Chapter 29

*Food*
Beyond the cold silver door.
Zhu Yu did not know if Bai Shuzhou could hear—but introduced herself earnestly—hoping for a crack of chance.
The emperor never said aloud “keep Zhu Yu away”—only ordered knights protect Shuzhou.
Protection implied danger.
But the girl who broke through hid her edge—red rims—clear brows—no malice—arms around knights—slow squeeze—not fight—like dough—steady push.
Snow leopard knights were elite Alphas—strong tails—
Zhu Yu secretly tickled their tails.
Low—but useful. Honorable knights never saw such trick—flinched aside.
At the door she pressed hot cheek to the seam—voice and wind in:
“If you forgot—we can meet again—how nice.”
“Heaven closed a door—we open it—that’s what doors are for.”
“Open it—you’ll see me—”
Knights snapped. More slack and the fish slips through—too bold.
One covered her mouth—“Stop—Princess can’t hear—you disturb order.”
Corner researchers ducked back.
Academy rarely this loud—reporters choked outside—guards blinked—Federation invasion?
Zhu Yu gauged wall thickness—soundproof—confidence wilted—
But no beatings—maybe tacit approval—hope flickered—
She learned to read faces and push luck—when silence seemed real—changed tactic.
Pull her out—she clung handle—shameless voice:
“I won’t leave—kill me if you can.”
“Even dead I guard my wife!”
“Wife” heavy—identity shield—boast—announce again.
Knights: …
Wasn’t she not to trouble us?!
Her arrival was a timed bomb.
A fall—a bruise—mob would cry torture and cover-up.
Knights gripped her—afraid she’d punch herself—
On the bed she blinked light.
She could not see—but heard sharp—sketched “Zhu Yu.”
First a soft bun—steam—rose bean paste—hoarse magnetic voice—
Pinch and sink—
Then plop—“kill me if you can.”
Rogue—soft—not scary.
Strange new.
Knights’ attitude—her scent on Zhu Yu—
Brow knit—confusion—
Voice familiar—strange content—nerve stab—Mommy?
Vertical pupils startled—too odd.
Faint displeasure—not for her.
Palace order—no one like this—even mother never shouted wife so loud.
Lip press—silent verdict.
Academy guards arrived late—knights hoped help—guards pulled bias—
“Nobles vs one commoner—forget it—same country.”
Feng’s hand.
After push and deals—ten minutes nightly visit—supervised treatment—
Easier than feared.
Fox minister actually worked—future staff—shame for narrow mind—
Shame became anger—
Public “human experiment” was for oversight—not real open lab—
Feng paraded returned phoenix and birds—“miracle science”—
Years banned—phoenix leverage—
Fox spun narrative—gene disease war—
Mutants are gene disease too—rare—
Ten minutes too short—not alone—princess asleep—
Pale sleep—won’t wake her—
Six days—no memory—no her—bad end—
Qianze no block—seemed sure she’d fail—
Teen-mind Shuzhou—only trusts sister—not even Yzelia much—
Day two—still sleeping—
Ten minutes watch—hand over mouth—count lashes—
Feng wanted her—useful pawn—maybe split sister bond—
Two days wasted watching sleep—Feng furious—
“How did Princess pick you?”
Red ears—“I wonder too.”
Feng: “…Not a compliment.”
Feng had extreme plans—Zhu Yu refused—death either way—maybe Feng pushed original downfall—
Terrible fox!
After Zhu Yu left—lights out—she often peeked awake.
Zhu Yu knew—said nothing—
Before leave soft—“You’re so cute.”
Lashes tiny lift—breath pause two seconds—
Counted—never wrong.
Pretend sleep—privacy—
Reflect—blanket pull was wrong—respect wounds—
Amnesia colder—sharp edges—
Feng blamed drugs—Zhu Yu saw—no peace here—attack to protect—
Only smiles at Qianze—
Feng helped approach—passing bow—ignored—
Feng blind three eyes—bold when emperor gone—
Zhu Yu cooked favorites—insulated boxes—
Intel—lunch outside today—
Late for soup—candy hidden under box—
Far off—Shuzhou dining with white bird—
Feast table—her box felt poor—
Shuzhou smiled—chopsticks food to bird—
First kindness besides Qianze since amnesia—
Never even in shack—
Germaphobe—shared plate she won’t eat—
Zhu Yu always separate portion—
Know bird?
Should greet—sister in suffering—
Nose sour—AC cold—uncomfortable—
Their delicacies—her steel box—can’t offer—
Dragon likes shiny—she had none—
White hair bird—mutant fireball—
Normal to like her—
Eat alone later—eyes dim—
Not far—opened box—self eat—
Researcher—“You made this?”
Big portion—invited table—radiating cats—
Pride outside—humble when fed—one invites many—
Village’s top graduate eyes—
No airs—good cook—
Expensive ingredients—reluctant—but “family” praise—can’t refuse—
Ate revenge-fast—full—watch them share—
Not wasted—skill ok—
First surrounded praise—floaty—
If no love—repair plus chef—
Cold gaze—nothing—pretend soup for others—
Snap look—caught peeking knight—
Researchers looked too—like uprising signal—
Catlike—not noble—
“Cough.” Knight—“Personally—good?”
Personally—suspicious—
Good? Eat? Eat!
Glance Shuzhou—chin in hand—casual glance—
Ice—no mood—
Straight back—stood—broken chopsticks.