The first light of dawn bathed the palace in a golden glow as Jianyu stood on the balcony of his study. The morning air was crisp, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming jasmine and the distant murmur of courtiers beginning their day. But despite the serene beauty of the scene, a heavy unease hung over Jianyu's thoughts like a storm cloud on the horizon
He had received the report a few weeks prior, a discrete message handed to him by the shot of an arrow. It was a simple piece of parchment, but the contents had made his blood run cold: whispers of treason,crimes unknown to most.
The message was vague, almost too vague—just enough to stir suspicion without revealing the full scope of the threat. Jianyu had learned to recognize the subtleties in politics, the games played by those who wore masks even when they spoke the truth. And this... this felt like a trap, but whose trap, he did not yet know.
His mind wandered back to the beginning, to the moment his attention had first been drawn to the mysterious letters that kept appearing out of nowhere. First, it was minor information,but later, it started uncovering a series of small but troubling incidents that had occurred—incidents that, when viewed together, painted a picture too alarming to ignore.
A shipment of military supplies, meant for the capital, had gone missing en route. At first, it was dismissed as a mere logistical error. But soon after, another mysterious letter occurred. It hinted to certain ministers from Guizhou discussing alliances that veered dangerously close to sedition:a hidden army. The information was never confirmed, never more than whispers in darkened rooms, but they had been enough to pique Jianyu's interest.
Then came the evidence. A small piece of correspondence, found tucked inside the sleeve of a servant who worked in the Guizhou provincial office. The servant had died mysteriously—a sudden illness, the kind that left no trace. But the letter was real, and it contained a single phrase that had haunted Jianyu since: *"The dragon must fall before the phoenix rises."*
The words alone were not enough to accuse anyone, but they were enough to raise alarms. They hinted at a plot, a shift in power, perhaps even a rebellion, but the identities of those involved remained obscured. The more Jianyu tried to investigate, the more the trail grew cold.
Yet, the timing of everything felt calculated—too precise. The incidents in Guizhou had stopped almost as soon as he began, as if the perpetrators knew they were being watched. It was the suddenness of it all that troubled Jianyu the most. Whoever was behind this treasonous plot had taken great care to erase their tracks, to silence those who might speak, and to retreat into the shadows before anyone could point a finger.
The ministers in Guizhou remained silent, their loyalty unchallenged on the surface. But Jianyu knew better. There were men in the imperial court who played the long game, who smiled and bowed while weaving webs of deceit behind closed doors. The problem was identifying who. There were too many faces, too many secrets, and too few clues to bind them together.
Jianyu had sent his own men, Tao Weimn, to investigate further, to delve into the undercurrents of the province, to trace the origins of the treasonous whispers. They had returned empty-handed, save for one curious detail—a detail that made Jianyu's skin prickle with suspicion.
A ledger had been found in a small, out-of-the-way trading post in Guizhou. It was well-worn, unremarkable at first glance, but there was something off about it. There, buried among the usual listings of goods and accounts, were a series of unexplained payments. Large sums of money exchanged between unknown names, all within the same time frame as the missing supplies. No names tied to ministers, no direct links to the court—but it was enough to hint that something larger was at play.
The money trail, however, led nowhere. The transactions stopped abruptly, as if the person behind them had anticipated being discovered. It was as if someone had been watching Jianyu's every move, staying just one step ahead of him.
And that was what disturbed him the most. This wasn't the work of a rash dissenter or a desperate province leader. This was methodical, deliberate, the work of someone with power, influence, and a deep understanding of the empire's inner workings. Someone who knew how to avoid detection—perhaps someone from within the imperial court itself.
But who?
Jianyu's eyes scanned the city below, the glow of lanterns flickering in the distance. Guizhou was quiet now, but the quiet felt wrong. Too clean. Too... controlled. The silence of a place that had been forced to fall still.
The wind shifted, carrying the scent of incense from the palace temple. Jianyu inhaled deeply, his mind racing through the possibilities. The ministers of Guizhou had not acted alone, he was certain of it. But the real question was who stood behind them, pulling the strings, guiding the hand that had almost dared to commit treason.
Jianyu had learned patience over the years, but this—this required more than patience. It required cunning, foresight, and most of all, trust in no one. For in the game of thrones, the most dangerous enemies were always those who smiled the widest.
And whoever had started this in Guizhou, a city west of the capital... they had already gone too far to remain hidden forever.
Jianyu turned away from the balcony, his thoughts heavy but his resolve unshaken. He would uncover the truth, piece by piece, even if it meant tearing apart the imperial court to find the traitor among them.
The game was far from over.
Jianyu sat in the quiet of his study. He gazed at the report lying open on the table before him, the ink still fresh, yet its message felt heavy as if written with the weight of a thousand secrets. It was about the maid— the one who had attempted to poison Old Mistress Xiao. The details were there: her sudden death, the suspicion that lingered in every word of the report.
*It has to be connected to the treason,* Jianyu thought, rubbing his temple. He lifted the report, staring at it as if the parchment itself might reveal more than what was written. Why had the sender of that secret letter pointed him toward this event? The Xiao family was powerful but always fiercely loyal to the empire. What could they possibly have to do with treason?
The delicate rustling of robes brought Jianyu's attention back to the present as his trusted eunuch, Xue Renshu, entered the room. Jianyu hadn't heard the door open; Renshu's presence was as quiet as the shadows that crept along the walls.
"Your Highness," Renshu bowed, his expression as unreadable as ever, "I've returned."
Jianyu nodded, motioning for him to continue. There had been other troubling matters aside from the poisoned maid that the letters had indicated. Whispers of something even more disturbing—a quiet, growing unrest that he could feel brewing beneath the surface, though he had no clear evidence yet.
Renshu stepped forward, lowering his voice. "The village near the southern forests, the one you ordered me to investigate... there's something terribly wrong."
Jianyu's eyes sharpened, his full attention now on the eunuch. "Go on."
"It started with rumors—families disappearing without a trace. At first, it seemed like bandit raids, but when I arrived, the scene was far more sinister. The village is untouched, completely intact, but there's no sign of life. Doors were left open, food still on the tables, but not a single person remains."
"Not one?" Jianyu frowned. "Where could they have gone?"
"Vanished, Your Highness." Renshu's voice dropped further. "What I found next... It suggests this is no ordinary disappearance."
He reached into his robe, producing a small, folded cloth. When he opened it, a strange object rested inside: a small iron medallion, rusted at the edges but bearing an unmistakable symbol—two serpents coiled around a broken crown.
Jianyu's blood ran cold. He had seen that symbol before, long ago, buried in the archives of the imperial library. It was the mark of a forgotten rebellion, a failed uprising from decades past. A symbol that, until now, had been thought lost to history.
"This was found in the home of the village elder," Renshu explained. "Hidden beneath the floorboards. The elder had long been a supporter of the empire—loyal, or so it seemed. But this... it points to something else, something much darker."
Jianyu's fingers brushed the medallion, feeling the cold metal as if it might offer more answers. The symbol of the serpents and the broken crown—it had been used by a secret faction of dissenters, long ago, whose goal had been to overthrow the imperial family and create a new rule from the ruins of the empire. They had been eradicated, or so history claimed. But now, the medallion had reappeared, buried deep in the home of a trusted elder.
Renshu continued, "There were also markings, Your Highness. Strange symbols carved into the walls of the elder's home. At first glance, they appeared to be ritualistic, perhaps spiritual in nature, but upon closer inspection, I realized they were... instructions."
"Instructions?" Jianyu repeated, sitting up straighter.
"Yes. Plans, Your Highness. Detailed plans, outlining routes for the movement of supplies. Weaponry. Manpower. People"
Jianyu's eyes darkened.
Renshu continued."The markings were carefully hidden, but their meaning is unmistakable. This village may have been a front for something larger, something orchestrated."
Jianyu stood, pacing the length of the room, his mind racing.
The missing families, the poisonings, the whispers in Guizhou—they're all connected?
He turned back to Renshu. "What else did you find?"
"One more thing, Your Highness." Renshu's voice lowered, and for the first time, there was a hint of fear in the eunuch's usually calm demeanor. "There was a figure, spotted at the edge of the village just before the disappearances began. A man, cloaked in black. Witnesses said they saw him at night, whispering to the village elder. The next day, the village was empty."
"A figure in black..." Jianyu echoed, the image chilling him to the bone.
"I don't believe this is a simple village dispute, Your Highness. The scale, the precision... Whoever is behind this is well-funded, well-organized. And they're hiding their true purpose behind layers of misdirection."
Jianyu returned to his desk, the weight of the medallion heavy in his hand. The serpents and the broken crown—symbols of betrayal, of power corrupted. An old enemy had resurfaced, and they were planning something far greater than a mere uprising. But why now? And how deep did the treason run?
"The emperor's illness..." Jianyu muttered, thinking aloud. "The poisonings in the Xiao household. The whispers in Guizhou. And now, this village." He glanced at Renshu, his eyes hardening. "They're testing us. And if we don't act soon, they will strike when we're most vulnerable."
Renshu bowed deeply. "What are your orders, Your Highness?"
"Continue the investigation," Jianyu commanded, his voice firm. "Dig deeper. I want to know who is behind this, and I want proof—something concrete we can use to act. This enemy is dangerous, but they're not invincible. We'll find their weak point."
The morning sun bathed the room in light, but to Jianyu, the shadows seemed to deepen.
As Renshu left to carry out his orders, Jianyu stared down at the medallion once more. The serpents coiled around the broken crown seemed to hiss silently at him, warning him of the danger ahead.
–Nankou–
The sun hung low in the sky, casting an orange hue over the vast expanse of the western frontier. Yan Ying gazed out of the window of the carriage, her heart heavy with the weight of her father's absence.
Beside her, her younger brother, Yan Yifan, fidgeted with excitement. "Sister, can I go to the palace with you? I can't wait to see the gardens!"
Yan Ying forced a smile, knowing that their trip was far from a leisurely visit. She had been summoned to report on the tumultuous conditions at the border, a duty that weighed heavily on her shoulders. "Perhaps, Yifan. But remember, I'm going there for work."
The carriage lurched as it made its way along the rough road, the sound of hooves echoing against the ground. Yan Ying cast a glance out the window, noticing the sparse trees and underbrush that lined the path. The atmosphere felt heavy, oppressive, as if a storm were gathering just beyond their sight.
They had left the west border not long ago, traveling light to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. The plan had been simple: report their findings and return home to their grandmother in Tai'an, a city north of the capital. But as the carriage crested a hill, the tension in the air thickened, and something ominous loomed ahead.
"Yan Ying, look!" Yifan exclaimed, pointing out the window. "What are those figures in the distance?"
Before Yan Ying could respond, the sound of thundering hooves filled the air. A group of masked riders emerged from the trees, their faces obscured by dark scarves, eyes gleaming with malice. Panic surged through her as she realized the gravity of their situation.
"Hold tight!" Yan Ying shouted, her voice rising above the chaos. She pulled Yifan closer as the carriage lurched to a halt. "We need to get out!"
In an instant, the riders descended upon them, brandishing weapons and shouting commands. The 20 soldiers tasked with guarding them sprang into action, but the attackers were swift and ruthless, overwhelming the small escort with alarming speed.
"Yan Ying!" Yifan cried, his voice strained with fear.
"I'm here! Stick close to me!" She grabbed his hand, pulling him toward the rear of the carriage. But before they could escape, a loud crash shook the air as one of the riders leapt onto the carriage, drawing a gleaming blade.
"Get down!" Yan Ying yelled, pushing Yifan behind her as the soldier closest to them fought valiantly against the assailants. The clang of metal echoed in her ears, mingling with the sounds of horses and frantic shouts. She felt the adrenaline coursing through her veins as she reached for the dagger hidden in her boot, ready to defend her brother.
But there were too many. In a flurry of violence, chaos erupted. One moment, they were fighting for their lives; the next, darkness swallowed the scene as the world spun around her. A sharp pain shot through her arm as one of the attackers landed a blow, sending her crashing to the ground.
Amidst the chaos, she glimpsed Yifan struggling against another masked figure. "Sister!" he shouted, desperation clawing at his voice.
"Yifan!" she screamed, but it was too late. The rider yanked him away, pulling him into the throng of chaos as the others descended upon her, their laughter chilling her to the core.
Yan Ying fought back with everything she had, slashing at one of the riders, but it was futile. They were overpowered and less skilled.
As the chaos subsided, Yan Ying found herself on the ground, gasping for breath, the world spinning around her. The carriage lay wrecked, the bodies of her soldiers scattered across the ground, their lives extinguished in a matter of minutes. The riders had vanished, taking her brother with them, leaving behind only the eerie stillness of the aftermath.
In that moment, a surge of grief and rage washed over her. Yifan was gone, kidnapped right before her eyes, and she had been powerless to stop it. She scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding with determination. There were only four soldiers left, injured but alive.
"Gather your strength!" she commanded, forcing herself to remain calm. "We need to regroup and find Yifan!"
The soldiers looked up at her, their eyes filled with fear and disbelief. "But the attackers—"
"Enough!" Yan Ying snapped. "We will find him. He's my brother, and I will not let him be taken from me too!". Before Yan Ying remembers, she had collapsed to the ground.
---
Xuanwen and Hualing were heading back to the residence. They had just returned from Nankou after buying some groceries and utensils. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of autumn leaves and the promise of a peaceful evening ahead.
As they navigated the winding path, Hualing suddenly halted, her eyes widening. "Xuanwen, look! Over there!" She pointed to a clearing where several figures lay on the ground, surrounded by debris and the remnants of a chaotic scene.
As they drew closer, they realized the figures were soldiers, their uniforms stained with blood. One soldier was kneeling beside an unconscious woman, cradling her head in his arms, his face twisted with panic.
"Miss! Miss Yan" the soldier shouted, his voice breaking. "She's hurt badly!"
Before Xuanwen could even approach closer, a soldier sprang to his feet, his sword drawn, and pointed it threateningly at Xuanwen's throat. "Step back! Who are you!?"
"Wait!" Xuanwen exclaimed, raising her hands in surrender. "We're just a passerby! We mean no harm! Please, let us help her!"
Hualing stepped forward, her eyes pleading. "I can help her. I'm a doctor"
The soldier hesitated, eyes narrowing as he assessed their sincerity. "You expect me to trust you? You could be one of them!."
"Trust is not what matters right now," Xuanwen said, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her. "What matters is saving her life. If you don't lower your sword, she could die."
After a moment of tense silence, the soldier reluctantly lowered his weapon, though he kept it close, ready to react if necessary. "Fine, but don't try anything."
Hualing quickly turned her attention back to Yan Ying, examining her injuries. She was unconscious, bruised and battered, but there was a faint pulse beneath her fingertips. "Xuanwen, we need to get her back to the residence."
Xuanwen nodded, already rummaging through their supplies. "I'll grab the bandages and some water."
Xuanwen gestures to the soldiers. " We just need to move quickly."
With the soldiers supporting her, Xuanwen and Hualing carefully lifted Yan Ying, wrapping her in a cloak for warmth as they began the journey back to Nankou. The atmosphere was tense, a heavy silence hanging over them as they navigated the dimly lit path.
As they moved, Xuanwen's mind raced. What had happened? Why was she been attacked?
After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached Xuanwen's residence. The familiar scent of home greeted her, mingling with the urgency of the moment. "Get her inside!" Xuanwen instructed, leading the way as they carried Yan Ying into the dimly lit living room.
Once inside, Hualing wasted no time, directing the soldiers to lay Yan Ying down on a soft mat while she hurried to fetch the medical supplies. "I need water, herbs, and cloth," she ordered, her heart racing as she prepared to tend to the injured girl.
The soldiers moved quickly, grabbing what she needed as Hualing began to assess Yan Ying's injuries. She worked with determination, applying ointments and bandaging cuts, her hands steady even as her heart raced with worry.
After what felt like hours, Yan Ying stirred slightly, a pained groan escaping her lips. "Where am I?" she murmured, confusion clouding her eyes.
"You're safe now. This is my resident," Xuanwen said softly.
Yan Ying's gaze flickered toward the soldiers, fear momentarily flashing across her face. "Yifan! My brother was kidnapped! I can't stay here, I have to go find him!"
Xuanwen's heart sank, but she forced herself to remain composed. "Miss Yin, we'll find him. I promise. But now, you need to rest and regain your strength."
Hualing added," You won't be able to find him in this condition, at least wait till daylight or when you have some energy".
Yan Ying contemplated but soon closed her eyes.
Xuanwen's gaze flickered back to the sleeping form of Yan Ying, the soft rise and fall of her chest a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within Xuanwen. The threads of the novel began to weave themselves into her reality, each twist more unfathomable than the last.
Yifan? Yan Ying?
If memory served, Yifan was destined to become a pawn in a malevolent game—a bargaining chip that would force Yan Ying, the only daughter of general Yan Linyi, to betray the crown prince. Soon, whispers of Yifan's death would echo throughout the empire, proclaimed by none other than his sister, a cruel twist of fate. Yet the truth lay deeper, more sinister: Yifan was very much alive, held captive by the very forces that conspired against them. As his elder sister, Yan Ying would be ensnared, powerless against the demands of their captors.
A sigh escaped Xuanwen's lips, the weight of the situation clawing at her insides. She knew where Yifan was imprisoned, an innocent child ensnared in the web of darkness. Should she intervene? Could she remain a mere spectator while Yifan suffered?
The moon climbed high in the night sky, casting an ethereal glow over the world outside, a silver sentinel watching over her resolve.
With swift, silent grace, Xuanwen slipped from her residence, her dark clothing blending seamlessly with the shadows, a mask concealing her identity.
Soon, she approached a decrepit building shrouded in darkness and secrecy, its very presence exuding malice. Pressing her back against the wall, Xuanwen listened intently, the sounds of laughter and harsh whispers slicing through the night air, punctuated by the clinking of weapons and the shuffle of feet.
"Even after committing murder, they still find joy?" she mused, a cold snicker escaping her lips as she noted the kidnappers reveling in their twisted feast, oblivious to the trembling child locked away inside.
Peering around the corner, she counted more than five cloaked figures, skilled and dangerous men who thrived on chaos. They were no ordinary kidnappers.
Yet peril was a familiar companion to her.
With a fluid motion, she drew a small dagger from her belt, its blade gleaming with intent under the moonlight. Tonight, she would not shy away from the darkness that needed to be confronted.
"Who's there?!" one of the kidnappers shouted, panic lacing his voice.
Xuanwen stepped from the shadows, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. "It's just me." She sniffed the air, feigning interest. "What's cooking? It looks delicious. Mind if I have a taste?" The sarcasm dripped from her words like poison.
Before they could respond, she struck like a shadow—swift and silent. Her martial arts training flowed through her limbs like water, unwavering and lethal. One by one, she incapacitated the kidnappers, ensuring that not a sound escaped their lips. A knee here, a twist there—each movement was executed flawlessly, her body a weapon forged in resolve.
As the last of the kidnappers crumpled to the ground, Xuanwen paused to catch her breath while one of her feet remains on him. She needed to find Yifan quickly, to shield him from the violence that had just unfolded around him.
Navigating the dimly lit corridors, she finally came upon a small room at the end, the door slightly ajar. Inside, she could make out the silhouette of a small boy, bound and gagged, trembling in the oppressive darkness. Her heart twisted painfully at the sight.
"Yan Yifan," she whispered softly, kneeling beside him and quickly removing his gag before cutting the bindings that held him captive. "You're safe now. I'm here to get you out."
Yifan blinked, confusion etched on his young face. "Who are you?" he asked, fear flickering in his wide eyes.
"It doesn't matter," she replied, her voice steady and low. "What matters is that you trust me. We need to leave before they return."
Before he could respond, the echo of footsteps resounded down the hallway, growing closer. Xuanwen's instincts kicked in as she swiftly pulled Yifan to his feet. "Find somewhere to hide, and don't come out no matter what, alright?"
With a nod, she crept toward the door, stepping outside only to find more kidnappers approaching.
"Ahh, you all came at the wrong time," Xuanwen said, a cruel smile curling her lips.
The kidnappers froze, eyes widening as they looked down to see the blood and bodies of their fellow men strewn about the ground.
"They're not dead, don't worry," she laughed, a chilling sound that sliced through the night. "They're just unconscious. Or are they?."
Panic coursed through the remaining kidnappers as they exchanged fearful glances, uncertainty clawing at their bravado.
Reacting instinctively, Xuanwen's dagger sliced through the air once more, dispatching them swiftly, ensuring that their cries were muffled and that none could escape to sound the alarm.
With the immediate threat neutralized, she returned to Yifan, who stood in the shadows, trembling. "It seems outside is a mess." She took out a cloth, kneeling down to cover his eyes gently. "I'm going to blindfold you, alright? Don't be scared."
Yifan nodded, the fear in his eyes mingling with trust as he took her hand. Together, they navigated the treacherous corridors, ducking behind crates and slipping through the oppressive shadows.
Finally, they reached the exit, the cool night air rushing to greet them as they burst through the door.
"We need to find a safe place," Xuanwen instructed, her tone sharp and commanding.
As they slipped into the night, Xuanwen's thoughts raced. Yifan was merely a character in a novel, yet now he was real—a life she had to protect.
Moving swiftly through the darkness of Guizhou, Xuanwen's mind whirred with determination, ensuring that every step they took left no trace. The dangers of this world lurked in every shadow, and the last thing she wanted was for her identity to be unearthed.
In the dim light of the night, she maneuvered expertly, blending into the darkness like a phantom—a guardian with no name.
"Where are we going?" Yifan whispered, his voice barely audible. Though fear still clung to him, a flicker of trust began to spark in his eyes.
"We're almost there," Xuanwen assured him, tightening her grip on his hand as they approached the edge of the forest. "I just need to leave you somewhere safe."
As they reached Guizhou, she spotted a small, secluded hut, abandoned and overgrown with vines. Just the kind of place where Yifan could wait until the morning when his sister, Yan Ying, would come looking for him.
"Inside," she urged, ensuring the door was well-hidden among the underbrush. "You'll be safe here." Kneeling beside him, she locked eyes with him. "Your sister will find you soon."
"Will you come back?" he asked, voice trembling, eyes wide with uncertainty.
Xuanwen offered a reassuring smile, though it felt heavy upon her lips. "I can't promise that. But I assure you, your sister will come for you."
Yifan nodded, his fear still present but overshadowed by a growing resolve. "I'll be brave," he declared, and for a moment, Xuanwen glimpsed the warrior he could become.
Stepping back, her heart ached at the thought of leaving him behind. But she had to remain shrouded in secrecy; it was the only way to protect him. Ensuring the hut was well-concealed, she gave him one last look before slipping back into the night.
Unbeknownst to her, Yifan had peeked slightly through the cloth, his wide eyes reflecting both fear and hope.