Lili stood before the heavy mahogany doors of Zhang Zuo's study, a tray of steaming breakfast in her hands. The savory scent of the pork and scallion dumplings wafted up, making her own stomach rumble, but she held back. This was ammunition, not a snack.
She signaled the servant to open the door.
Zhang Zuo was seated behind his desk, reviewing documents with a deep frown. He looked up as she entered, his expression instantly guarding. "What are you doing here?"
"Husband, I heard you've been working so hard lately. I woke up early to prepare breakfast for you," Lili said, her voice dripping with the sweetness of a devoted wife. She placed the tray on the low table near the window.
Zhang Zuo eyed the food suspiciously. The memory of the "birthday tea" was still fresh in his mind. He stood up and walked over, keeping a safe distance. "Did you cook this?"
"Of course! I made the dumplings, the congee, and the soup myself. I even kneaded the dough!" She beamed, looking every bit the proud homemaker.
"And what did you put in it this time?" Zhang Zuo asked, his tone dry. "Another dose of your 'love' potion?"
Lili wanted to roll her eyes. 'Oh please, if I wanted to drug you, I'd have done it last night when you were sleeping like a log. You 2D men have such trust issues.'
Outoud, she pouted, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Husband, how can you say that? I only want to care for you. I know I made a mistake before, but that was because I was desperate for your affection. I promised not to do it again."
To prove her point, she picked up a pair of chopsticks, grabbed a plump dumpling, and popped it into her mouth. She chewed slowly, making a show of savoring the flavor. "Mmm! It's delicious. See? No poison, no drugs. Just pure culinary talent."
Zhang Zuo watched her throat move as she swallowed. He had to admit, the food smelled incredible—far better than what the manor's cooks usually prepared. His stomach betrayed him with a loud growl.
Defeated by his own hunger, he sat down. "Fine. I will eat."
Lili watched with bated breath as he took his first bite. His eyes widened slightly. The dumpling was juicy, perfectly seasoned, and the skin was the ideal thickness. It was... comforting. He took a spoonful of the congee next. It was rich and warming.
"Is it to your liking?" she asked, leaning forward, her cleavage slightly visible in her carefully arranged dress.
Zhang Zuo cleared his throat and looked away from her chest. "It is... edible. Not bad."
'Edible? It's Michelin star quality, you ungrateful scholar!' Lili screamed internally, but she smiled demurely. "I'm glad. Eat more, husband. You need your strength."
As he ate, the tension in the room dissipated slightly. Lili poured him tea (from a pot he had seen the servants bring in, so he knew it was safe) and simply sat with him. For a moment, they looked like a harmonious couple.
Zhang Zuo glanced at her. Without the hysterics or the aggressive seduction, she was undeniably beautiful. And she could cook. A strange feeling of guilt pricked at him. He was planning to divorce her for Wanruo, yet here she was, trying to be a good wife.
"Lili," he said, putting down his chopsticks. "You don't have to do this. My feelings... they won't change easily."
Lili stood up and walked behind him, massaging his shoulders. "I know, husband. I'm not asking for your heart immediately. Just... don't push me away."
'Yeah, don't push me away until after the Hunting Festival. Then you can have your Wanruo back and I'll be busy with the other guys.'
"I have to go to the court," Zhang Zuo said, standing up abruptly as her hands became a bit too exploring near his chest. He felt that dangerous heat rising again—not from drugs this time, but from her proximity. He needed to escape before he threw her onto the desk.
"Goodbye, husband! Come home early!" she waved as he practically fled the room.
Lili smirked. Phase 1 of the day: Success. Zhang Zuo was confused, guilty, and well-fed.
With Zhang Zuo gone, Lili decided it was time to initiate contact with her prime suspect for Samael: The 3rd Prince, Feng Jun.
She knew she couldn't just barge into the palace every day without raising suspicion. She needed a reason. Thankfully, the "spy" narrative Feng Jun had concocted for her gave her the perfect excuse.
She wrote a short, encrypted-looking note. It basically said nothing of substance—just some gossip about Zhang Zuo meeting with a minor official—but she made it sound urgent. She sealed it and instructed Lihua to have it delivered to the 3rd Prince's secret contact point, a tea house in the capital.
"We're going out," Lili announced.
She dressed in a slightly more modest, yet elegant outfit. If she was going to meet Feng Jun's spies or the Prince himself later, she needed to look the part of the 'tragic noblewoman in love.'
They arrived at the Cloud Pavilion Tea House. It was a high-end establishment, known for its privacy. Lili ordered a pot of their finest oolong and sat by the window, observing the street below.
She wasn't waiting long before a servant approached her table. "Princess Lili? A gentleman in the Orchid Room invites you to join him."
Lili's heart leaped. 'That was fast! Is it Feng Jun? My angel?'
She followed the servant, fixing her hair. When the door opened, however, it wasn't the ethereal Prince Feng Jun waiting for her.
It was a man clad in black robes with silver embroidery. He sat with a commanding presence that made the room feel small. His eyes were sharp, cold, and dangerously familiar.
Wang Huo. The Grand Duke.
--
TBC