Yao Yao, for once in her existence, kept her mouth shut.
The words of the High Court Mage sliced through the silence like a cold blade.
"It's as if the portal itself rejected the connection to the spirit realm."
Yao Yao didn't fully understand the intricacies of spirit contracts, but even she could tell that this was far beyond normal.
On the throne, the King's fingers drummed slowly against the armrest, his expression darkening.
"Something is preventing it?" he asked, voice calm, but heavy, like the fate of the realm hung on his next breath.
The mage hesitated. Just slightly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Shang Zhao stood tall, posture rigid, but inside, his mind raced.
A coincidence? Or something more?
Whispers of a prophecy… a prodigious child… and now, the first portal failure in centuries.
His gaze flicked to Yao Yao.
She stood small and still. Yet Shang Zhao couldn't shake the feeling that this child, this very moment, may be bound to something far larger than any of them could see.
Then a voice broke through.
"Well," Rong Xi said lightly, stepping forward with a lazy grace. "If the portal shut down because of her, then perhaps she should try again?"
Yao Yao stiffened. Try again?
"I—WHAT?!" she blurted.
Rong Xi didn't flinch. His simply smiled. "You should try summoning again. Perhaps it could reignite the portal?"
The thought rattled in her mind, confusion swirled in her chest.
Try again? Is it even possible?
Shang Jun turned sharply, eyes narrowing. The prince's tone, didn't quite sit right with him. It was far too casual for something so serious.
Beside him, Shang Zhao's frown deepened. The portal's failure was unnatural, any fool could see that. And beneath Rong Xi's charm, there was no trace of ignorance. He knew exactly what he was doing.
"Absolutely not," Shang Zhao said sharply, stepping forward to cut off any further discussion. "Your Highness, we have yet to confirm what caused the collapse. Allowing another attempt could lead to a catastrophe."
For a moment, Rong Xi's smile faltered. Just a flicker.
"Catastrophe?" Rong Xi mused, his tone airy, but with an edge. "And yet, no one died. Seems fine to me."
Yao Yao frowned. Is this supposed to be funny? Why does he speak like this is all just a game?
"Your Highness," Shang Jun interjected, his tone restrained. "You cannot seriously mean to test something we don't even understand."
Rong Xi gave him a slow, almost amused smile. "And yet... what better way to understand something than by testing it firsthand?"
The words landed like drops of oil on fire.
There was something chilling in the way the prince carried himself. He might've looked twelve, but his voice… his eyes…his calm? It didn't belong to a child.
It was as if he were the one setting the terms of the game, despite being the youngest in the room. He held the presence of someone used to manipulating the board, while everyone else scrambled to understand the rules.
Yao Yao felt it again. That same presence from when they first met. He didn't feel like a boy.
He felt older.
Much older.
Shang Zhao's voice cut back in, hard and unyielding.
"You speak recklessly, Your Highness. This is not a game. We are dealing with forces we cannot yet comprehend. You risk more than just Yao Yao's safety with your suggestion."
A brief silence stretched as the two locked eyes.
Shang Zhao, unshaken, carried the weight of years of authority. In contrast, Rong Xi, a mere child, met it with equal force and unfazed.
Shang Jun stood tense beside them, gaze flicking between his father and the prince.
Then, the King finally spoke.
"Can the summoning portal be restored?" he asked, turning to the High Court Mage.
The High Court Mage gave a slight bow, his voice tight.
"We are still attempting to re-establish a connection with the spirit realm, Your Majesty. But as of now… there has been no response."
Another heavy silence settled in, but this time, the King's decision came swiftly.
"Until we understand what happened," he declared, "the child will remain under room arrest within the palace. She is forbidden from approaching the summoning grounds."
Room arrest?
The words struck Yao Yao in a blur of confusion. Relief? Panic? Maybe both. Maybe this was what she needed, a forced pause. A timeout.
Rong Xi hummed softly, tilting his head with a wistful smile. "How disappointing," he murmured.
Yao Yao shot him a glare, her patience finally snapping. "You wanted to make me your personal experiment!"
Rong Xi blinked, feigning innocence. "I was just trying to help you prove your innocence," his tone was teasing, yet there was an undertone that made it sound as if he were the one wronged.
The King's voice cut cleanly through it all.
"Shang Zhao." He turned to the head of the Shang family. "She will remain under your watch. If any further disturbances occur, you will be held responsible."
Shang Zhao nodded. "Understood, Your Majesty."
Yao Yao held back a smirk, feeling a sense of relief.
She caught Rong Xi's eyes again. There it was—that same glint.
Something curious. Something dangerous.
After the King dismissed them, Shang Jun rested a hand on her shoulder and gently guided her from the throne room.
Shang Zhao walked ahead, silent. His face unreadable.
Yao Yao exhaled slowly.
The pressure hadn't disappeared. But at least for now… she could breathe.
"Big brother," she murmured, glancing up.
"Hm?"
She smiled faintly.
"You're still my favorite person here."
A chuckle slipped from his lips. "I'll remember that."