceni."
Tears formed around her eyes as the facade she had put up until now melted away in an instant and she broke down right then and there.
"Why…are you saying that? You know I don't want thi-"
"I heard your future husband is a powerful man. Another genius from the same social circle as you. That's a good thing isn't it?"
"No…no…stop, you don't mean that-"
She shook her head wildly trying to close off her ears but to no avail. She could never keep his voice out of her head, just like he could not keep out hers.
"It's all for the best I suppose. This…whatever this was, was getting quite boring if I'm honest. But I am happy for you. You finally met someone that is your equal."
"NO! STOP IT! YOU DON'T MEAN THAT! I NEVER WANTED ANYONE BUT YOU!"
"I already have someone, pretty sure I told you that before. I don't know why you ever thought this was going to be a thing. Although, it was a little fun seeing you make a fool out of yourself, haha."
Hao Xuan turned around and started walking away. Princess Ceni fell to her knees weeping uncontrollably while mumbling under her breath, "No, it's not true" just as the door closed.
He walked until her sobs were drowned out by the sound of his own heavy footsteps.
"Are you happy now? Let me rest for a bit before the gathering," Hao Xuan's voice echoed in the empty hallway.
He turned left as soon as it ended and came face to face with the same door as before. It opened with a single touch and closed behind him.
