The forest was a void of shadows, every tree a silent witness to the tense figures that moved within it. The moon, hidden behind thick clouds, offered no light to guide the way.
The only sounds were the rustling of leaves underfoot and the steady breathing of two women fleeing through the dense woods.
Suddenly, one of the figures broke the silence with a sharp, urgent command, her voice cutting through the air like a blade.
"Yanrou, stop!"
Hua Yanrou's footsteps faltered, her body halting abruptly. Her fingers tightened around the gemstone clenched in her hand, her breath steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She did not turn, but she knew exactly who had spoken.
Jia Xin was always the one to hesitate.
Jia Xin's voice came closer, softer now, laden with concern. "Yanrou, we have a choice to stay there. We do not need to leave. We could still—"
Hua Yanrou cut her off, her tone cold, the decisiveness of a woman who had no time for hesitation. "Jia Xin, our mission is done. We've killed the emperor, and we have the gemstone with us." She paused for a moment, transferring the ruby in a pouch that was tied to her waistband. She tucked it safely beneath her robe, fastening it tightly around her waist. "We're done. It's over."
"But we could still go back," Jia Xin implored, her voice a soft whisper of doubt. "We could act like nothing happened. They don't know it was us—"
"No," Hua Yanrou interjected firmly, turning toward her. Her eyes were dark, her expression hard as stone. "Don't you understand? The lives we've led, the identities we've worn, they were never real. They were simply stepping stones to get close to the imperial family. Now that the emperor is dead, those identities mean nothing." She met Jia Xin's gaze, her voice unwavering. "There is no need to continue pretending. We can't live that life anymore."
Jia Xin's gaze flickered to the distant horizon, her eyes drawn to the bright, flickering lights of the imperial palace. Despite the late hour, the palace seemed alive, almost like a heartbeat in the night, pulsing with activity. She knew exactly what that meant—the chaos that had erupted within its walls.
The emperor's death had ignited turmoil.
The aftermath of their actions had already begun to ripple through the imperial court.
"I—I don't know..." Jia Xin murmured, uncertainty written across her features. "What will happen now?"
Hua Yanrou could sense her hesitation.
She could feel Jia Xin's reluctance to break away from the shadows of the life they had so carefully constructed. But there was no more time for second guesses.
The danger was real.
They had completed their mission, but in doing so, they had made powerful enemies. And those enemies were not ones who would simply let them walk away.
"Jia Xin," Hua Yanrou said, her voice low and fierce, her grip on her friend's shoulders tightening. "It's the Sixth Prince, isn't it?"
Jia Xin froze, her eyes widening in shock.
Hua Yanrou could see the truth in her expression, and she knew that she had struck a nerve. "Even if we helped them, even if they wanted the emperor dead, what do you think will happen once they know who we really are? Do you really think they'll let us walk away? They'll never let us go."
Jia Xin didn't respond, but her lips pressed tightly together, her gaze fixed on the distant palace, as if she could still hear the screams and the shifting of power. But Hua Yanrou knew what Jia Xin was thinking.
"They'll never hesitate," Hua Yanrou finished grimly. "Once they know, they'll put a blade in our necks without a second thought. So we need to leave. Now."
But just as she was about to turn and pull Jia Xin with her, a sudden sound cut through the air—a faint rustling from behind, not the typical sound of the forest at night. Hua Yanrou's instincts flared to life, and she froze, listening intently. It was too soft to be a simple animal, too deliberate.
Someone was tailing them.
Hua Yanrou's eyes narrowed, her heart racing, and in that moment, she realized the truth:
They hadn't lost the imperial guards. They were being followed.
"Imperial guards," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she felt the presence of the unseen pursuers closing in.
"Run," she hissed, grabbing Jia Xin's arm. "We can't let them catch us."
They broke into a sprint, weaving through the dense trees, but the sound of pursuit grew louder with each passing second.
It was as if the very night itself was closing in on them.
They were fast—too fast.
No matter how hard they pushed, their pursuers were gaining ground.
A sharp whistle cut through the night, and within moments, they found themselves surrounded. Figures emerged from the shadows, their movements fluid and precise.
Hua Yanrou's heart pounded in her chest as she assessed the situation.
These weren't just any guards—they were shadow guards, elite protectors who never left their master's side.
Before they could react, the shadow guards moved in, their swift, silent steps betraying years of training.
Hua Yanrou knew there was no way out.
Her fingers slid beneath her robe, grasping the small dagger she had used to take the emperor's life. The cold steel felt familiar in her palm.
"Jia Xin," Hua Yanrou whispered, her voice sharp and resolute. "We fight our way out—"
But Jia Xin, her face drained of color, shook her head. "We can't... there are too many of them."
"Then we die trying."
With a steely resolve, her gaze sharpened on the dark, looming trees around her.
If she were to die that night, it would be with a fight.
She would not fall easily.