The palace gates opened slowly.
Guards stepped aside.
Because no one—
No one expected what they were seeing.
Princess Xueying—
Leaving the palace.
Openly.
Without fear.
—
By the time she reached the outer courtyard—
People had already noticed.
Whispers followed instantly.
"Where is she going?"
"Is it true then?"
"Shameless…"
—
Xueying stopped.
Turned.
And for the first time—
She faced them.
Directly.
"If you have something to say," she said calmly, "say it clearly."
Silence fell.
Because no one expected that.
Not from her.
—
One noble lady stepped forward hesitantly.
"…We heard you've been meeting men outside the palace."
Xueying held her gaze.
"Who told you that?"
"I—everyone is saying it—"
"That is not an answer."
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it carried.
Sharp.
Controlled.
Different.
—
The lady faltered.
"I… I don't know…"
"Then do not repeat what you do not understand."
The words landed cleanly.
Without emotion.
Without hesitation.
—
The crowd fell silent.
Because something had changed.
Completely.
—
At that moment—
Gu Yichen arrived.
His gaze immediately found her.
"…What are you doing?" he asked quietly.
Xueying looked at him.
Calm.
Steady.
"For the first time," she said,
"I'm not running."
A pause.
Then—
"They want a story," she continued.
"So I gave them one."
Yichen's brows furrowed slightly.
"…What do you mean?"
Xueying turned slightly, facing the watching crowd again.
Then—
"I am going out," she said clearly.
"If anyone wishes to question my actions…"
Her eyes swept across them.
"They may do so openly."
Silence.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Because this—
This wasn't the girl from before.
—
Yichen watched her carefully.
And for the first time—
He saw it clearly.
She wasn't just enduring anymore.
She was changing.
—
From a distance—
Zhao Meilin stood frozen.
Her expression dark.
Unreadable.
"…You think this is winning?" she whispered.
Her lips curved slowly.
"Then let's raise the stakes."
—
As Xueying stepped forward again, her heart was still beating fast.
But this time—
It wasn't from fear.
It was something else.
Something stronger.
Because she had finally taken her first step—
Not as a victim.
But as someone who could fight back.