The news of the Baihe murder reached every corner of the palace by nightfall, spreading like wildfire among the servants and nobles. Courtiers whispered in hushed tones as they passed through gilded hallways, their words veiled in fear and speculation. The sacred tree's desecration was an affront to both Heaven and the empire, casting an ominous shadow over the capital.
Lan Yu stood before her private chambers, her crimson robes trailing behind her like flowing blood. The dim light of paper lanterns flickered across her sharp features as she addressed Xiaoli and Xiaoyu, who stood watch at her side.
"Prepare the horses," she instructed, her tone resolute. "We leave for Baihe before dawn."
Xiaoli bowed deeply, her expression stoic. "As you command, Your Highness. Shall I arrange for additional guards?"
Lan Yu's lips curved into a faint smile, one that held no warmth. "No. Too many eyes invite trouble. Just the three of us will suffice."
Xiaoyu hesitated, her brows knitting together. "Your Highness, the roads are dangerous, and this killer has shown no hesitation to act boldly. Shouldn't we proceed with greater caution?"
Lan Yu turned her piercing gaze on Xiaoyu, her voice soft but unyielding. "Caution breeds hesitation, Xiaoyu. And hesitation is a luxury we cannot afford. This killer challenges not just the empire but the very balance of order. I will not let this affront go unanswered."
The younger maid nodded, chastened but still uneasy. "Understood, Your Highness."
Meanwhile, in the Crown Prince's quarters, a different kind of tension unfolded. Crown Prince Lan Feng paced the room, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. The firelight cast long shadows on his polished armor, a calculated addition to his appearance meant to reinforce his image as the empire's protector.
"Do you trust her?" Lan Feng asked, his voice sharp as he addressed his closest advisor, Minister Zhou.
Minister Zhou, an aging but shrewd man with a sharp gaze, shook his head slowly. "Your Highness, the princess has always been... unpredictable. She possesses a sharp mind and a bold spirit, but that is precisely what makes her dangerous. The emperor granting her control of this investigation places her dangerously close to the center of power."
Lan Feng's expression darkened. "And what do the people say?"
Minister Zhou hesitated. "There are whispers, Your Highness. Some believe the princess seeks the throne. Others admire her tenacity, seeing her as a beacon of justice."
The prince's jaw tightened. "Justice," he repeated with a sneer. "Justice is a tool, Minister Zhou. Wielded properly, it serves the crown. In her hands, it becomes a weapon to undermine us."
"What would you have me do, Your Highness?" the minister asked cautiously.
Lan Feng stopped pacing, his gaze fixed on the crackling fire. "Watch her. Closely. If she falters, even once, I want to know. The emperor's patience for her antics will only stretch so far."
Elsewhere in the palace, Lan Yu's closest friend, Mei Lin, sat in her chamber, gazing wistfully out the window. The daughter of a minor noble, Mei Lin had grown up in the palace, her sweet and innocent nature a stark contrast to Lan Yu's sharp-edged demeanor. She traced patterns in the frost gathering on the glass, her thoughts drifting far from the confines of the capital.
"I heard you'll be leaving," Mei Lin said softly as Lan Yu entered her room, unannounced as always.
Lan Yu smirked, crossing the room in a few graceful strides. "You hear everything, Lin'er. How do you manage that?"
Mei Lin turned to face her, her gentle eyes filled with concern. "Because I care, Yu'er. Do you really have to go? This sounds dangerous."
"Everything worth doing is dangerous," Lan Yu replied, her tone almost teasing. "Besides, would you trust anyone else to handle this?"
"No," Mei Lin admitted with a sigh. "But that doesn't make it any easier to see you go."
Lan Yu reached out, taking Mei Lin's hand in hers. "You have nothing to fear. Xiaoli and Xiaoyu will be with me. And when I return, we'll drink tea in the garden and laugh about how worried you were."
Mei Lin smiled faintly, though her worry didn't fade. "Promise me, Yu'er. Promise you'll come back safe."
Lan Yu's smile softened, an uncharacteristic warmth flickering in her expression. "I promise."
That same night, in the outskirts of Baihe, a shadow moved silently through the forest. The killer, cloaked in black with his stark white hair glowing in the moonlight, knelt by a shallow stream. He gazed into the water's reflection, his hood obscuring his face, save for the glint of cold, calculating eyes.
He reached into his cloak, pulling out a parchment. On it, a single name was written, inked with meticulous care. The edges of the parchment were charred, as if it had survived fire. He folded it carefully, slipping it back into his robes before rising to his full height.
The assassin's gaze shifted toward the distant lights of the village, his lips curling into a faint, chilling smile.
"The righteous will fall," he murmured, his voice barely louder than the wind. And then he vanished into the darkness, leaving no trace of his presence but the faint rustle of leaves.
Lan Yu, unaware of the danger lurking closer than she could imagine, stood at the edge of the palace gates before dawn. The air was crisp, her crimson cloak billowing in the wind as she mounted her horse. Xiaoli and Xiaoyu followed closely, their own horses laden with supplies.
The path to Baihe lay shrouded in fog, a road fraught with mystery and peril. As the sun began to rise, casting an eerie golden hue over the horizon, the princess spurred her horse forward, her mind sharp and unyielding.
The game had begun.