***
The palace gardens were never quiet enough for secrets.
Not unless you went far—far beyond the marble paths, past the reflecting pool, beneath the silver willows that even the gardeners avoided. And that where the twins found themselves on that strange afternoon.
"shh " Mò Yáo hissed ducking beneath a dozens of vines
"if they find us again they'll make us practice table manners until dusk "
"good " little Yin Shu giggled skipping after her.
"you need the practice " Mo Yao rolled her eyes, lip curved into a rare smile.
They broke through the vines and stumbled into a place they'd never seen before — a circle of ancient stones, half buried by moss, with a single black flower trembling in the wind.
"Look...." Yin Shu pointed
"why is it.... glowing?"
And it was
Not with fire but with a kind of soft shimmer, like moonlight trapped inside ink.
Mo Yao stepped closer, the shadows her feet seems to.... stretch. To follow. As though curious.
Her fingers brushed the flower.
The world shifted
A sudden breeze swept around them — petals from invisible bloom spun into the air, Shadows ripple like water. The ground glowed faintly beneath yin Shu's feet.
And for a heartbeat — just one — and their hands glowed. Mo Yao painted in liquid shadow, Yin Shu wrapped in silver light.
Then..... silence
The flower crumbled to dust.
The wind died.
It was as though nothing had happened.
Except — The shadows near Mò yáo's feet didn't move quiet right anymore. And the light on Yin shū's skin lingered a few moments too long.
"did you ....feel that?" yin shū asked breathless.
Mo Yao only nodded ".... We don't tell anyone. Not yet "
Somewhere far behind them in the shadow of the garden gate, a pair of eyes watched.
"come on let's go back" Yin shū said as she trembled, Mó yáo noticed it
"ok"
***
"princess Mò yáo!"
"princess yin shū!"
Almost all the maid in the palace where looking for both princess,as for where they went was unknown.
"whers could they be, we've searched everywhere " one of the maids complained feeling frustrated.
"don't give up. Remember the Queen's words, she said if we don't find them before noon we will all be in big trouble" The other maid said.
"Arghh I'm tired already. The Queen is so ruthless " The first maid rolled her eyes as she sat on the floor.
"she isn't, she is just worried about her children, if I was in her shoes I will react the same way" the other maid said.
"im sure those little princess will be punished when they get back " the first maid grinned.
"hmm"
Just then, Mo Yao and Yin Shu arrived using snikky method in order not to be noticed but it was two late, they were both caught by the maids.
"your highnesses "
"oh oh"
"we are done for" mò yáo sighed.
"The Queen ask of you right now " The frustrated maid said with a straight face.
They were both led to the Queen's chambers where the Queen was present.
****
"Mò yáo! Yin shū! Where did you two run of to?!" jingfei snapped glaring at them with millions of daggers
Mò yáo gulped unable to look at her mother straight in the face but yin shū had the guts to do so, she was even smiling as if she did nothing wrong.
"yin shū please read the atmosphere, mother is not in a good mood right now " she wanted to say these words to yin shū but kept her mouth shut in order not to worsen the situation.
Both of them were kneeling in front of jingfei.
"Mother...we..." As Mò yáo wanted to come up with a perfect excuse, yin shū spoke.
"mother you won't believe what me and elder sister saw today.." yin Shū said as her eyes shown bright.
Mò yáo froze, she turned her head to yin shū warning her with a glare not to continue but yin shū didn't noticed and continued.
Mò yáo frowned and pinched yin shū.
"ouch elder sister why..."
"mother dont be angry what yin shū meant was uh.. we found a rare flower that was growing in the garden " mò yáo explained with gritted teeth as she forced a smile.
Jingfei narrowed her gaze at the both of them and sighed.
"you should have taken one or two guards with you or even as for permission " jingfei said.
Mò yáo breath a sigh of relief as she noticed that her mother buy her lie.
Yin shū looked at mò yáo with a strange face.
"but you won't go unpunished " jingfei 's face darkened.
"you two will go to the Royal kitchen and help the maids in Washing all the dishes, you may leave " jingfei said without sparing a glance at yin shū's pleading eyes.
"her highness is so ruthless but the twins deserved it " the frustrated maid thought.
**
As the twins walked out of the Queen's chamber yin shū stopped mò yáo.
"mò yáo why did you lie to mother?" yin shū asked with a annoyed expression which is rare.
Yin Shu personality was different from mò yáo.
Ever since yin shū entered this world she has never lied and she hates lying.
Now she didn't understand why mò yáo will lie to their own mother.
"tch.. somethings are better kept secret yin shū.. you should know that" mò yáo said and walked away.
Yin shū was still in daze.
Unlike yin shū mò yáo has a brain of a 16 year old and she is very intelligent despite being a 7 year old, while Yin Shū was just a little girl who doesn't understand anything, but she also has some things that mò yáo doesn't have.