It was a moonless, windy night, the scent of conspiracy mingling with the fragrance of summer blossoms and making the air feel tense.
At the third watch, Gu Shenwei slipped out of his little room and avoided the paths as he headed for the small courtyard he had seen that day.
Ling Nu had warned him not to wander and not to provoke Young Master Yu. On his first night in the inner residence, he was already planning to break both rules.
The stars and moon were dim. Holding his breath, Gu Shenwei crept forward with great care. Twice he nearly ran into the guards on patrol, but in the end he made it safely to the wall of the courtyard.
He climbed over the low wall and waited patiently. Once he was sure no one was hiding in the shadows, he tiptoed to the crabapple tree in the middle of the courtyard, picked up a small stone, and tossed it at the window of the central room.
Though the buildings in Golden Peng Fortress looked very different from those in the Central Plains, it was still easy to tell which room belonged to the master of the house. The only thing Gu Shenwei couldn't be sure of was which of the Twins lived inside.
There was no response.
Gu Shenwei picked up a second stone and threw it. This time he put more force into it, and it struck with a loud clack.
Still, no one answered from inside. It was as if the room were empty. But someone outside reacted.
Gu Shenwei's hair stood on end. He felt the same sensation he'd felt when Shangguan Yushi had tried to assassinate him. He threw himself forward, spun around, and saw the boy from earlier gripping his saber, ready to