The greatest victory is not in defeating your opponent, but in making them defeat themselves. Let their own actions be the rope that binds them.


    —Master Lin Feng, Scale of Heaven and Earth


    Of course those scheming sisters set this up.


    Xin suppressed a bitterugh. The shouts continued around her, boots thundering past the wagon.


    "Guard!" Xin projected her voice toward a soldier rushing past.


    The guard skidded to a halt, spinning around. His eyes widened as he spotted her sitting in in view in the supply wagon. "Miss Lin?"


    "Over here! I found her!" The guard’s shout drew others like moths to me.


    Armored figures converged on the wagon, hands on sword hilts. A burly guard with a scarred face stepped forward. "Why did you hide in here?"


    The crowd parted as heavy footsteps approached. She recognized him like she had her other family members: Bai Chen, Captain of the House Guard.


    He strode through the gathering, his weathered features instantly recognizable. He carried himself with a steady confidence. Not an enemy. From what she could glean, he was utterly upright.


    Xin nced down at her ankle. Blood had seeped through Jin Wei’s bandages, staining the white cloth a brownish red. She lifted her gaze to meet Bai Chen’s eyes.


    "I am exactly where you put me after the ident. Where else would I be?" The words rang clear across the sudden hush.


    Several guards shifted ufortably, averting their eyes.


    Xin squeezed her forearm. "Did you really expect the Second Daughter of Lin family to get out of this supply wagon with her injuries, all on her own?"


    Bai Chen sped his hands and bowed deeply. The assembled guards hastily followed suit. "The House Guard apologizes for the Second Daughter’s treatment! Send steps for the Lord’s Second Daughter at once!"


    Two guards scrambled up onto the wagon, their armor nking against the wooden ts. The mobile steps arrived and then settled against the back with a solid thunk. Xin gripped the offered hands, focusing on each movement as she navigated toward the steps.


    Bai Chen extended his calloused hand at the bottom. The world tilted sideways as she descended. Her knees threatened to buckle, but his steady grip kept her upright.


    "Can you walk, Miss Lin?" Bai Chen’s question cut through the growing fog in her mind.


    "I..." The courtyard spunzily. "I don’t think so."


    "Bring the pnquin!" Bai Chen’smand echoed across the yard.


    The next few moments blurred together. Silk curtains brushed against her arms. The gentle sway of being carried. Wooden poles that creaked rhythmically.


    Reality snapped back into focus amid the bustle of city streets as they went around the corner.


    Merchants and civilians pressed against building walls as guards cleared their path. The pnquin bearers’ steady footsteps carried her past shops with borate disys and toward a massive walled structure that dominated the skyline.


    Through gaps in the curtains, Xin spotted servants unloading wagons from the convoy. Her bearers passed under an ornate archway where ceremonial guards stood at attention, their polished armor gleaming.


    They entered a sprawling courtyard packed with silk-robed figures. Jeweled hairpins glinted in borate coiffures. Embroidered rank badges marked officials and wealthy guests. The wave of whispers rippling through the crowd seemed to follow her.


    Xin nced down. Blood had soaked through the bandages on her ankle, creating stark crimson patterns against the white cloth. A warm trickle down her temple exined the renewed throbbing in her head. The rough wagon ride had reopened her wounds and added fresh bruises. She touched her face and her fingers came away red.


    Some entrance to Madam Zhang’s birthday celebration.


    Wailing pierced through the silk curtains of the pnquin.


    Thinking back to how sessfully she’d taken down Fei and Qian, maybe her own state was for the best.


    Qian and Fei’s theatrical sobs were easily recognizable—they’d perfected that particr skill over years of manipting their father.


    "That violent creature must be dealt with!" Madam Zhang’s shrill voice cut through the afternoon air. "She attacked my precious daughters on this day! I demand the severest punishment!"


    Xin traced the dried blood on her temple. The familiar numbness spread through her chest. What could they possibly do to her now? Death held a little less fear after experiencing it once… twice…? already.


    The pnquin halted. Xin pushed aside the curtain and stepped out onto the cobblestones.


    Fresh whispers rippled through the gathered crowd at her bloodied appearance. She straightened her spine and walked forward, each step sending a sharp pain through her injured ankle.


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    Lord Lin stood ahead, his official robes pristine in the afternoon sun, the deep crimson fabric sharply contrasting with the earthy tones of the crowd. His heavily embroidered cor framed a face marked by authority and indifference, while dark hair swept back neatly revealed silver strands that hinted at his age.


    Behind him, Qian and Fei dropped their sobbing act for brief moments to shoot venomous smirks in her direction, despite Fei’s badly swollen nose and bruised face, and the dark bruising forming along Qian’s jaw. They’d washed away the dirt and blood, but the damage remained stark in the afternoon light.


    Madam Zhang practically vibrated with rage beside her husband, but Xin ignored her.


    Her fate rested in her father’s hands alone, so she’d focus only on him. His stern features betrayed no emotion as she approached.


    Xin nted her feet firmly on the cobblestone, ignoring the sharp pain shooting through her ankle. The gathered crowd blurred at the edges of her vision. Her hands sped together in what she hoped was a proper greeting.


    "Lin Family’s Second Daughter greets her noble father."


    Scatteredughter rippled through the crowd. Qian stepped forward, her silk robes rustling against the stones. "Does she think she’s a martial artist now?"


    Heat crept up Xin’s neck. The proper greeting should have been a curtsy—the realization hit like ice water. "This daughter apologizes for the improper greeting. My injuries prevent me from making the proper movement."


    Lord Lin raised his hand, silencing the whispers. "Honorifics are of no import." His deep voice carried across the courtyard. "Exin yourself. Why did you beat your sisters on this day? Surely you understand the importance of Madam Zhang’s birthday celebration? The loss of face in front of so many distinguished guests?"


    Like falling off a cliff in a carriage was her fucking fault at all? She clenched down on her first response. No, he would have focused only on what Qian and Fei fed him. She needed to redirect that to the facts about what had happened.


    Xin lifted her chin, meeting Qian and Fei’s smug expressions without flinching.


    "My carriage fell off a cliff, and I sustained injuries in the fall." Blood trickled down her temple, but she ignored it. "When the men pulled Zhang Wei and me up with ropes, Sister Fei attacked. I defended myself, and Sister Qian joined the assault."


    The smugness drained from her sisters’ faces. Madam Zhang’s mouth fell open, her perfectly painted lips forming a small ’o’ of shock.


    None of them had expected a rebuttal—not from Xin. The memories flooding through her mind painted a clear picture: a timid girl, beaten down by years of abuse, who would have epted punishment without protest.


    That’s okay, I will speak up for both of us. These snakes don’t deserve any titudes.


    Qian surged forward. "That girl insulted us when we expressed concern for her health! We merely requested an apology!"


    Lies, lies, lies.


    Lord Tian’s fingers drummed against his ornate belt, his brows furrowed as he nced between his daughters. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool spring air. The entire gathered crowd seemed to focus on him.


    Zhang Wei burst through the crowd, his small finger pointed usingly at Fei. "She pped Second Sister first! Before Jin Wei could even treat her!"


    Madam Zhang’s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as she stared at Zhang Wei. The murderous glint in her gaze sent ice through Xin’s veins. Her sweet little brother had just painted a target on his back.


    "Qian." Lord Tian’s stern voice cut through the tension. "Is this true?"


    "We... we were just..." Qian’s practicedposure cracked. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air.


    "The Honored Physician greets noble Lord Lin." Jin Wei stepped forward with a formal bow, cutting off Qian’s stammering. "This servant treated the Lord’s First and Third daughters at their insistence before approaching Second Daughter Xin."


    "She sustained severe injuries from the fall." The doctor’s open palm fell toward her as he exined. "The second altercation worsened her condition significantly."


    Jin Wei’s clinical gaze swept over Xin’s bloodied form. "Her current state has even worsened now, bing critical. It appears she was neglected after treatment. Without immediate action, she risks death."


    Lord Tian’s face darkened to a dangerous shade of crimson. "Jin Wei! Exin how her condition worsened after your treatment!"


    The throbbing in Xin’s head intensified. The cobblestones beneath her feet seemed to tilt and sway. She steadied herself.


    It was time to seize the moment. "Father." The word scratched against her dry throat. "They called the honorable doctor away and ordered me to ride in thest supply wagon of the convoy for the rest of the trip, alone."


    Maybe that wasn’t entirely true. She hadn’t heard what her sisters had said after all, but it was what had happened.


    The gathered crowd fell silent. Even the birds stopped chirping as Lord Tian’s rage rolled across the courtyard in palpable waves.


    "WHO?" His roar echoed off the stone walls. "Who dared issue such an order?"


    Captain Bai Chen stepped forward and dropped into a formal bow. "My Lord, First Daughter Qianmanded this after the altercation."


    Xin watched Qian’s face drain of color. The smug superiority evaporated like morning dew under a harsh sun.


    "How DARE you!" Lord Tian whirled on Qian. "What gives you the authority to treat your sister this way?"


    "She... I..." Qian’s perfectposure crumbled. "She needed punishment for—"


    "PUNISHMENT?" Lord Tian’s fist mmed against the nearby railing. The sharp crack made several guests jump.


    Madam Zhang glided forward, cing a delicate hand on Lord Tian’s arm. "My dear husband, please remember today’s celebration. Our guests..."


    Lord Tian squared his shoulders and faced the assembled crowd. The muscle in his jaw twitched as he raised his hand.


    "Physician Jin Wei, attend to Second Daughter Xin immediately!" His voice carried across the courtyard like thunder. "Daughters Qian and Fei will remain confined to their rooms for the duration of the banquet!"


    The world spun faster. Xin bowed low, ignoring the stabbing pain in her ankle. "Thank you, honored father, for caring for this daughter."


    There appeared to be firsts for everything.


    Darkness cut the thought short as it rushed up to meet her again, but this time, strong arms caught her before she hit the ground.