They returned to the Golden Leaf Retreat as dusk settled, the teahouse's smoky lanterns casting feeble light over drawn faces. Lan Zhuoran, Yin Feiyan, and Gao Tianrong retreated to their cramped room, shutting the flimsy door behind them. Outside, the corridor buzzed with rumors of the conscription notice, anxious patrons wondering if they'd be forced to bear arms by dawn.
Feiyan slumped onto a low stool, massaging her bandaged arm. "We can't just vanish from the city, but the authorities will soon comb every district for new recruits."
Gao Tianrong leaned against the wall, arms folded. "We either slip away to the Jade Hall under cover of night, or we find someone with enough sway to grant us entry as 'official visitors.' But time's short."
Lan Zhuoran paced the narrow space, staff tapping lightly. "Minister Rong's announcement suggests the Emperor's court is panicking, or at least preparing for a major clash. If war is imminent, the council might not even be available."
Feiyan shook her head, eyes determined. "We must try. My mentor believed some ministers—maybe Councilor Hui—could secure the relic. If we delay, the Syndicate or a warlord might seize control."
Silence gripped the room. The faint murmur of the teahouse seeped through the thin walls. At last, Gao Tianrong spoke, voice measured. "All right. If we can't approach openly, we attempt subterfuge. We'll gather disguises, pose as minor clerks or messengers. The Jade Hall is large, with multiple gates. We slip in, find a minister sympathetic to the artifact's safe keeping."
Feiyan nodded, though worry etched her brow. "And if we're discovered?"
Lan Zhuoran's jaw tightened. "We'll handle it. The relic can't fall to any faction thirsting for power. We'll fight our way out if we must."
Plans took shape. They'd need forged documents or borrowed credentials—expensive, and risky. Perhaps a black-market scribe might help. Feiyan grimaced, aware their funds were limited. Alternatively, they could rely on stealth alone to infiltrate the Hall at night, but a single misstep would brand them spies.
Night thickened outside, lamplight dancing on the room's battered walls. Feiyan rubbed her exhausted eyes. "We'll search tomorrow for leads. Discreetly." Gao Tianrong agreed, volunteering to scout the city's backstreets at first light. Lan Zhuoran would monitor rumors in the market. Feiyan needed to rest her arm for the infiltration ahead.
They doused their lantern, drifting into uneasy sleep. Feiyan's dreams swirled with images of robed ministers, shadowy mercenaries, and a swirling vortex that threatened to swallow the city. She jolted awake at intervals, heart pounding. Each time, Lan Zhuoran murmured reassurance before dozing off again, staff kept within reach.
Morning brought subdued chatter in the teahouse. The trio forced down a simple breakfast, then split up. Gao Tianrong vanished into the labyrinth of alleys, seeking a rumored forger or petty official who might sell passes to the Jade Hall. Lan Zhuoran took Feiyan to the outer market, scanning for travelers with fresh gossip about the Jade Hall's security.
The market bustled with tension. Soldiers patrolled in squads, eyeing younger men and women as potential conscripts. Some citizens lined up at makeshift recruitment tents to avoid suspicion. Feiyan, cloak drawn low over her bandaged arm, stuck close to Lan Zhuoran. They feigned interest in random wares, eavesdropping on hushed conversations.
A young scholar in ink-stained robes caught their attention, muttering about "locked archives" and "council meltdown." Sensing an opportunity, Lan Zhuoran quietly approached him as he perused a stall of ancient scrolls.
"Excuse me," Lan Zhuoran ventured. "You seem knowledgeable about city affairs. Is the Jade Hall truly sealed?"
The scholar blinked, startled, then lowered his voice. "Yes, for weeks. Ministers bicker among themselves while warlords gather. I was once an archivist's aide, but they dismissed outsiders. The Emperor's rarely seen, they say, ill or confined. It's chaos in the Hall."
Feiyan swallowed. "No chance of entry?"
The scholar sighed. "Only with official summons or recognized credentials. Even some minor council members are barred. Rumors say certain ministers resort to bribery for inside deals. It's… shameful." A guarded look crossed his face. "Why do you ask?"
Lan Zhuoran offered a half-truth. "We… have documents to deliver, but can't get inside. We fear they're important for the empire's well-being."
The scholar studied them, noting Feiyan's splint. "I sympathize, but I can't help. You'd need direct influence. Or… you might try the old aqueduct tunnels rumored to lead under the Hall. But that's dangerous, crawling with vagrants and rats."
Feiyan met Lan Zhuoran's gaze. Could these tunnels be their chance? They thanked the scholar, buying a cheap scroll as cover. Once he moved on, Feiyan exhaled, voice shaky with cautious hope. "An underground route… We have to tell Gao."
They hurried back to the teahouse, anxious to see if Gao Tianrong had found anything. He arrived soon after dusk, smudges of alley grime marking his face. "I found a forger," he reported quietly in their room. "But the cost is steep, and the credentials might fail if guards cross-check them. Also heard rumors of secret passages—similar to your aqueduct rumor."
They weighed options deep into the night. Feiyan's tension soared: forging passes risked exposure or worse if discovered. The aqueduct route might lead them directly into the Jade Hall, but the chance of running into hostile squatters or patrols loomed large. Either path could bring them closer to the council—or thrust them into a deadly trap.
Outside their room, the teahouse bustled with anxious talk of conscription squads searching nearby districts. Time pressed inexorably. Lan Zhuoran crouched beside Feiyan, a hand resting gently on her good arm. "We'll decide in the morning. For now, rest. Tomorrow, we either buy forged passes or brave the aqueduct. But do or die, we must act soon."
Feiyan closed her eyes, gripping the relic's edge under her cloak. The fate of an empire balanced on their choice, each route paved with peril. Yet she found solace in her companions' unwavering loyalty, a small flame against the encroaching dark.