Threads of Fate
The Scroll's Secret
Back in his private chambers, Li Han carefully unsealed the scroll. Captain Wei and the young boy, Meng Yu, stood nearby, their eyes fixed on the prince's every move.
As Li Han unfurled the delicate parchment, the faint smell of aged ink filled the room. The writing was intricate, the strokes precise, as though the author had poured their heart into every word.
Wei leaned closer. "Your Highness, what does it say?"
Li Han's brows furrowed as he read. The scroll was a letter—written by his mother to her younger sister.
> "Dearest Mei,
My heart is heavy as I pen these words. The whispers in the palace grow louder each day, and I fear for my life. The Empress's jealousy knows no bounds, and I have uncovered truths that could destroy her if they were to surface. If anything happens to me, promise me you will protect Han'er. He is my only light in this dark place. The poison that taints this court must not reach him."
The letter ended abruptly, the ink smeared as if her hand had been trembling.
Wei spoke first. "This confirms your suspicions, Your Highness. The Empress played a role in her death."
Li Han's jaw tightened. His mother's fears had been justified, and now he had proof. But the Empress was no ordinary foe. She was cunning, with decades of power behind her.
"What do we do now?" Wei asked.
Li Han glanced at the boy. "For now, we ensure Meng Yu's safety. No one can know he survived. As for the Empress... we must tread carefully. This scroll is a weapon, but one I must wield with precision."
Meng Yu, clutching a bowl of warm soup, looked up at Li Han. "Will you stop the bad people, Your Highness?"
Li Han crouched beside him, placing a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder. "Yes. I promise."
---
Shen Yue's Challenges
At the Prime Minister's mansion, Shen Yue's days grew more challenging. Madam Zhen's anger over the tea party humiliation had not subsided. Instead, her efforts to undermine Shen Yue intensified.
One morning, as Shen Yue sat quietly in the courtyard reading, Shen Ruo approached, her smile as sharp as a blade.
"Little Sister," Shen Ruo cooed, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "Enjoying your book? You must be relieved to have time for such leisurely pursuits, considering how you embarrassed our family at the palace."
Shen Yue looked up, her expression calm. "If the second prince thought my actions disgraceful, I'm sure he would have said so."
Shen Ruo's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "Don't think for a moment that his intervention means he cares for you. He was merely being polite. Unlike me, who will soon secure his favor in a way you never could."
Shen Yue closed her book and stood, meeting her sister's gaze with quiet strength. "You're right, Second Sister. I could never compete with you in scheming or cruelty. But remember—kindness and dignity are strengths too."
Before Shen Ruo could retort, their eldest sister, Shen Wen, appeared. Her presence was enough to silence Shen Ruo, who gave a haughty huff before walking away.
Shen Wen smiled softly at Shen Yue. "You've grown stronger, Yue'er. I'm proud of you."
"Thank you, Eldest Sister," Shen Yue replied. "But sometimes, I wonder if strength is enough."
Shen Wen placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Strength, combined with wisdom, can move mountains. Don't lose hope."
---
The Intersection
That evening, as Shen Yue walked in the gardens, lost in thought, she noticed a familiar figure waiting near the entrance. Her heart skipped a beat. It was the second prince, Li Han.
"Your Highness," she said, bowing deeply. "What brings you here?"
Li Han's expression was serious but kind. "I came to thank you."
Shen Yue blinked in surprise. "Thank me? For what?"
"For your courage at the tea party," he said. "Few would have handled such humiliation with the grace you did."
Shen Yue felt a warmth spread through her chest, but she quickly reminded herself of the gap between them. "I only did what I thought was right."
Li Han studied her for a moment. "Your honesty is rare, Shen Yue. And I value it."
Before she could respond, he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "There are dangers in the palace—dangers that may reach even you. Be vigilant. Trust no one."
Shen Yue's brows knitted in confusion, but before she could ask what he meant, Li Han straightened and gave her a curt nod.
"Take care of yourself," he said before turning and disappearing into the night.
Shen Yue watched him go, her mind racing with questions. What dangers was he speaking of? And why would a prince, burdened with his own troubles, warn someone like her?
As the moonlight bathed the garden, Shen Yue resolved to uncover the answers. Whether it was her family's schemes or the shadows in the palace, she would face them with the quiet strength her eldest sister believed she had.