Damp air clung to the arched corridor as Lan Zhuoran, Yin Feiyan, and Gao Tianrong ascended the winding steps. Their flickering torchlight had been extinguished; only faint, warm illumination from sconces in the hall above guided them. The scribe's hurried instructions echoed in their minds: "Eastern wing… a side office… but don't let the guards see you."
Tension coiled in every footstep. The Jade Hall—center of imperial governance—unfolded in a labyrinth of corridors, offices, and chambers where ministers debated the empire's fate. Footfalls reverberated off polished floors, blending with muffled voices in the distance. Feiyan's heart pounded, the relic beneath her cloak feeling heavier than ever.
Finally, they reached the top step, emerging onto a broad landing with decorative pillars. A large set of ornate double doors lay to their right, likely leading to a main council chamber. To the left, quieter passageways beckoned. Gao Tianrong signaled them left, where fewer lamps burned, perhaps offering a stealthier route.
They crept along, flattening against walls whenever echoes of conversation neared. Lan Zhuoran's staff glinted under faint lamplight. Feiyan stifled a hiss each time her splinted arm brushed an obstacle. Still, the hush of these corridors carried a dignified air, a reminder of the Hall's once-unquestioned authority.
Rounding a corner, they spotted a lone guard yawning outside a modest wooden door. The placard overhead bore an official seal: Councilor Hui's Office. Feiyan's pulse quickened. Here, at last, was the man rumored to be open-minded enough to consider their plea.
But how to approach the guard? The man looked half-bored, half-alert. Any misstep could raise an alarm. Gao Tianrong, ever cautious, nocked an arrow but kept it angled toward the floor. Lan Zhuoran crouched behind a decorative pillar, motioning Feiyan to his side. "We can't just attack," he whispered. "If we harm a Hall guard, we're marked as criminals."
Feiyan inhaled a steadying breath. "Let me speak to him," she murmured, adjusting her cloak to hide the relic but reveal her bandaged arm. "If he's not hostile, I'll claim an urgent matter for Councilor Hui."
Lan Zhuoran's eyes flickered with concern. "Careful."
Nodding, she emerged from behind the pillar, staff in her good hand. The guard blinked, startled to see a lone woman hobbling down the corridor. His hand drifted to his sword hilt. "Halt! Who—?"
"Please," Feiyan said softly, stopping at a respectful distance. She inclined her head in a half-bow, letting the lamp's glow highlight her injury. "I'm no threat. I bear an urgent message for Councilor Hui—vital to the empire's security."
Suspicion warred with curiosity in the guard's eyes. "What message? I've no orders about new appointments."
Feiyan mustered sincerity. "He doesn't know me, but a scribe downstairs said Councilor Hui might hear crucial news from beyond the walls. War threatens the city, and… my group carries something that could sway the balance." She raised her splinted arm slightly. "I've traveled far, nearly died on the road. If we're turned away, a grave danger looms unchecked."
A tense moment hung. Then the guard exhaled, uncertain. "Councilor Hui is in a meeting, but nearly done. I can't let you just barge in."
Behind Feiyan, Gao Tianrong and Lan Zhuoran silently crept closer, staying out of the guard's peripheral vision. Feiyan swallowed. "At least let us wait inside. If we stand in the hall, we risk attracting attention… or do you prefer we cause a stir here?"
A flicker of unease crossed the guard's face. He weighed the risk: an injured stranger claiming urgent business, no official pass. But tension in the city was high—ministers might indeed need timely intel. At last, he grunted, stepping aside. "Fine. But if you lie or cause trouble, my sword meets your throat."
Feiyan nodded gratefully, motioning Lan Zhuoran and Gao Tianrong forward. The guard's eyes widened at sight of two more strangers, one armed with a bow, the other with a staff. But he held back, letting them slip into a small antechamber beyond the door.
Inside, a simple office spread, lined with shelves of scrolls and ledgers. A single desk occupied the center, chairs arranged for meetings. Dim lamplight cast elongated shadows. Another door presumably led to Councilor Hui's private chamber or a connecting hallway. Feiyan exhaled, stepping aside so Gao Tianrong could close the entrance behind them, nodding warily to the guard who remained at his post.
Lan Zhuoran surveyed the room, heart thudding. They were inside, but Councilor Hui was absent. Footsteps and muffled debate echoed beyond the inner door. Gao Tianrong tensed, arrow stowed for now, listening intently. Feiyan sank into a chair, arm aching from the climb. The relic pressed warm against her side.
Minutes dragged in taut silence. Then, at last, a click sounded from the inner door. It swung open, revealing a slender man in ministerial robes, brow furrowed in deep thought. He froze at the sight of three armed strangers. "What in—?"
Feiyan stood carefully, ignoring the pain in her limb. "Councilor Hui?" She bowed. "Please, hear us. We beg your help."
His eyes flicked to the guard outside, confusion and alarm etched on his features. "I wasn't informed—this is highly irregular." His tone was sharp, but not outright hostile. Lan Zhuoran stepped forward, staff lowered, to show no threat. Gao Tianrong held his breath.
Feiyan swallowed. "Forgive our intrusion. My name is Feiyan. We traveled from the empire's outskirts, bearing a relic of dire import. If warlords or mercenaries seize it, disaster follows. My mentor believed you might help safeguard it… or at least hear our plea."
Councilor Hui's jaw tightened at the word "relic." The empire was rife with rumors of lost artifacts fueling warlords' ambitions. "Step inside," he ordered tersely. "Speak quietly. We have little time before others notice."
The guard outside grumbled but allowed them to enter Hui's private chamber, a modest space with a lacquered table and tall windows overlooking an inner courtyard. Shutting the door behind them, Hui regarded the trio with a measured glare. "You realize this is borderline treason—sneaking in here. If you lie or bring chaos, I'll have you arrested or worse."
Lan Zhuoran's voice remained calm. "We risked everything because the empire stands on a knife's edge. This relic… it could either restore hope or unleash devastation, depending on who wields it."
Hui's gaze flicked to Feiyan's bandaged arm. "Show me, then. If you speak truth, I'll decide how to proceed."
Feiyan's pulse thundered. She unfastened her cloak, revealing the artifact swaddled in protective cloth. Hui's eyes widened at the faint arcane markings that glimmered along the relic's curved surface. A hush fell, the flickering lamp casting trembling shadows on the polished floor. Gao Tianrong's hand hovered near his bow, bracing for betrayal.
Councilor Hui inhaled sharply. "Stars above… I've seen sketches of older relics, but nothing like this. Do you realize the powers who would kill to claim it?"
Feiyan's voice trembled. "That's why we came. Please, can you secure it? Keep it from warlords, from the Syndicate, from any who'd misuse it?"
Hui's stern countenance shifted, flickers of empathy sparking. "The Jade Hall is fractured, the Emperor's ministers in chaos. But if I can present it to a select group of loyal advisors, we might protect it… or we might fail if others discover it first."
Lan Zhuoran exchanged a grim look with Gao Tianrong. "We have no illusions. But we must try."
Hui paced, robes swishing on the marble floor. Outside, faint horns or drums echoed—signs of the capital's war tensions. "All right," he said at last, voice tight with resolve. "I'll help, but we must be cautious. Even here, spies abound. Hide the relic again. We'll gather my trusted colleagues quietly. Timing is crucial. If the wrong minister learns of this, you'll face the entire city guard."
Feiyan carefully rewrapped the artifact, tears of relief edging her eyes. "Thank you, Councilor."
But in the corridor, muffled voices rose—footsteps nearing. Hui's expression darkened. "Someone's coming. Possibly other council members or guards. We must appear normal. Speak of administrative matters only. And pray no one suspects the treasure you carry."
Thus began their precarious alliance with a single open-minded minister—a slender thread of hope in a capital besieged by suspicion and war drums. Lan Zhuoran inhaled, adrenaline surging. They were one step closer to saving the empire… or losing everything in the attempt.