The next morning dawned with an ominous quiet, yet Jian sensed the storm brewing beneath the palace's polished exterior. He moved cautiously through the corridors, observing subtle nods and wary glances exchanged between those he now suspected of being involved in Lord Shen's plot. The court was a delicate place, with alliances formed and broken in whispers and glances.
Jian's mind worked furiously, calculating his next step. His priority was finding concrete evidence of the conspiracy—a document, a witness, anything irrefutable. He couldn't rely solely on the prince's trust, not when powerful nobles were already spinning tales of him as a foreign threat.
That afternoon, he received a message from an unexpected source—a low-ranking palace servant named Xian. The young man had been present at several of Jian's treatments, assisting when the patient load was heavy. Though reserved, he had always been keen-eyed and, Jian had noticed, quietly supportive of his work.
Xian slipped him a note with a simple message: Meet me by the west gardens at dusk.
The request piqued Jian's curiosity and made him cautious. Had Xian overheard something in the court's backrooms, or was this a trap? With little choice but to take the chance, Jian prepared himself for the meeting, wearing a loose cloak and tucking a few herbs and a small blade into his belt.
When dusk arrived, he found Xian waiting by the secluded edge of the gardens. The servant was nervous, glancing around to ensure no one had followed him. Frost stayed alert at Jian's side, his fur bristling slightly as if sensing the tension.
"Thank you for coming," Xian whispered. His voice was low, barely a murmur above the rustle of leaves.
Jian nodded, keeping his tone calm. "What did you want to tell me?"
Xian looked over his shoulder, then leaned closer. "I know about the meeting in the warehouse. I was sent by Lord Shen to ensure the area was secure, but I overheard more than I should have." His voice dropped even lower. "They're planning to undermine the prince's rule, working with outside forces who seek to weaken our kingdom. You're their excuse, but their ambition goes far deeper."
The revelation hit Jian like a punch. He had expected opposition, even resentment, but a plan this elaborate—a scheme involving foreign interests aiming to destabilize the kingdom—was more dangerous than he'd realized.
"Why tell me this?" Jian asked, scrutinizing Xian's expression.
Xian's gaze hardened. "My family… they're healers. We've lived modestly, but our purpose has always been to help the people. You came here, a stranger, and did what none of the nobles or healers here could do. They may not see it, but I know you have the kingdom's welfare at heart."
Jian felt a pang of gratitude but knew he couldn't relax just yet. "Do you have proof of what you heard?"
Xian hesitated, then nodded. "I've managed to steal one of the letters sent between Lord Shen and his allies. It was a risk, but I thought it might be enough to convince the prince."
He pulled a small, folded parchment from his sleeve, its seal broken but unmistakably bearing the emblem of Lord Shen's house. Jian took the letter, his heart racing. This was exactly what he needed—a piece of undeniable evidence to expose Shen's treachery.
As he scanned the contents, the weight of their conspiracy became clear. The letter outlined Lord Shen's plan to weaken the kingdom's defenses, intending to leave it vulnerable to outside forces, and even hinted at a shift in power should the prince's leadership falter. Jian's presence and influence with the prince were listed as key obstacles to be removed.
Jian looked up, meeting Xian's steady gaze. "Thank you. You've risked a great deal by bringing this to me."
Xian nodded solemnly. "This kingdom deserves better than men like Lord Shen. I only ask that, when you confront him, you ensure the people don't suffer for his ambitions."
Jian placed a hand on the young man's shoulder. "I will do my best."
With the evidence in hand, Jian made his way back to his quarters, mindful of his surroundings. He could almost feel eyes watching him from the darkened hallways, the presence of unseen enemies lurking just out of sight. Frost stayed close, a steady source of comfort as they navigated back through the palace's winding passages.
As he reached his room, a familiar tingling sensation coursed through his mind, and the system's voice sounded.
[System Alert: Quest Progress – Evidence Acquired]
[New Sub-Quest Activated: Present Evidence to the Prince in a Formal Council Setting to Ensure Maximum Exposure]
Reward: Blueprint for Advanced Medical Pavilion and Enhanced Standing with the Court
The system's instruction was clear. To root out this conspiracy, he would need to bring the evidence forward at a formal council session, where the full weight of the court would see Shen's treachery. It was a risky move, but with the council as witness, Shen's allies would struggle to refute the truth.
The following day, Jian arranged for an audience with the prince, stating that he had urgent matters to present. Word spread through the palace, and by the time he arrived at the council hall, a crowd had already gathered, curious and suspicious nobles watching him intently.
The prince sat at the head of the room, his gaze sharp with curiosity as Jian entered. Beside him sat Lord Shen, his expression carefully neutral, though a flicker of unease crossed his face as he saw Jian step forward.
"Your Highness," Jian began, bowing respectfully, "I bring evidence of a plot that seeks to destabilize the kingdom and undermine your rule."
A murmur spread through the gathered nobles, the air thick with tension. Lord Shen straightened, his gaze darkening, but Jian pressed on.
"This letter, which I obtained with the help of an honorable palace servant, outlines a conspiracy led by certain noble factions. It reveals a plot to weaken the kingdom's defenses and implicates foreign powers seeking influence over our lands."
He handed the letter to the prince, who read it carefully, his face hardening with each line. The prince's gaze flicked to Lord Shen, and a deadly silence fell over the room.
"Lord Shen," the prince said, his voice like steel, "would you care to explain this?"
Shen hesitated for only a moment before his mask of calm slipped. "Your Highness, this is clearly a forgery—a desperate attempt by an outsider to turn the court against its own."
Jian took a steadying breath. "Your Highness, if this letter alone does not convince you, I would ask you to investigate the men who serve Lord Shen. I encountered one of his guards at the meeting site, a man with a scar on his jaw. Several witnesses can place him there."
The prince's gaze never wavered as he regarded Shen. "We will investigate this further. But for now, Lord Shen, you are hereby placed under house arrest until the matter is resolved."
A collective gasp filled the hall, and Shen's face twisted with fury and disbelief. He glared at Jian, his voice barely a whisper. "This isn't over."
The prince's guards moved to escort Shen from the hall, and as they did, the prince turned to Jian, his expression unreadable.
"Your dedication to the kingdom has not gone unnoticed, Jian. If this evidence proves valid, then you will have done a great service to us all."
Jian bowed, feeling the weight of the prince's words sink in. The battle was far from over, but for now, he had taken a critical step toward exposing the threat that loomed over the kingdom. As he left the hall, a sense of purpose filled him, knowing that the fight for the kingdom's future had only just begun.