"Master, the traps are set. We're awaiting your orders."
A hooded figure knelt in the dimly lit room, his voice steady yet cautious.
"Hmm... good." A smooth, feminine voice drifted from the other side of the chamber. "But do not engage—yet. We still don't know the exact relationship between the Xiao family and Xiao Zhi."
The figure gave a single, disciplined nod. "Your orders are absolute." Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Bathed in the soft glow of a lantern, a veiled woman sat motionless, her delicate fingers tracing idle patterns along the wooden armrest. Her lips curled into an unreadable smile.
"Xiao Zhi… Liu Mei… I'm certain we'll meet again," she murmured, a quiet giggle escaping her lips.
____
The inn bustled with warmth and chatter, the clinking of bowls and laughter filling the air. Liu Mei, stuffed and satisfied, leaned back in her chair, rubbing her belly.
