Chapter 4

Shadow Guard Code, Article Three: Be loyal to your duty, and master your craft.

As a Shadow Guard, my usual skills are broad but not specialized, including but not limited to killing in secret, stealing intelligence, and kneeling to beg for mercy.

Mostly kneeling to beg for mercy.

Now, I’ve added selling sesame cakes to the list.

I’ve been running a stall outside Pei Su’s house for a month, and Pei Su has been coming by more and more often.

Not only does he come, but he also brings things for me.

Sometimes it’s sweets, sometimes jewelry, sometimes amusing little trinkets.

Even if I don’t want them, he always finds some excuse to make me accept them.

He’ll say he bought too much, or that someone else gave them to him, or simply claim he picked them up.

The customers nearby always eat their cakes while watching us with smiling eyes.

Granny Chen, ever the gossip, says, “The way Young Lord Pei looks at Yuniang, it’s not simple.”

Pei Su stammers.

I think to myself: This is bad. Has Pei Su noticed something, does he know I’m watching him?

Feeling guilty, I stuff a little more meat into his cake.

Even though I’m here to keep watch, I don’t slack off when making cakes.

Every morning, I rise early to prepare the dough. I make just enough for the day-when they’re sold out, that’s it, and if any are left, I never keep them for the next day.

Before each cake goes into the oven, I brush it with honey water, so it comes out bright and tempting.

As dusk falls, the dough is used up.

Brilliant sunset clouds streak the sky, customers gradually drift away, and I wipe down the table and cover the mouth of the cake oven.

Pei Su still hasn’t left.

He leans on the table, staring at me intently.

I walk over and say, “Lord Pei, the cakes are sold out for today. I’m closing up.”

“Is that so,” he replies, but stays seated, “but I want to spend a little more time with you.”

I say, “I want that too.”

After all, the longer I stay, the longer I can keep watch.

Pei Su’s long lashes tremble, and he looks up at me as if shocked.

“Yuniang, you…”

A Feathered Arrow whistled through the air, cutting him off.

The arrowhead struck my cake oven, its fletching quivering slightly.

I recognized it-it was an arrow from the Lord’s residence.