Later that night, Mo Lixia was called to the study.
The outer rooms had been arranged for guests with status; attendants moved in and out with careful, quiet efficiency. The whole residence felt tense beneath the celebration, as if everyone were holding their breath.
General Mo's face was stern. "From tonight onward, stay inside. Don't go out unless necessary."
Mo Lixia understood. "Yes, Father."
Madam Mo added softly, "If anyone asks for you, tell the servants to say you're unwell."
Mo Lixia nodded again.
She didn't argue. She knew her parents were protecting her.
Prince Kang's appearance had been expected. Prince Su's presence, however, was always a complication—and the capital's undercurrents were never visible on the surface.
When she returned to her room, she couldn't sleep for a long time.
The corridor replayed in her mind: the mask, the quiet voice, the request for soap—as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
In the end, she got up, lit a small lamp, and began writing formulas on paper again.
If she kept her hands busy, perhaps her thoughts would settle too.