《Foxes among Wolves》


 Prologue

    High in the sky, the moon shone a path for Zhao Cheng, the emperor''s middle-aged advisor. He wobbled along the bridge and stumbled into the Lotus Palace. Despite the concerned glances from guards, his merry mood remained. How could it not? The last few hours consisted of an obnoxious consumption of wine among friends in a dance house. The food tasted hearty, the ladies looked stunning and troubles were left at the door. The only thing that made him even more merrier was returning to his gorgeous, young wife.


    In their chambers, the small firelight cast shadows across Bai Juan''s standing body. The white robes cascaded to the floor, the excess material emphasising her tiny frame. Those sepia eyes glared at him when he clumsily entered the room. Her expression looked stone-cold; the usual soft smile vanished and her brows twitched, ready to crease in fury. Even her undone hair, with auburn steaks, felt threatening as if it were ready to catch aflame.


    "My love!" Cheng exclaimed and fawned over his much younger wife.


    "Do not touch me." Juan withdrew a knife when he approached. "I am warning you to stay away."


    "W-what is the meaning of this?" Cheng slurred. He stared in bewilderment at the blade. Was he dreaming? Maybe he did drink too much. This didn''t seem real.


    Juan threw rolled parchment on the ground between them. "I know everything! I know about the past advisors, the fires, the miscarriages, the prince and the war! I know it all! I know what you did to me!"


    "What is this?" Cheng dropped to his knees and looked at the notes. The blurry words slowly cleared to document ploys and treachery. Every sentence stated Cheng''s involvement in a ridiculous number of deaths and crimes. His heart dropped. Someone was trying to destroy him. But why?"I do not understand. Someone is trying to frame me! Help me, my love! Someone is-"


    "Revealing the truth of your lies," Juan finished.


    "This is a misunderstanding! Do not believe them!"


    Juan pressed the knife at Cheng''s chest when he approached. It served as a warning. The betrayal stung. "Do not touch me with your bloody hands."You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    The disgusted words made Cheng snap. "How dare you!"


    The noise from the slap echoed around the room. Juan held her cheek in one hand, too shocked to react. He never aimed for her face before. In past drunken anger, he attacked her body that could hide his shameful actions under robes. Yet, his panic and rage refused to be retrained tonight. So, he struck again and kicked her to the ground. The knife fell from her shaking hands. How dare she threaten him! How dare she defy her husband! The thoughts causedCheng to lose control.


    He grabbed her silken hair. "Where did you find these lies?!"


    "Are you scared?" Juan spat, full of courage. All her gentleness and pleasant nature vanished. It reminded Cheng of his sister-in-law.


    He shoved Juan and kicked her again. He briefly stood on her fingers too so she couldn''t grasp the knife, wherever it had landed. "All you need to do is behave!"


    "That is all I have ever done!" Juan screamed back, tears ruining her beautiful face. "I have spent my whole life behaving for my mother, my community and my husband! I am tired of it! All it has brought is pain and suffering! I am my own person and if I desire, I will defy even you!"


    The knife - retrieved from the ground while Cheng got distracted- sliced through the air. Juan stood and ran forward. Cheng inhaled. The world went black for a moment. Droplets of blood seeped into the floorboards while Cheng grasped what happened. He felt no pain. His robes were dry. He lived.


    His wife did not.


    The knife embedded itself into her chest. Blood stained her white gown. That cold expression from earlier melted away into disbelief and horror. Cheng caught her as she turned limp. This made him release the smooth handle of the weapon. Slowly it dawned on him: he had stabbed her.


    "Your crimes will catch you." Juan stopped breathing.


    "Oh no. Oh no. No, no, no!" Cheng cried out. His body shook. Tears streamed down his face. It had been her fault! Not his! If only she remained obedient. If only she didn''t threaten him. Why did she turn her back so quickly? What lies had she believed? It shattered his soul to see her lifeless from her outburst.


    A shadow emerged from the doorway. Cheng stared at them, a frenzied desperation alight in his eyes. "Please! Help me! It wasn''t my fault!"

 Chapter 1: New Life

    One Year Later


    The ink-stained hide, exchanging Bai Mingzhu''s life, reached the soldier''s grasp without any hesitation. Yankedout of the wooden cage in front of bidders, she watched the handsome payment of stone rings between the buyer and seller before being shovedinto the flock of submissive women. No chains bound them but they walked like they were covered inheavy weights from their decision to serve. Mingzhucopied their stance and lowered her head. Yet, she did not share their dismay and instead, allowed herself a tiny smirk of victory as they moved further into Yinying Yueguang.


    The town sat in front of a glorious mountain face, the soft brown hues of buildings blending into the forest terrain. The streets were familiar to Mingzhu and she remembered living in the city alone a year ago. Yet, the soldiers did not allow her to delve into the past and moved the women across the bronze bridge. At the other end waited the only entrance into the water palace.


    The Lotus Palace was the grandest dwelling in Shanhe, situated in the middle of Kye Lake. A lotus flower inspired the design; the pale pink border walls curved around soft yellow structures with shimmery bronze roofs. The main buildings, including the imperial chambers, royal relative chambers, study and courtyards were fortunate to be built on protruding land, while those closest to the border wall sat on pillars that dove into the lake.


    After passing through the border wall, the women walked undera large, wooden door known as the Divine Gate and into the palace. An array of colours met them on the other side; all the flowers were in bloom, leaving a sweet scent linger in the air. They crossed a small stone bridge, providing passage over the tranquil water from the lake. Mingzhu risked a glance at the pond and spotted numerous golden fish swimming in the depths, hidden by lily pads and other aquatic plants. They didn''t swim passed the bridge, unwilling to venture into the slave area like she did.


    Near the servants'' residence, the soldiers forced the women to kneel. In the harsh sunlight, Mingzhu and those beside her waited for their fate as an older woman approached. She wore bright pink robes with gold thread to symbolise her authority among slaves. Slowly, her eyes wandered across the newcomers. Permanent wrinkles sagged her forehead and black hair lost its youthful shine. These ageing characteristics created an intimidating impression.


    ¡°Welcome, new maids. You shall refer to me as Miss Tang. I am your head-stewardess and will be in charge of your placement, duties and punishment. It is unwise to anger me. I shall assign you to a servant role for the royal family and direct you to the correct chambers. You will wash, change into the correct uniform and learn from your fellow maids of the daily duties required. Failure to do this will result in punishment.¡±


    Miss Tang walked towards the girl on the far left, unravelling parchment in her hands. The young slave, unlikely to be over the age of sixteen, wept loudly. Miss Tang was unimpressed. ¡°Water-maid!¡±


    The girl looked up in despair. ¡°Please! I beg of you!¡±


    Miss Tang ignored this and studied the next woman¡¯s hands. She looked at her parchment with a brief approving nod. ¡°Prior experience...good family...serving time, not sold...seamstress!¡±


    The next woman became a kitchen-maid. An audible sigh of relief escaped her and consequentially, caused Miss Tang to reverse her steps. The position changed to a lowly role. ¡°Water-maid!¡±


    Finally, Miss Tang stood in front of the last slave. Mingzhu held her breath. Sold slaves, such as her, were given lowly roles. The grueling daily duties could impact her success completing the mission. She needed a good position. The desperation caused her to perspire and she felt her hands become clammier.


    ¡°Housemaid!¡±


    Tension seeped from Mingzhu¡¯s muscles. It took every ounce of energy to hide her relief. The gods were on her side today.


    ¡°Water-maids, continue left on the bridges until you reach the last set of servant chambers. You shall reside in room that has a water symbol. Housemaid, your place is behind me in the room with the painted leaf. Seamstress, follow me to the flower quarters. Arrange placement with the other maids, wash up and wear the appropriate uniform. That is all,¡± Miss Tang announced and the seamstress tailed her. Meanwhile, the soldiers shuffled the other slaves onward, leaving Mingzhu to find her own way.


    The housemaid residence lacked the beautiful patterns and colours of the other buildings, despite having the same cultural architecture. Inside looked nicer than Mingzhu expected, the wooden floors and doors polished to a fine standard. Sleeping mats covered the ground and each corner of the room had a drawer to share. Honestly, she had prepared to sleep in rooms similar in care to poor horse stables.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    A woman stood near the doorway, blocking further entrance into the chambers. She looked possibly the same age as Mingzhu ¨C freshly twenty ¨C or slightly younger. Her long, ink black hair cascaded down to her lower back, with half of it tied into a sophisticated high bun. This hairstyle was adorned with bronze ribbons and a single hairpiece of a plum blossom ornament; the design was specific for housemaids so members of the royal palace could identify duty and status. Other maids were given different ribbons and flowers depending on their role.


    ¡°You must be a new maid! My name is Song Meifan. The senior maid has been called by the empress so I will orientate you with the duties. What is your name?¡±


    ¡°Fa Huian,¡± Mingzhu lied. The name felt foreign on her tongue, despite rehearsing it during her travels. If anyone discovered her true identity, she would be dead within seconds.


    ¡°That is a rather fitting name for a servant. I mean not to offend you. I was just-ah¡ª¡±


    ¡°Where do I find my uniform?¡± Mingzhu asked curtly.


    Meifan quickly searched the drawers closest to the entrance. She mumbled while rummaging through her own items. ¡°The seamstresses just finished sewing yesterday... Here it is!¡±


    The tunic¡¯s main layers were a pearly colour, glimmering in the light. The pink top layer of fabric matched the plum blossom shades. A bronze band wrapped around the waist and this same material was made into ribbons for hair. The design of the uniform served to please nobles and the royal family, since the housemaids appeared before them more regular than other slaves.


    ¡°I will help you get changed and tell you about the palace over food. You need your strength after a long journey. When I first arrived, I was exhausted. I lived near the border so it took days to finally arrive here. Where are you from?¡± Meifan asked as she took the newcomer to wash up.


    ¡°It does not matter.¡±


    ¡°Did they take you away from your family too? I was sold so my family would prosper with the money. I haven''t seen my parents for years and I left when my brother was young. He would be almost a grown man by now.¡±


    Mingzhu kept silent, unwilling to babble about mundane things. She was not here to make friends. No one needed to act friendly towards her after what she had done. They, too, would become cursed if they got too close.


    ¡°I am sorry for my chatter. I often do that when I¡¯m nervous. I promise I can keep quiet.¡±


    That promise only lasted a few minutes. Unfortunately, Mingzhu had no choice but to follow the talking girl like a stray dog. Whether it was during a bath or dressing, the girl never shut her mouth. She became aghast and curious about Mingzhu''s scarred back but when she never got an explanation, she rapidly changed topics.


    ¡°The seamstresses are always tired in spring. Blooming flowers means more requests for colourful dresses and difficult embroidery patterns,¡± Meifan whispered to Mingzhu. "It is why we lack spare uniforms. You are fortunate they finished a new set yesterday."


    ¡°That is not my concern.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I just thought ¨C¡±


    ¡°You thought wrong.¡±


    ¡°My apologies,¡± Meifan whimpered, cowering at Mingzhu¡¯s harshness.


    The rest of the evening passed in a blur. The maids went to the kitchen area, located between the servant chambers and imperial building, to collect food and eat near the water. Meifan introduced everyone to the newcomer but within minutes, Mingzhu forgot their names. They weren''t useful. Relief only came when the sun set and it was time to rest. As soon as everyone''s breaths synced, Mingzhu snuck out of her bed.


    The moon hid behind clouds in the night sky. This made it seem darker than usual and Mingzhu waited for her eyes to adjust before moving. Swiftly, she pulled herself onto the roof and walked across it. She tried to step carefully, wincing at the sound of her feet thudding. A loose stone tile nearly caused her to fall and she bit back a curse. As silent as she could, she pried at the tile. The curved design provided enough room for a family of rats shelter. It seemed like a flaw but Mingzhu had an epiphany; she could hide her belongings here. Today was going well.


    Feeling clever and confident in her findings, she rested the tile on a crooked angle to find later, and sprinted along the rest of the roof. Nothing brought greater pleasure than running. Straining muscles, the struggle for air and the pushing of limits preoccupied the mind from current problems. Mingzhu loved this freedom from her thoughts but knew it would become a luxury instead of a pastime. The palace wasn¡¯t designed to run; it was a confined cage for the hierarchy.


    A soldier on patrol caught Mingzhu off-guard. Her heart leapt out of her chest, her skin tingled and she forgot to breathe. Frozen in place, she prayed her black outfit blended into the night. Any movement now would catch attention. The soldier looked down the alleyways and glanced at the rooftops. Then, he continued marching down the path. Mingzhu exhaled, took a moment to scold her cocky behaviour, and continued jumping roofs with a crazily thumping heart.


    During her run, she mapped the Lotus Palace on parchment. Noblemen and guest chambers were near the entrance bridge while servant chambers and their workstations were located to the east. The imperial building rested in the centre of the palace. Gardens and small pathways were drawn to the map, as well as symbols of water. Hopefully, the information appeased her master.


    Mingzhu whistled, worried about the sound splitting the air. After a moment, a pigeon flew towards her and landed on her shoulder, offering its foot. The map of the palace was rolled into a small tube, no bigger than a thumb, and tied to the bird.


    Thud.


    The noise startled Mingzhu and she instinctively flung the pigeon into the air, urging it to fly fast from danger. On impulse, she swung off the roof and flattened herself on a wall. As the seconds ticked by, her heartbeat grew louder in her ears. Suddenly, her darting eyes spotted a moving shadow. The silhouette bounced across roofs towards the Divine Gate then disappeared on the ground pathways.


    Someone else disobeyed curfew.

 Chapter 2: The Fox

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    Chatter echoed throughout the palace. The emperor ¨C dressed in the finest gold robes ¨Cfuriously stormed to the Divine Gate and Liu Disung watched him fall into a trembling silence at his doom.A small, wooden fox carving swayed in the breeze on the door but despite its size, it held a powerful warning. On the back read the message: Did you miss me?


    ¡°It can''t be possible,¡± Hong Weishan, the emperor, murmured. ¡°It cannot be.¡±


    ¡°What does it mean, your highness?¡± Zhao Qiaolian, the only imperial concubine, asked.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    In the far back of the gathering crowd, Disung closed his hand into a tight fist. Ten years passed but he still recalled the blood smeared on his father¡¯s face and the assassin standing over him, a mask hiding his expression. The blade in the murderer¡¯s hand shone in the sunlight and even in memory, the glare hurt Disung¡¯s eyes. That assassin disappeared after that. Until now. The message meant Disung could finally have his revenge.


    The emperor continued to remain lost insilent dread. No one dared to speak aloud their single, united thought.


    The Fox had returned.

 Chapter 3: Maid a Slave

    The slaves in the Lotus Palace contained a variety of people from differing status. The earliest Shanhe emperor''s rule demanded every common woman to fulfil a maid¡¯s duty for a year. This servitude trained daughters to progress into worthy wives. Among them were sold slaves who came from poor families repaying debts. Commonly, the positions offered to these commoners were lowly unless their face was beautiful.


    The two people Mingzhu worked beside were sold slaves. Meifan seemed na?ve about the world while the older maid, Lin Jiang, acted worn from serving at the palace for years. The senior was a tough woman, with greying hair and squinty eyes. She didn''t take nonsense from anyone except the masters but even then, had limits. Rumours circulated that she refused to be a concubine in her youth because she insisted to serve the empress. In the last year, she repositioned to an ordinary housemaid because of the emperor¡¯s order.


    ¡°You will bring me trouble,¡± Jiang said at Mingzhu.


    Immediately, the elder restyled the new maid¡¯s hair ¨C with heaps of yanking and tugging ¨C and fixed any ill-fittings on the uniform. During this, she purposely pricked Mingzhu with a needle; it was a lesson to never dress poorly again.


    ¡°Follow carefully or you will get lost,¡± Jiang said as she took long strides around the palace.


    The maids completed their duties in designated areas. They washed linen, swept floors and maintained gardens. As soon as one task finished, another began. Jiang worked endlessly, never willing to pause for food or water.


    ¡°Scrub the floors. Understand?¡±


    The word ''understand'' always accompanied Jiang''s instructions. It was unusual if she didn¡¯t say it every few minutes. Mingzhu followed the orders without hesitation, adapting to the workload over the week. She needed to keep this role for the mission. Yet, the Fox threatened that.


    His return caused an uproar. Gossip greeted Mingzhu at every turn and she felt foolish for not listening to the wild rumours about him years ago. The stories could have warned her of the chaos that would ensue. The Fox was causing too much trouble. If only-


    ¡°She is strict this week,¡± Meifan sighed when Jiang left for the toilet. This pulled Mingzhu out of her thoughts.


    They were cleaning the study either by wiping shelves, tidying scrolls or dusting beams. Before Jiang left, she concocted a herbal mixture that reeked. This needed to be used to scrub the floors.


    Mingzhu stretched her sore back, reminded of her strenuous routine as a child. The memory caused a shiver up her spine. ¡°Hard work reaps rewards.¡±


    ¡°Our reward must be not gaining attention from the maids or nobles,¡± Meifan replied in a high-pitch, shocked by Mingzhu¡¯s willingness to talk.


    Too bad, Mingzhu thought. One nobleman¡¯s attention she desired above all else. Their paths hadn¡¯t crossed but there was still time. Mingzhu was determined to meet her sister¡¯s husband. She needed the truth. ¡°Will we be in direct contact with any noblemen?¡±


    ¡°Oh dear, no!¡± Meifan replied. ¡°Unless they walk into the study. We are just lowly housemaids and cannot handle such important matters regarding the masters. We clean vacant rooms, wash bedding and clothing. That is all. The higher housemaids serve tea and are in the masters¡¯ company. Even now, we return the bedding the assigned personal housemaids.¡±


    ¡°Is there any way to become a higher housemaid?¡±


    ¡°You need to be born in a prestigious family or gain experience. On rare occasions if a master takes high interest in you, then perhaps it is possible. You are ambitious to ask of such things already.¡±


    ¡°You misunderstand. I want to be cautious to avoid it,¡± Mingzhu lied.


    Meifan sighed loudly, lost in her thoughts. ¡°It is too bad I had to sell myself early rather than serve as a maid willingly. Then I could have met a nobleman to marry.¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°I could never imagine a worse fate,¡± Mingzhu replied. ¡°To marry is to choose to be a slave to a man. I prefer being forced into slavery. These noblemen would skin you alive if you were their wife.¡±


    Someone cleared their throat behind them.


    Mingzhu cursed in her head. Of course, the one time she spoke honestly, someone powerful overheard. Slowly, she turned around and bowed to the master. She could hear Meifan''s breathing change to rapid inhales. They were in huge trouble.


    ¡°Raise your head,¡± a deep voice instructed and both maids obeyed.


    Handsome was too lenient to describe the man. He had a strong jawline, intense, dark, almond eyes and full lips. The small, black beard and moustache transformed him to appear wiser than his true age. Mingzhu guessed he was in his twenties. His robes were a dull green, trimmed with yellow. Thick, black hair glided into a topknot, as was the custom in Shanhe, and encased with a lily pad inspired hairpiece. This leaf represented his relationship to the royal family, likely a cousin or nephew.


    This must be Master Wang Joaolong, Mingzhu speculated. Most of the maids spent their time dreamily describing his face and unmarried status.


    ¡°What witty tongues and gossiping natures you have when there is still work to be done,¡± Joaolong commented.


    Meifan looked distraught. ¡°My apologies, Master Wang. We did not mean to offend you. Fa Huain is a new maid and is slow to accustom to the rules and surroundings. Please take pity on us.¡±


    The apologetic spiel continued on but Mingzhu ignored it. She became distracted by the other nobleman accompanying Joaolong, who shared an equal interest in her. His robes were brown and rather plain in comparison to Joaolong, and his features more boyish than masculine. The nobleman¡¯s hair wasn¡¯t neat either, messily tied into a bun. This dishevelled appearance felt familiar to Mingzhu but she couldn''t explain how.


    When she frowned, the man winked at her, amused by her reaction and wanting to stir. The unabashed stare morphed into a silent game. Mingzhu unknowingly played, searching for answers in those warm, brown eyes. They knew each other. She was certain of it and the more she stared, little whispers from the past talked to her.


    ¡°Leave now, boy! You are such a nuisance!¡±


    ¡°You are the nuisance! I am taking my sister home before you do something stupid,¡± the young boy said and tugged at his younger sister''s chubby arm. ¡°Let''s go before she hurts you again.¡±


    ¡°We were playing,¡± the toddler whined.


    ¡°Leave us or I will fight you!¡±


    The boy ran a hand through his hair. ¡°Dammit! Do not make me beat you up!¡±


    Mingzhu blinked. It wasn¡¯t possible¡­


    The man raised his eyebrows and smirked, silently signalling his victory in the staring contest. This behaviour, so familiar and childish, only increased the fear in Mingzhu¡¯s heart. It couldn¡¯t be him.


    Meifan nudged Mingzhu, encouraging her to speak. Quickly, she blurted out an apology. ¡°The fault is mine. I spoke inappropriately and promise to be more respectful to the masters. Take pity on me.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± Joaolong said.


    ¡°And... we''ll continue cleaning?¡± The words fell from Mingzhu''s mouth before she could stop herself. Master did a similar thing when he was unsure how to answer; he spoke in a questioning tone.


    Surprisingly, the nobleman accompanying Joaolong laughed wholeheartedly. The noise sounded pleasant and genuine. Again, the familiar feeling unnerved Mingzhu. They had met before.


    ¡°Is there anything wrong, young masters?¡± Jiang asked in a panic as she entered the room. Without hesitation she bowed low.


    Before Joaolong said anything, his companion interrupted. ¡°We were inquiring about a missing scroll.¡±


    ¡°We do not touch such things, ¨¤nsh¨´. Have you asked the other noblemen?¡± Jiang replied.


    ¡°Not yet. Thank you for the advice. We shall leave then,¡± ¨¤nsh¨´ finished and playfully pushed Joaolong to the door.


    Just before they left, Joaolong turned back to Jiang. ¡°Ensure the new maid learns to speak respectfully at all times.¡±


    A minute of silence passed. Then, Jiang snapped. ¡°Fools! I leave you alone for a minute and you cause trouble. As punishment, you will do all of my personal washing tomorrow or otherwise, I will inform Miss Tang of your misbehaviour! Understand?!¡±


    For the rest of the day, duties were completed in silence. The sun set deep in the mountains when all the servants returned to their residence. Each maid kept quiet, their posture and appearance proper until they reached the slave¡¯s bridge. Whilst walking over it, they slumped their shoulders and groaned. Mingzhu and Meifan didn¡¯t utter a word during this and even ate their boiled mullet in silence.


    Finally, later at night, Meifan spoke. ¡°Fa Huian. Are you awake?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Do you think Master Wang Joaolong is handsome?¡±


    So that was Master Wang Joaolong, Mingzhu confirmed. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°I think he is. I also think he was kind to us today. Masters would beat you for impudence.¡±


    ¡°Who was the other master with him?¡±


    ¡°¨¤nsh¨´. The emperor bestowed him the name to warn others about his great capabilities in combat.¡±


    ¡°Is that his real name?¡±


    ¡°No. I think his name is actually Wu Di? Lu Dong? Liu Disung? No one really knows.¡±


    Mingzhu inhaled sharply. Any intention to sleep left her. Liu Disung was supposed to be dead.

 Chapter 4: War Council

    Long ago, the emperor divided the kingdom into two for both his sons to rule. Shanhe, his oldest son, chose the beautiful, mountainous area while the younger son, Linlong, happily took the wild, forest lands as his territory. After each prince¡¯s coronation, the emperor disappeared. Legends told of him returning to a shrine, for he was actually a deity set to find peace, while other rumours spread that he began training men to protect his sons. The truth remained a mystery.


    Wang Joaolong read the scroll for the millionth time, despite memorising Shanhe¡¯s history years ago. When he first entered the palace, he distracted himself from loneliness, grief and fevers through reading. The empress saw this thirst for knowledge and permitted him to learn from scholars in isolated areas. Often, he disappeared into bamboo forests to learn for months. Here, Joaolong learnt everything, from poems to idioms, but it was the strategic games that intrigued him, like Weiqi.


    Gossip spread about his talented brain and soon his reputation became the ¡®weak man with a strong mind¡¯. It took years for the emperor to acknowledge this growth of intelligence that surpassed others and finally, on Joaolong¡¯s 23rd birthday, he offered a position in the council. The title of minister of economics for Shanhe remained with Joaolong for four years so far.


    Unfortunately, this grand knowledge and different thinking proved to be useless in contrast to other traits. The most necessary skill was persuasion. The councilmen and emperor were from older generations, unwilling to change their views. These men had set ideologies and opinions that hardly swayed and hence, any remarkable advice was ignored. Joaolong, although part of the council because of his intelligence, felt like a lone fox among a flock of sheep. After each meeting, he felt more like an enemy for his new suggestions and arguments than an ally of the council. They dismissed all his ideas as ''youthful perceptions''. It drove him mad.


    ¡°Master Wang. Your presence is requested by the emperor in the strategy room,¡± a messenger announced.


    Disung snapped out of his pensive trance and grinned, moving away from the shadows of the room. It took the messenger by surprise. ¡°Time for some fun.¡±


    ¡°I am afraid the emperor did not request another master.¡±


    The new messenger¡¯s clueless response hinted at his origins, likely at the Shanhe border.


    ¡°Did the emperor mention ¡®¨¤nsh¨´¡¯?¡±


    Nearly no one knew Disung¡¯s real name. Everyone referred to him by ¨¤nsh¨´; the emperor¡¯s secret weapon. Already trained in an unfamiliar fighting style before joining the army, Disung baffled men with his agility and combat skills. Then, he learnt kung fu ridiculously fast. Within a year, not even a general could defeat him. Many people wished to seize that capability for themselves, offering handsome payments for dirty duties. However, Disung only accepted the empress¡¯ invitation to become a bodyguard for Joaolong.


    ¡°I believe so.¡±


    ¡°Then we must make haste!¡± Disung said, adding a skip in his step.


    The messenger led them to the secret strategy room, only accessible through the emperor¡¯s study. Charcoal walls greeted them, with the swirling flames of white consuming the darkness closer to the emperor¡¯s position; the opposing colours represented the opposing power. This design was complimented by a dark, oak table and red cushions near the outskirts of the room, evenly spaced. Twelve pillows suffocated under the weight of fierce men.


    The emperor, Hong Weishan, sat at the head of the table. All of his black hair slicked back into a bun, secured by his gold crown which was adorned with green gems and clear diamonds. The robes he wore were just as extravagant, with the mix of white and silver emphasising his pale skin tone. Beside him waited Zhao Cheng, a stocky man with spreading dark facial hair that was always perfectly groomed to flow to his ears. Wrinkles crinkled his eyes and aged his devious smile, yet his charm remained. He was as agreeable as a dance house maiden. On the opposite side of the emperor sat Su Rong, general of the Shanhe army. He was in his late thirties and extremely proud of the small, brown facial air on his top lip, displaying his masculinity. The huge, buff body below his plain head intimidated many men, even Disung. Somehow, despite his unattractive and plain features, he married one of the most beautiful women in Shanhe who was expecting their third child. The emperor¡¯s brother, Hong Guiying, sat between a few familiar councilmen. He looked similar to his brother with the same plump, pale face but eyes were filled with more wariness. The brothers disagreed often, both wanting different things from life and the older Guiying became, the more he desired to return to his property in remote Shanhe. Yet, Weishan loved to torment him to return. The current trick was promising education and marriage for Hong Biyu, the only girl in the Hong family.


    Joaolong and Disung took their positions, leaving one cushion vacant. The Crowned Prince wasn¡¯t attending, as expected. He found these meetings a bore and preferred spending time parading his power than using it wisely. Life would become hard once he ruled.


    Directly in the centre of the room, a wooden replica of both kingdoms burdened the table. This included every cliff, every mountainous terrain, every lake and dense forest area across the lands. There were figurines that represented divisions in the armies and clumps were placed chaotically across the board. The last meeting briefly discussed warfare but it appeared obvious the emperor played with the idea of attacking Linlong by himself.


    ¡°The session is in progress,¡± Cheng announced and the servants heaved the doors shut, locking themselves out. ¡°During the last battle council meeting, we discussed the possibility of declaring war against Linlong. Today, we must put it aside to discuss the threatening appearance of the Fox. We have all heard of his murderous ways and need to prepare because of his arrival.¡±


    A single pin could¡¯ve dropped and all ears would hear it as loud as a scream; the room turned eerily quiet. None wanted to accept the Fox had returned. During this, Weishan lifted a dusty, wooden box in front of him to show all the men. After replacing it back on the floor in front of him, he opened it using a hidden key from inside his robes. The contents ¨C an ancient scroll ¨C was only meant for the emperor¡¯s eyes but for some reason, he willingly shared it. Instead of parchment or wood, words were written on thin, rock planks joined together by threaded string.


    ¡°I understand many of you have heard stories of the Mountain Masters as children through various fables. This was purposeful, so that the truth about these assassins was washed away to be rumours and nonsense. It is with great regret that I reveal to you the truth. This scroll contains all the information about the original Mountain Master leader and the emperor¡¯s knowledge from each generation. You may pass it around and seek clarity about our situation, despite most of you containing no royal blood. It is my wish and a necessity for the meeting. But be warned. Any word outside this room about such secrets will be met with beheading.¡±


    Each person carefully passed the lump of stone around, slowly revealing the truth. The men were like bugs, with huge eyes and emitting strange noises of understanding, their emotions overshadowing their bright robes. When the scroll reached Joaolong, it was warm to touch. No black market or thief could¡¯ve gotten him this much riches in knowledge.


    In the beginning, the stones briefly summarised the time when lands were partitioned between sons. Part of Joaolong was disappointed it didn¡¯t include a hint further in the past, where history was murky in detail because of endless wars and destruction. No one knew about the time before the ¡®Great Emperor¡¯ that split the lands. However, the scroll did explain the missing emperor.


    After retiring his title to his heirs, the old emperor fled to the mountains with loyal followers and friends, creating a temple that trained men to watch over his sons. Joaolong remembered Wang Yenay, the empress, first telling him this story after his parents died. The mountains hid the sacred temple and no ordinary man lived to disclose its whereabouts. From this simple mission of protecting the emperors and maintaining peace, a culture bloomed. Those that excelled in martial arts diverted in technique to create their own style. Hence, Mountain Masters were formed and identified as animals; monkey, snake, pheasant, panda, tiger, fox and wolf. The old emperor became the leader of all of the warriors and known as the Dragon. Every three years, two Mountain Masters visited the emperors of Shanhe and Linlong and surveyed any possible dangers, as well as shared wise advice on ruling.


    On the scroll, each emperor documented which Mountain Master visited and the effects. In the recent generations, the tension between these mysterious men and the emperors rose dramatically; all war-preventing methods were written in angst. The last entry was from the current emperor, who stated the Fox and Pheasant visited more than twenty years ago to threaten him to keep peace with Linlong. After that, no Mountain Masters came as routinely, implying something occurred at their temple.


    Joaolong handed the scroll over to Disung.


    ¡°The Fox has visited alone. Such an event has never been recorded before. Why has he come?¡± Guiying asked while Disung read.


    ¡°It is a threat to me,¡± Weishan replied bitterly. ¡°Foolishly, when I was in my youth, I agreed to keep peace between Shanhe and Linlong.Had I known that Linlong would raise the price for their harvests, I wouldn¡¯t have agreed.¡±


    ¡°The wisest of men could not have predicted this,¡± Cheng chimed in.


    Disung muttered Joaolong¡¯s thoughts. ¡°The cost wouldn¡¯t rise if you hadn¡¯t blocked the rivers flowing into their land.¡±


    ¡°Have you something to say, ¨¤nsh¨´?¡±


    ¡°Emperor, I merely state an observation that the dammed rivers may have affected the amount of produce in the last few seasons at Linlong,¡± Disung replied with reckless confidence that Joaolong envied. No one else dared to speak this way to Weishan. Simple, blurted words posed a risk to their lives. Disung, however, had nothing to fear. He could kill a man within seconds. This awareness nourished his reckless behaviour.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°¨¤nsh¨´, you may have a seat in this council but I can strip you of it as well.¡±


    Several men tried to add their own opinion on the matter. The older councilmen, as usual, sided with the emperor both out of their own stupidity and fear of defying him. Rong and the lieutenant general found sense in Disung¡¯s statement and tried to reason. It was a chaotic stew of opinions, each flavour trying to overpower the others.


    Joaolong calmly interjected before the heated words turned violent. Somehow, his quiet input was heard among the shouts. ¡°Master Hong Guiying, are your properties near the border doing well?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes. It is manageable.¡± The man was caught off-guard.


    ¡°What about your livestock? I noticed on the reports that your breeding has decreased.¡±


    Guiying flushed. ¡°It is true. Since the damming upstream, the grass and plants have struggled to adapt to the change. My herd is still adjusting and due to the poor quality of foliage, breeding the best calves has been difficult.¡±


    ¡°How are your estates in the south-west, Master Lei Yujin?¡±


    The old councilman sat straighter, the white whiskers on his face pointing in attention. ¡°They are adequate."


    ¡°Is the amount of produce the same as it was three years ago?¡±


    ¡°No¡­but¡­¡±


    Three years ago, rainfalls were significantly less than expected, leading to the possibility of drought. Shanhe had a rough landscape and drought would bring more hardships on everyone. Damming three major rivers, running into Linlong, had been Cheng¡¯s recommended strategy to prevent drought. Most councilors, with large estates, latched onto the plan immediately. The emperor agreed without having any formal meetings with Linlong. Since then, tensions between the kingdoms rose. Just as intended.


    ¡°Nonsense! The damming has sustained Shanhe¡¯s civilians for years, providing plentiful supply of water and giving farmers richer soil. We are all in agreeance that Linlong blames the damming for their increase in produce costs when it is not true! They are a greedy kingdom and wish us to suffer!¡± Weishan shouted and glared at the council. ¡°Our meeting is about the Fox!¡±


    Everyone fell silent once more. Cheng spoke first, his words pensive yet steady. ¡°If you suspected trouble from the infrequent visits of the Mountain Masters, perhaps this proves your intuition. The Fox has come, after all these years, alone. From the scroll, each visit from this clan has been polite, respecting values of hospitality and treatment of royals, and often finished within days. The Fox has broken this unspoken code and acts independently.¡±


    ¡°A rogue assassin is a dangerous one,¡± Rong murmured.


    ¡°Then what does he want?¡± A councilman asked.


    ¡°There is another option. Maybe he is not rogue and his partner is hiding,¡± Joaolong stipulated, knowing his answer would anger the emperor. ¡°The military training camps have increased recruits and we have blocked rivers. The Masked Masters are supposedly wise and would suspect a war is approaching. This would mean you broke your vow years ago so they¡ª¡±


    ¡°He wants power!¡± Yujin rudely interrupted. ¡°Your majesty, he sees your progress and riches, and has turned jealous. I suspect the Mountain Masters removed him from their clan due to his ambitious desires to rule. That is why he is alone.¡±


    Of course, Weishan loved this answer and any other possibilities ignored. As usual. It made him feel powerful and envied, stroking his ego more than necessary. Before he complimented Yujin, a fit of laughter filled the air. The sound vibrated off the walls, the amusement even present in its echos. This noise came from Disung.


    ¡°What is it that you find hilarious at this critical moment?¡± Cheng asked Disung in a panic, who still held the scroll open.


    ¡°I apologise, council. I am unable to control myself by this belief from the previous emperor that the Mountain Masters were part god.¡± More laughter followed the statement.


    Weishan¡¯s face turned red in the soft glow of candlelight. ¡°You dare insult my father!¡±


    Joaolong gave Disung a warning glare, silently pleading him to stop. In these vital, tense moments, Joaolong had to remind his bodyguard proper etiquette and behaviour in political situations. He recalled their first dreadful year together as master and guard. Both men were adapting to hormonal changes from upcoming manhood and had different personalities that didn¡¯t fit together. Disung pushed every rule and boundary, then Joaolong was punished alongside him despite always abiding by rules. It took months for Disung to remove his tunnel vision and look at the future consequences of his actions.


    ¡°My apologies, your majesty. I spoke inappropriately. I accept my punishment, if given.¡±


    ¡°Master Wang Joaolong, he needs lashings. Publicly.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Joaolong replied.


    ¡°Where were we?¡±


    The discussion about the Fox continued and Disung kept his mouth shut. Primarily, Cheng and Weishan did most of the talking, Rong adding his own opinion on occasion. The council agreed to increase the guards at the palace in response to the Fox¡¯s arrival. The gate into the Lotus Palace would be more strictly monitored with approved passes for anyone coming or going. Finally, someone needed to be on constant alert for the assassin.


    ¡°¨¤nsh¨´, you will cease duty as Wang Joaolong¡¯s guard and begin hunting the Fox. I want his head by the next full moon,¡± Weishan informed.


    ¡°Your majesty, you need to persuade me more why I should go against the empress¡¯s wishes.¡±


    Weishan¡¯s lips dropped into a scowl from the defiance. ¡°I could have your head for that remark!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t fight without a head and by doing so, it¡¯ll make the Fox¡¯s mission easier.¡± Disung kept his tone playful, as if joking with a friend. ¡°You would do him a favour.¡±


    Joaolong felt the hairs on his neck rise, waiting for the emperor¡¯s anger. Once, he argued against the emperor in a bad mood and had been beaten by a paddle so hard he contracted an infection. The wooden paddle punishment was meant as a form of ¡®family discipline¡¯ because of his adopted relationship with the empress. Joaolong suspected Weishan enjoyed beating something else than a servant.


    ¡°A hundred men will be guarding me.¡±


    ¡°And none have experience with the Fox,¡± Disung replied smugly.


    Cheng¡¯s ears perked up. ¡°Are you confessing you¡¯re acquainted with the Fox?!¡±


    ¡°Your majesty, my guard¡¯s behaviour is unacceptable and I am forced to admit he drank wine before arriving, unaware of the meeting. I will seek a suitable, severe punishment and he will be reprimanded when the meeting ends. Please accept my apology on his behalf,¡± Joaolong said and withheld his own anger. He wanted to punish Disung for his accidental confession. How could someone so deadly be so stupid?


    The apology was accepted with a simple nod. Weishan remained frustrated by the meeting instead. ¡°I am ashamed that this is my best war council. You are all fools! It is not only ¨¤nsh¨´ but most men in this room that should reflect on their behaviour. I gave all this information to you and we have limited plans on how to act! You are dismissed!¡±


    Every member bowed and left, feeling dissatisfied by their attendance with the emperor. The meetings were always difficult, commonly ending with an insult. Joaolong veered away from the usual path to his chambers and walked over to the library to seek guidance.


    ¡°Late night study?¡± Disung inquired. ¡°Do not ponder over this matter. The emperor is an idiot if he believes I¡¯ll leave my duty to you. It is an honour and privilege serving you and the empress. She will convince the emperor to let me remain by your side.¡±


    ¡°The emperor is still the emperor. You must remember his position and act accordingly,¡± Joaolong sighed. ¡°But I am truly grateful for your loyalty. Without it, I would have crumbled years ago.¡±


    Those in the palace always schemed and plotted to obtain power, which left everyone weary about loyalties. Joaolong only trusted four people at most. It made him envy quaint villagers in the rural areas, where gossip was the biggest issue and everyone valued others hard efforts to use the land. There were always friendly faces, no assassination and no restless nights. Joaolong could still remember his parents smiles after a hard day of work.


    ¡°A Mountain Master has entered the impenetrable palace too easily. We must find if there are similar cases in the past or any information about the Fox. The more we learn, the more prepared we can be and discover the true reason of his visit. Whether we consult the emperor or not will depend on his intentions.¡±


    ¡°We both know the Fox visits because of war. Everyone can feel it coming. More and more men are training to be soldiers, wives are stocking food supplies and babies are popping out regularly.¡± Disung paused. ¡°I wish I could say it¡¯s the Fox¡¯s intention to stop it but he isn¡¯t that simple or kind-hearted. Those councilmen may be right and the Fox is seeking gain from the battle to come.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of the Fox, you almost revealed your heritage back there,¡± Joaolong said in a disapproving tone.


    ¡°Call me stupid and be done with it. No one is more irritated at my own outburst than I. We can rest easy that the emperor will never connect the truth.¡±


    ¡°I will have to publicly punish you. You upset the emperor.¡±


    Disung sighed. ¡°Do ten lashings in the courtyard alongside servants. Our emperor loves shame more than physical marks. Also, I get to see some beautiful maidens to ease my sorrows.¡±


    ¡°Go to the dance house for maidens to prey upon.¡±


    ¡°My reputation is jaded there¡­ Actually your reputation is.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°No sensible woman would flirt with the deadly ¨¤nsh¨´. I had to use an alias,¡± Disung replied with a huge grin. "Before you reprimand me, I have given you some advantage. The rumours about your illness causing impotence has depleted."


    "Do not pretend to be a hero."


    The men entered the study and searched up and down the aisles for useful information about the Mountain Masters or the Fox. Joaolong briefly read over some scrolls, collecting any that took his interest. Unfortunately, he already knew this search was pointless. Only the black markets had information about the Mountain Master legends. Also, his ally could have greater insight. He needed to write a letter tonight.


    ¡°Mountain Masters. Established by the emperor from five generations past to both protect and advise his sons. This was to retain peace between kingdoms. Location unknown. The Fox was one master in the clan but his malicious intents and murderous ways got him exiled,¡± Disung said and handed Joaolong a book.


    The title, ''Mystic Mountains'', pulled at the optimist in him and he began to read.


    A drawing of a naked woman, accompanied by an erotic story, made him blush. Disung burst into laughter and Joaolong glared at him, unamused. He should¡¯ve known better. A maid sneaked in the fictitious love story and hid it within the floorboards. Most of the palace knew about it.


    Disung took it back off him and flicked through the pages. ¡°No wonder the women of the land are infatuated with you. The male character in this is also a silent and brooding type, with a troubled past. You are both so alike and I bet, when you are in love, you will whisk a lucky maiden off her feet.¡±


    ¡°I am not silent nor brooding,¡± Joaolong replied monotonously. Disung laughed even harder so Joaolong hit him with a nearby scroll. ¡°Do that again and I will kill you.¡±


    ¡°Mother would not be happy about that. You would deprive her of grandchildren and for that, she will avenge my death,¡± Disung smugly replied and hid the story back in the floorboard. ¡°If you want information about the Masked Masters, you could ask me.¡±


    ¡°I already have asked you dozens of times. You are a limited source since you can only tell me what you remember. If I asked about where the temple is or how big the clan has become, you could not answer.¡±


    ¡°Fine. I''ll help you find a scroll,¡± Disung grumbled but the hunt did not last long.


    The men gave up the searching after half an hour and returned to Joaolong''s chamber, located in the nobleman¡¯s residence near the front of the palace. The room was large and decorative, divided into three spaces by sliding paper doors. In the centre room, paintings hung on the cream walls and an antique table was put over an embroiled carpet. It begged to be used for tea. At the rear of the room was a porch, leading to the gardens.


    Disung bowed to Joaolong and prepared himself for a quick getaway, smiling. ¡°Goodnight, loverboy.¡±


    Joaolong threw a pillow at the empty space his friend had been.

 Chapter 5: Lady Gaze Disaster

    The second emperor after the great divide created Lady Gaze for his true love. The beauty of the constantly blooming garden represented his love for the empress; it would always be pure and lasting. Maids and noblewomen repetitively told this tale, enraptured and swooning at the romantic gesture. They looked at the trickling ponds, array of plants and unique ornaments in envy, dreaming of a caring man to court them this way.


    Meifan belonged in this fantasy-like garden, among all things sweet and innocent. The real world hurt her too often; every day, she suffered from subtle acts of mistreatment. Meifan¡¯s beauty was accompanied by jealousy, many other maids tripping her, ruining her garments or causing disasters in their cleaning areas. Mingzhu watched but refused to help. To be involved in the petty behaviour would distract her from the mission. It wasn''t worth the effort.


    ¡°I wonder which has more power in Shanhe: beauty or status,¡± Meifan pondered aloud while picking the plant leaves. Near the darker parts of the garden were the servant supplies, like wormwood for washing.


    ¡°Status,¡± Mingzhu replied.


    ¡°I disagree. I heard that if you are as beautiful as a plum blossom, men will whisk you away to marry, no matter your status. A friend of mine told me it happened to a maid once.¡±


    ¡°Your friend lies. There are no happy endings in reality. The real world is full of secrets, lies and death.¡± And monsters, Mingzhu added in her head and the image of her father came to mind.


    Those dark eyes looked at her in disgust, the thin lips breaking apart to yell more combination of moves. Any attractiveness became overshadowed by Mingzhu¡¯s opinion; smooth skin was tough like leather so no one could penetrate it, a dimple deepening in his cheek was a sign that she messed up again and the mop of hair on his head were long tentacles, ready to attack.


    ¡°Status dictates everything. Why else are maids whipped at the slightest mistake? Do not dream of a free life that cannot be obtained.¡±


    ¡°At least we get to visit Lady Gaze. Even people at the border wall dream of seeing this place one day," Meifan said wistfully.


    A knife of realisation stabbed Mingzhu. Not everyone saw Lady Gaze. Only a handful of people knew the intricate paths and details. On the map for the mountain clan, she simply wrote ¡®garden¡¯ in the blank area. This maze could be advantageous to a Masked Master. How could she be so foolish!


    ¡°Let us take the main path back,¡± Mingzhu suggested, trying to formulate the garden paths in her mind. Another letter needed to be sent, containing a new map as well as the Fox¡¯s appearance. The mountain clan would be anxious.


    ¡°No. We cannot. We are slaves and do not deserve to bask in this privilege.¡±


    ¡°It is a garden, not a royal building.¡±


    ¡°I-I do not think it is a good idea...¡±


    Determined to serve the mountain clan, Mingzhu ignored Meifan and walked along the main path. Soon enough, Meifan shakily followed, jumping at every small sound. Meanwhile, Mingzhu visualised a map in her mind, adding details as they explored the garden. They wound around several paths. The main path forked, the right led to a pond while the left continued to spiral around. The pebbled track near the tree had a dead end. The trail with pink flowers opened into a spacious area with a well, designed for tea ceremonies. Another path turned into wooden planks that formed a bridge over the water and¨C


    Three young women interrupted Mingzhu¡¯s process. They all wore floral embroiled gowns, each soft in shade. Their hair was elaborately styled up, showcasing the luscious and tempting skin around their neck. To display wealth, not a single hair rested on their shoulders.


    Mingzhu watched Meifan ¨C who bent down low, her hands raised to cover her eyes ¨C and attempted to copy. Over the last few days, Mingzhu received multiple snickers, worried glances and laughs as she did the incorrect movements or ignored noblemen completely. Jiang sat her down and wouldn¡¯t let her sleep until she bowed correctly. Every wrong movement received a hit with her fan.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    In the mountains, bowing was different. The younger person¡¯s hands were placed behind the back to represent vulnerability and show submissiveness. The head was bowed to acknowledge the wisdom of the elder. For the recipient, they replied by a small bow and positioning open hands in front of them to offer and share their knowledge. There was a beauty in it, unlike the palace protocols.


    ¡°What are you doing lurking in Lady Gaze?¡± The palest woman asked accusingly. Her oak-coloured hair shined in the sun, complimenting her white skin. An abundance of jewels wrapped around the hairstyle, all shaped like flowers and a fake, red rose signified she was betrothed. A bird would love to nest in there, Mingzhu thought.


    ¡°Miss, we did not mean to disturb you. We are collecting wormwood for washing,¡± Meifan squeaked and shook like a leaf in autumn.


    ¡°Then why are you taking the noble path?¡± Bird-nest asked.


    ¡°My apologies. We did not mean to offend you. Time was our focus, not the dismay of nobles. We sincerely regret our actions.¡±


    Something felt wrong. Mingzhu''s gut clenched in warning, encouraging her to prepare for danger. Bird-nest, despite the venom in her voice, wore a smile. The hatred in her doe eyes glimmered. She was dangerous.


    ¡°Song Meifan. You need to be taught to stay in rank.¡±


    This cued the other noblewomen to shove and prod Meifan. They snickered and delighted themselves with her reactions. The more tears Meifan showed, the more they cackled. She fell to the ground and they kicked her, taunting her about the filth on her clothes. Meifan audibly sobbed. Meanwhile, Mingzhu stepped back and patiently waited until the women were satisfied. This acceptance of bullying ate at her morals. Her hand twitched to react. Yet, she did nothing.


    ¡°Have you learnt your lesson?¡±


    ¡°Y-y-yes Miss,¡± Meifan said through her gasps.


    ¡°Good. Do not forget. You are a slave. Be grateful I don¡¯t ruin that pretty face.¡±


    Suddenly, when Meifan stood, Bird-nest shoved her over the small edge of the bridge.


    It felt like a dream. Mingzhu¡¯s breaths were calm. Her body numb. Without a thought, she reached and grabbed Meifan¡¯s garments before she fell into the deep water. Then, she turned to the women with eyes alight by a rebellious flame. All her muscles were tense, ready for combat. If they did anything, she would hurt them.


    ¡°Ladies. What is this commotion?¡± A man interrupted.


    ¡°Nothing, Master Zhao. We were just discussing manners with maids,¡± Hong Biyu, daughter of the emperor¡¯s quiet brother, replied. This was the first time she spoke and for good reason; her voice was shrilly and an octave higher than it should have been.


    ¡°You there, what is your name?¡± He barked at Mingzhu, eyes bulging at the sight of her. No doubt the sepia coloured eyes and auburn streaks in her hair reminded him of a ghost.


    To formulate a responsible answer felt impossible. The more Mingzhu stared at the average-looking man, the more her blood boiled. The butterflies in her stomach had razors on their wings, slicing her insides to get free and blow away the scent of osmanthus. Her ears rang as her mind became nothing but static, except leaving one clear emotion; pure loathing.


    This was Master Zhao Cheng, her sister''s husband.


    The news flew around, like leaves in the wind. Except these leaves had pricks and scratched Mingzhu. The pain slowly crept to her heart like poison. At first, she couldn''t understand the words and when she did, she couldn''t accept them.


    Bai Juan was dead.


    By instinct alone, Mingzhu¡¯s feet dragged her through the cold muddy ground to her old home in a remote village. The journey had been rigorous but she needed comfort. Yet, something equally tragic awaited her.


    Mingzhu wanted to kill him. A quick slice to the neck or thigh and he would bleed out. It would be fast, no one else able to react before the damage was inflicted. But she had no weapon. Instead, she could distort the man¡¯s circulation around the body and immobilise him, along with the others around her. Then, she could take time in torturing Zhao Cheng and finally find out about her sister. The fire¡ª


    ¡°Fa Huian,¡± Meifan uttered in alarm. Mingzhu¡¯s face turned frightfully expressionless. When she didn¡¯t answer, Meifan spoke instead. ¡°The maid next to me is Fa Huian.¡±


    ¡°You seem familiar,¡± Cheng noted. ¡°Which family do you originate from?¡±


    ¡°My family is dead to me,¡± Mingzhu bit out. How could he destroy the last of her family? Juan was sweet and kind, unable to hurt any living thing. How could he lie and say she tried to kill him? ¡°I am often told I remind people of someone they wish to forget. It is a curse to have an unpleasant face such as mine.¡±


    ¡°Not all can be blessed with beauty I suppose,¡± Cheng responded, turning his attention to Meifan to look at her entirety. Then, he noticed his gaze lingering too long so returned his eyes back to the noblewomen. ¡°Lovely ladies, shall I escort you around the garden?¡±


    All nobles left happily, walking deeper into the areas surrounded by flowers and ponds. As the women passed the maids, Bird-Nest whispered to Mingzhu. ¡°You should not have interferred. I will make you regret it.¡±


    Minutes after they left, Meifan found her voice again. It trembled. ¡°I am sorry. The fault is mine for you to make enemies."


    ¡°One enemy or several enemies does not make a difference to me.¡± Enemies were a common part of Mingzhu¡¯s life.

 Chapter 6: The Foxs Intentions

    Black material covered the assassin''s skin. The only vibrant colour came from a stiff fabric half-mask. The threads were dyed in shades of cream, black and orange, woven together in particular areas to match a real fox. Two small ears formed at the top of the mask while the bottom came to a blunt point, representing the nose. The harsh contours of the mask hid the wearer''s true features.


    The Fox swiftly entered Cheng¡¯s room through an open window. Inside was spacious and hideously decorative; blankets and embroiled cushions were everywhere. Trinkets from across the kingdom littered the walls, each telling a magnificent lie. The assassin studied these carefully, trying to find any insightful information. They needed something useful to blackmail Cheng. The plan was simple: get the imperial advisor to influence the emperor. Then, Shanhe would be under the Fox¡¯s control.


    In the study desk at the far left, the answer appeared: a beaded necklace made from jade and wood. Once, it belonged to Bai Juan¡¯s mother. The Fox¡¯s rage grew over the dust on the jewellery. The necklace did not deserve such neglect, just like Juan did not deserve this life. Did her songs die by Cheng''s abusive fists? Did she fight back? How much did she endure? So many questions filled the Fox¡¯s mind and added fuel to the fire burning within them.


    Did she die in this room?


    Filled with anger, the Fox withdrew something from their clothes. The fox, carved from a hundred-year-old peach tree, seemed small in their palm. A small dagger inscribed a message for the nobleman on the fox¡¯s back.


    A life for a life. Bai Juan for Zhao Cheng.


    All the Fox had to do was wait and see how Cheng reacted. If he showed the emperor the token, it proved his innocence in the girl''s death but if he kept it hidden, he had guilt regarding Juan''s death. After this verdict, the next move to manipulate Cheng could be planned.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The Fox startled at the creak of the steps. Cheng stumbled inside his room, tightly holding onto a beautiful lady. They slurred songs of Shanhe and fell onto the floor. The woman acted shameless, using bare skin on her shoulders to tease. Cheng couldn¡¯t resist and kissed his drinking partner sloppily. Too enraptured with each other, they didn''t glance up.


    Perched in several overlaying, wooden beams and hidden by drapes, the Fox waited. Their hands stung. Climbing up the hanging fabric in a rush caused a harsh burn. Yet, they remained frozen. Each desperate pant was restrained to a slow inhale. The slightest noise or movement could cause attention. The Fox refused to be captured.


    Suddenly, the disgusting groans and moans ceased as the door creaked open. A eunuch messenger entered. ¡°Master Zhao. The emperor requests your presence.¡±


    ¡°I am a little busy,¡± Cheng replied and brushed a hair from the woman''s face.


    The messenger insisted. ¡°It¡¯s urgent.¡±


    ¡°Does he want to meet in the strategy room?¡± Cheng asked with a sigh.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Sluggishly and almost reluctantly, Cheng stood. He readjusted himself and his robes, giving his companion a final kiss on the cheek. ¡°Another time, my dear.¡±


    Cheng left but the woman remained in the chambers. She glanced around the room, marvelling over the details and extravagance. Minutes ticked by. The fox remained trapped. Their strained hands shook. A single drop of sweat escaped under their mask. It slowly fell near the woman, who pretended to be Cheng¡¯s concubine. The Fox had to act.


    They leapt down from the roof, using the hanging fabric to guide their escape. By the time the women gasped in shock, the Fox held a blade to her throat. She trembled.


    ¡°Scream and I will kill you,¡± they seethed in a raspy voice. Carefully, they took the carving from their robes and placed it into the maiden¡¯s hands. ¡°Give this to Zhao Cheng.¡±


    Like a ghost, the Fox disappeared into the darkness.

 Chapter 7: Cabin in the Woods

    The imperial city, Yinying Yueguang, blended into the landscape. Unlike the palace, buildings were painted with browns and greys, similar to the mountains, while an abundance of trees disturbed alleyways. These houses and shops formed a horseshoe which stretched around the river that spilled into the Kye Lake. The popular inn, spanning over a small waterfall, acting like a bridge, was every man¡¯s dream; full of hearty food, endless wine and exotic women but at a high price. Disung often here visited when Joaolong was sick, wasting his time by watching people and their actions. Today, he had other plans.


    Passed the city on a secret road, the pebbled ground turned into a dirt track. This cued Disung to veer off into the dense forest and follow the subtly tree markings. Each trunk had a different carved Masked Master animal. The steep incline and rocky ground that the signs led him made the walk difficult. Yet, it was worth it. At the sight of the cabin, Disung¡¯s anxiety eased. The familiar site made him smile as he remembered the days he ran around and hunted in the area.


    Over the months, the plain cabin became surrounded by a lush garden, which contained both aesthetic plants and weeds. This greenery stretched up to the windows on the sides of the house. It made the cabin appear abandoned, as did the door-less entrance that ventilated the house.


    ¡°Mother!¡± Disung yelled and ventured inside. The space contained a kitchen, dining area and bedroom without walls to separate rooms.


    Shao Chunhua sat at the table, embroidering a pillow with bamboo trees. Relief washed through Disung; she hadn¡¯t changed at all. That unruly, thick hair, which Disung inherited, tumbled over her shoulders and her skin looked tough like leather. She even smelled like bonfires, as always.


    ¡°My son! Is it really you?¡± Chunhua replied and hugged her son tightly. ¡°You have grown too much. Sit! I will prepare some tea. Have they been feeding you well in the palace?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Any delicacy you can think of, I have eaten.¡±


    ¡°You look too thin,¡± she remarked and shoved a bread roll into his mouth. She returned to boil water on a contained fire inside as Disung choked on the food. ¡°Is Master Wang Joaolong treating you well?¡±


    ¡°Yes, mother. You worry too much.¡±


    ¡°You are my kin. I will always worry. Why did you visit? You should not have left your duty,¡± Chunhua said, fussing over her only family.


    ¡°Joaolong is ill and my duty is pointless when the physician and servants are monitoring him,¡± Disung explained.


    The morning felt chaotic in the palace. Disung awoke from a light slumber to a housemaid fussing about Joaolong. The master looked ghostly pale and coughed hysterically until blood dribbled from his mouth. A private physician from Yinying Yueguang tended to him.


    Dried fruit from the previous day caused his throat to be scratched but the fever¡­ Disung worried. Attacks on Joaolong were common because of his investigations into dodgy tax collections and trades. A smart man like him could ruin many tainted nobleman¡¯s positions. Nevertheless, many people were on alert and Disung¡¯s duty became pointless.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°I will gather some longans for you to take to Master Wang Joalong. It will give back his strength. I fed you many during your fevers as a child.¡±


    ¡°It will be appreciated,¡± Disung replied. ¡°How is life in the wilderness?¡±


    ¡°There is not much to tell. The forest is pleasant in spring except for the bugs and pollen. For every joy, there is always a consequence. I have fresh air to keep me young and chores to keep me strong. The sunsets are beautiful these days. I wish you would stay to see one.¡±


    ¡°Next time.¡±


    ¡°I would not beg you so often if I had grandchildren to stay by my side. If only my son married,¡± Chunhua whined as she put the teapot on the table, then searched for cups.


    Nothing stopped Disung¡¯s mother mentioning grandchildren. Each passing year, she sighed about her loneliness before describing the joy of children. It drove Disung mad. Especially now. Something else, far more important, played on his mind.


    The Fox haunted him. Since the message on the Divine Gate, he had nightmares. Every shadow turned him on edge. The sound of footsteps caused him to stir. It felt like endless torment. The Fox mask wouldn¡¯t leave his mind. But it was not his burden alone. His mother needed to know.


    ¡°The Fox has come to the Lotus Palace.¡±


    A teacup smashed on the ground. Pieces scattered across the floor. Chunhua bent over and slowly collected the shards with shaky hands. ¡°A-are you certain the Fox has returned?¡±


    ¡°The emperor received a token. There is no mistaking who left it,¡± Disung said and helped his mother clean the mess of pottery.


    That wooden fox opened an old wound. When Disung closed his eyes, he relived the fight between his father and the Fox. They punched, blocked and kicked. Then, the Fox used Chunhua to gain advantage over Disung¡¯s father. The man surrendered for the sake of his love and was stabbed. He fell to his knees and the Fox beat him further. Chunhua escaped and dragged Disung away from the scene.


    These memories came flooding back to Disung at the sight of the token. They lost everything. They never returned to the mountains. It was the Fox¡¯s fault.


    Chunhua let out a strangled sobbed and it pained Disung to see his mother, a strong fearless woman, cry. ¡°No¡­it can¡¯t be¡­He has come back¡­ We must¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll protect you,¡± Disung said. ¡°I won¡¯t ever let him hurt you like he did to father. I promise. I will protect you.¡±


    The mood sobered after that. During the rest of the time spent together, neither Chunhua or Disung spoke of the Fox again. They collected firewood and hunted rabbits, conversing about Disung as a child or life in the palace. They lived together in the cabin for only a year before circumstances forced Disung to enlist in the army. It broke Chunhua¡¯s heart to see her son leave. Relief only came from the empress¡¯s personal letter years later. That was when she offered Disung a promotion.


    The sun crept closer to the mountains, signalling the end of their time together.


    ¡°Tell Master Wang Joaolong I wish his good health to return.¡± Chunhua handed over a bag full of herb packages and longans.


    ¡°I will. Keep safe. Tell me if anything happens,¡± Disung said, still worried about the Fox.


    Chunhua chuckled. ¡°I will protect myself. How else will I make sure you have children?¡±

 Chapter 8: Weak Mans Tricks

    What if I die testing my body? Joaolong wondered. As a sick child, he never expected to be putting himself at risk. Yet, here he was; lying in bed from ingested poison by his own hand. Over the past few years, he began building a tolerance to a range of poisons. This testing served to defend him against sly assassination attempts. As a smart man in charge of economy, who interrogated every tax and income, many people wanted him dead.


    The Fox was a new foe. Joaolong remained unsure how the master would attack. What was he after? Why come alone? Who would he target? The unanswered questions irritated him. No one could provide clarity about the situation. Not even Disung. Therefore, Joaolong prepared; yesterday, before dawn, he mixed a poisonous mountain plant into his tea. It took a whole day to recover ¨C faster than most poisons ¨C and Joaolong watched the palace fall into chaos. They panicked over his illness, half insistent the Fox attacked while others stayed true to their belief Joaolong had a weak body. All were surprised when Joaolong emerged from his chambers the next day.


    Wu Tai, a personal eunuch, accompanied him around the palace. Tai was a pure-hearted man that remained optimistic despite the world¡¯s injustice. A noble family set him up for thievery in retaliation for capturing their daughter¡¯s heart. They hated his poor heritage and refused to be tied to it. After mutilation and being sold to the Lotus Palace, Joaolong took the boy under his wing. In secret, Tai learnt to read, write and educate himself. To repay this kindness, he swore loyalty to Joaolong.


    ¡°You scared me,¡± Tai admitted.


    ¡°I apologise,¡± Joaolong replied as they left the garden. ¡°It was necessary.¡±


    ¡°Your tolerance is already great against many-¡± Tai stopped himself before mentioning poison, fearful of spies overhearing, ¡°-medicinal tea. I do not understand why you continue to push yourself.¡±


    ¡°I have many enemies.¡±


    ¡°Your body is naturally weak. I worry you might kill yourself by accident one day.¡±


    Joaolong chuckled. ¡°Many noblemen will rejoice.¡±


    ¡°Because no one ruins their secret trades and fraud. I wish not to think of it. Shanhe would fall into chaos.¡±


    ¡°What is happening over there?¡± Joaolong asked, diverting the topic.


    In the main, concrete courtyard, men practiced fighting rotating dummies and attempted fast-paced swordplay. They all wore navy robes with the Shanhe totem on their chest. Only two people dressed differently; Su Rong and Disung. Su Rong, general of the Shanhe army, was dressed in black while Disung¡¯s brown robes hung loosely on him. Disung trained with a tall, lanky and hunched teenager while the general added his advice from the sideline.


    ¡°Broaden your shoulders and widen your legs!¡± Su Rong shouted at the new recruit, Duan Xingyi. Joaolong had seen him around the palace flirting with noblewomen.


    ¡°Try to hit me,¡± Disung taunted.


    ¡°Ahhh!¡± Xingyi shouted as he ran forward, his fist colliding with nothing but air.


    ¡°Eyes on the target and keep close to your enemy on the attack. Otherwise, they will predict your moves too easily.¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Xingyi tried again, bouncing on his feet and throwing a few punches at a short range. Disung easily blocked them, his defence having greater strength than Xingyi¡¯s attacks. Then, Xingyi tried a low kick, chosen not because of an opening but due to a lack of flexibility to extend a leg higher. He hadn¡¯t been stretching.


    The recruits that trained in the palace were lazy. Instead of stretching every sunrise, they did as they pleased. Their diets remained rich and luxurious, exactly like it had been growing up in a wealthy family, while others lived on minimum rations. The worst part was the training, where they whined about the tasks. Disung told Joaolong tales about the training camps in the mountains; the tough experience formed strong fighters. In the palace, men couldn¡¯t be groomed the same way. It was the reason why the emperor sent the Crowned Prince away.


    ¡°You are weak. Let us see if you can prove yourself in defense,¡± Disung said and stepped forward.


    At first, Disung did a familiar sequence of punches and Xingyi blocked them well. However, when Xingyi raised his hand because he relied on the pattern, Disung grabbed it and twisted it until Xingyi was at his mercy.


    ¡°Do not rely on basic combinations. Look at my eyes. Look at my body. They reveal my moves. If we fought in a war tomorrow, I guarantee that the enemy wouldn''t use Shanhe''s basic combinations to fight,¡± Disung scolded. "Think, don''t assume."


    Joaolong smiled from afar, hearing the words. It was rare that Disung acted wise in a fight instead of running his mouth. He had a bad habit of babbling.


    ¡°Practice on a dummy and I don¡¯t want to hear complaints about the pain. In a real fight, you won¡¯t have any recovery breaks,¡± Rong interrupted. He turned to the spectators. ¡°This isn¡¯t a show! You are distracting my men!¡±


    ¡°Joaolong! I thought you were ill!¡± Disung yelled, pushing passed Rong.


    Joaolong leaned on Tai and approached slowly. ¡°I hoped the fresh air would speed up my recovery.¡±


    ¡°You look better than yesterday. Did the vomiting stop?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Excellent. Then you can fight with me!¡±


    Joaolong laughed. ¡°I think General Su Rong would be a better opponent than I.¡±


    ¡°I can beat that old man with my eyes closed,¡± Disung boasted, purposely aggravating Rong. Despite the insult, Disung had great respect towards the general.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Rong exclaimed, taking the bait with a cocky grin. ¡°Never insult your master.¡±


    ¡°What will you do about it?¡±


    As simple as that, the men fought. Each man¡¯s movements were well-practiced, hitting each other with precision. Rong attacked aggressively, Disung struggling against his size. He ducked and weaved, all the while chatting nonstop to distract his opponent. This included remarks about Rong''s age, questioning on how he snared a beautiful wife and insults on his attacks.


    ¡°Who do you think will win?¡± Tai asked, watching from a safe distance.


    ¡°Disung.¡±


    ¡°I am not sure. The general has a great reputation too.¡±


    ¡°How much will you bet?¡±


    Tai took a moment to deliberate. ¡°One red ring.¡±


    ¡°Two.¡±


    ¡°Deal.¡±


    Suddenly, Disung and Rong both ran to grab swords. They mirrored each other, pacing around an invisible circle. This time, Disung attacked first; he crouched low and swung for Rong¡¯s legs, then quickly struck again from up high. Rong struggled to avoid the blade as it came from different heights within seconds. The clank of metal filled the air. Disung slashed. Rong blocked and stabbed. The men lunged at each other. Joaolong felt mesmerised by the display.


    ¡°The emperor is watching,¡± Tai suddenly said.


    Cued by this, Joaolong began coughing hysterically. ¡°General Su Rong and Master Liu. I am taking my leave.¡±


    As they walked away, Joaolong briefly glanced back at the emperor and the prince beside him. He continued to hunch himself over and forcibly cough as he walked along the path out of sight. The ¡®weak man¡¯ appearance continued. For the sake of Joaolong¡¯s pride and dignity, he maintained his safety for today. If they discovered the intelligent man was strong, his life would be in jeopardy.

 Chapter 9: Punishment Display

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    Mingzhu returned from the mountains and waved around cream roots at people in the small village.


    ¡°Ginseng! Ginseng from the mountains! Fresh and ready for purchase!¡± She yelled to attract attention. The lump of roots were handed to Juan, who cleaned them before selling.


    ¡°How much?¡± Cheng asked, approaching curiously. The man spelt strongly of osmanthus. The air of nobility around him made Mingzhu prepared herself to deal with another arrogant and wealthy traveller.


    "How much are you willing to pay? The ginseng is fresh from dangerous areas in the mountains. It won¡¯t be cheap,¡± Mingzhu replied, slouching on a walking stick and tilting her head to the side. These cocky mannerisms and her dirty clothing caused people to often mistake her for a pretty boy.


    ¡°Seven green rings,¡± Cheng replied.


    In the kingdom, currency came in forms of smooth, thick rings. Intricate designs and colour determined wealth; gold dragons were worth the highest while grey swirls were the cheapest ring. Many men wore the currency as jewellery to show off their fortune.


    Mingzhu laughed at his suggestion. ¡°Two red rings or no ginseng.¡±


    Unfamiliar with denial, Cheng paused for a few moments and changed his tactic, redirecting his attention to Juan. The beauty radiating from her made him temporarily forget the problem at hand; her features were delicate and posture refined. Fortunately for her, she took after their mother and looked like a graceful bird. Meanwhile, Mingzhu appeared to be a wild raven.


    ¡°How much would it be, Miss?¡±


    uan blushed. She looked to her sister, considering her reaction and sighed. ¡°You insist on green value and my sister insists on red value. It would be wise to choose in-between these amounts. I suggest only one red ring.¡±


    ¡°You are as reasonable as you are lovely,¡± Cheng said and removed a red ring from his finger, dropping it into Juan¡¯s hands.


    Mingzhu hated him.


    The memory reminded her about her own foolishness for ignoring first impressions.The threat from the noblewoman a few days ago was fulfilled wholeheartedly. Xiaoli accused Mingzhu of stealing a honey pot from the kitchen, which a rat-faced kitchen maid supported. Then, another maid found the missing item in Mingzhu¡¯s belongings. This sealed Mingzhu¡¯s fate.


    She glared at Xiaoli, a cloud of rage engulfing her judgements at the injustice. One movement and she could knock the woman unconscious. A simple step and cartwheel was all that was needed. It felt almost impossible to control her anger. She reminded herself of her task. A weak appearance benefited the mission; no one would suspect her during the festival. Thus, she let Miss Tang yank the robes near her neck and drag her to an open servant space. Unfortunately for Mingzhu, her punishment was a public whipping display.


    Two pairs of tall, thick bamboo trunks were spaced in metres. Various weapons hung from them, included chains, belts, whips, wooden floggers and much more. Thick, leather straps, connected to the bamboo, bound Mingzhu¡¯s arms and stretched her back. This left an easy target for the whip to hit. The punisher stepped back from Mingzhu, marveling their own precision at their work of tying her.


    ¡°This brings back memories,¡± Mingzhu muttered to herself. The ghost sting of her father¡¯s whip tingled her scars.


    Someone else ¨C also secured by bindings ¨C chuckled breathlessly beside her.


    ¡°Did you come from a bad family or had a terrible master?¡± Disung said too merrily for the situation.


    Unlike Mingzhu, his clothing had been ripped apart so his bare skin glistened in the sun. This ensured the punishment would be harsher and leave scars. The tainting of skin in maids demoted them but for a soldier, if given outside battle, served as a reminder of wavering loyalty to the emperor.


    Why is it him? Mingzhu wondered. Do the gods hate me that much? His presence at the Lotus Palace worried her. Curiousity and fear filled Mingzhu. No matter how many times her mind pondered over it, she struggled to understand how he lived. Or why he was here. Nevertheless, she couldn¡¯t ask him. The mission would be put at risk. Instead, she avoided him. He should hate her because of that day and she couldn¡¯t die just yet.


    ¡°You already know the answer.¡± Mingzhu gasped the last word, surprised by the foot roughly pushing her head down.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Miss Tang spoke about misbehaviour and defiance towards the emperor. The spiel continued for minutes, encouraging a crowd to gather. Then, whips slashed at both Disung and Mingzhu. The bite of pain dragged along Mingzhu¡¯s shoulder to her opposite hip. All her body tensed, silently fighting against the onslaught. You need to scream, Mingzu reminded herself silently and swallowed her pride. The image of her father appeared and her fear escalated. You must appear weak. Remember the mission.


    The next lashing came just as powerful in the opposite direction, creating a red ¡®X¡¯ under the maid¡¯s clothing. This time, after slight hesitation, Mingzhu yelped and cringed at the helplessness in her voice. The prickly pain on her back lingered and helped fuel her cries. It felt like a burn.


    The fire engulfed the building, the flames licking the walls. Dark smoke filled the room. Mingzhu felt groggy. Her body refused to move. Breathing became difficult. Each limb remained heavy. In her blurry vision, she saw Cheng save Juan. He carried her away, uttering words of safety. Mingzhu wanted to scream for help. A pillar collapsed near her, covered in flames. The heat rippled across Mingzhu¡¯s skin. The fire inched closer to eat her alive. Cheng left her to die. He wasn¡¯t coming back.


    For some absurd reason, the man next to Mingzhu screamed and tried his best to keep the pitch high. This earned him a harsher whipping from his own punisher. When Mingzhu dared to look, she saw Disung grin, somehow implying the yelling was a game. The loudest cry became the winner. Mingzhu hid her smile, finding the idea ridiculous. Of course he found fun in dire situations. Just like his father. Before she could stop herself, Mingzhu indulged in the game and screamed louder, happy to appear frail.


    The lashings continued until a familiar warm, wet feeling covered Mingzhu¡¯s back on the fifth and final lash. Blood stained the cheap undergarments and the onlookers hollered and cheered, placing bets on how long until the maid fainted.


    ¡°I wonder if she¡¯ll be that boisterous with her lover!¡± Someone exclaimed in the crowd and Mingzhu wanted to crawl in a hole and die. Her pride shrieked.


    ¡°No man would want that mauled back!¡± Someone else criticised.


    The uniform ripped, revealing part of Mingzhu¡¯s skin. Scars riddled her back, from various fighting wounds to animal bites. Each had glazed over into a glorious white line, the reason for its settlement begging to be told. The man spoke truth; no one would ever marry her. Scars were ugly in Shanhe. But Mingzhu didn''t care. She would be dead soon.


    ¡°This is not enough!¡± Xiaoli deemed and turned to the crowd. ¡°Shall we try five more? Or do it until she faints?¡±


    The onlookers approved. Mingzhu felt her loathing grow at a rapid rate, causing blood to violently rush in her ears. Men were violent and horrible. She experienced that first-hand but women were a different breed of evil. For the first time, Mingzhu learnt their true manipulative nature.


    The punisher¡¯s whip dragged along the ground. Mingzhu braced herself, tensing her back and listening intently to behind her. The man cracked his shoulders as he lifted the weapon up again. The whip flicked back, ready to strike. Mingzhu held her breath. Already, her skin wept to stop. The next infliction would be excruciating. The whip came down and¡ª


    ¡°I will take her punishment too!¡± Disung suddenly shouted during his own whipping. It caused Mingzhu''s whip to divert sideways and avoid her.


    The exclamation caught everyone¡¯s attention.


    This isn¡¯t right. Why would he take my punishment? Mingzhu thought, bewildered. Disung should¡¯ve been relishing in her torture and tattered pride. He wants me to suffer in more guilt. That has to be the reason. ¡°I will continue the punishment!¡±


    ¡°Maid, be reasonable. I am stronger and do not fear whippings. A lady with scars will have problems marrying or continuing life in the palace. Reconsider and accept my generosity.¡±


    Mingzhu glared at Disung, her eyes lighter in colour, dictated by her pain. The burning fire, flickering among her irises, captivated those close enough to witness it. Even Disung¡¯s breathing changed. Usually, tears formed a waterfall on a maid¡¯s face at any punishment but Mingzhu¡¯s cheeks remained dry.


    ¡°I. Can. Take. It.¡±


    ¡°Continue!¡± Xiaoli shouted, grasping the opportunity.


    No one made a sound after that. Mingzhu felt blood drip onto her feet with every lash. Lost in pain, she didn¡¯t notice when the five extra lashings finished, nor when the crowd scattered to continue their day. Everyone acted like nothing happened.


    ¡°You must be happy the Fox has returned,¡± Mingzhu blurted out to distract herself from the pain radiating from her back. Already, she felt lightheaded and could hear her father¡¯s disappointment about her weak body. It had been years and his ghost still lingered to taunt her.


    Disung looked flabbergasted. ¡°Do you know the Fox?¡±


    ¡°Do you not recognise me?¡± Mingzhu asked, equally shocked. Was he pretending to be stupid?


    ¡°I am certain I would remember a maid who screeches like a demon¡­ Oh, we have met in the study before. You did not scream then so you can¡¯t expect me to recall you instantly,¡± Disung replied.


    ¡°You truly don¡¯t remember¡­¡± How did he not? They grew up together. They were enemies. Then sheruined his life. What happened in the last ten years? ¡°It is better to forget. Heal fast, boy.¡±


    Interrupting at a perfect moment, Meifan ran over. She sobbed hysterically as she released Mingzhu from her binds. Meanwhile other servants assisted with Disung. Neither Disung or Mingzhu exchanged words as they separated.


    Inside the servant chambers, Jiang''s treated Mingzhu¡¯s wounds. The woman was a firm believer in tough love. The ointment was roughly applied. It made Mingzhu grit her teeth. Blood ruined the sheets and Meifan collected them to wash.


    ¡°Rest,¡± Jiang instructed and bandaged the wounds. ¡°But don''t think I will let you slack when you return to your duties. Understand?¡±


    ¡°Please stay in bed,¡± Meifan begged when Mingzhu fixed her garments and left the room.


    ¡°I am not a weak slave. I do not need rest,¡± Mingzhu snarled before she left, irritated by the humiliation of the public display.


    Embarrassed seemed too lenient of a word for the endless shame felt. She slammed her fist abruptly into a wooden beam once outside. The sharp sting and tension in her fine bones felt refreshing. Mingzhu attacked a tree too, exerting her sizzling fury. She vowed never to be humiliated the same way again.

 Chapter 10: Fox and Alpha

    The Fox hadn¡¯t reappeared for weeks. A fool likely left the token on the Divine Gate, not the actual assassin. The emperor convinced himself of this and diminished his worry. Seamlessly, he returned to his usual routines and even arranged a meal with his immediate family.


    The feast occurred in the communal room; a buffet of meats, vegetables, grains and fruits stretched across the long table. Each plate looked like it floated on water because of the intricately weaved, blue cloth. On every side of the table, a member of the royal family sat. Weishan watched from the end, his eyes continuously returning to this son.


    All the prince¡¯s characteristics derived from his mother, the imperial concubine. Instead of burly and stoic features, his were sly and pleasant to the eye. No doubt his children would be as beautiful as he but hopefully, didn¡¯t have the same mismatched brown eyes. They startled everyone. At least, since training the mountains, he had a reputation that people feared as well.


    ¡°The marriage,¡± Weishan thought aloud. ¡°It shall be this year, after the hunt.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡± Qiaolian said.


    ¡°It is time. I will personally announce the wedding of Hong Huli and Ju Xiaoli,¡± Weishan elaborated. ¡°We should not delay anymore.¡±


    The empress, Wang Yenay, smiled politely before she spoke. ¡°If I may be so bold to ask, why the sudden decision? The Crowned Prince and Miss Ju have been betrothed since they were ten and eighteen. It has been seven years since then.¡±


    ¡°Are you questioning my decision?¡± Weishan scolded and Yenay dropped her head in shame.


    ¡°May I ask why since it is my affair?¡± Huli interrupted.


    ¡°You are all nosy,¡± Weishan sighed. ¡°Fine. I will explain, to you, my son. You are aware of my plans regarding Linlong. If I am to rule elsewhere, I will need a prime minister to monitor the people far away. If I die in battle, I need my son prepared for the throne and producing heirs.¡±


    Huli nodded, unable to hide his pleased smile. He raised his goblet of wine. ¡°Shall we cheers to this occasion, father?¡±


    ¡°To our wonderful future!¡± Weishan drank from his cup. During this, Qiaolian looked to her son, utterly satisfied and thankful for this turn of events.


    The rest of the evening stayed merry and the royal women did not utter another word, especially the empress. She excused herself early, Jiang rushing over to help her to her feet. ¡°Husband. Madam. Prince. I feel unwell and will retire to my chambers. Thank you for the wonderful meal.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. Best to leave then,¡± Weishan slurred, waving her away.


    ¡°It is a blessing you have such an attentive housemaid. I am sure she always takes extremely good care of you,¡± Qiaolian said, a wicked gleam in her eyes and fake smile plastered to her face. Only Jiang and Yenay understood the hidden meaning. "You are lucky the emperor has allowed her to visit so often."


    Weishan ignored his wives¡¯ petty bickering and continued drinking. It had been this way for years and although he loved them both, he did not care for the drama between them. The empress was a kind soul but the concubine gave him a healthy son. To involve himself meant favouring one over the other and it would cause more problems. Women were bothersome creatures and soon, he left both of them for the night. Neither accompanied him.


    The moon rose high in the inky sky when Weishan returned to his personal chambers. Through the window, the stars winked at him and the crickets cheered about his clever plan involving Linlong. He revised the details over and over in sleeping robes, proud about the tactic. The recent meeting ¨C held because of the Fox¡¯s absence ¨C lasted an entire afternoon. The council developed a strategy of attack, discussing army compositions and back-up plans to ensure success. Cheng kept quiet the whole time, as if something weighed on him, but Weishan didn¡¯t care. It gave him more time to exploit Joaolong. The man lived up to his reputation as a great strategist and when war came, he would be a valuable asset. Weishan applauded himself on agreeing to let his wife save the weak, thin boy from the country all those years ago.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    A whistled tune distracted the emperor. "Stop that! You disturb the emperor!"


    The song continued and the Weishan¡¯s mood soured. He walked up to the door and opened it to yell at the guards. To his shock, the figure seen through the paper lining of the door was just a plant¡¯s shadow. The emperor looked down the hall and saw someone turn the corner, the whistling tune following them.


    ¡°You there! Cease this immediately! That is an order from the emperor!¡±


    The mysterious whistler ignored him. Weishan pursued. Patrolling guards followed too, anxious about their emperor. Finally, the mysterious person stopped inside the main hall.


    The room''s beams were circular and made of marble, adorned with silver embellished leaves and vines. This pattern matched the cornice, gleaming in the firelight. A pale blue carpet led directly to the throne, illuminated by silver torch holdings that looked like lotus leaves. In the white throne sat the Fox. They whistled and lounged, stretching to reposition themselves more comfortably. The lack of respect for the furniture purposely symbolised a lack of respect for the ruler.


    A bamboo pipe met the Fox¡¯s lips. They blew and a dart hit a guard. He fell to the ground. The Fox did the same process again. The other soldier fell lifelessly. Then, a knife plummeted through the air towards Weishan. He gasped. The blade slammed into the main door, swinging it shut.


    ¡°Y-y-you! Assassin! Assassin in the palace!¡± Weishan yelled and tried to leave. The Fox was too quick. They threw two small daggers with precision to land either side Weishan¡¯s head, forcing him to remain still. A wooden plank fell from the handle. It contained a message.


    We need to talk.


    Weishan shook in fear when he faced the Fox. The assassin beckoned him forward and cocked their head. They pointed to the ground, requesting the emperor to kneel.


    ¡°How dare you!¡± Weishan shouted.


    The Fox withdrew a needle and threw it at the emperor, clipping his ear. Weishan¡¯s heart skyrocketed. His ear tingled. He felt a warm wetness. When he checked it with his fingers, he saw bright red blood. In an instant, he fell to his knees, defeated. Then, another token landed near him.


    You have misbehaved quite a lot, Hong Weishan. I am not pleased.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you''re talking about,¡± Weishan replied. The Fox exhaled audibly, disbelieving the lie. They dropped more planks on the ground.


    You plan to break the promise to keep peace between Shanhe and Linlong.


    Shall I tell the other Mountain Masters?


    ¡°You are rogue! You wouldn¡¯t¡ª¡± Weishan stopped himself. The Fox would definitely kill him if he argued. The humiliating situation caused the emperor¡¯s face to turn red. Infuriated, he clenched his knuckles so tightly until they turned as white as the moon. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    The Fox smiled; they had complete control of the emperor of Shanhe.


    The girl, Bai Juan. Wife of Zhao Cheng.


    How did she die?


    ¡°She tried to taint the reputation and poison a member of my court. Zhao Cheng barely escaped her wrath, killing her to defend himself. My concubine confirmed it! Zhao Cheng killed her to defend himself!¡± The Fox shook their head and Weishan saw an opportunity to gain advantage. ¡°Why are you so interested in this woman? Was she a lover?¡±


    Suddenly, the Fox threw another message with excessive force. It almost splintered and injured Weishan. The emperor flinched.


    Continue to rule peacefully. Break our promise and I will retaliate as severely as necessary.


    By the time Weishan finished reading, the Fox had vanished into thin air. The emperor yelled out, running from the main hall. Guards and servants groggily greeted him, either drugged or asleep. Weishan vented his frustration out on a personal eunuch, punching him and kicking him to the ground.


    The man cowered and huddled into the ball, trying his best to not cry. Blood trickled down his nose and his whole body shuddered. The emperor kicked him in the stomach one last time before redirecting his attention.


    ¡°I should have you all beheaded! I was with the Fox! Where were you?¡±


    The guards remained silent, acknowledging their mistake.


    Weishan savagely gave them orders, blinded by rage. ¡°What are you doing? Find him! Find the Fox!¡±

 Chapter 11: Escape

    The night seemed too peaceful. Disung lazed on the roof of Joaolong¡¯s residence, restless. No breeze cooled his skin nor noises startled him. Nothing appeared odd. Then, an explosion of shouts alerted Disung to act.


    ¡°Ah-ha!¡± he exclaimed to himself, knowing his gut instinct never failed. Without hesitation, he ran towards the chaos.


    For many nights under the watchful eye of the moon, he waited for the assassin to reappear. Dreams of his father¡¯s death plagued him and his mother¡¯s tears brought a fierce determination to avenge his family. He could still hear the screams of his village fall into destruction because of the Fox. Tonight, he would get his revenge.


    The Fox ran outside the imperial building. The mask sent a cold sweat down Disung¡¯s back. Fierce eyes met his. His hiding spot ¨C in the shadows of plants ¨C turned useless and he stepped into the moonlight.


    ¡°We meet again, Fox.¡±


    The Fox attacked. They readjusted themselves to a strong stance and lashed out with a twisted punch to Disung¡¯s face. When this was blocked, the assassin swung their right leg. It hit Disung in the ear, shifting him off-balance.


    ¡°I just wanted to talk in peace but I see that you disagree,¡± Disung muttered, trying to keep his voice nonchalant despite the pain echoing in his head.


    Disung lunged and the Fox backed up, relying on agility and quick thinking rather than brute strength. Their defensive stance appeared unstable and ever-changing, which seemed impractical in combat. It confused Disung but nevertheless, he didn¡¯t stop. He tried a few times to hit the assassin with the palm and ridges of his hand. On the fourth try, he made contact with the Fox¡¯s sternum. They stumbled back. Then, seeking an opportunity to escape, used the closeness of pillars to glide them onto the roof. Disung grabbed their foot, delaying the escape. The Fox tripped over but managed to push themselves onto the tiled roof.


    ¡°After all these years, you have not changed at all,¡± Disung spat as he joined his opponent and landed a heavy strike on the Fox¡¯s ribs.


    ¡°Do you not remember? You made a family into a widow and father-less son! You destroyed a village full of innocent people!¡±


    Finally, he felt it. The trigger for that familiar tingling was always an emotion, such as rage or desperation. It ate away at his conscious and left him nothing more than a beast, removing the carefree smile from his face and leaving a bloodthirsty glare. Everything slowed and out of habit, Disung focused primarily on reading an opponent¡¯s movements and actions rather than fight. After, he would copy and use the same style to defeat them into humiliation. This technique earned him the name ¡®¨¤nsh¨´¡¯.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    However, it took longer to process the Fox¡¯s fighting pattern. The style strayed far from traditional fighting of Shanhe. They reacted with light-footed movements and used multiple, small jabs aimed at pressure points or joints to harm the enemy. The most difficult part was balance; the fighting stance seemed fluid, changing constantly. The Fox used a foot or hand to move around and add power to their attacks; the style looked like a performance. All these technical elements would¡¯ve taken years to master.


    Too focused on this analysing while blocking the swift attacks, the Fox hit Disung just above his knee. He buckled over, losing full function of his leg and struggling against a sudden pain in his lower abdomen. During this neutralisation, the Fox fled.


    Disung swore. When the pain in his leg subsided, he joined the guards patrolling. It would be useless to search alone and be ambushed; the Fox could kill him. I let him get away, Disung thought angrily himself, gripping his blade handle tighter. Father, I vow to avenge you. I won¡¯t let this murderer escape me.


    Just as the soldiers agreed to check Lady Gaze, the empress emerged from the imperial building. She had retired for bed, her hair swaying on her silken robes and the painted symbol on her head smeared off. Jiang followed behind, an unreadable expression on her harshly featured face. Strangely, she didn¡¯t wear her usual maid uniform and instead, had a lovely, turquoise gown. The other maid with them wore a semi-sheer teal material to cover her face. There was something suspicion about their ill-fitting clothing and how close she stood near Jiang. Disung couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Yet, no one else batted an eye.


    ¡°Empress,¡± Disung greeted and dropped to his knee. ¡°It is not safe to be outside.¡±


    ¡°I heard the Fox was inside the building and panicked. To stay inside would mean I trap myself. It is fortunate that I ran into you, Liu Disung.¡± The empress smiled kindly, her voice gentle.


    ¡°I will summon a guard for your protection immediately,¡± Disung replied and stood. Unease burdened him about the maid accompanying the empress. Jiang always kept close beside the empress, not other maids.


    ¡°That is not necessary. My concern is Wang Joaolong. Please return to his side, as is your duty. I fear the worst if the Fox attacks him when he has just recovered.¡±


    ¡°I understand. Excuse me, empress.¡± Disung turned his back unwillingly and prepared to leave. Too late, he realised he should have trusted his gut instinct.


    The strange maid flew out of the ill-fitting disguise. The material pooled on the ground, revealing a black outfit. They put their fox mask back on as they ran into the darkness of Lady Gaze. Almost everyone, including soldiers and Disung, were too stunned to act instantly. For the second time that night, Disung lost the Fox.

 Chapter 12: Empresss Secret

    Inside the main hall, the councillors and royal family prepared for a meeting. The emperor sat on his centred throne, in front of a painted mural of mountains, rivers, flowers and a hidden water dragon. An untidy beard sprouted from his face, looking like pepper was cracked on his face. At every unexpected noise, he flinched; the Fox¡¯s visit deeply disturbed him, despite the days that had passed.


    Meanwhile, on his right, the empress remained calm and waited elegantly on a cushion, placed on a higher podium. She looked like a doll in a blue dress and had stunning features that, like wine, got better with age. A huge smile lit up her face upon seeing Joaolong in the crowd but quickly faded under the imperial concubine''s scrutiny.


    The imperial concubine sat on the far left of the emperor, her posture stiff and tense. A sensual atmosphere constantly floated around her, still captivating men. Dark rouge robes emphasised her petite figure. Her hairstyle, similar to the empress, showed her noble rank by being completely tied up and adorned with silver hairpins. This jewellery matched the prince¡¯s crown.


    The prince lounged on his cushion, appearing more comfortable with power like his mother than the emperor. Arrogance oozed from his judgmental gaze towards the council. His startling eyes unnerved everyone; the left iris was a warm honey colour, while his right was a cold russet. They constantly flickered over the men in the room during the meeting.


    The first part of the meeting explained a bias truth about the Fox¡¯s visit. Many councillors expressed their shock and cooed their concern over the emperor. Joaolong sensed added details and overdramatisation in the retelling. Still, he continued to listen intently, deciphering the important facts.


    ¡°Master Wang Joaolong!¡± Weishan beckoned. Joaolong walked passed all the standing council and kneeled before the emperor at the end of the narrow, navy carpet. ¡°I seek your guidance on this matter.¡±


    ¡°Your majesty. Please specify your needs,¡± Joaolong replied.


    ¡°News of the Fox may reach Linlong royalty. If they learn about the Fox¡¯s visit, false assumptions may be made about a war and they could attack.¡±


    Linlong already knew of this visit. Since he had so many enemies in Shanhe, Joaolong created allies in Linlong. Only those closest to him were aware of this dangerous ploy. He risked his life by keeping this alliance.


    ¡°We must give them a reason to put trust in Shanhe. I suggest we solve this with marriage between heirs.¡±


    Noise erupted from the councillors. Yenay interfered in a soothing tone. ¡°Let him speak. It is best to have a shield and a sword rather than two daggers.¡±


    Joaolong elaborated his suggestion, despite the councillors shouts of anger. ¡°I have been considering this for a while. Instead of a war to merge kingdoms, we unit them through a wedding and slowly take over through peaceful strategies. I suggest that a marriage be arranged between the eldest Princess of Linlong and only Prince of Shanhe. We can contact Linlong to suggest this before someone else takes the lady as their wife.¡±


    A chorus of gasps followed the last sentence and the concubine''s eyes bulged, barely held in their sockets. At a rapid pace, her face turned an unflattering shade of violet. ¡°What treachery do you speak of? You are throwing the Crowned Prince to the enemy!¡±


    ¡°It would be an offering from both kingdoms to form a treaty,¡± Joaolong explained steadily.


    ¡°That is preposterous,¡± Huli argued. ¡°Nothing good will come of it. Linlong won''t increase the supply of produce over a wedding. Father!¡±


    Joaolong inwardly sighed. ¡°Please consider it, your majesty.¡±


    As expected, the emperor did not. ¡°We will not wed the Crowned Prince to outsiders. His marriage has been predetermined.¡±


    ¡°Permission to be dismissed,¡± Joaolong said.


    ¡°Permission granted,¡± Weishan said. ¡°Does anyone else wish to speak about Linlong attacking?¡±


    Many councillors all fought to provide their opinion, most not part of the war meetings. These exclamations only fueled Weishan¡¯s desire for war and the more attacks suggested, the more the emperor grinned. Joaolong felt the meeting only brought destructive thoughts, unlike his talk with empress later on.


    Late at night, Jiang escorted him through Lady Gaze to a secret room to meet the empress; although family visits weren¡¯t unusual, Qiaolian loved turning innocent exchanges into plots to overthrow the emperor. In the past, the empress had nine different trials about treachery because of Qiaolian¡¯s lies. Hence, she learnt to remain careful with her actions.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Rise. There is no need for formalities,¡± Yenay said when Joaolong bowed.


    In the dimly lit room, a tea set covered the table. The empress poured tea for both of them and added nectar ¨C her favourite ¨C to sweeten the taste. She offered a range of desserts too, fussing over Joaolong like a grandparent doting over their grandchild. This behaviour made her live up to her name; ¡®she who loves¡¯.


    Joaolong returned this love unconditionally. Their distant and likely falsified bloodline did not matter to her. She treated Joaolong like a son and so, he returned her affections with a warm smile. Without her, he would already be dead in a failing rice field.


    ¡°How is Liu Disung?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Same as always. Reckless. Stubborn. Determined.¡±


    ¡°As long as he is well,¡± she replied. ¡°How is your health? I got notice that you were ill.¡±


    ¡°Summer is better than winter but spring is the silent killer. There is too much pollen in the air and I was fortunate to only have symptoms for a few days,¡± Joaolong lied. ¡°I am more concerned over your welfare. I heard the Fox used you to escape.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Of course. Just before, Jiang and I were laughing about how the Fox sacrificed his dignity to dress in female clothes. He is quite resourceful.¡±


    ¡°The Fox threatening you isn¡¯t something to joke about,¡± Joaolong replied, worry evident in his tone.


    ¡°Things are always not as they appear.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You are aware of the hunt commencing shortly,¡± Yenay said instead, avoiding the topic.


    The hunt occurred for generations, turning into an annual tradition in Shanhe. The grandest kill won a request from the emperor. All men, from any status, participated in hopes of changing their life by this favour. Yet, the game was dangerous. Deadly animals were herded into the hunting area and men killed other participants without consequence. To enter meant risking your life.


    ¡°I am begging you to participate.¡±


    Joaolong remained still except for his brows, which knitted in confusion. ¡°Why would you request this of me, knowing my constant poor health? Choose Liu Disung. He could easily win. Then your wish has a higher chance of being granted.¡±


    ¡°It has to be you,¡± Yenay replied firmly. ¡°The emperor will stop at nothing to conquer Linlong. If the Linlong royal family is wiped out, he can rule it while the Crowned Prince becomes a minister for Shanhe until it is his time to rule. In my heart, I believe Hong Huli will not be a great ruler. I also have doubts about the emperor¡¯s real intention and words. I love him but I can¡¯t love what he does. I need your help.¡±


    The empress passed a bundle of cloths to Joaolong who unfolded them cautiously. Inside was a long, jade token of a lotus flower, combined with the description of ¡®True Prince¡¯. ¡°This is¡ª¡±


    ¡°The token of the lost prince,¡± Yenay stated.


    ¡°I thought it was buried with your son. I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    Every person in Shanhe knew about the tragedy of the true prince. The empress, after many miscarriages, finally gave birth to a tiny baby boy. It brought great joy to the kingdom, for the true heir ¨C born from the empress and emperor ¨C of Shanhe arrived. No one cared about Huli''s presence. A few months later, the prince died. A snake sneaked into his crib and bit him, causing the infant to be forever lost in slumber. The whole kingdom shared Yenay¡¯s grief and supported her sudden interest in helping orphans. No one was surprised when she adopted a child from the countryside.


    ¡°You are all I have left and the person I trust most with this secret. There is something inside the jade.¡±


    Joaolong turned the long pendant over and found a long crack at the bottom. Inside, a thin stone slid out. This looked like the exact same rock as the emperor¡¯s secret scroll about the Masked Masters. On it, Yenay¡¯s handwriting carved out a message.


    The Fox has taken my son, the true heir of Shanhe, to safely reach manhood. On his return, the truth shall be revealed.


    Wang Yenay.


    ¡°This is a monumental secret,¡± Joaolong muttered in shock. It felt impossible to wrap his head around everything. The true heir lived. How could it be? So many people attended the burial ceremony. No one suspected anything.


    ¡°After two and a half decades, the day has come for my son to be revealed and bring peace to Shanhe. I need you, my last relative, to win the hunt and request the true heir''s identity to be revealed. Only then, I will say his name aloud and confess his location. This token will be enough proof to the emperor and maybe, my son will rule before the war begins. I beg you to do this for me.¡±


    ¡°Is this why the Fox returned?¡±


    Yenay smiled; her face looked full of knowledge and wisdom. ¡°The Fox is as complicated as a stream in winter. It wants to flow freely but the weather freezes it.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean the Fox and Masked Masters have different intentions?¡± Joaolong asked. Yenay never acted mysterious or unwilling to share. It baffled him.


    ¡°Keep it safe,¡± Yenay said and gestured to the token.


    Joaolong clasped Yenay¡¯s ageing hand, tenderly stroking her with his thumb. ¡°Focus on your safety before anything else. I will focus on this wish and do my best to fulfil it.¡±


    After Joaolong hid the pedant in his robes, they continued to have tea. The conversation remained light, discussing palace life or Joaolong¡¯s childhood. However, they couldn¡¯t bask in each other¡¯s company for too long. After an hour, Yenay retired to rest.


    ¡°How is empress?¡± Disung asked curiously when Joaolong emerged from the room.


    ¡°Weak,¡± Joaolong replied simply. ¡°I do not know which I fear more: the emperor¡¯s intentions or empress¡¯s plan.¡±


    ¡°Did the empress suggest I marry a fair maiden? You must be jealous that I will belong to someone else,¡± Disung boasted, attempting to ease Joaolong¡¯s stress.


    ¡°No one would want to marry a savage like you,¡± Joaolong replied half-heartedly.


    ¡°I am popular among the ladies. One whisper that my name is Wang Joaolong and they flock at my feet. Be careful in public from now on. I broke a few hearts with that alias and some maidens will claw your eyes before kissing you again.¡±


    Joaolong welcomed the jest. Dark clouds were forming overhead and he had to prepare. The alive, true heir would bring great, irreversible change to the Lotus Palace. Yet, since it was the empress¡¯s wish, Joaolong intended to sacrifice everything for it to happen. He would protect the lost prince.

 Chapter 13: Stones for Birds

    The light refracted on the frozen mountain dew. Snow settled on the plants and gave the mountains a whimsical appearance, the beauty outshining the temperature. Mingzhu followed her master unwillingly up the slopes, slipping several times and struggling to warm herself. Master, wearing rags and less clothing, showed no signs of discomfort.


    They stopped at a cleared field, high on the mountain. The strong wind struck Mingzhu¡¯s body and felt like millions of sharp pins. She crouched over, wrapping her arms around herself and facing her back to the wind gusts.


    ¡°Today, you will begin training. Try to take this token¡ª¡± Master said and showed a carved, wooden boy, ¡°¡ªfrom me.¡±


    Mingzhu begrudgingly got to her feet. Her teeth chattered. ¡°I can''t take it off you. I am not a fool.¡±


    ¡°Stop complaining and try,¡± Master instructed and hit her legs with his makeshift cane. ¡°I''ll even loosely tie it on my belt. Each week, the better you get, the harder I''ll hide it.¡±


    ¡°I hate you,¡± Mingzhu said and attempted capturing the wooden boy.


    Master hit her hands way with his makeshift cane. A content smile from him encouraged her to continue trying. Using all her rage, Mingzhu endlessly attacked. In the process, she received several new bruises. Finally, she fell to the ground and accepted defeat despite her pride screaming in agony. The cold seeped into her clothes, matching how she felt inside.


    ¡°You dared attack me directly while you have lost all skills,¡± Master said with a toothy grin. ¡°Patience is a virtue. If your enemy is stronger, it is best to use surprise to cover your weakness. Cunningness defeats brawn. You have a lot to learn.¡±


    ¡°I can''t learn it if you don''t teach me!¡± Mingzhu yelled at him, her temper fueled by failure. ¡°I haven¡¯t trained since I left the clan!¡±


    "Ice is formed over days."


    Mingzhu rolled her eyes at her master¡¯s usual mistake. ¡°Ice that is three feet thick is caused by bitter cold for not only one day. You are terrible with proverbs. Just like you are a terrible teacher!¡±


    Master rubbed his bald head before thinking of another thing to say. ¡°Fall into a well but learn from drowning.¡±


    ¡°Fall into a pit, a gain in your wit,¡± Mingzhu corrected again. ¡°Don''t dare try to say another or I will hurt you.¡±


    Master whacked her on the head with his stick and laughed. Just as he opened his mouth to say another mistaken proverb, she tackled him.


    ¡°Stop it!¡± Mingzhu yelled and woke herself up. She groaned over her sore back. Most of it had healed over weeks but the remaining bruises still caused her pain.


    ¡°Nightmare?¡± Meifan asked, half-asleep.


    ¡°It is nothing worth concern,¡± Mingzhu replied.


    Jiang walked over and kicked both girls, which had become part of her morning routine. ¡°Time for work! Stop being so lazy! Understand?¡±


    At breakfast, the maids were chatty. Mingzhu watched them while eating her gluey porridge. Each girl had some news about the Fox¡¯s visit. Then, another added their theory why he came to the palace. The insight, although mostly rumours and fabricated tales, gave a new perspective for Mingzhu to consider. Yet, it didn''t stop the Fox¡¯s arrival troubling her; no one knew his true intention.


    ¡°Song Meifan!¡± Miss Tang yelled over the gossiping and everyone hushed immediately. Meifan stood and bowed her head.


    ¡°Good morning, Miss Tang.¡±


    ¡°You have been requested by the noblewomen to attend to them today. I trust you behave in their presence.¡±


    If a noblewoman requested a maid, misfortunes were bound to follow. Everyone gave Meifan a pitied blessing as she followed Miss Tang. This left Mingzhu in the company of Jiang for the daily duties. They tirelessly worked and Jiang didn¡¯t converse much. In the past, Mingzhu would have relished this but she had grown fond of Meifan''s innocent babbling. She worried about her and that fearful expression.


    ¡°You are to finish the paths by yourself. I am to attend to the empress,¡± Jiang suddenly said, watching an approaching messenger.


    ¡°Why does the empress want you?¡± Mingzhu blurted.


    ¡°None of your concern. Keep sweeping or I¡¯ll punish you when I return. Understand?¡± Jiang snarled.


    Mingzhu begrudgingly complied. She kept sweeping, diving in and out of deep thoughts. The Fox ruined her training. The emperor recruited more soldiers to guard the palace, enforcing a stricter curfew. Less opportunities arose to practice for the mission. If Mingzhu made one false move, the assassination would be ruined. Then, she would fail the mountain clan. Something had to be done.


    An overhanging branch prodded Mingzhu out of her concerns. The wood stabbed her tender flesh and she cursed. Then, she noticed her surroundings. It smelled sweeter. More shade sheltered her body from the harsh sun. Streams trickled and bird sung. A beautiful array of flowers and leaves were at every turn. She had accidentally wandered near Lady Gaze.


    Loud, feminine voices led Mingzhu towards a new entrance into the garden. She spotted none other than Ju Xioali, along with her two snickering friends, under a large archway. Meifan stood among other attending maids, wearing a gloomy face.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Servant One!¡± Xiaoli hollered. The green material of her robes shimmered from the water¡¯s reflection, attracting the eye of every human and animal. ¡°Pour the tea for us.¡±


    Meifan bowed and obeyed, gulping as she grasped the teapot. Slowly, she filled each cup with the brown liquid and placed it in front of each lady. As Meifan went to move the final teacup, someone bumped her.


    ¡°Ow!¡± she yelped. Hot tea burned her hands. The fine cup fell to the ground, smashing into various sized shards. All the women either gasped or screamed in surprise. ¡°My apologies, Miss! I am sorry! I am sorry! I am so sorry!¡±


    ¡°Stop apologising for your clumsiness and pick up the mess. You would not want me to hurt myself,¡± Xiaoli replied viciously.


    ¡°As you wish.¡±


    Meifan dropped to her knees and collected the pieces. One of the other noblewomen, considerably younger than the rest, bumped her knee into the maid. The shards in Meifan¡¯s hands slipped. Each piece sliced her fingers. Blood pooled in her hands. When Meifan choked on a desperate cry, something inside Mingzhu snapped.


    Without thinking, she threw a rock. It glided towards the women. A teacup smashed. More small pebbles sailed through the air. The women screamed. Mingzhu lost control. Her heart pounded in time with the smashing pottery. Never hurt the hand that aides you, she thought vengefully over and over.


    ¡°Who was that? Come out now!¡± Xiaoli said with bravado. Her whole body visibly shook and colour drained from her cheeks.


    ¡°Fa Huian!¡± Miss Tang roared.


    Any dark satisfaction felt from the destruction fled Mingzhu. She muttered a curse. Slowly, she stood up, trying to think of a believable cover. Suddenly stopping her act showed guilt. Continuing showed defiance. Either choice had a high risk. What should she do?


    Mingzhu threw another rock. ¡°Stop it and leave, scoundrels! I''ll get you! Just wait and see!¡±


    ¡°Fa Huian!¡± Miss Tang grabbed the maid by the scruff of her neck, twisting her around so their eyes met.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Mingzhu mouthed. ¡°Miss Tang. Sorry to disturb you.¡±


    Miss Tang dragged the maid deeper into the garden. When they reached the noblewomen, she threw Mingzhu on her knees. ¡°Explain yourself!¡±


    ¡°I fear there is a grave misunderstanding,¡± Mingzhu said, dragging out her words to create an alibi. ¡°As I was sweeping, I noticed... a few large birds nesting nearby. These animals swoop and become aggressive if anyone harms their young. Someone could get badly hurt in this season. I threw some pebbles to scare them away but misjudged my aim. I was too focused and did not notice the ladies dining.¡±


    ¡°Fa Huian! You broke a tea-set from such immaturity!¡± Miss Tang scolded. ¡°Your actions do not justify your behaviour!¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± Xiaoli said, dusting herself off. ¡°Something must be done. Miss Tang, I suggest a beating to the legs with her own broom. The tool will be a reminder of her true responsibilities and the injury will force her to reflect on her lack of dedication.¡±


    Mingzhu wanted to kill Xiaoli. She had enough humiliation at the whipping display. Yet, she let them force her to the archway beams and conduct the punishment. The broomstick hit her calves relentlessly. It made her lip twitch but she kept quiet, unwilling to show weakness. Even when a glowing red mark appeared, getting angrier by the second, she maintained composure. Just like her father trained. However, he never encouraged such reckless behaviour over others.


    Why did she throw those rocks? When did she start caring about a maid? Was it atonement? In the past, she couldn¡¯t save Juan but at least, she saved this innocent maid. For today. Already, she regretted intervening. It made no difference if she acted or not; Meifan would undergo bullying on another day.


    ¡°Why is it every time we meet, you are in trouble?¡±


    The owner of the voice and Joaolong approached. They showed no astonishment at the scene occurring before them, accustomed to servant punishments. Miss Tang greeted the masters, along with the other women who acted shy. Mingzhu couldn¡¯t determine if this shift in attitude was caused by Disung¡¯s deadly reputation or Joaolong¡¯s handsomeness.


    ¡°Servants are becoming more and more difficult of late,¡± Joaolong stated nonchalantly. ¡°Why is a maid being punished today?¡±


    ¡°She was throwing rocks, Master Wang Joaolong. She claimed it was to chase away the birds but in the process, destroyed a tea set,¡± Miss Tang explained nervously. "As the head-stewardess, I have failed."


    ¡°Miss Ju also got injured because of this!¡± Hong Biyu added unnecessarily, seeking to appear affectionate and caring.


    ¡°Let me see the damage,¡± Joaolong requested urgently, worry evident in his softening eyes.


    ¡°Oh no! It is fine, Master Wang. You should not concern yourself over me,¡± Xiaoli replied bashfully and hid the bloody hand behind her back. The blood on her skin belonged to Meifan, not her.


    ¡°What is the punishment?¡± Disung asked and leaned against the rail.


    ¡°The maid will be beaten until the ladies are satisfied that a lesson had been learnt,¡± Miss Tang replied and continued the punishment.


    Those dark eyes rested on Mingzhu and he took his time checking every inch of her as she got hit. It felt like a butcher eyeing his prized meat for market. Strangely, instead of disgusted, Mingzhu became self-conscious and embarrassed by her red, beaten calves. She scowled. He hated her. He probably looked to determine where was best to stab her. Meanwhile, she acted foolish. Why did she feel like a stupid maiden? She was a warrior of death, not a woman of desire that begged to be saved.


    ¡°I remember you were much louder during whippings,¡± Disung cheekily whispered to Mingzhu. ¡°In the courtyard, your screams won against mine. I owe you a green ring for that.¡±


    ¡°Bastard.¡± The insult accidentally slipped out with the next thrash of the wood.


    Only Disung caught the word. His eyebrows shot up. Mingzhu tensed, ready for a harsher punishment to be demanded or worse: a sincere, grovelling apology. Most masters wanted some form of action to re-establish their power and higher position. The idea made Mingzhu, with a stubborn pride, shudder.


    ¡°Quiet strength suits you. I like it," Disung acknowledged and held her gaze.


    Blood rushed to Mingzhu''s face. She felt her heart beat faster. The way he stared made it seem like he saw past her mask, into her soul. No one else except Master and Juan complimented her like that. Don¡¯t act this way. He hates you for what you did. Form no attachments. This is a trick. Thankfully, another whack from the broom pulled her out of the trance. Disung was dangerous.


    ¡°Master Wang Joaolong,¡± Disung formally addressed, communicating a hidden message through the timbre of his voice. Mingzhu¡¯s master spoke to her in a similar way.


    ¡°If you continue to beat her, she won''t be able to walk and then unable to complete duties,¡± Joaolong stated suddenly. ¡°It would be wiser to compensate the tea seat by withdrawing it from the maid¡¯s food rations, both as of tonight and tomorrow. Also, to do such a foolish action means she has enough energy to distract herself during duties. Miss Tang, you should assign her more jobs for the rest of the day and tomorrow to tire her free spirit.¡±


    ¡°A noble and wise decision, Master Wang,¡± Xiaoli complimented. ¡°Would you care to join us for tea?¡±


    Without another word, he sat beside her on the floor. At the sound of coughing, Xiaoli rubbed his back out of habit. The simple gesture showed their deep friendship. This made Mingzhu mentally categorise Joaolong as an enemy by association.


    Meanwhile, Miss Tang addressed the fading problem. ¡°Fa Huian. Your food rations are hereby withdrawn until the day after tomorrow. When the sun rises again, you shall complete your duties and clean all noble courtyards alone. You are dismissed until I call on you later.¡±


    Mingzhu gritted her teeth. At least if she worked alone, there were chances to train. The idea helped restrain the temptation to hit Joaolong and Xiaoli.

 Chapter 14: Friendship

    No one could sleep on an empty stomach. Meifan stared at the lumpy figure on the floor beside her and empathised. She replayed the day in her head. Xiaoli and the other women were horrible to her, teasing and taunting her skills every chance they could. When she cried after breaking the cup, she could hear the delighted snickers above her and felt so small. The flying rocks were a blessing.


    "Fa Huian, are you awake?¡±


    ¡°Huian stomach replied.


    ¡°Follow me.¡±


    The women sneaked out of the servant chambers, careful not to trod on anyone as they escaped into the cooler air. They came to a bridge and halfway across it Meifan climbed underneath. The dirt compacted near the pillars, providing a safe place to hide. The small space became Meifan¡¯s sanctuary when the bullying got too much.


    ¡°What is this place?¡± Huian asked in wonder.


    ¡°My safe hideaway. I come here when I want to be alone,¡± Meifan explained self-consciously and sat on the ground. She had to squish to the side so Huian had room to join her.


    They listened to the water lap at their feet. Meifan experimentally played with her hands, stretching them until the point of pain and then curling her fingers back up again. Covered in burns and cuts, they looked far from feminine. No man would love her with tarnished skin.


    ¡°Use it.¡±


    Huian nonchalantly offered a thick plant part and a few bandages. It seemed unlike her. She always acted uncaring, ignoring Meifan¡¯s questions while wearing an irritated expression.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Aloe Vera that I found. It will help the burns. Just crack it open and rub on the sap. Hopefully your hands won''t scar. I heard that it''s a curse in the palace to be tainted in appearance.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Meifan''s eyes watered in gratitude. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Let me dress them,¡± Huian said and gently grabbed Meifan''s wrists.


    Just like she instructed, she snapped the long plant part down the middle, revealing a sticky mess inside. Using her fingers, she applied the thick sap to the red and blistered skin. Meifan gasped at the sting but kept still while they were bandaged. It felt like being at home and loved. She missed that feeling.


    ¡°Call me Meifan.¡± Using a first name in Shanhe represented a close relationship between people. Meifan desperately wanted that bond.


    Huian hesitated, her contemplation weighing down the mood. ¡°I refuse.¡±


    "Why?"


    "You do not want to consider me as a friend. I am toxic."


    "You are not! A toxic person wouldn''t save me! A toxic person wouldn''t be healing me! And I wouldn''t have gotten this for a toxic person." Meifan withdrew a bun from her robes and handed it over.


    ¡°Where did you get this?¡± Huian asked as she deeply inhaled the divine smell of bread. Meifan wallowed in shame. ¡°Meifan. Where. Is. This. From?¡±


    ¡°The ladies threw it to me after they retired my service to them. It is their leftovers,¡± she confessed.


    ¡°You took it? Have you no dignity?¡±


    Meifan laughed humourlessly. ¡°We are servants. If you still have dignity, it will only provide you with worse fortune. We withstand torment to survive. Had I not grabbed it, you would suffer. Please eat it.¡±


    An internal fight flickered in Huian¡¯s eyes, her pride unwilling to compromise. Fortunately, her stomach won the silent battle and she shoved the bun in her mouth greedily. When there were no crumbs left, Huian finally spoke again. ¡°I thank you but next time, please do not do this again, Meifan.¡±


    Meifan''s heart sung. Someone said her first name. She felt like a child making new friends again. ¡°We servants must stick together. You saved me today and I owe you everything.¡±


    ¡°You owe me nothing at all,¡± Huian replied quietly.


    "I will repay you one day. My wealthy husband will insist on it to teach our children values." The idea made Meifan smile. She could see herself as a mother, running after several children. They would live in the countryside and the daughters would help her grow rice, while the sons studied in the village.


    ¡°Forget it. We are slaves. No one is coming to save us.¡±


    Meifan sighed; the cold Huian returned.

 Chapter 15: Death Devised

    ¡°What are you doing in here?¡± Cheng asked the ghost haunting him in daylight.


    The name of his wife burned his throat. He watched the maid from afar over the weeks. That unique hair and light eyes reminded him of Juan. It broke his heart. A year passed and he still couldn¡¯t forget her.


    ¡°Master Zhao,¡± Huian greeted but her tone changed octaves when she noticed the other guests. ¡°Imperial Madam. Crowned Prince.¡±


    Huli wandered around the room, dressed in fine blue robes, and appeared more interested in the odd possessions than the maid. Cheng collected items from his travels, from wooden statues to fine silks, and decorated the space with his findings. Every trinket came from a different village in Shanhe with an unusual story. Years ago, the emperor had Cheng monitor the kingdom and border wall, collecting information to form an attack.


    ¡°I do not tolerate thievery from maids,¡± Qiaolian said, assuming the likely reason for trespassing. Her charcoal eyes glared at the girl.


    Huian kept her head low. ¡°I dare not. I have been tasked to clean the courtyards of the palace and saw a water rat enter this building. I feared how it will affect the master so I sought to capture it.¡±


    ¡°A rodent?!¡± Cheng said skittishly, tempted to dash outside. Huli looked at his uncle in disgust. ¡°Did you get it?¡±


    ¡°I have failed you. I cannot find the water rat,¡± Huian replied.


    ¡°How do I know you aren¡¯t lying?¡± Qiaolian asked.


    ¡°You can verify with other maids working nearby.¡±


    This appeased Qiaolian for now, who did not want to remain near a servant any longer. ¡°What are you still doing here? Leave! Go finish your duties! You are excused!¡±


    Huian ran off and Cheng¡¯s eyes followed her. Juan acted just as submissive. Could it be...? No. Mingzhu was defiant and rude. The maid seemed opposite.


    Meanwhile, Qiaolian sat down at the small tea table, her pink and gold robes ballooning around her. A long decorative nail ¨C plated bronze that covered her entire finger¨C scratched the wood, creating a horrid noise. Cheng immediately went to his sister¡¯s side.


    ¡°She looks familiar,¡± Qiaolian mused. ¡°They have the same hair.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Ah. I suppose so. I feared my own imagination¡ª¡±


    ¡°Who are you referring to?¡± Huli asked and joined the discussion at the table.


    ¡°Your uncle¡¯s wife,¡± Qiaolian replied. ¡°You met her a few times. She was like a mouse; small, insignificant and shy¡­ What ever happened to Bai Juan¡¯s sister? Did you sell her to a dance house? Or auction her off as a slave?¡±


    Cheng had to think for a moment, surprised by the question. It had been years since he thought of that aggressive girl. ¡°No. Bai Mingzhu died.¡±


    ¡°Good. I hope by your own hand. Just be careful and stay away from that maid. Although you are a fool, it would be vexing if the whole kingdom believed it. A rumour about you and a maid could ruin many things.¡±


    ¡°What is the true reason you wish to speak to me today?¡± Cheng asked, wanting to be relieved of his sister¡¯s company. ¡°Especially with the Crowned Prince.¡±


    ¡°The empress¡¯s child. I heard he¡¯s alive,¡± Qiaolian said matter-of-factly.


    Cheng almost fell over at the words, along with Huli. ¡°H-h-how can that be? It isn''t possible.¡±


    ¡°It is. My handmaid overheard the empress confessing it to Wang Joaolong but only that wench knows the real identity of her son. Wang Joaolong has something to prove the bloodline. The emperor must never find this out if Huli is to be throned.¡±


    ¡°What do you expect me to do?¡± Cheng asked fearfully.


    ¡°Think. It may be difficult for an egg like you. The empress begged Wang Joaolong to enter the hunt. This is because the emperor respects his words. What can we do?¡± Qiaolian replied. ¡°You are a master in murder.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t kill my wife!¡±


    ¡°Interesting... I was referring to the last emperor''s advisor or do you need me to refresh your memory?¡±


    ¡°T-t-that...¡± Cheng stammered but couldn''t finish his sentence. He still recalled the frail old man in the woods, begging for life.


    ¡°But if you were a real master, the True Prince of Shanhe would be dead in that crib. I should not give you credit at all.¡±


    Cheng sighed, indescribably tired. The powerlessness against his sister felt overwhelming and the hatred he had for her reared its ugly head. She had always been the most conniving of the children. Any acts for power by Cheng were weak in comparison. Their mother made that clear. Soon it wouldn¡¯t matter. If the emperor attacked Linlong, Cheng¡¯s life would change for the better.


    ¡°The answer is simple,¡± Huli spoke, to everyone¡¯s surprise. ¡°If I have the token, nobody can deny my claim to the throne. Wang Joaolong won¡¯t give the token over willingly and knows too much about the royal scandal. We kill him in the hunt. Then, we target the empress.¡±


    ¡°¨¤nsh¨´ will protect him,¡± Cheng replied. ¡°It is too risky. If our men attack and many die while he lives, it will be obvious that we are assassinating him. Then, the token will be found with the wrong person.¡±


    ¡°I will only kill Wang Joaolong,¡± Huli emphasised and played with a rim of a cup. "And this time, I won''t fail."

 Chapter 16: Monsters and Wolves

    Mingzhu whistled while she scrubbed the floor to keep her mind off her empty stomach. Yesterday, she ate nothing. This morning, although permitted to eat, the kitchen-maids refused to serve her breakfast. Likely, they were Xiaoli¡¯s allies. This lack of food started to affect Mingzhu. Every movement caused dizziness. Carrying buckets felt impossible. Scrubbing made her want to give up.


    Today¡¯s duties extended from sweeping to scrubbing every tiled artwork or statue in the palace with a small brush. This left Mingzhu a lone victim to the blazing sun and soon, a headache bloomed behind her forehead. This forced her whistling to turn into a slow hum. She wanted to strangle Joaolong for his advice; she preferred the beating than this torture.


    The only upside to the punishment was access to nobleman¡¯s residence. Miss Tang became too busy to supervise a single maid. This gave Mingzhu an opportunity to explore. For weeks, she wanted answers about her sister. This was her chance.


    When no one came near the courtyard, Mingzhu entered Cheng¡¯s room. The familiar smell of osmanthus hit her. It felt suffocating. The last time she smelled it, she nearly died in that fire.


    Blocking her nose, Mingzhu continued to search for signs of her sister. There were no portraits or memorial items to represent the life they once had. It infuriated Mingzhu and she looked through every crack or box to find a piece of Juan. This led her to the desk at one end of the room. The compartments held nothing but paperwork. How quick you are, Zhao Cheng, to forget the wife you fought so hard for, Mingzhu thought angrily and carelessly messed up the final draw.


    The bottom board moved. Mingzhu pried at it, confused. The fake bottom revealed a secret compartment containing two items; a Fox token and necklace. The wooden animal looked strange, the carving rushed and choppy. Mingzhu knew better than to touch it. But why was it here?


    The necklace also didn¡¯t belong. The beads alternated between jade and wood from a plum tree. The opposite materials complimented each other, as if reflecting the Bai twins. Mingzhu¡¯s mother gave it to Juan while Mingzhu got a rusty blade from her father. That day, she realised how distant she felt from her mother. She still remembered the crushing jealousy over the necklace.


    This is what she came here for today; to retrieve a piece of Juan. Hesitantly, she put it on, feeling weird about wearing the jewellery. It didn''t suit her. Nothing pretty looked good on Mingzhu. It should still be on Juan¡¯s porcelain skin.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Cheng scared her. The necklace fell into a gap between her robes, hiding safely among the material. Mingzhu lied, using a water rat as an excuse. Thankfully, this fooled both Cheng and the royal family. She quickly left in a fluster to continue cleaning.


    The sun rose higher in the sky and the heat increased. Mingzhu continued to scrub outside without complaint. A few mosaic tiles had gotten filthy over the week and she scrapped off the compacted dirt. They depicted the history of the Lotus Palace, showing the influence of each Shanhe emperor. The artistic story looked beautiful along the walkway, placed just before the main imperial courtyard. Yet, they couldn''t keep Mingzhu¡¯s attention.


    "I won¡¯t let you,¡± Mingzhu screamed. ¡°I refuse. We can find another way. There is always a different solution. Your friends could give us shelter and we find some rare herbs...¡±


    ¡°Sister, you must stay healthy. Worry about yourself. This is the only hope we have at living,¡± Juan replied and handed over a bag of rings. They had switched roles; Juan¡¯s composure seemed strong, shown by her blank expression, while Mingzhu sobbed, completely weak.


    ¡°You can¡¯t leave!¡±


    ¡°I must,¡± Juan replied and hugged Mingzhu. ¡°It will be a beautiful wedding and Master Zhao will treat me well. I can live a luxurious life in the palace with enough food to eat and lovely dresses to wear. This is not goodbye but just a new beginning.¡±


    ¡°If he harms you, I will kill him.¡± Juan pulled away and walked back to the carriage nearby. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be left behind without you.¡±


    ¡°Stay healthy and safe. Don¡¯t steal the neighbour¡¯s vegetables. Find a good husband and live a good life. We will see each other again. I will send word.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me! Please!¡±


    ¡°I love you,¡± Juan whispered from the carriage window.


    Pain radiated from Mingzhu¡¯s fingers; someone stood on them. She blinked, returning to reality. Sweat soaked her gown and made it stuck to her healing back. Hopefully it didn¡¯t ruin the necklace. Mingzhu couldn¡¯t bare taking it off now. The wood and jade felt like a connection to Juan. It alleviated the heartache of losing her sister.


    ¡°Fa Huian,¡± Jiang rumbled. She stood above her, ready to rip her junior to shreds.


    A middle-aged woman stood beside her, smiling warmly at Mingzhu. She wore extravagant and flowing cream robes, adorned with embroidered fish and abstract perception of disturbed water in colourful threads. The piece of blue fabric displayed on her chest matched the trimming on the outermost part of the garment. The same blue glimmered in her hair decorations which pinned her thick locks into a unique updo. The hair framed a stunning aged face and the mark of the empress; above a painted green dot and navy line were three red pointed ovals, facing different directions.


    ¡°Head up. You are excused from bowing,¡± Yenay said, her voice chiming like small bells. She even smelled divine, like orchids and vanilla. Mingzhu unfolded herself from the ground and sat back on her heels. ¡°Do you know this maid, my friend?¡±


    ¡°My apologies, empress. She is assigned to work under my guidance. I put faith that she would continue her duties reverently while I was absent,¡± Jiang explained politely but her eyes remained fixed on Mingzhu. ¡°She will be reprimanded severely for slacking.¡±


    Yenay laughed. ¡°There is always one child that misbehaves. Maid, why are you neglecting your duties?¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Mingzhu slurred and shut her eyes to regain her focus. The headache knocked on her skull in fury. It grew to engulf her whole head. ¡°My apologies, empress. I am not feeling well?¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Jing burst out at Mingzhu''s absurdity that the response formed into a question.


    ¡°What was that song you were humming? I have heard that tune before,¡± Yenay said before Jiang could embarrass herself and the maid.


    Mingzhu hesitated. ¡°It is my mother¡¯s song.¡±


    ¡°Ah," Yenay exhaled thoughtfully, her eyes brightening as if discovering a great secret. "Would you teach me to play it? I imagine it would sound divine on a dizi.¡±


    The song sounded whimsical on a bamboo flute. Mingzhu¡¯s mother perched high in trees and played the dizi as the sun rose over the mountains. Meanwhile, her husband watched from below. A sweet smile lit up his face, showing the unwavering love for her. When he turned to Mingzhu, this expression faded and all care vanished.


    ¡°Fa Huian! Fa Huain! Fa¡ª¡± Miss Tang cut herself off at seeing the empress. She joined Mingzhu on the ground, greeting the ruler.


    ¡°What is the trouble?¡± Yenay asked.


    ¡°A slight mess in the courtyards. It is this maid''s duty to attend to such matters today. I did not mean to disturb you,¡± Miss Tang replied softly. Just like Mingzhu a few moments ago, she became lost in awe of the empress¡¯s beauty and kind voice.


    Yenay nodded and reached for Jiang to guide her away. ¡°Do not let me bother you then. Fa Huian, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I hope we meet again.¡±


    When did she learn my name? Mingzhu wondered.


    Beside her, Miss Tang rubbed her temples and gestured for them to leave. She looked worn out, as if drama had increased among maids. There were always sneaky fights and catty behaviour. Her job had to be challenging, especially with entitled, temporary maids.


    ¡°There is a mess in Master Wang Joaolong¡¯s courtyard. A fellow maid accused you but I see now that you''ve been with the empress. I will deal with her later. These girls will be the death of me. Promise you won''t bring me so much trouble in the future. For now, just clean up the destruction before the master notices.¡±


    The courtyard looked horrible; hedges were hacked, leaves and pebbles scattered the walkway and smears of mud ruined ornaments. Mingzhu almost slumped at the sight and the long task ahead of her. However, she could only blame herself for being foolish and saving Meifan. Nothing good came from being kind. This destruction proved that.


    It took several long minutes to figure where to begin tidying up. Surveying the damage from Joaolong¡¯s patio, Mingzhu hummed a song from her childhood. The melody distracted her from the pounding headache and spats of lightheadedness. The tune had a slow tempo, the notes rising and falling in short spurts like leaves rustled by wind. Master loved the song, explaining how it reflected Mingzhu¡¯s mother. She always seemed soft and gentle just like Juan. Mingzhu contrasted greatly. She feared her personality appeared similar to the father she despised. The mere remembrance of him put a foul taste in her mouth. Monster, she thought. He was a monster. The wolves were nicer than he.


    Blackness clouded her vision. A wave of dizziness made her stumble. Any panic took too long to recognise. You are weak, her father taunted in her mind. You are pathetic. A few days without food and you are helpless. I am disgusted. You are no daughter of mine.

 Chapter 17: Garden Message

    <div>


    The maid swayed, like a thin stem caught by a breeze. Disung approached and watched her eyes glaze over the garden. The mess of mud, twigs and pebbles made Disung chuckle. He envisioned Joaolong, who he liked everything tidy and in order, furious by the destruction. Whether a jealous nobleman or plotting assassin did this, Disung didn¡¯t care. His focus remained on the woman a few steps away. She looked sickly and withered, the past few days treating her poorly. However, he swore he saw a fierceness continued to flow from her small figure.


    The contradictory nature intrigued Disung, as did the mystery surrounding her. They didn¡¯t know each other yet she glared at him like an old enemy. For some reason, she did seem familiar. That day in the study, he couldn¡¯t stop staring at those mesmerising sepia eyes. Something gnawed at him but no memories came. How did he know her? Had they met in the past? These tedious questions turned more demanding after the whipping display. She talked about the Fox, as if knowing the relationship between the assassin and him. It perplexed himand then, the impossible idea came to mind; could she be from the mountain clan? This possibilty stopped him from reporting the suspicion to Joaolong.


    ¡°Are you ill?¡± Disung asked.


    The maid was alone. No prying eyes or ears waited nearby. Disung had yearned for this opportunity over the weeks. Finally, he could ask questions. His heart beat fast. A boyish excitement filled him. He could solve a puzzle.


    ¡°Excuse me, Master.¡± The maid stood straight and tried to walk passed him.


    Disung persevered, blocking her path. ¡°You should rest with me.¡±


    A snarl curled the maid¡¯s top lip. ¡°I have a duty to finish, boy. If I recall, it was at Master Wang Joaolong¡¯s request that I complete more work than others.¡±


    Ah. She is angry about that, Disung thought to himself. The change in punishment aimed to avoid pain. Women always cared about scarring and being hurt. Apparently, the maid preferred quick pain rather than maintaining her appearance.Headmired that.


    ¡°I will discuss stopping the punishment with Master Wang and Miss Tang. Your astounding beauty may wither if you continue."


    ¡°My health is not your concern.¡±


    ¡°Then, if you are feeling fine, you can keep me company.¡± Disung grinned at her irritation. ¡°What is your name?¡±


    ¡°That is not a master¡¯s concern.¡±


    ¡°Then, I will have to ask someone else. Imagine the gossip that could come from my interest in a maid¡­¡±


    ¡°Fa Huian," the maid spat.


    ¡°It is a pleasure to finally talk with you, Fa Huian. I am ¨¤nsh¨´.¡±


    ¡°Are you really Liu Disung?¡±


    The question caught Disung off-guard. No one asked or used his real name, except for a few, close friends. How did this maid know it? And why did she want to know it? The theory about her belonging to the mountain clan seemed more and more plausible.


    ¡°If you want me to be, I can,¡± Disung said and winked at her.


    Huain¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°How long have you been at the palace?¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Seven years. How long have you been a slave?¡±


    ¡°I need to return to my duties,¡± Huian replied firmly, implying she reached a silent decision about the information he provided. It made him even more curious.


    Disung blocked her path again. ¡°How long have you been a slave, Fa Huian?¡±


    "Move." Sensing he would refuse until she gave him answers, Huian sighed and rubbed her temples. ¡°Over a month. Move.¡±


    ¡°And how many times have you been punished?¡±


    ¡°Including this conversation? Four times.¡±


    The fearlessness felt refreshing. No one spoke like that to Disung. Everyone in the Lotus Palace were careful with words, especially towards higher ranks. It made life dull. Disung found entertainment in pushing etiquette boundaries and he just met his match. It made him grin.


    ¡°Speaking to a master in such a manner is unwise.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see you as a master.¡± The maid¡¯s reply came out as a mumble.


    ¡°What do you see me as instead?¡±


    Huain¡¯s eyes softened for a brief moment. Then, a cold mask came over her face. The response would be an insult. Disung knew it. He anticipated it. The opportunities to openly taunt someone who bickered back were rare. What would she call him? Would she continue defying her rank? What could Disung retaliate with?


    In that moment, Joaolong and Tai joined them. The reply was withheld. Disung wanted to curse. The one time he showed interest in a woman, he got interrupted.


    ¡°Did you forget your duties?¡± Joaolong asked. ¡°I sent you to retrieve a scroll and you fail to return.¡±


    ¡°I got distracted,¡± Disung replied with a wide smile.


    ¡°Are you teasing maids again?¡± Joaolong looked at Huian. ¡°You look familiar. Have we met?¡±


    "We have acquainted in the garden a few days ago. It was your suggestion I pay the disrespect I showed others through more labour and restriction of food rations. I am grateful to learn my lesson with such mercy as you showed,¡± Huian replied monotonously after bowing deeply on her knees.


    ¡°Is my guard hindering your duties?¡±


    Huian glared at Disung. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Joaolong looked at the mess around him and made a dissatisfied noise. ¡°Did you do this to my garden?¡±


    ¡°Joaolong¡ª¡± Disung interrupted, recognising the misplaced irritation.


    ¡°I was ordered to clean the mess by Miss Tang.¡±


    ¡°You have done a poor job. Re-do it until I am satisfied,¡± Joaolong ordered.


    ¡°Joaolong, you can see she is unwell!¡± Disung argued. ¡°I was talking to give her a break. Look at her pale skin and sunken eyes.¡±


    No one appreciated the observation. Huian shoulders bunched her shoulders, ready to pounce and attack. Rigidly, she got to her feet but something in her process faltered. Midway through the action, she limply fell toward the ground. Disung caught her before she injured herself. She felt hot. Her body nestled in his embrace. Huian did not wake.


    ¡°You should have let her fall,¡± Joaolong said over Disung¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°You are too cruel today!¡±


    ¡°Sometimes your stupidity astounds me. Think about where we are and the expectation on treatment to servants. If you are caught conversing flirtatiously with a maid, it will only bring trouble,¡± Joaolong replied and walked onto his porch to view the destruction.


    ¡°I was not flirting.¡± He definitely was.


    ¡°If I had arrived a second later, she would be wiping your drool off the ground,¡± Joaolong retorted.


    ¡°Joaolong, I respect you but I refuse to tolerate misdirected anger. Just because you are stressed by the empress¡¯s wish does not give you the right to treat others unfairly. I am tired of you barking at me.¡±


    Joaolong ignored Disung, staring at the garden instead. ¡°There is something far greater to discuss. Wu Tai! Take the maid back to her chambers. Tell the head-stewardess I order the maid to be fed and left to rest.¡±


    Tai followed the instruction without complaint. Disung felt reluctant to let the woman go. She looked like a harmless pup in his arms.


    ¡°What is so urgent?¡± Disung asked when the servants left. He joined Joaolong on the porch.


    Clasped in Joaolong¡¯s hand ¨C picked up from the table outside his chambers ¨C was a fox token.


    ¡°The Fox is hunting you,¡± Disung concluded darkly. How did he miss that?


    ¡°Because of her,¡± Joaolong stated and revealed the inscription on the back of the wooden item. The name ¡®Bai Juan¡¯ was carved in it. ¡°Now look at the garden.¡±


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a mess.¡±


    ¡°Look,¡± Joaolong emphasised.


    At first, Disung couldn¡¯t see anything but the destruction. However, the longer he stared, he realised why Joaolong remained standing in that exact spot. After moving slightly, the choppy cutting of the hedges and ruined ground aligned to form words.


    Beware the Imperial Advisor.


    ¡°What does it all mean?¡± Disung asked, lost by how the ruined courtyard and fox token aligned.


    ¡°Not all is what is seems. The answer to the Fox¡¯s visit remains with Bai Juan and Zhao Cheng. That means he has business with me too. We must be wary in the hunt. We do not know who to trust."

 Chapter 18: The Hunt

    The annual hunt occurred in the woods to the far left of the palace, away from severe mountainous landscape. It took a half day journey therefore, most people camped the day before, including the emperor. By the time Disung and Joaolong arrived in the afternoon, bright tents littered the field.


    Nothing exciting happened for the rest of the day nor night. Either people drank to hide their nerves or slept early to prepare their bodies. Disung complained loudly throughout his guard duty, wasting time by eating a ridiculous amount of food or playing pranks on drunken people. The acts were harmless but proved his lack of maturity. For this exact reason, Joaolong enjoyed Disung¡¯s company. The carefree attitude encouraged him to forget his own worries, including the empress¡¯s wish. The stress and pressure of this request made it hard to sleep.


    The next day, both men dressed in dark greens and browns to camouflage into the landscape. The cheap fabric ¨C hanging loosely to conceal their weapons ¨C blended with commoners clothing. The only sign of their nobility were the badges on the horses¡¯ saddles.


    ¡°Keep your bow ready to draw from the very start today,¡± Disung advised.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t my first hunt,¡± Joaolong said as he led a black stallion ¨C a present from the empress ¨C to the arena.


    Disung shrugged. ¡°I have a feeling today will be different from previous years. More dangerous than ever before.¡±


    Overnight, the open area transformed into a half-fenced yard. The emperor oversaw everything from a substitute throne on a makeshift platform. Already, many men stood on the grass, ready to charge into the forest. The line into this area wound for metres. Men walked through a small entrance on the fenced side and gave a worker their identification documents for verification. This gave solid evidence to families to confirm whether their relative died in the hunt. Last year, not all bodies were found.


    ¡°Master Wang Joaolong! ¨¤nsh¨´! Join us,¡± Huli invited when his eyes spotted Joaolong entering the arena.


    The prince and a few younger noblemen, both from the palace and imperial city, had gathered together in front of their horses. Their clothes, although plain in colour, oozed wealth from the material glimmer, patterns and intricate embroidery. Joaolong raised his eyebrows at their outfits. Only fools paraded their fortune in a hunt full of varying status and no rules. It made them targets for thievery.


    ¡°I fear my company isn¡¯t preferred especially with a reckless guard. It would be a disgrace,¡± Joaolong replied when he approached.


    ¡°We were just discussing your guard. It seems he has been mischievous. I heard he played games with other competitors. Mao Gengxin was just confessing that ¨¤nsh¨´ hid his weapons and left little clues as if it were a child¡¯s treasure hunt. He had to climb a tree to retrieve his sword.¡±


    The men all chuckled, the alcohol in their hands helping raise their spirits.


    ¡°I hope you will not punish ¨¤nsh¨´. A great warrior needs practice in different scenarios to keep sharp. These actions were as harmless as they are foolish,¡± Joaolong said.


    ¡°I understand but I cannot be so merciful next time. Thank fate that he misbehaves during a merry occasion or else I wouldn¡¯t be forgiving,¡± Huli replied, showcasing his authority. ¡°Drink?¡±


    Disung stretched his hand out towards a goblet. ¡°I would gladly accept¡ª¡±


    ¡°We must not or I fear we embarrass ourselves,¡± Joaolong interrupted and restrained his guard.


    ¡°There is nothing wrong with a drink of comradery before a grand event. I am the Crowned Prince and you will drink if I order you.¡± Huli filled a cup that matched his own with contents from a flask. On this cup, a gem had fallen off but Joaolong didn¡¯t dare mention it. Growing up in the palace gave him the experience of Huli¡¯s short temper and wrath over small things. Once, Huli''s toy sword got covered in cobwebs and he beat a eunuch until blood splattered on the ground. The violence matched his father''s.


    ¡°To the most magnificent hunt and those who prosper!¡± Huli cheered.


    ¡°To those who prosper!¡± The chorus of men repeated and raised their cups before drinking.


    The wine tasted incredibly strong, fermented over a long period of time. It burned Joaolong¡¯s throat and he gagged at the lingering sweetness on his tongue. However, he forced himself to drink the whole contents. Huli would claim him rude and defying if he left a single drop.


    ¡°Another?¡± Huli suggested.


    The prince¡¯s smile gave Joaolong goosebumps. Their relationship had never been pleasant and the prince only showed pleasure if Joaolong suffered. Something was wrong. If felt like his eighteenth birthday celebration again.


    ¡°Men! Listen closely!¡± The emperor stood and held up his hand, signalling a eunuch to hit the gong. The ringing grasped everyone¡¯s attention. They all gawked at Weishan¡¯s bright red and gold outfit, symbolising happiness and luck for the festivities. The suitability for a day full of bloodshed was questionable.


    ¡°Princes, noblemen, farmers, labourers and others alike. I welcome you to the annual hunt of Shanhe!¡± Applause echoed throughout the area. ¡°Today there can only be one victor and that man will have the honour of his wish being granted. Whether it be a wife, riches or position in the Lotus Place, it can be yours to obtain. How? You must bring back the most impressive kill! But heed my warning: do not be foolish. This is no ordinary hunt. Lurking in these woods are savage creatures and dangerous men. I will let you decide which is more vicious. The hunt will finish in the late afternoon, when the flower has fully bloomed and the gong rings at the final hour.¡±


    The emperor placed a silver, mechanical flower in front of him and winded its small lever. At first, the flower chimed and the bud opened a fraction. By the afternoon, the petals would fully bloom. ¡°Let the hunt begin!¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Another gong ring ignited pure chaos. The crowd spooked the horses, the poorer men ran in frenzy towards the forest and onlookers of the hunt cheered. Three accidental deaths occurred from trampling within minutes. The emperor clapped his hands, enjoying the gruesome entertainment.


    Joaolong and Disung restrained their horses and patiently waited for a clear path. Once the crowd dispersed, they prodded their horses to trot away. Disung sung loudly, annoying the emperor as they ventured into the forest. The song fit the theme of the hunt, telling tale about envy and murder.


    We lived in danger, untouched by woe.


    Our blood ties distant as time flowed.


    In the battles, you found riches while I found a lover.


    Slowly, you grew envious of my plunder.


    Over years we spilled blood but the worst was rather,


    When you killed me, your own brother.


    The upbeat melody echoed around the trees. Days earlier, the first summer rain came. It had blessed the wilderness with nourishment and the greenery looked magnificent. Flowers smiled brighter and raindrops twinkled on every leaf. However, this beauty was a trap. It hid steep slopes, sudden cliffs and deep valleys. Animals weren¡¯t the only thing to fear in the hunt.


    ¡°Keep your bow ready,¡± Disung reminded again, more protective than usual.


    ¡°You are acting strange.¡±


    ¡°I am always strange.¡±


    ¡°Yes but today you are worse.¡±


    ¡°You have a mission from the empress. We cannot fail. Our actions will change Shanhe. There is more pressure than before,¡± Disung explained. ¡°Stop. Deer to our left.¡±


    The men paused near a small stream, watching the sunlight twinkle and animals come to quench their thirst. A water deer drank deeply from the flowing water, poised on the bank. Its fluffy ears twitched, listening for any predators. When it lifted its head, thin, drooping tusks emerged and water droplets dripped from the sharp end. Joaolong readied his bow and fired.


    Archery always interested Joaolong. He found the precision and skill involved admirable. He never intended to learn it though; he only aimed to gain a council position and fight against poisons. Nothing else. Then, Disung suggested practicing archery months after becoming a bodyguard. It provided a form of protection when no one could help. The hunt provided perfect training opportunities over the years.


    The deer bucked. The first arrow sliced through its fur and embedded itself into the animal¡¯s flesh. Joaolong rapidly fired another arrow at its chest. The deer plummeted to the ground. Blood wept from around the arrows. They had their first kill. It would be great bait for something more impressive.


    ¡°Joaolong, you need to practice! You wasted two arrows to bring the deer to the ground. You must get your nose out of books and into exercise,¡± Disung taunted as they dismounted their horses.


    Joaolong playfully shoved Disung¡¯s head away to clear his path to the deer. However, something else had the same idea. A group of men crossed the shallow part of the river bank and waded to the corpse. Disung leapt into action, running clumsily towards them.


    ¡°Hey! Stop! That is our deer! Damn thieves!¡±


    The strangers froze. Water splashed at their knees. All four of the men had thick dark facial hair and similar features, showing they belonged to the same family. The main weapons were small knives, restrained in their belts.


    The leader ¨C a young man with sleek black hair, a patchy beard and aggravated skin engulfed by acne¨C stood up straight. ¡°It was our kill first!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you touch it!¡± Disung yelled and sprinted to the dead water deer. ¡°I will skin your hide instead of the animal!¡±


    ¡°You can try,¡± the man replied, bracing himself to an attack. ¡°Why do you hesitate? Are you admitting you are not the greater man who brought down this kill?¡±


    ¡°I would not say greater,¡± Disung replied and smiled cockily. ¡°I am the greatest. Give up now.¡±


    ¡°Arrogance is a displeasing feature. No wonder you plan to steal our deer!¡±


    ¡°You are stealing our deer! It has two arrows that were shot by my companion. Do not touch our prize!¡±


    ¡°There is a knife on the other side. It proves the kill is ours!¡± The man kicked the deer over to prove his claim. A small blade protruded the animal¡¯s shoulder joint.


    ¡°That shot would not have killed it. Therefore, the deer is ours,¡± Disung argued and moved closer to the corpse, ready to take it.


    ¡°Then I, Han Ying, challenge you to a battle!¡±


    Disung cocked his head, astounded. ¡°Over a deer?¡±


    ¡°We need to win this hunt or our hides will be skinned by someone far scarier than you.¡±


    ¡°So be it. I accept your challenge but get ready for a quick defeat.¡±


    Disung hit his fist into Ying¡¯s unguarded. Winded, Ying stumbled back and Disung whacked his ribs on the right side. It looked too easy. Joaolong watched Disung continue his onslaught against Ying, who struggled to defend himself. He knew Disung withheld most of his strength and purposely toyed with the teenage boy. It wasted hunting time.


    ¡°Disung¡ª¡± Joaolong began to interrupt but lost his words at the sight of a blade.


    Ying withdrew a hidden sword. Disung froze. His eyes bulged. Slowly, he grabbed a long, straight stick from the ground.


    ¡°You will insult me if you use that,¡± Ying said.


    ¡°Which will it hurt more? Your feelings or-¡± Disung grinned and lunged forward. The stick whacked the man¡¯s thigh, ¡°-your bones?¡±


    Embarrassed, Ying charged forward with the sword angled to cut upwards. Disung sidestepped around his barrage of attacks with ease. The desperation to win made Ying¡¯s moves predictable. The sword swung forward to slice his enemy apart sideways but Disung bent backwards, using the stick to support his weight as the sword grazed the air above. Once it vanished from sight, Disung snapped back into a strong stance and prepared to block the next attack. The sword and stick banged together repeatedly as the men bounced on their feet. Ying extended his arm and Disung blocked the blade, positioning the stick to run parallel to his body. Exerting his strength, he flicked the sword over his head and to the other side, then readjusted the stick to withstand the sword¡¯s force. From this angle, Disung had the advantage of using his dominant side. Ying pulled back and raised his sword above his head to strike downwards but it only sealed his fate; Disung closed the distance between them and punched Ying with an uppercut to his chin.


    ¡°Finish him and let us leave,¡± Joaolong said drowsily. He felt uneasy. A tiredness suddenly hit him. Concentrating seemed too strenuous. His eyes became lazy, blurring the scenery surrounding him. What was happening?


    Meanwhile, Disung twisted his body and hit Ying on his side, then his wrist with the stick. This forced Ying to drop the sword. Then, to finish, Disung punched Ying on his nose. A gross crunch filled the air and Ying fell to the ground. Blood coursed down from his nostrils and his pupils dilated. The battle stick pressed at his throat.


    ¡°I yield. You win,¡± Ying groaned.


    ¡°Did you see my victory, Joaolong?¡± Disung asked as he helped the boy to his feet. ¡°Joaolong?¡±


    Joaolong struggled to answer.

 Chapter 19: Two Ways to Die

    <div>


    Joaolong¡¯s body slowly turned numb. A wave of dizziness made him sway. What were they doing here again? The answer seemed unclear, blocked by a mental fog. The last time he felt like this was during the prince''s eighteenth birthday when...


    The realisation hit hard. ¡°I¡¯ve been poisoned.¡±


    Disung looked at him in disbelief. ¡°Are you certain?¡±


    ¡°A man who is often poisoned notices the symptoms. Soon, I will lose control of my limbs and vomit,¡± Joaolong stated. ¡°Section twelve of my journal. I have ingested this poison before.¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re just drunk!¡± Disung yelled in a jolly voice. He shoved Joaolong towards the horse, encouraging him to mount it. During this, he tapped his left knuckle three times; this signalled danger. ¡°I¡¯ve seen ladies drink more than you!"


    Ying stormed over to them, somehow managing not to trip with bruises and blood smearing his vision. ¡°Don¡¯t dare leave! Let us negotiate the¡ª¡±


    Disung grabbed Ying by his shirt and his joints cracked in a threatening manner. Joaolong rarely saw his friend without a smile. The situation must¡¯ve been bad.


    ¡°You shut your mouth. It cannot be coincidental that men have run into us at the same time Wang Joaolong is ill.¡±


    ¡°W-W-Wang? The Master Wang Joaolong?! We did not know anything! We swear! We are just hunting! Then you must be ¨¤nsh¨´¡­¡±


    ¡°That is not important!¡±


    ¡°I cannot see any men,¡± Ying said as he looked around them.


    Disung grimaced. ¡°Because you aren¡¯t a tracker. Believe me when I say there are men coming from higher ground on horses. Probably seven. I cannot defeat them alone when Joaolong is vulnerable. Help me fight them to prove your innocence. If you get injured or die in battle, I¡¯ll provide great compensation. Agreed?¡± Disung whispered. Ying nodded, too fearful to understand what he agreed to.


    Several men came into view in that moment, their horses trudging on the rocky landscape. Their grubby appearance and sneers made them look like bandits. Judging by the expensive, well-crafted weapons in their hands, either they killed a few men before or someone with power hired them. Either way, the battle would be a bloody mess.


    ¡°Tell your men you all fight with me,¡± Disung whispered through bared teeth to Ying. The boy slowly returned to his brothers.


    The leader of the newcomers ¨C whose long, greasy hair flowed freely down his back ¨C smiled and showed his rotting, yellow teeth. As Joaolong gagged, he pointed at him with a dirty finger. ¡°We want that one.¡±


    ¡°Who sent you?¡± Disung asked casually, slipping back into his easy-going manner. He started to drink from a small flask at his waist. ¡°Would you like some wine?¡±


    ¡°Give us the pendant!¡± A gawky man demanded. He pointed his bow at Joaolong. An arrow fired. Joaolong¡¯s body refused to move. He held his breath.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Rip. The skin flask tore open and entangled the arrow. Liquid trickled down Disung¡¯s arm from where he held the material.


    ¡°My wine!¡± Disung whimpered. ¡°Actually I lie. It is only water. But I will be mighty thirsty later.¡±


    "Kill him!" The bandit leader ordered. "He will be no match for dozens of arrows!"


    ¡°You talk arrogantly for someone who had their lackey miss the shot. Go ahead. Shoot. Let us see who dies first,¡± Disung taunted and licked any dripping liquid from his hand. During this, he whispered instructions to Joaolong without arising suspicion. ¡°Stay low and hide. Keep your bow ready. I¡¯ll come when I¡¯m finished here. You are their prey so do as prey do: run.¡±


    The shooter fired another arrow while the horses trotted closer. Joaolong¡¯s black stallion bolted. The arrow narrowly missed.


    ¡°Is that the best you can do?¡± Disung yelled, urging the men to attack him. ¡°A coward attacks from a distance! A man fights face to face!¡±


    ¡°For the renowned ¨¤nsh¨´ and Wang Joaolong!¡± Ying shouted, holding up his sword. Unfortunately, his brothers weren¡¯t as enthusiastic about risking their lives.


    ¡°For that damn deer!¡± Disung added.


    The fight began when Joaolong rode away from the group. Knowing Disung, he would continue the nonsense babble and teasing to aggravate his enemies. No one else used this tactic. The more irritating he acted, the more distracted his opponents became. At least, that¡¯s what Disung claimed. Joaolong suspected that this strategy turned into an unstoppable habit; he loved to rile up his opponents and did it unconsciously. Hopefully, it would help him in battle while Joaolong escaped.


    The horse struggled to gallop on the rocky path. It became difficult to hold the reins steady. Joaolong felt a numbness spread throughout his hands but he tried to maintain a clenched fist. If he fell, it would be the end. However, the haze in his mind fought against his survival instincts. He felt ill. It took all his energy and the sound of arrows to stop from curling up in pity.


    An enemy followed him. Arrows soared through the air. One landed in a tree nearby. Another hit the ground near the horse¡¯s hooves. Then, an arrow sunk into his shoulder.


    ¡°Argh!¡± Joaolong screamed and buckled over. Unable to help himself, he fell off the stallion.


    A steep slope roughly navigated Joaolong downwards until he slammed into a tree. It hurt but not as bad as his wound. The force of the fall caused the arrow in his shoulder to tear more skin and badly splinter into the muscle. Joaolong felt lost in intense pain. He attempted to stop the heavy bleeding and picked at the broken arrow with numb fingers. This proved useless. If anything, the sight of blood made him more squeamish and gag again. His stomach felt on fire. Surviving would be a miracle.


    Joaolong heaved himself up to sit using the tree. Carefully he removed the bow draped around his body. It was ruined, just like him. He couldn¡¯t fight anyone off with it. So, he settled for a small dagger hidden on his waistband. It looked pathetic but he had no other choice.


    A wild boar grunted and squealed to the left. Its body, made of pure muscle, turned towards Joaolong and his gut dropped at the tusks crusted with blood. The beast¡¯s eyes scared him the most; they were red, dilated and savage. The recent hours of bloodshed had prepared it to kill anyone.


    Is this it? Joaolong thought to himself, delusional from nausea and pain. No. I must fight. I cannot fail the empress. He raised his small blade, unable to keep a strong grip in his numb hand. The movement triggered the boar. It ran at him. Joaolong forgot to breathe. This was it.


    In the final moments, Joaolong only recalled the amount of blood dampening his clothes and covering his vision. The animal tore him to shreds. He failed everyone.

 Chapter 20: True Masterminds

    <div>


    Disung grinned, loving the feeling of sore, overworked muscles and an adrenaline rush. It had been awhile since he became like this. When guarding Joaolong, tea occurred more than battles and drove Disung mad. Thus, he rejoiced in the danger and thrill of the annual Shanhe hunt. It was the only day where he spent hours constantly exerting himself.


    ¡°For that damn deer!¡± Disung yelled and charged towards the enemies.


    Majority of the men rode horses, giving them a distinct advantage even on rough terrain. Disung had to act quick and clever to get them dismounted, while avoiding the firing arrows. To his dismay, the archers followed Joaolong.


    ¡°Han Ying! Take care of the others!¡± Disung yelled and bolted towards the escaping bandits.


    ¡°There are five of them! I cannot fight well against one man!¡±


    Disung groaned and threw a blade from his belt. It took all his strength to make the knife reach the closest bandit behind him. It landed near his chest, causing the man to fall off the horse. ¡°Now you have four!¡±


    Meanwhile, the archers kept firing at Joaolong, raising their bow towards the sky to shoot at greater distances. Disung prayed none of the arrows hit the target. He would not live with himself if his friend died. The vow he took years ago to protect Joaolong rang in his ears and he chased the enemies.


    The horses slowed on the rocky track but Disung still struggled to catch up by running. Between panting breaths, he picked up a few fist-sized rocks and threw them at the horses. The force hurt his shoulder. A rock hit one horse and it bucked off the rider, frantic and scared by the sudden jolt of pain. Although it fixed one issue, it caused another; the horse went wild all over the path. To pass, Disung had to go off-track.


    The landscape beside the path either steeply inclined or declined. Disung chose the downward slope. He ran at an angle, using his aching muscles to maintain an awkward grip on the rock. The wild horse faded into the distance and he went back on the track. Suddenly, he heard a cry of pain: Joaolong got hit.


    The noise of a dying friend turned Disung into a beast. The heavy panting subsided and the burning in his muscles lessened. Then, the familiar tingling awakened his body and he ran faster than he ever had before. The last archer came into view and Disung threw another rock, aiming for the horse¡¯s hooves. The horse tripped over the stone, forcing the archer to plummet forward as the animal toppled.


    The archer skidded along the track, grazing most of his bare skin. He caught sight of Disung. Impressively, he quickly pulled himself up and stumbled away, forgetting the mission regarding Joaolong. Disung pursued. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I think we need to have a talk. Who sent you to kill Wang Joaolong?¡± Disung asked when the man trapped himself at a dead end.


    ¡°Argh!¡± Crook ¨C Disung gave him the nickname based on his slanting eyes and askew, broken jaw ¨C shouted and ran forward with an arrow.


    Disung dodged the spearhead easily, keeping his hand behind his back and manoeuvring like a snake. The lazy stance only aggravated the man more and he continued to slice at the air. Disung remained playful, despite feeling light-hearted, and strategically waited for Crook¡¯s energy to burn out. After blood loss, serious injuries and running, he would be utterly drained within seconds.


    ¡°Who hired you?¡±


    ¡°Someone that will soon have more power than anyone!¡± Crook yelled and charged again.


    The men moved together back and forth, Disung refusing to attack. Truthfully, he had a wicked streak and pretended to lose so his enemy¡¯s defeat was more satisfying. The dark entertainment made Joaolong disappointed. As if hearing his friend scold him, he stopped playing with his prey and pinned Crook up to a tree by his neck.


    ¡°Who sent you?¡±


    ¡°Please! Let me live!¡± Disung pressed down harder on Crook¡¯s throat using his forearm. ¡°Zhao Cheng! He hired us! I swear!¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Wang Joaolong has something he wanted! That is all I know! We were to give him all of the man¡¯s possessions! If we did the job, we would be handsomely paid! Please, spare me!¡±


    Cheng knew about the pendant. The garden message from the Fox appeared unwelcomed in Disung¡¯s mind. They were warned about this and by none other than his nemesis. They overlooked Cheng because of the past. This does not mean the Fox is a good man, Disung thought, clenching his teeth. There is something he gains from helping Joaolong. I have to figure it out before he kills someone.


    However, the answer didn¡¯t make sense. Since camping and the start of the hunt, Cheng wasn¡¯t seen. He couldn¡¯t have poisoned Joaolong. Disung stood watch all night and the tricks he played on others were to purposely lure the enemies closer. The only time Disung couldn¡¯t protect Joaolong was with the Crowned Prince¡­


    Cheng, the meek man, was just following Huli''s orders. The removal of Joaolong meant Huli had no threat against the throne. He must¡¯ve poisoned Joaolong by the wine. Disung internally beat himself for not drinking the damn goblet instead. It infuriating him how easily Joaolong became submissive and politically correct at dangerous moments, pushing his etiquette onto Disung. This wasn¡¯t the first time either. Another poisoning occurred at one of Huli¡¯s birthday celebrations. No wonder Joaolong recognised the symptoms; the prince used the same poison from years ago.


    Crook groaned. Disung loosened his grip and the man dropped to the ground. To stop the noise, Disung kicked the bandit across the face to render him unconscious. Now, he had to find Joaolong before Huli did.

 Chapter 21: Wang Joaolongs Saviour

    Since the beginning of the hunt, Mingzhu watched Cheng. She risked everything for a moment with him. He knew truth and she wanted answers. How did you save us during the fire? Why did you marry my sister? How did she really die? All these questions haunted her. She needed closure before the festival. Otherwise, she would die ashamed of her past naivety.


    Cheng stayed alone for most of the hunt. Earlier, he paid a group of bandits handsomely to kill many men. Mingzhu thought nothing of it. The hunt provided the perfect opportunity for assassinations. Everyone took advantage of the danger, just as she planned to do.


    Quietly, she raised her throwing knife. She didn¡¯t plan to end his life. Yet. The idea of killing someone still terrified her. It reminded Mingzhu of her father. All those years ago, he did not care about the blood of innocent that stained the clan. She could still see the black eyes of her father and it made her shiver. If she took a life, would her eyes be as wild and feral?


    A boar squealed in the distance and Mingzhu risked glancing away from her target. Far below Cheng, to the left, she could make out a fallen man. A bulk animal huffed at him. He slumped in defeat.


    Why aren¡¯t you fighting? She wondered. Since the hunt started, she¡¯d seen men claw free from snake pits and try escape a tiger¡¯s teeth. Why is he giving up so easily?


    ¡°That is not my concern,¡± Mingzhu told herself. Her eyes returned to Cheng, who remained frozen as he listened to distant noises of a fight. She raised the knife again.


    One blunt dagger bounced off the hay target while the other sank deeply in the compound. The dagger on the ground had a yellow ribbon; it belonged to eight-year-old Mingzhu. She glared at the smug boy, a couple years older than her, who had aimed perfectly. They had grown up together but despite this, they shared rivalry and hatred rather than a close friendship.


    "I win again!¡±


    ¡°I let you, boy!¡± Mingzhu snarled back, unwilling to acknowledge his real name.


    Master shook his head ¨C full of hair in his youth ¨C and paced behind the children. Most were focused on learning this basic skill so he kept his attention primarily on Mingzhu and his son. They always caused the most trouble.


    ¡°This is not a competition. There is no winner or loser.¡±


    ¡°But the loser would be dead in a real dangerous situation,¡± the boy replied. ¡°I would have saved her life.¡±


    ¡°You save her life but did not help her learn. What would she do if alone when an enemy approached? I expect better from you,¡± Master told his son. The boy hung his head in shame and Mingzhu poked her tongue at him.


    ¡°As for you,¡± Master said to Mingzhu, ¡°accept and ask for help. You need to put more strength in your throw. You are too scared of the impact. Do not focus on the hatred of a person or yourself, but the need to save someone. Imagine you are saving your sister or Duckling from harm. Try again.¡±


    Juan never got into danger. She remained by their mother¡¯s side, safe and sound. The truth made Mingzhu bitter. Instead, she thought about Duckling. Since the little girl followed Mingzhu around like an imprinted chick, everyone gave her the odd nickname. Her mother died at birth and Master¡¯s family adopted her. Mingzhu secretly adored her.


    ¡°Relax. Aim. Breath. Throw.¡±


    Mingzhu let the tension ease out of her body and forgot her surroundings. She lifted her arm and aimed the dagger, focusing on the hay barrel. The straw morphed into a face of a man; he had Mingzhu¡¯s fierce eyes and her stubborn lip but the rest of his features were strong and gruff. Hatred radiated from him.


    ¡°Forget hatred. Focus. Save someone.¡±


    Mingzhu tried to morph the image into Duckling in danger. The man grabbed the girl and laughed. At the sound, the dagger pierced his straw face.


    The knife left Mingzhu¡¯s hand. It dived through the air, piercing her target. The boar squealed. Cheng ran. Anyone near did the same. Except the weak man.


    Saving a life is far greater motivation than hate. You have forgotten that. Master told her these words when they met again after Juan¡¯s death. As always, he was right. She wanted to show her growth since then. It proved she wasn¡¯t her father.


    Despite the unwillingness to aim at the new target, a hum of satisfaction went through Mingzhu when approaching the dead boar. The blade pierced straight through its eye, into the skull. A perfect shot. Yet, it¡¯s neck had been sliced open. This was not her doing.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    The weak man, covered in blood, dropped his knife. Mingzhu respected his attempt to fight. She cocked her head ¨C a very birdlike trait to do ¨C to study him. His eyes looked delirious. The boar¡¯s blood did not hide his angelic face nor did the daggy clothes disguise his identity.


    ¡°Wang Joaolong?¡± She muttered in disbelief. Why was he here? Why was he in this state?


    The man groaned and vomited on himself. Muscles across his body twitched. His eyes rolled back into his head as he fell completely flat on the ground. He coughed and sputtered, then foam bubbled at his mouth. Mingzhu felt completely lost, her eyes flickering between the arrow wound in his shoulder and his feverish face. Just her luck; she saved a man dying of both poisoning and wounds.


    ¡°If you die after I wasted my chance for revenge, I will make sure to strangle your spirit. I curse Disung for leaving you like this! Where is he?¡± Mingzhu grumbled, trying to manage her fury. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for him, I wouldn''t save you. Be thankful I am indebted and my sister knew some things about plant poisons. Otherwise, you would rot here for eternity.¡±


    Mingzhu rolled Joaoloang over, swallowing her disgust at the mixture of blood and bodily fluid. She shoved her fingers down his throat, coaxing him to vomit. She saw Juan do this to the children in the village after they ate a toxic plant. It took a few dramatic heaves before Joaolong vomited again, barely retaining consciousness. Smooth fluid dampened the ground. When no more came, no matter how much the man heaved, Mingzhu lifted him onto her back. They looked ridiculous; a small woman carried a full-grown male over her shoulders like an animal. The weight made Mingzhu buckle but she persevered, gritting her teeth. They needed a safe haven to recover.


    When the ground turned rocky, a cave gleamed ahead. Mingzhu thanked the gods; most of her energy had dissipated and giving up seemed the easier option. They squeezed through a narrow gap in the rocks, covering themselves in dirt, moss and tiny bugs. The inside appeared more pleasant; no snakes hid inside, they could stand up in the space and a fallen tree, caught by the boulders, provided coverage from above.


    While Joalong lay in safety, Mingzhu started a fire a few metres outside. An assortment of dry twigs gave life to a spark made by rocks, turning it into a small flame. After a few minutes, it extinguished. Mingzhu cooled the charcoal and mixed it into Joaolong¡¯s water carrier from his belt. Juan showed her this trick when they lived alone; it helped absorb poison in the system. Just like the children years ago, Mingzhu forced Joaolong to drink the liquid by holding his nose closed, then wiped any that spilled down his chin. After, she turned her attention to the wound.


    ¡°What would Juan do? What would Juan do?¡± Mingzhu muttered to herself, panicked. Her usefulness died. Joaolong needed Juan. She was the healer. If only Mingzhu died instead of her. ¡°I should inspect the wound first? Yes. Of course. I cannot do anything if I do not see the damage.¡±


    Mingzhu tore the robes around the arrow. However, she decided to rid the whole top of the tunic to remove the smell of vomit. This led her to find Joaolong¡¯s bandaged chest. Between Joaolong¡¯s pectorals, a long, rectangular object protruded through the bandages. Mingzhu took it out and discovered it was a jade amulet with a detailed lotus flower. Around the edges, the words ¡®true prince¡¯ were inscribed.


    ¡°True prince,¡± Mingzhu whispered in awe.


    Master kept paintings of this. He once explained the significance to her. According to Shanhe customs, the emperor¡¯s first wife¡¯s children could claim the throne, surpassing concubine children. To prove their status, they were given a jade token.


    ¡°The mission is to maintain peace by regaining control over Shanhe. If the emperor remains greedy, the true heir will take his place,¡± Master said.


    ¡°There is no need to be cryptic. The only heir is the concubine¡¯s son,¡± Mingzhu replied.


    Master ignored her and continued his stroll through the mountain village. ¡°The mission is more than kill the emperor. Please understand that when you enter the palace.¡±


    ¡°You are a sly fox,¡± Mingzhu muttered to her master, wherever he was. ¡°You should have just told me the truth.¡±


    There was a larger scheme at hand. The Masked Masters were aware of the empress¡¯s child and the pendent outside the grave proved the boy lived on. They wanted her to remove the emperor because they found a worthy replacement. This meant a great change awaited Shanhe. And all this time, she was left in the dark. Typical. The mountain clan still had not trust in her.


    ¡°I will keep this safe for now.¡± Mingzhu pocketed the pedant. But how was Joaolong involved? It must have been why he was shot by an arrow.


    Joaolong let out a guttural groan. It reminded Mingzhu that she needed to fix the wound. The typical small arrow puncture had morphed into a mess, the arrow broken and splintered among the torn flesh. Under Mingzhu¡¯s disgusted eyes, it started to bleed again. What should she do?


    ¡°Stop the bleeding,¡± She instructed herself but hesitated. ¡°If I leave the wood in there, it will get infected. Just like that farmer from the hills. I have to get rid of it first.¡±


    Carefully, Mingzhu picked the the splinters from the skin which caused more blood to dribble down the man¡¯s back. She splashed small amounts of water from her own flask to wash away the blood and continue working. Throughout the process, she muttered to herself to keep focused. Master and Juan were healers, not her. She needed to keep her wits to save him.


    The last part seemed the worst; she needed to remove the top of the arrow. Mingzhu took a deep breath before reaching into the flesh in search of the spearhead. The squishing sound made her shudder. Mangled flesh guided her fingers to touch something unnaturally hard and smooth. Too bad if it''s a bone, she darkly thought and ripped the object from its lodging.


    ¡°Argh!¡± Joaolong screamed as the pain dragged him from unconsciousness. As soon as the sound left his lips, he became limp once more.


    Mingzhu washed the wound after that, aghast at the amount of blood that poured from Joaolong¡¯s body. Maybe she had killed him. She used the bandage from his chest, and even sacrificed her face covering, to add pressure and dress the wound. Nothing else could be done. She was not Juan; she was the warrior, unable to heal. Whether Joaolong lived was up to him.

 Chapter 22: Old Friends

    <div>


    The charcoal from the dead fire covered Mingzhu¡¯s features, disguising her true identity. It took a lot of coaxing to be able to enter the hunt, the guards at the gate unwilling to accept ¡®the boy¡¯. Without the material to hide her face, she would have to use the other exit she scouted earlier. Perched like a bird in a Katsura tree, she looked towards her escape. She needed to leave now to be home before curfew. But Joaolong needed protection. She couldn¡¯t abandon him in a sickly state.


    Twigs snapped below. Mingzhu scanned for threats and hid deeper into the leaf foliage. A lanky, young man struggled to carry a boar on his back. Blood covered its fur and a knife stuck out from its eye; it was the same one she killed. She smiled. Of course you still scavenge after me.


    Years ago, when she followed Juan to the imperial city after the wedding announcement, she met Han Ying. Surviving in the imperial city alone proved challenging; people weren¡¯t friendly and generous compared to the countryside. Many tried to steal from her or attempt an abduction. From this, she always got caught in brawls. However, she didn¡¯t have as much hassle as younger children. Ying, who began transitioning from child to teen, often left the market poorer than before. He made money through story-telling and Mingzhu felt compelled to watch every day, as many other people did. It was remarkable watching him drum to create mood in his tales of gods and goddesses. However, scavengers and bandits always pestered him after the performances, noticing the popularity of his stall and taking the earnigns. This left him to scavenge the ground for dropped rings. Eventually, Mingzhu intervened.


    The mere thirteen-year-old had ogled in awe when she stopped him being robbed again and again. Even her bruised and bloody face did not lessen his admiration. In return, he offered her a place to sleep and temporary family. He was the ideal brother; kind, protective and determined to provide. This straightforward and kind nature comforted Mingzhu, who struggled to trust anyone. Yet, the peace couldn''t last. A few months later, Juan died and she ran away.


    ¡°Well, what do we have here?¡± Mingzhu clicked her tongue and quietly climbed down to a lower branch. The men jumped at her voice. ¡°Hand over the boar!¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Han Mengyao, the eldest brother, asked. He held a dagger in the air.


    Mingzhu jumped off the branch and landed softly on the ground. The movement looked as graceful as a swan. One man squealed and another fell onto his backside, frightened by the surprise attack. It almost made Mingzhu laugh. Almost.


    ¡°Your worst nightmare.¡±


    ¡°Mingzhu!¡± Ying exclaimed with a wide grin. He looked just as she remembered; sweaty and thin. ¡°You are too early. The sun is still in the east.¡±


    ¡°What happened to your nose?¡± Mingzhu asked. Dried blood coloured his top lip and nostrils. His nose bent slightly to one side. ¡°You look like a misshapen root.¡±


    ¡°¨¤nsh¨´ looks worse.¡±


    Mingzhu froze at the name.


    ¡°You fought with Liu Disung?¡± On closer inspection, all of the men were harmed. Either they were covered in dried blood, bruises or limped. Han Zhelan looked the worst; his arm hanged limp by his side and blood stained most of his tunic. A furious fire ignited in Mingzhu, her overprotective nature taking control. No one should hurt Han Ying.


    The next question came out in a growl. ¡°Did Liu Disung attack all of you?¡±


    ¡°Of course not! Calm down. Bandits came after Master Wang Joaolong and we agreed to help fight,¡± explained Ying. ¡°Mother always said to keep close ties with those in power.¡±


    ¡°So you fought alongside a stranger?¡±


    ¡°He needed our help so we assisted. Do not fret, he assured us we will be compensated for our efforts.¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Mingzhu sighed. No wonder she found Joaolong alone. ¡°You can tell him to double that price for your injuries. Triple because you now have Wang Joaolong safe. He''s in the cave near here."


    ¡°What can we do?¡± Ying asked, ignoring the protesting grunts from his brothers.


    They never liked Mingzhu, despite only meeting her once. Most of them were soldiers who rarely returned home. Mingzhu disliked the idea that they left their family for glory. Without Ying, their mother and sisters would¡¯ve died or been sold as slaves.


    ¡°You can follow me.¡± Mingzhu hesitated and looked at Mengyao, who was the most unwilling to help her. ¡°The rest of you can return to the main arena. A boar is worthy enough. Silver rings have been hidden under a pot in your home. It is all I have. If we don¡¯t win the hunt, you can at least have money and fresh meat for the next few days. We now stand on the ground as equals, without debts.¡±


    Mingzhu directed Ying inside the cave, walking up to the narrow space between two boulders and slithering her way inside. Ying entered soon after, grumbling and groaning as he wedged himself between the rocks. He gasped at Joaolong¡¯s blood-soaked bandages.


    ¡°Are the others following?¡± Mingzhu asked.


    ¡°No. I will carry Master Wang Joalong and Mengyao can carry the boar. My brothers are not enthused or energetic about exerting themselves further today. They have been humiliated as soldiers.¡±


    Mingzhu nodded as she moved Joaolong into an upright position. Ying watched her, like a scholar observing the scenery. It made Mingzhu self-conscious but she ignored the urge to scold him for staring. It had been over a year since they saw each other.


    ¡°You never told me you came back,¡± Ying whispered, woe in his voice. ¡°Not one word.¡±


    ¡°I told no one,¡± Mingzhu replied softly.


    ¡°After a year of no contact, I thought you were dead. Everyone believed the lie and I almost did as well. It hurt, Mingzhu. I had no idea where you went or if I¡¯d ever see you again. When you came back¡ª¡± Ying choked and refused to continue speaking in fear of crying. He wanted to act strong, just like he did with his sisters. Mingzhu loved that about him.


    Yet, she couldn¡¯t explain why she left. Yinying Yueguang felt too cold and cruel after Juan died. Her whole world crumbled. How could she encourage Ying to push on when her own hope dwindled? And how did she explain that she only returned for closure and greet death? No matter how she tried to put these thoughts into words, it sounded pathetic.


    Ying sighed. ¡°Will you be here for a long time? Where are you living?¡±


    ¡°Is Han Minda still selectively mute?¡± Mingzhu asked instead, trying to redirect the conversation.


    Ying nodded. For as long as Mingzhu could remember, the meekest brother never uttered a sound. He was a few years older than Ying but had the opposite personality. He acted like a ghost, never making himself known in a crowded room. Everyone was surprised he enlisted in the army as well.


    ¡°You lost your voice too. You sound like a man now,¡± Mingzhu said to fill the uncomfortable silence. Slowly, she stood and looked to the entrance. She could leave now. Joaolong would be safe with Ying and she could return back to the palace without arising suspicion. ¡°I leave the nobleman in your care. I must depart.¡±


    ¡°Will I see you again?¡± Ying asked.


    ¡°If Wang Joaolong survives, you will.¡±


    ¡°Mingzhu, you are too cruel.¡± Ying snatched her wrist and impulsively pulled her into a hug. The embrace said what he couldn''t: I missed you. ¡°Why her? Why can¡¯t it be you? You ask me to free a maid I have no attachment to. What makes her so special that you deem her worthy to be saved?¡±


    "She is beautiful. You will live a happy life with stunning children."


    "Why her?"


    ¡°What makes me so special then?¡± Mingzhu replied venomously, hating herself for the crack in her voice.


    The plan was simple: win Meifan¡¯s freedom by arranging marriage between her and a Han family member, which would be paid for by the emperor. The Han family name would continue, they could sell the wedding gifts and her debt to them repaid. Most people would not complain ¨C for Meifan was a famous beauty, often called the untouched pearl ¨C except for Ying. He fought against it, suggesting different requests. All involved Mingzhu. She hated it; if she remained with him, he would be cursed. Just like everyone else before him.


    ¡°I am an orphan with no money or honour to my name. I am fortunate to be accepted as a maid, let alone anything else. Do not think I am special.¡±


    ¡°You are a maid¡­¡± Ying repeated and Mingzhu cursed at her accidental confession.


    ¡°I am of no worth. Let go and do as I ask. Please,¡± Mingzhu begged and walked out of his loosening grip.


    Ying¡¯s whisper echoed on the stone walls as she left the cave. ¡°If only you could see your own worth. No one deserves to stand beside someone as selfless as you."


    Mingzhu forced herself not to look back. Just like ten years ago.


    Juan and Mingzhu ran through the forest. Screams echoed behind them. Mingzhu heard her heart beat madly in her ears. She wasn''t sure if the fear or adrenaline made her shake. In the distance, she heard her father.


    ¡°This is all your fault!¡±


    Mingzhu still believed him.

 Chapter 23: Woman in the Hunt

    The search for Joaolong continued without luck. Many people visited the valley after the fight, hoping to scavenge forgotten prey and riches. This soiled tracks and any footprints Disung followed belonged to commoners or other bandits. Infuriated, he eventually decided to scan from higher ground.


    On a cliff edge, where the shrubbery cleared, he happened upon another fight. Two commoners ¨C judging by their clothes ¨C were trying to steal from a young man. The petite boy, covered in filth and charcoal, defended himself without a weapon. The blackness smeared over his eyes looked like a mask from afar. Must be a nobleman¡¯s son, Disung thought. Or someone else who doesn¡¯t want to get caught.


    The boy, who looked no older than sixteen, ducked and weaved around the men¡¯s attacks. One of the older men lunged forward, using his sword to strike, but the boy dodged by rolling underneath him. As soon as he passed the first man, he ran towards the other and attacked the unsuspecting prey. He jabbed multiple points on his enemy¡¯s body hard enough to bruise. The second man fell down. Disung¡¯s jaw dropped; the boy defeated an opponent within seconds. The army recruits in the palace couldn¡¯t compare to this.


    The boy remained wary of the withdrawn sword, ensuring each maneuver avoided the sharp blade. It looked poetic, as if the boy were dancing; each move was graceful and light-footed. Then, without warning, he turned on the offensive. He kicked the man¡¯s inner thigh and moved away from the swing of the sword. Quickly, he stepped around to the man¡¯s back and kicked behind his knee. The man continuously tried to use his weapon ¨C showing his lack of skill in swordplay ¨C but the boy found more opportunities to kick or jab.


    The man had a lucky slice. The boy attempted to bound away using a handstand flip but the tip of sword caught the robe. It cut through his waistband, the garment underneath, and managed to shallowly slice part of the boy¡¯s neck. When he boy landed on his feet, his clothes hung open and revealed a small frame and bandaged chest. Both the men and Disung gawked at the two identifiable bumps hidden under fabric that weren¡¯t masculine traits.


    ¡°You are a woman!¡± The man exclaimed. In an instant, the frustration and exhaustion in his face changed into a dirty and lustful expression. ¡°I do like a feisty woman after a bloody battle. Give up, little lady, and I won¡¯t turn you in.¡±


    The woman snarled. She turned as ferocious as a tiger and her next attacks came too quickly to block. The man was hit all over his body, the pain evident with each sharp exhale. The fight ended with a roundhouse kick to the side of his face. This rendered the man unconscious. As he fell, the woman, who balanced on one foot, returned to a stable pose.


    ¡°Bastard,¡± she muttered.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    What was that?! Disung was bewildered. The whole technique astounded him; the army didn''t train like that. Where had they learnt such a unique style? ¡°Is it safe to come out?¡±


    The woman startled. ¡°Stay back!¡±


    ¡°I mean no harm. I was sorting out my own problems with thieves and ruffians, and came across you. That fight was impressive. Where did you learn to hit like that?¡±


    ¡°It is none of your concern.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Disung''s eyes darted guiltily at the woman¡¯s bandaged breasts and bare midriff. He saw the defined muscles in her body contract with each breath. It was rare for a woman to be so fit. Most Shanhe beauties spent their days fussing over embroidery and tea. This girl was different and it fascinated Disung almost as much as the cranky maid at the palace. ¡°Your clothes...You look¡­¡±


    The woman blushed furiously and turned around, attempting to cover herself. Disung, taking on the role of a gentleman, took off his own large outer tunic and draped it over her. She quickly put it on properly. The excess material made her look small and adorable.


    Awkwardly, Disung brushed his fingers through his hair ¨C a habit he inherited from his father ¨C and waited for an expression of gratitude. Instead, the woman remained distracted by his bare chest. He grinned at her reddening cheeks and the curses at herself. This shyness showed her inexperience with men; she likely wasn¡¯t bedded or married. For some reason, it pleased Disung.


    ¡°Keep looking. I do not mind,¡± he said cheekily. Her own behaviour made his embarrassment fade.


    ¡°I-I w-would never waste my time on a p-pathetic excuse of a masculine body,¡± she sputtered. ¡°You have no hair anywhere on you. It only proves all this time I was right to call you a boy and not a man.¡±


    ¡°I have hair where it counts,¡± Disung said and winked.


    ¡°Y-you fiend!¡± She burst out, her whole body turning pink in mortification. ¡°Stop fooling around and find your precious master! Wang Joaolong is in a grave danger! You owe my men dozens of gold rings for helping you fight and saving him! Stop toying with me and go to him!¡±


    ¡°Your men?¡± Disung questioned. Was she referring to Han Ying? Was she the boss they talked about? That just made her even more interesting.


    "Han Ying won''t be far. He just left the cave down the slope and to the west. It looks like a pile of fallen boulders. A tree trunk covers the top," the woman stated. She stepped toward the cliff edge. Her eyes scanned for something far below.


    ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Disung asked, still not ready to part. He had questions about her combat.


    ¡°Leave.¡±


    ¡°Can I at least learn your name?¡±


    ¡°Never, Liu Disung. It will bring you misfortunes,¡± she replied, a hint of smugness in her voice. The woman jumped off the cliff.


    ¡°No!¡± Disung shouted and ran to save her. Over the edge, no body fell to its death. Nothing appeared unusual.


    A glimmer caught his eye and Disung turned his head to the right. There, the woman gracefully bounded down a dirty path that protruded from the cliff face. This led to a dense forest area on a new mountain.


    Disung sat back on his heels, smiling giddily. His heart beat loudly but couldn¡¯t determine if the adrenaline or her made him buzzed. It had been awhile since he met someone so upfront and dangerous. He was impressed. ¡°I think I¡¯m in love.¡±

 Chapter 24: End of Hunting

    <div>


    The last hour of hunt seemed darkly comical. Men from a variety of backgrounds raced to return when the gong rang throughout the land. They dragged their finest kills to the presentation area and huddled around the corpses, wary of others. One man died trying to snatch a mere bird from a rival.


    The emperor stood by the mechanical lotus which fully blossomed. He eagerly listened to every man present their kill as an offering to him. A large eagle made his eyes twinkle and he applauded at the sight of a wolf. The Han family boar received a remarkable amount of enthusiasm but the farmer with a dead fox won. Symbolism triumphed over kill difficulty. Many people believed even a tiger would have lost compared to this fox. The farmer requested a wife to give him sons to continue work the farm and the emperor accepted, promising a beautiful woman to be delivered in a week. After that, everyone dragged their kills home to feast on with family.


    Meanwhile, Joaolong wandered through dreams of his childhood. At first, his parents appeared. They were an average couple with no remarkable qualities except their dedication to work and care for Joaolong. They taught him the best they could about fairness and life, encouraging him to play with other children with no consideration about wealth or status. Then, on Joaolong¡¯s eighth birthday, the village suffered from a strangediseaseand many people died, including his parents. That day, he lost part of himself.


    The only reason he persevered and lived was because of Yenay. During that time, she involved herself in political issues and the emperor agreed to this interest, seeing it as a distraction from their dead son. She invested all her time into saving people and that included Joaolong. He still remembered her walking towards him like a goddess as he whimpered by his mother¡¯s bedside.


    Even during isolation because of the illness, she broke rules to be by his side. The nightmares of his parents¡¯ death fled when she sung sweetly to him. She felt like another mother, granted to him by the gods. He couldn''t believe she wanted to adopt him.


    ¡°And did you know what the proud and extravagant emperor did?¡± Yenay asked, nearly finishing her story.


    ¡°What?¡± Joaolong croaked, his voice hoarse from days of crying.


    ¡°Empress, it is time to return.¡± Jiang waited by the door.


    Yenay sighed and kissed Joaolong¡¯s fevered forehead. Tenderly, she stroked his cheeks and acted reluctant to leave. ¡°He ran to find his finest scholars and requested they write a tale for his son. This story told not of his accomplishments but of all of his mistakes.¡±


    ¡°Why would he do that?¡±


    ¡°So his son could learn from them. The wisest men reflect on themselves, not gloat to others. Joaolong, I hope you grow up to be a wise man, just like the second ruler of Shanhe.¡±


    It felt bittersweet to leave the memories behind and wake up to reality.


    ¡°You finally stir,¡± Disung said gratefully. ¡°I¡¯m relieved.¡±


    Every inch of the room had gold or red decorations that contrasted against the dark hues of the wood in the chambers. Joaolong tried to sit up but groaned at the sharp, throbbing pain in his shoulder. The bowl of soup on his bedside table smelt strongly of medicinal herbs and he was quick to drink it, hoping to alleviate the pain. It tasted like burnt grass and overripe fruit.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Where am I?¡±


    ¡°Yinying Yueguang¡¯s finest Inn. I dare not risk returning you back to the palace in a weak condition. Especially when the person wanting you dead resides there.¡±


    ¡°It is too early to spout nonsense,¡± Joaolong replied. ¡°Did we win the request?¡±


    ¡°No. A local farmer won a wife by killing a fox. You only won the worry of a specific maiden. She sent fruit to your room,¡± Disung said.


    The name didn¡¯t need to be spoken. Instantly, Joaolong knew the gifts were from Xioali. The romantic feelings she developed for him complicated their relationship. She was to be empress. Joaolong was to be a scholar. Their lives weren¡¯t compatible. Yet, he couldn¡¯t bluntly reject her love, both because of their lasting friendship and her unpredictable reaction.


    ¡°What is the last thing you remember?¡± Disung asked, stealing Joaolong¡¯s attention.


    It took a while to push passed the fogginess in his head and remember the details from the hunt. ¡°The hunt started. We killed a deer and you got into a fight... Bandits came for me. Have you learnt why?¡±


    ¡°I did not want to worry you,¡± Disung admitted, his eyes looking like a guiltily child. ¡°Forgive me for not speaking sooner. On the night before the hunt, I overheard some information when I hid someone¡¯s dagger in a hole. Men were drinking and loudly rejoicing about the bounty for your head. I was anxious during the hunt and assumed everyone was after you. I thought it best if you did not know. You were already under pressure by the empress.¡±


    ¡°The bow,¡± Joaolong realised and sat up straighter. The motion, although small, intensified the throbbing in his skull and the ache clawed down to his shoulder. ¡°That is why you were insistent on the bow. Who set the bounty to kill me?¡±


    ¡°Zhao Cheng.¡± Disung bitterly added, ¡°the Fox¡¯s warning was right.¡±


    ¡°It cannot be. Zhao Cheng is harmless.¡±


    ¡°I believe the Crowned Prince controlled him,¡± Disung explained. ¡°He must''ve blackmailed Zhao Cheng. I know for certain that the poison was in the drink you shared with the Crowned Prince.¡±


    ¡°What of the others that drank? Are they affected?¡± Joaolong asked but Disung shook his head.


    ¡°The prince has improved his tactics. The cup was laced with poison, not the wine itself. I saw it discarded in a dried up riverbank during the hunt.¡± Disung paced around the room, angry but powerless to do anything. ¡°I failed as your guard. I beg of you to punish me. If your saviour had not come and acted¡ª¡±


    ¡°My saviour?¡± Joaolong questioned.


    Disung smiled like a smitten teenage boy. The change of mood was frightening. ¡°Bai Mingzu.¡±


    No one spoke that name except Bai Juan. During her time in the palace, she happily shared every detail about her sister. Their bond seemed incredibly strong. After Juan¡¯s death, no one found the sister. Most assumed she died or didn¡¯t exist at all. ¡°You speak of a ghost.¡±


    ¡°She was like a ghost. One minute, she was fighting and the next, she was gone. I do not understand how anyone could think a woman so tough was dead,¡± Disung mused and looked at his grazed knuckles. ¡°It took a lot of coaxing for the Han brothers to reveal the woman¡¯s identity. At least now, the acne on some of their faces isn¡¯t their main concern anymore. Nor is their next meal. I paid them handsomely for the information as well. To compensate for other things. If they hadn¡¯t spoken, we would have been in a bad position. Bai Mingzhu is clever and learnt a lot about you and I in this hunt.¡±


    The trouble never stopped. They were under the watchful eye the Crowned Prince but now, a rumoured dead woman showed interest in them too. This put Joaolong in a confining position, incapable of doing anything he intended. He ground his teeth to suppress his irritation.


    ¡°There is something else.¡±


    ¡°Speak.¡±


    Disung showed Joaolong a wooden Fox token. ¡°It was found in the cave. There is no message on it. He took the jade pendant. I think he used Zhao Cheng to distract us from his true intention,¡± Disung whispered. ¡°The Fox won again.¡±


    Joaolong wanted to yell or curse. Or both. "We need to talk to your mother. She knows the most about the Fox."


    "No." Disung shook his head. "Over the past ten years, I have struggled to learn much about the mountain clan and I am her son. She won''t tell you. When she heard the Fox returned, she clamped up. It broke her."


    "We have no choice."


    "Joaolong. I said no." Disung looked murderous. He hardly defied Joaolong and the shadow cast across his face warned not to push the idea.


    So, Joaolong wisely backed off. "Have I really only been asleep for a few hours?¡±


    ¡°If it makes you feel better, you have been unconscious for three days.¡±


    That only made him feel worse.

 Chapter 25: Trigger

    The merry spirit of the Shanhe people remained days after the hunt. A great feast commemorated the bravery of fallen brothers, sons and husbands, and raised everyone¡¯s spirits. Tables lined the streets of Yinying Yueguang, filled with delicacies from the finest of duck to the fluffiest water-chestnut cakes. The table even extended across the bridge and into the Lotus Palace, where the families of high nobility ate. This public gathering offered a great opportunity for Weishan.


    On the last day of the feast, the emperor made an announcement. In Yinying Yueguang, he emerged from the balcony of a high-priced tavern in traditional blue and silver robes. Everyone hushed at the sight of formal colours.


    ¡°My fellow men and women of Shanhe. I have lead this kingdom for thirty-two years since my father¡¯s early death and have promised to bring honour to his name and to the people. I sought to follow in his footsteps and ensure Shanhe is known to the world as a prosperous nation. Unfortunately, I have failed you. Our land is a formidable foe that struggles to grow crops for harvest and cater to the people. Due to this, we have been forced to rely on Linlong who steal from us. They demand high prices for a small bag of rice and refuse to feed Shanhe if we cannot pay! They spit on our customs and are ungrateful when they use our rivers to create life! I am ashamed to speak the very name of the kingdom! I will no longer be a disappointment to my people. I say we must face these barbarians with swords and fists!¡±


    The people roared their loyalty to the emperor. The larger crowd muffled any disagreement from a minority. Weishan smiled, encouraging the rage and anger build towards Linlong. He could imagine the influx of army recruits. War was not too far away and his anticipation grew with each passing second.


    The high spirits of Weishan continued long after the feast and remained during the war council meeting. Each man, including Hong Huli for once, entered the emperor¡¯s personal study. The new meeting place hoped to confuse the Fox. They all sat at a table shaped like a flower; each petal provided room for a plate and tea.


    ¡°The birds are singing your victory across the land. Your speech was effective,¡± Joaolong complimented quietly.


    Since the hunt, he looked closer to death than before. Instead of occasional fevers and illnesses, a constant sickly appearance remained in his face. The wound to his shoulder took its toll. It broke Yenay¡¯s heart to see him like this. She turned into a stubborn and determined woman, using all her power to heal him. Weishan couldn¡¯t stop her if he tried.


    ¡°You have won the kingdom over and have many willing to fight for your cause. What is the next strategy, your highness?¡± Cheng asked.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Weishan chuckled. ¡°The plan is simple. We continue fuelling the people of Shanhe with rage and a justified cause of attack. General Su will train the new recruits and Hong Huli will be sent with the army for a surprise attack after winter passes.¡±


    ¡°Father! I am a notorious swordsman and should be training new recruits! ¨¤nsh¨´¡¯s life is less valuable than mine and with his reputation, he should lead the attack!¡± Huli whined.


    ¡°Your presence is for morale. I suggested it to the emperor and he agreed as did the general. The men will fight harder if the heir to the kingdom battles alongside them whereas they will become lazy with ¨¤nsh¨´. It is a simple tactic to ensure this war ends quickly and efficiently,¡± Joaolong explained. ¡°The men you will be with are well-trained and can protect you from harm. Meanwhile, ¨¤nsh¨´ will continue hunting the Fox. The war may cause him to attack our emperor.¡±


    Huli slammed his fist against the table and gritted his teeth. ¡°You just want me dead! You blame me for your loss in the hunt!¡±


    ¡°Calm yourself, Crowned Prince. I suggest refraining from violence. It is unwise to be reckless and rude in a civil discussion. Your enemy is Linlong, not me,¡± Joaolong replied steadily and drank some ginger tea. Weishan admired this quiet strength.


    ¡°I agree with the Crowned Prince,¡± a councilman said suddenly. ¡°Please rethink this, your majesty.¡±


    Another council member spoke. ¡°The prince is too valuable. He is one of the best swordsman in the land and it would be better for new recruits to learn from him.¡±


    A fury bubbled in Weishan. The way they spoke felt like insults, as if he, the emperor, were stupid. How dare they. What had suddenly caused this confidence? He only tolerated ¨¤nsh¨´ because of his use as a great weapon. He refused to let councilmen belittle him.


    ¡°Dying in battle is an honour and a privilege. To prevail brings greater fortune to our kingdom. You are suggesting the prince wants to abandon this belief,¡± Joaolong argued. ¡°You also disregard the prince¡¯s lack of experience guiding men in the art of weapons. The emperor has considered this and made a tactful decision.¡±


    ¡°I support Master Wang Joaolong. He speaks wisely and like the emperor, understands the best path to take,¡± Cheng said.


    This sparked a louder counter-argument from the opposing councilmen. The noise sounded like buzzing flies to Weishan. He did not ask for opinions yet they still chirped. He was the emperor. He made the decisions.


    ¡°Hong Huli will fight and that is final! You all bicker like woman and made this meeting pointless!¡± Weishan yelled and threw his cup of wine to the floor. ¡°We will continue the discussion tomorrow with the rest of the councilmen! I expect they will not be so defiant towards their ruler! If I hear such slander to my plans, I will make sure those who speak against me will be silenced forever! Meeting dismissed!¡±


    Weishan didn¡¯t wait for the men to bid him farewell and stormed out of the room. No one ever spoke to past emperor¡¯s like that. Fear kept everyone tame. Tomorrow during the meeting, he¡¯d install that fear by imprisoning a few men and removing some tongues. Then, he would have complete control again.

 Chapter 26: Death to Rulers

    Over the two weeks, the excitement about the hunt subsided and everyone slipped back into their routines. Weishan and Yenay sat in their private balcony, watching the sun set over Lady Gaze. The sky, filled with streaks of pink clouds spreading towards a giant, orange globe, looked beautiful. Yet, it couldn¡¯t distract the empress¡¯s distraught; Joaolong almost died. It evoked painful memories about her own baby and the loss of her family in a fire. Weishan hated her this way and selfishly wondered if she would care as much if it were him that nearly died.


    ¡°Do you regret marrying me?¡± Weishan asked.


    ¡°Do you regret marrying another woman to provide sons?¡± Yenay countered sadly. ¡°Your answer is my own.¡±


    ¡°We should spend too long in the past,¡± Weishan finally replied after a long silence. ¡°I cannot change anything.¡±


    ¡°If we do not then who will remember our son?¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Weishan shouted and stood, unwilling to delve into such tragedies. After a pitying glance, he left Yenay alone.


    For the rest of the fading afternoon and night, Weishan ate and drank his worries away. He ordered maids to fetch him ink and parchment to personally write propaganda. Linlong was the priority, not his wife¡¯s sorrow. By merging Shanhe and Linlong into one kingdom, he could achieve his father¡¯s greatest ambition. History would describe Weishan as the most powerful emperor.


    Someone knocked on the door.


    ¡°The emperor wishes to be alone,¡± a eunuch told the people outside. They refused to leave.


    Weishan sighed. ¡°Who disturbs the emperor?¡±


    ¡°The Crowned Prince and a humble servant,¡± Jiang replied.


    ¡°Enter.¡± The door slid open and just as announced, Huli and Jiang entered and bowed. Weishan glanced up from his food and raised an eyebrow at his son. ¡°What brings you here? And with her.¡±


    Jiang annoyed him. Years had passed and he still clearly remembered how profusely she declined his generous offer. No slaves ever had a chance to be a concubine except her. Yet, all she desired was to serve the empress. If she preferred being a slave than be by his side, Weishan bitterly ensured most of her duties were away from the empress. The work aged her poorly and the beauty from her youth had disintegrated. It pleased him.


    ¡°I have a question for you,¡± Huli stated in a hoarse voice. He placed a sword across his legs when he sat down.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°I made myself very clear at the last meeting,¡± Weishan stated, recalling the cries of bribed councilmen, blood from cut tongues and the returning fear of his subjects. He felt like a true ruler again. ¡°You will lead my men into battle.¡±


    Huli gripped his robes, trying to maintain his anger. ¡°I have other concerns.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it?¡± Weishan asked, irritated. The prince¡¯s tense figure reminded Weishan of a child about to have a tantrum. He hated his son¡¯s spoilt behaviour. Qiaolian didn¡¯t raise him well.


    ¡°Am I filial son?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Weishan replied. ¡°You came to my chambers at night to ask this?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You have the answer you sought. You may leave.¡±


    Huli stood but paused before turning towards the door. ¡°There is something else. Recently, I found myself questioning if you were ever going to give me the throne. I am filial but you criticise me. I am your only son but you act like I am a stranger. I am powerful but you force me to train in the forest with commoners for months. Now, you plan to send me to die by leading the first troupes into Linlong. I cannot determine if you do all this because you care or because I am a threat to your power.¡±


    Weishan sighed, tired and unwilling to listen to his son complain. ¡°I am sending you to war to establish a reputation. If everyone fears a ruthless fighter, they won¡¯t dare rebel when you rule. It is the best I can do for you.¡±


    ¡°The best for me would be for you to die.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°You die and I can rule,¡± Huli said with a wicked and confident smile. ¡°Did you mishear me, father?¡±


    Huli unsheathed his weapon and admired it in the candlelight. During his mountain training, Qiaolian bestowed him with this sword. The pure black, decorative handle gave an intimidating aura. It had encountered unyielding use and although it looked clean, it injured many people. Huli named it Viper; it would strike without warning and always cause harm.


    Weishan got to his feet and looked to Jiang. ¡°Get the guards and take him away! This is an insult to the emperor!¡±


    ¡°Do not get angry at the pawn in this game. I bribed the guards to leave, just like mother has always bribed the councillors. No one was ever under your control. You never had power and right now, you are at my complete mercy,¡± Huli chuckled. ¡°Not a single person feared your reputation.¡±


    Like a mouse, Weishan scurried to the corner of the room, completely defenceless and vulnerable. Huli raised his sword to his father¡¯s chest to trap him against the wall.


    ¡°Did you ever consider me as a son?¡±


    ¡°O-of course I did! You are my blood!¡± Weishan stammered. All this time he was fearful of the Fox that he neglected to notice his own son¡¯s hatred simmering at the surface. How foolish he had been!


    ¡°But I am not your real son. I will never be the true heir, son of the emperor and empress. I cannot fulfil the expectations granted for him,¡± Huli seethed and his face twisted into a demonic expression. ¡°I will make sure he will never live up to his name either.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°That precious son that you wish was me is alive and in this lifetime, you will never learn his real name. That is the cruelness I am repaying you for the lack of respect you show my mother and I.¡±


    The sword pierced Weishan¡¯s chest and Huli twisted it, opening the wound to ensure the emperor died. When he withdrew, he watched his father crumple to the ground in glee. As Weishan struggled to gasp that final, sweet breath, he recalled the question the empress asked that afternoon.


    ¡°Your answer is my own.¡±


    In this situation, when his own son stole his life, Weishan felt more saddened by the truth; Yenay regretted marrying him. He was never worthy of her virtue and kindness, and she knew that all along.

 Chapter 27: The Imperial Flower Dies

    Not many people sought company with the empress, apart from Jiang or Joaolong. They either saw her as too soft, dull or a nuisance. Hence, the rarity of two separate invites for tea during one day led her to be suspicious. The emperor¡¯s company only brought heartbreak; he made her feel pitiful for remembering their son. Nevertheless, she could risk being her true self with the emperor. Tea with Qiaolian required more caution.


    The concubine brushed Yenay¡¯s hair and yanked harshly on the tangles. Yenay remained unperturbed and stared in the duchess mirror. Her face looked sunken, reflecting the distress she felt for Joaolong¡¯s wounds since the hunt. With a water bowl and cloth, she wiped her face and removed the painted symbol on her forehead that signified empress. Qiaolian requested the empress remained ¡®natural¡¯ during their rare, personal meetings; it inflated her ego to be the most beautiful wife of the emperor. Since the empress didn¡¯t invest in pettiness or appearances, she always complied; it was better to create light than spread darkness.


    ¡°Is the tea ready?¡± Yenay asked.


    ¡°Yes, Empress.¡± Xiaoli bowed again, the jewels on her green dress glittering in the candlelight. She had the same indulgence for luxury as Qiaolian.


    The white tea-set on the table looked beautiful with the additional swirls of greens leaves and pinks petals. This particular design only appeared during special and festive occasions. From memory, the emperor gifted it to Qiaolian on their wedding.


    ¡°I hope it is to your liking. I ground the leaves myself,¡± Xiaoli said and poured the tea. Familiar with Yenay¡¯s tastes, she added nectar ¨C a delicacy only for high nobility ¨C to the cup. ¡°It is rose tea.¡±


    ¡°I am certain it will taste divine. When is the wedding, Miss Ju?¡± Yenay inquired while she took a sip. ¡°You will make a beautiful bride and loving wife to the Crown Prince.¡±


    ¡°The emperor has discussed that come the new season, the prince and I will be wed,¡± Xiaoli replied bashfully.


    ¡°We are truly blessed,¡± Qiaolian added with a grin. ¡°If only could share in the enjoyment of extending your family. I am fortunate for my son to choose such a beautiful bride.¡±


    Yenay cleared her tightening throat. ¡°May I make a suggestion, Miss Ju? To remain a woman of desire, do not serve your husband sweet tea like this. It makes it obvious that it has been poisoned.¡±


    Qiaolian¡¯s smirk dropped. ¡°You know?¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°I have not lived obliviously in the palace for most of my life. After my son¡¯s death, I learnt that no one can be trusted, especially an ambitious young woman like yourself, Zhao Qiaolian. I also know your relationship with Zhao Cheng would have made it easy to assassinate the infant prince and if your brother was willing to do that, I suspect he also caused the fire that killed my whole family. Since gaining the position as a royal concubine, I have always been waiting for you to poison me.¡± Yenay drank the rest of the contents in her fine cup and ignored the burning in her mouth. ¡°I assume the emperor is dead too?¡±


    Qiaolian returned to her smug state and cackled like a witch. ¡°Of course but that is not important. I heard your bastard of a son is alive. How? If you tell me, I could give you the antidote to the poison.¡±


    ¡°A cactus can survive the driest of seasons. My son is the same.¡±


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Qiaolian demanded and slapped the empress to spark fear from the calm woman. ¡°Who is he?¡±


    ¡°In the years we have been acquainted, you have taken my husband, my children, my family, my power and now my life. I will not let you take my only son.¡±


    ¡°Fine! Die here! I will find out who it is! Ju Xiaoli, let us leave!¡± Qiaolian exclaimed and Xiaoli followed, looking like a lifeless puppet.


    This left Yenay alone to suffer. The burning in her mouth increased but as soon as she refreshed her palette with water, the abdominal cramps started. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead, the beads cooling her tingling skin.


    ¡°Yenay?!¡±


    Jiang came rushing in with a sword. Her crumpled uniform and messy hair made her look insane. The usual squinting eyes were wide opened and panicked, unwillingly replaying some horrible event over and over. Still, Yenay thought her beautiful and cherished each frenzied touch.


    ¡°The nectar was poison. I cannot survive,¡± Yenay rasped through the fire in her mouth and pointed weakly at the sword. Tears streamed down Jiang¡¯s face, aware it was too late to save her. ¡°Please kill me. End my suffering.¡±


    ¡°Yenay...¡±


    ¡°I have been selfish towards you. I deprived you of a family to keep me company through the lonely years and I still beg more from you. I am so sorry.¡±


    ¡°You need not apologise. If I could relive my youth again, I would continue to follow you anywhere. I gave that oath to you as a young woman and I promised I would do anything.¡±


    ¡°Even this?¡± Yenay asked, hopeful.


    ¡°Even this if it brings you peace.¡±


    Yenay felt the woman¡¯s body shake and harsh sobs escape her. Still, she nestled into her body warmth and sighed at the scent. For a moment, she forgot about her irritated skin and internal pain.


    ¡°Please hold me. I want my last memory in this life to be of you and thoughts of my son.¡±


    ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Pain tore through Yenay¡¯s chest. The sword plunged into her body until it reached the hilt. Rich, red blood soiled her clothes. Yet, the empress remained focused on Jiang¡¯s tight embrace and the memory of her son¡¯s face. She wanted to apologise for lying to him. She wished she could watch him rule. Maybe in another lifetime, the gods would be kinder. At least they were letting her die in Jiang¡¯s arms.


    ¡°I love you. May the spirit life bring you peace, my sweet Yenay.¡±


    ¡°Tell Hong Yondan¡­¡± I love him. Yenay never finished her final request.

 Chapter 28: Another Goodbye

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Who killed the emperor?¡± Mingzhu asked but Jiang remained silent. ¡°Who. Killed. The. Emperor?¡±


    Mingzhu exhaled, the worry trickling out of her body. The mountain clan had not doubted her. They were willing to accept her reconciliation. Yet, the prince''s actions made her anxious. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I killed her!¡± Jiang whaled. Tears streamed down her wrinkly cheeks. ¡°I plunged the sword into Yenay¡¯s heart for only in death, would her suffering end!¡±


    Silence brewed. The rain pelted down outside. A coldness seeped into the room. The truth had been revealed. But Mingzhu struggled to accept it.


    She stared at Jiang. In her dark eyes, she saw her own reflection. Blame, loathing and desperation danced together in dark harmony. It made Mingzhu scared to confront her own demons. Instead, she focused on Jiang, the woman who had cared for her over the months. That was another debt she had to repay. ¡°Do you wish to be saved?¡±


    Jiang shook her head. ¡°I have nothing waiting for me. I am too old to marry and the only person I loved with my whole heart is dead. I am ready to die.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Unsure what to do and unwilling to leave because of her ocean of emotions, Mingzhu sat down and hummed her mother¡¯s song to soothe herself. In the dulcet melody, she sadly accepted the answer of fate. The sobbing woman beside her wasn¡¯t the senior she knew. Jiang always remained strong and harsh. Compassion hardly shined. Yet, this woman showed her weakness and pathetic side without restraint. It made Mingzhu fear what she, herself, could become.


    ¡°Tell me about the empress you killed.¡±


    ¡°Imagine the feeling of a glorious summer¡¯s day with your toes dipping in a cool stream. That was Yenay. Beautiful and soothing. Her beauty was incomparable and her heart remained pure, no matter the struggles she faced. I met her as a child in the village and was taught to be her personal handmaiden. I knew she was destined for great things and most men fell in love with her virtue and grace. I was not surprised the emperor requested her hand in marriage. That love sapped her happiness. Jealousy followed her everywhere. She blamed herself for each miscarriage, not the abuse happening around her. The reason I was demoted to a housemaid was because I protected her. The only joy that came from the palace was her baby. I will never forget the way she looked when her son was born. The day Yenay gave birth, her face was shining so bright that demons would burn in her presence. In that moment, I knew her child was destined for greatness, just like her.¡±


    Mingzhu froze. Jiang said her real name. ¡°You mistake me for someone else.¡±


    ¡°A name is not all I figured out,¡± Jiang replied and returned Mingzhu¡¯s teal fabric. ¡°Do not let the enemies triumph in the palace. You must protect the true heir of Shanhe. I know you are capable of great things.¡±


    ¡°When did you¡­?¡± Mingzhu was lost for words. Jiang knew everything.


    ¡°My condolences for your sister. The Lotus Palace is execution for those pure and fair. You lost your sister and I lost my empress. Do not let this tradition continue. Fulfil the lost prince¡¯s destiny to rule Shanhe, as the rightful heir to the throne. Perhaps then, the world will be a brighter place.¡±


    Mingzhu clenched her fist and looked Jiang straight in the eyes. ¡°I will not let you die in vain. I will avenge the wrongdoings of the guilty. In the spirit world, I hope you find peace with this act.¡±


    ¡°Protect the prince and you protect the kingdom. That will bring peace to Yenay and I.¡±


    If Jiang said anything else, Mingzhu did not hear because she ran away. The soldiers had stirred outside, groaning and groggily waking from their forced slumber. Mingzhu had to leave.


    The wind stung her eyes and the cold rain seeped into her skin, chilling her to the bone. They both worked together to drown out any other sounds. None of this natural torment compared to the pain in Mingzhu¡¯s heart. Life would be easier if she genuinely cared less for others.

 Chapter 29: Execution

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    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

 Chapter 30: A Mournful Drink

    <div>


    A few days after the Shanhe rulers¡¯ death, Joaolong spent the day in the study, hoping to find solace in knowledge. The stuffiness in his room only dampened his spirits, reminding him of the happiness drained from the world. The empress was gone. The sweetest person that lived had been taken. It felt unfair. The gods already took his parents. Why her too? At this rate, Joaolong would be all alone. Maybe he was cursed. After all, apparently it was an ally who killed the empress. Joaolong still couldn¡¯t imagine Jiang doing such a thing. It felt impossible to believe.


    ¡°Nothing in this one,¡± Disung announced and chucked the scroll on the table where Joaolong sat. The sudden movement made the candlelight flicker.


    ¡°Try another,¡± Joaolong snapped. The anger was misguided but Disung forgave him, attempting a half-smile before picking up another scroll. At least he isn¡¯t still attempting dirty jokes about red, puffy eyes, Joaolong reminded himself. It could be worse.


    It felt like they hit rock-bottom; innocent died, enemies thrived from their absence and they were no closer to discovering the Fox¡¯s intentions. Since the hunt, Joaolong invested his time into Cheng¡¯s history, trying to source some secrets or intent to harm. Nothing came from it. Anyone Disung investigated which were involved with Cheng¡¯s past had either died or knew him as another face in the crowd. It seemed suspicious not a single person acknowledged him from before role in the palace, apart from Qiaolian who was just as secretive. Then, the Zhao family history lacked information. How did a man with little history or commendable family name gain such a worthy position in Shanhe? He never won the hunt or aced studies. It seemed impossible. Is this why the Fox warned me? No one answered the question.


    This left Joaolong to be reminded of Jiang. In the morning, he heard the cheers for her beheading from the palace. He refused to attend. The image of her head rolling on the ground made him want to cry. She was family. Despite everything, he found himself still caring.


    ¡°Let¡¯s wander around and maybe steal some wine,¡± Disung suggested, noticing Joaolong¡¯s darkenening expression. ¡°Drink our sorrows away just like in the old days.¡±


    Joaolong nodded and left without a word. The cool night breeze felt soothing. The faint scent of rich, earthy incense drifted in the air, carrying the message another generation of rulers had fallen. For awhile, the men wandered aimlessly around the palace, lost in thoughts they wished to escape. The constant ache in Joaolong¡¯s chest was almost unbareable but if he lost control, a sea of mournful tears would fall from his eyes. The enemies could never see this weakened state and he needed to keep his emotions hidden. Just like he had done for the past few days.


    ¡°Stay still. Pretend to admire the scenery,¡± Disung whispered suddenly, slicing the silence between them. Immediately, his body turned rigid and stoic. It was ridiculous how quickly he adapted to his role. Joaolong remembered the first time this change happened.


    Disung ushered Joaolong inside his room, continuing to appear oblivious and carefree in the night as he did guard duty. Joaolong hid against the wall, behind pots and plants. Outside, grunts, clashes of swords and thuds filled the air. Then, the world fell silent. Joaolong heard his heartbeat loudly in his chest. Someone approached. He tensed.


    ¡°Miss me?¡± Disung grinned.


    Outside, they inspected the bloody mess of assassins. Apparently five had attacked. Joaolong looked at Disung, who stood under the full moon, red and viscious as a deity of doom.


    The beast had returned. He crept towards the kitchen area of the palace just as a dark figure swung themselves into the building. There was a slight gasp from an unsuspecting servant but apart from that, Joaolong heard nothing else. The person was well-trained for this.


    Disung and Joaolong stared at each other in the darkness. They both waited, holding their breath while their minds synchronised to the same possibility; the Fox had returned. It almost seemed too easy to capture him. It wasn¡¯t rational the assassin was lurking this early in the night around the kitchen area but still, Joaolong felt his heartbeat race. Suddenly, Disung acted.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    Smash!


    Shards of dark, glazed clay scattered across the ground and dark liquid joined the path. A short yelp accompanied this and a woman narrowly avoided the mess, landing inches away. Her cream dress swayed in the slight breeze and she stumbled like a drunkard. She caught Joaolong¡¯s eyes and he saw her flushed cheeks, indicating at her intoxication. It explained the unnecessary teal fabric tied around her neck.


    Disung failed to muffle his laughter, signaling it was safe. ¡°Fa Huian. We meet under odd circumstances yet again. Instead of already being punished, I believe it is my turn to initiate the punishment.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Joaolong asked as he approached cautiously.


    ¡°Thievery. This maid, Fa Huian, is trying to steal a pot of wine from the cellars and almost succeeded. Such a waste.¡± The pot was completely ruined, wine already sinking into the ground.


    ¡°She does not wear the proper servant attire,¡± Joaolong noticed. ¡°How do you know this is a maid from the palace?¡±


    ¡°Trust me. There is no mistaking a woman so eager to rebel with a fire in her eyes.¡±


    Disung sighed and reached to grab the woman before she dived back into the window to steal more wine. ¡°This punishment will be severe: she does not wear the maid uniform, disregards servant curfew, fails to address nobleman properly and has stolen nobleman property. It is worthy of beheading.¡±


    ¡°We do not need any more death,¡± Joaolong sighed.


    ¡°Ah but for this one, we could make an exception,¡± Disung teased.


    The maid retaliated because of the suggested consequence. She curled her hand around Disung¡¯s outstretched arm and moved it behind him, pinning him using her body weight. Disung, out of habit, scooped the woman¡¯s feet from under her using his own ankle and the grip on his arm loosened enough to be free. As a precaution, he blocked his face and body while turning around, prepared to block Huian¡¯s attack at his throat. The maid relentlessly clawed and when this didn¡¯t work, she did something incredible; she flung herself forward into a handstand and tried to kick Disung on the way. This technique would have been incredible if hit Disung and landed properly. In her drunk state, Huian fell to the side as soon as shaky hands touched the ground.


    The tactic caught Joaolong¡¯s interest. He had never seen someone try to use such a risky move to fight. And especially at Disung. It showed either pure courage and professional training or undeniable stupidity. Joaolong hoped it was the first option. Either way, he found a new distraction from mourning. ¡°Disung, meet me at my chambers in ten minutes. Bring this maid alive. I will bring wine. We have much to discuss.¡±


    The fighting continued, despite the maid¡¯s drunkenness, as Joaolong veered from the kitchen entrance to the Harmony. The magnificent arching structure, made from light-coloured wood and golden wire to imitate overgrown vines, stood in the middle of the palace. In the beams were hidden compartments containing precious items. Only the royal family and their trusted relatives knew about this. Joaolong twisted a metal leaf to face downwards and used it as a handle for a secret door. Inside was the empress¡¯s favourite wine stash and Joaolong took one pot, his pleasant mood buckling under sadness.


    Years ago, Yenay showed him this secret storage to prevent any more mischief with the youthful Disung. He had a bad ¨C or good depending who was asked ¨C influence on Joalong. Each time, Yenay disciplined them through humility, making them wash clothes with maids or take notes for eunuchs. Never again would she set ridiculous tasks or hide a smile as she heard of their stunts. The realisation made Joaolong indescribably lonely.


    A foul smell slowly filled the air and burned Joaolong¡¯s nostrils. Confused, he searched the shelf further for the source. The smell was stronger lower in the beams, where the concubine¡¯s shelf sat underneath the empress¡¯s belongings. Ironically, since the women shared a husband, they shared everything else as well. In her section, there were a few wooden planks and a hair comb. The comb was a traditional Shanhe wedding gift from the mother of the bride to always be remembered of their roots. Qiaolian¡¯s gold comb looked faded and imitation jewels fell from their phoenix shape. The Zhao family must¡¯ve been poor, Joaolong deduced. How did they ever become so powerful? And why did the Fox see them as a threat? Was it the sudden rise in status that scared him? Joaolong searched for more clues.


    The source of the unpleasant aroma came from the back of the shelf. A small vile with tinted glass had a crack in it. Liquid oozed out, staining the wood and glass an unnatural dark brown. Something toxic was inside.


    No one inside the palace died of poisoning in the last year. Yet, based on the film of dirt on all other items except this, it was new. Joaolong immediately thought of the hunt but dismissed the idea; Huli preferred poisons in powder form to mix it into food and drinks. This smelled too sweet to go undetected. There was only one way to discover the contents.


    Joaolong took a risk. He grabbed the wooden messages and vile. The hairs on his neck stood and his blood roared. The moment he touched the leaking liquid from the glass, he felt his fingertips burn. To him, it was a sign that he was on the right path to discovering the truth.

 Chapter 31: Answers of the Night

    <div>


    It was a beautiful night, the stars twinkling in a floating sea of black. Joaolong easily lost himself in the view. Outside his chambers, Disung restrained Huian. Sweat trickled down his face and he grinned when Joaolong joined them. The gift of wine calmed the drunken maid and she agreed to stay.


    Peach wine had always been Joaolong¡¯s favourite, laced with fond moments. It was the first alcohol Joaolong tasted, graciously stolen by Disung in their early years together, and the one always shared with Yenay on special occassions. The burning trail the liquid left in his throat weighed down the euphoria; he would never see Yenay cringe at the sensation. Quickly, he drank another cup before the happiness completely left him.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to tell you a story,¡± Huian said suddenly, draining her cup retrieved from Joaolong¡¯s chambers. ¡°Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a village of animals. Each had a master of their species to protect them but it was the most kind and powerful dragon that kept them hidden from humans.


    ¡°One day, a wolf from this village grew too ambitious. He showed talent and everyone told him he would be the next master but the dragon denied him a title. The wolf felt humiliated from rejection and trained harder, desperate to prove himself. It was never enough. The dragon could see the wolf¡¯s true greedy nature and after several rejections, it came out.


    ¡°Blood painted walls as the wolf killed many, from the masters who tried to protect the other animals to any families standing in his way. This included his own kin. The dragon stopped him but it was too late. The village was destroyed and nearly everything was lost...¡±


    Huian poured more wine into her dish. ¡°I wish to tell my own children this tale to warn them of ego and the damage of selfish ambitions. The wolf did not seek the master title for others but for himself, and that was the very reason the dragon rejected him over and over. A wolf cannot protect a herd of sheep.¡±


    The story was captivating, the crickets chirping along with every word, listening in too. Disung looked in awe, his eyes flickering in the moonlight as if reliving the tale. In every word that Huian spoke gently, the more he left the present.


    ¡°You are a good storyteller. I could envision the tale in my mind as if it were real,¡± Disung awkwardly laughed.


    Huian glared at him and drank more wine at a rapid rate; the comment struck a chord with her. ¡°It is more real than you or I.¡±


    ¡°That is enough wine then. You are spouting drunken nonsense,¡± Disung said and attempted to take the pot of wine away but Joaolong stopped him.


    The drunker the maid became, the more answers she would spill. This was the reason they brought her to noble chambers. A normal maid would never act the way she did.


    ¡°Where did you learn that story?¡± Joaolong asked, ignoring the tick in Disung¡¯s jaw that showed his unwillingness to comply with the manipulation. The maid must¡¯ve meant something to him. Joaolong shouldn¡¯t have been surprised; the guard had constantly flirted with her at every opportunity.


    Huian became quiet, the pause showcasing the emotions she failed to express. ¡°Somewhere very far away.¡±


    ¡°Did you learn to fight in that place as well?¡±


    Huian nodded and slurred a reply. ¡°Master a goooood man. I should have shown more obedience aaand gratitude. But that chance is gone.¡±


    ¡°Master must have loved the mountains,¡± Joaolong said, adding his own twist on the words.


    ¡°The mountains are a cruel mistress that tempts you with beauty and lures you to death! Only her closest allies know her curves and wicked tricks. Master is one of few that finds love from that landscape. Just because the wolves don¡¯t eat him during storms¡­¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    The elaboration about mountains sped up Joaolong¡¯s heartbeat and he got confirmation he desired. Of course, the maid could be referring to any range or higher ground but Joaolong¡¯s mind foolishly went to the Mountain Masters. ¡°You could consider him a Mountain Master¡ª¡±


    ¡°Even he did not know about my sister!¡± Huian interrupted, a slave to her own drunken thoughts. The conversation topic changed too quickly and Joaolong sensed he could not return to the topic of the Mountain Masters easily. The chance was lost. He drank his irritation. ¡°No one did! No one except that dirty Zhao Cheng.¡±


    Disung laughed. ¡°Dirty Zhao Cheng. That is a perfect way to describe an old, scheming man.¡±


    ¡°Next time I see him, I¡¯ll beat him so badly that he will not walk again,¡± Huian proclaimed. Disung scoffed which she took offensively. ¡°I could beat both of you while blind!¡±


    Disung sloshed the wine in his own cup and flicked Huian in the middle of her forehead, snorting in laughter at her slow reaction. ¡°You are so harmless that you can¡¯t even defend yourself against that!¡±


    ¡°Boy,¡± Huian growled and retaliated, flicking him harder between his eyebrows.


    ¡°Hold this,¡± Huian ordered Joaolong, shoving the cup of wine into his hands, then a jade and wooden bead necklace that was hidden in her clothes. She handled it over delicately and gave it a fleeting, worried glance as it rested with someone else. ¡°Do not lose it.¡±


    The beads slowly lost their original warmth in Joaolong¡¯s hand and he studied the necklace, entranced by the craftsmanship. It was beautiful and of high value; the item did not belong with a sold slave. It reminded him of a similar item Bai Juan wore around her neck, resting softly against her chest and bouncing with each step. Joaolong couldn¡¯t shake how similar the jade appeared or the familiar dark tones in the wood. This cannot be Juan¡¯s necklace, he thought. But it looks precious. Why would a sold slave wear such an expensive item? There was definitely more to her than met the eye.


    The drunken fight commenced and Joaolong dismissed his concerns, wanting to watch the foolishness instead of question his life. Huian and Disung swayed and stumbled whenever they rose to their feet to attack the other, while flopping like breathless fish on land when they wrestled. The whole fight looked sloppy, from the stances to the attacks and defences. Both opponents disregarded the potential self-harm of certain moves and proper techniques to defeat the other person. Huian dodged Disung¡¯s hand by a coincidental sway of her body then grabbed the bridge of his nose, yanking it towards her so she could flick his forehead. While close, Disung also flicked her head. Red marks blossomed on both of their skin but neither cared, using it as a target. If anything, it only encouraged them to laugh in victory when the spot on the opponent¡¯s forehead became redder.


    After tangling limbs, the fight moved the ground for the third time. Disung and Huian wrestled on the courtyard grass, their clothes turning filthy. Huian didn¡¯t have a second to wipe the dripping sweat from her hairline because Disung took every opportunity to attack. In a blink of an eye, she was rolled onto her back and Disung sat on top, pinning her arms down. The grin of triumph faltered when he looked at her neck where the teal fabric was askew. It was removed ¨C primarily as it proved hasslesome in their game ¨C and revealed a shimmering pink line. The game was instantly forgotten.


    ¡°Joaolong,¡± Disung called, finding sobriety.


    ¡°Get off me!¡± Huian wiggled, trying to break free. ¡°You can¡¯t call for reinforcements!¡±


    Life often took unsuspecting turns, surprising anyone with coincidences and events. Tonight, Joaolong found himself staring at a strange, unfathomable meeting. The scar on the maid¡¯s neck was clean, caused by a sharp blade, but the story it told was much greater than a simple, healing wound. It was recent and according to Disung¡¯s accounts, Bai Mingzhu should have a similar cut on her own neck that led down her chest, as this one on the maid appeared to do so. Looking at the dishevelled hair, full of subtle auburn streaks, and bright eyes, the similarity between the maid and Juan was undeniable. This woman had to be Bai Mingzhu.


    The maid rolled her eyes, unable to understand the predicament in her drunken state. A huge secret was revealed and she had no care for it. Instead, she wriggled herself free from human restraints and got to her feet. Without hesitation, she flicked both Disung and Joaolong on their stunned foreheads and then clumsily searched for more wine. ¡°You lost. That means I get more wine in my belly!¡±


    Disung grinned madly, his eyes wide and excited. ¡°I challenge you to a drinking contest! Bet you three green rings that I will win.¡±


    ¡°Prepare to lose, boy!¡±


    Joaolong felt confused how to react to anything. In one night, he discovered a poison in Qiaolian¡¯s compartment, a maid turned out to be Bai Mingzhu and he was drinking with a possible enemy. It seemed ridiculous. Yet, the wine encouraged him to consider the consequences tomorrow. So he joined the foolish games Disung and Mingzhu played, found himself laughing and dived into the mind-numbing effect of obnoxiously consuming alcohol without restrain.

 Chapter 32: The Funeral

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    Disung often had nightmares when he drank. The jumble of memories always circulated around his father¡¯s death. People screamed, blood covered the village and the Fox¡¯s mask stared down on him. Tonight, the nightmare drifted from this. In the distant, a young girl¡¯s face stared at him in horror. Those sepia eyes shone like diamonds.


    ¡°Run!¡± Disung shouted as the Fox noticed the newcomer. ¡°Get away!¡±


    The girl ran towards him, a scowl on her face and eyebrows remaining low in anger. The closer she got, the more she morphed into someone older. At first, she looked four years old but when she reached the Fox, who withdrew a sword, she was ten. A wolf howled in the distance, distracting Disung, and when his attention went back to the girl, she had transformed into a maid. The Fox attacked.


    ¡°Mingzhu!¡±


    Disung woke in a panic and held his pounding head. Sweat covered his back, making his clothes stick tightly to him. No forest surrounded him. No Fox rampaged the village. No blood covered his body. He was safe.


    In bed, his legs tangled with Huian. This left him no time to comprehend the dream but process the unlikely situation. He was in bed with a woman. The upper portion of her body curled around to rest on his lower abdomen, a beaded necklace and loose strands of hair spread across his exposed skin. The woman wasn¡¯t traditionally beautiful ¨C maidens of Shanhe had round faces and pale skin ¨C but had an appeal of her own. The stern expression suggested she could survive life¡¯s difficulties, her tanner skin showed the willingness to work outdoors while her wide eyes and small frame gave her femininity. Bundled together, they created the uniqueness that was Huian.


    No. Disung corrected. Bai Mingzhu. Her name is Bai Mingzhu. A river of recollection flowed steadily through the dam of alcohol that clogged Disung¡¯s mind. The maid could fight. The maid was Cheng¡¯s sister-in-law. The maid was up to something.


    ¡°Master. Help me,¡± Mingzhu mumbled in her sleep. ¡°Master.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Disung said and awkwardly and patted her head. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be afraid.¡±


    ¡°Master...I don¡¯t know what to do... Juan...¡±


    A stray hair tickled her face and to stop her twitching, Disung moved it away. In doing so, he noticed her plump lips, coloured a soft pink. During the hunt, they had been covered in soot, blending into the rest of her grimy face. The more he stared, the closer his body moved forward until his face was inches from hers.


    While sleeping, she looked much more pleasant and kind. All anger had evaporated. Her skin smoothed out the frustrated creased and constant worry. Some men might have found her attractive in this state. Too bad this peace didn¡¯t last; Mingzhu¡¯s eyes opened and she shoved Disung off the bed.


    ¡°What were you doing?!¡± She shouted and stood up straight on the mattress. Joaolong appeared from underneath the blankets, awoken by the racket. In their drunken comradery, they all decided to sleep in the same bed.


    What was I doing? Disung questioned himself, blushing. At first, he admired her face but why had he gotten so close to her? It must¡¯ve been the weird dream and alcohol. This was why he didn¡¯t drink often.


    Unexpectedly, Mingzhu laughed wholeheartedly and Joaolong joined.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Disung asked, perplexed by the sudden change in atmosphere.


    ¡°Nothing, young Miss.¡± Mingzhu bowed dramatically and laughed harder.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    The mirror held answers and Disung looked at his reflection in horror. An ugly woman stared back at him, her face painted white but smeared by sleep. Eyelids were covered in a soft red colour and lashes defined by a squiggly black line. The blotchy cheeks matched the red shadow and to emphasise the colour scheme further, lips were overdrawn in bright rogue. The worst part was the thick, angry eyebrows and temporary beard drawn in ink.


    ¡°Am I a woman or man? You painted a beard on me!¡± Disung exclaimed, feeling a mixture of dismay and amusement.


    ¡°It will be the best beard you ever grow,¡± Mingzhu exclaimed and another fit of laughter overtook her. ¡°Serves you right for passing out first. Loser gets punished!¡±


    Disung undid his hair ¨C restrained in two high buns ¨C and stormed over to his friends. Joaolong sat up and raised his hands in defeat. Mingzhu, however, grinned and shoved Disung aside as she glided through the air. In an instant, she fled through the door and disappeared into the palace, obviously still intoxicated. She outdrank them all.


    The humour died after that. Joaolong and Disung got cleaned and changed in their own chambers, the required grey robes reminding them of the main event. Today was the funeral of the empress and emperor. To relief restless souls, burials occurred days after death. If the murderer remained unconvicted, the dead could not let go of their life and journey into the spirit realm. Hence, the funeral got postponed until Jiang was sentenced.


    The coffins of the empress and emperor were bright blue and grey, carried by eunuchs or willing peasants to the burial grounds. Everyone joined the march, listening to the flutes and wind chimes play at the front of the parade near the dead rulers. No one spoke and the only sounds came from musical instruments and sobs for the departed. This long walk down dirt paths ended deep in the forest, at a specific limestone mountain.


    The stone face of the mountain was carved out to create a cave. The entrance purposely resembled a temple; indents emphasised tiled roofs and bricks, along with fake flowers and bells to signify the importance of this sacred place. The cave contained all the past emperors of Shanhe and here, Yenay and Weishan would lay to rest.


    Several guards were assigned to safeguard this entrance until early dawn, to protect the belongings of the rulers. This was their final duty to their old masters. Only a monk would join them. The short, bald man supported those in despair and offered entrance into the cave. One at a time, starting from nobles to villagers, people went inside the mountain to give a final peace offering and prayer to the deceased.


    The imperial concubine was the first to enter, leaving everyone else to patiently wait their own turn. Disung stood back from Joaolong, wary of his words and actions. To combat sad circumstances, he often used humour to alleviate depression. This often got perceived as extremely rude and inappropriate.


    In this time of need, Xiaoli offered Joaolong comfort. Like a moth to a flame, she sought him out and happily gave support. Disung neither liked or disliked her, unable to determine any unique individuality from every other noblewoman; she was snobbish, materialistic and selfish. Apparently, deep down, she had other qualities that appealed to Joaolong. Yet, Disung couldn¡¯t understand. Shanhe women were too proper and precious. This was why Disung became fascinated by Mingzhu, both as a maid and fighter in the hunt.


    ¡°How are you coping?¡± Xiaoli asked softly, looking tenderly at Joaolong. ¡°You have lost all your family. It must be unbearable.¡±


    ¡°The empress will live on in my heart. That is enough,¡± Joaolong replied.


    ¡°Tell her I am truly sorry for what happened. May she be at peace.¡± Xiaoli clasped Joaolong¡¯s hands in hers and gave a small, comforting smile. Disung saw flakes of skin flutter from Xiaoli¡¯s hands to reveal a red rash that covered most of her fingers.


    ¡°What has happened to your hands?¡± Joaolong asked, noticing this too.


    ¡°Burns. I spilled some tea. You should not worry about me. Actually, Joaolong, I want to confess something impor¡ª¡± Xiaoli¡¯s words were cut short by Qioalian¡¯s arrival. In the concubine¡¯s presence, she went silent. Likely, she was going to confess her love.


    After mere months together, Disung learnt about Xiaoli¡¯s crush on Joaolong. Small, innocent acts such as tea invites and one-on-one lessons stole the woman¡¯s heart and although she was promised to the prince, she wished to be by Joaolong¡¯s side instead. Disung took any opportunity to tease Xiaoli with delight about it.


    ¡°My son is almost finished. I give permission for you to enter,¡± Qiaolian said to Joaolong, unable to keep the disgust from her voice.


    ¡°Thank you. I am grateful,¡± Joaolong replied softly. ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    Slowly, he disappeared into the fallen rulers¡¯ cave. Despite all the turmoil and grief that was rooted in Disung from the empress¡¯s death, he remained wary. Inch by inch, he moved near the cave and listened. It was vulnerable moments like these that people attacked.

 Chapter 33: Cave of the Fallen

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    Definitely Tiger, Disung confirmed. He grinned and parodied Tiger¡¯s movements, withdrawing his sword and making nonsensical noises as he slowly stepped in a circle. In one clumsy swipe, he dropped the weapon. The assassin seized the opportunity to strike.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

 Chapter 34: Will of the Unwilling

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    The final part of the funeral occurred late in the night, when much of the chaos had dissipated. Disung and Joaolong had stumbled out of the burial cave to be met with guards and cries from the crowd. Soldiers arrested Disung immediately. The worst was the slow reaction from everyone over Joaolong¡¯s grave wounds. They watched in horror and unhurriedly called for help. Had it not been for Cheng, who raced around like a headless chicken, Joaolong may not have lived. Again.


    Someone wanted the man dead. In the palace prison, Disung mulled over and over about the Fox¡¯s involvement during the remaining daylight hours. It made sense if he was attempting to assassinate Joaolong; he always left vague messages in the life-threatening situations. However, to hire other assassins to kill Joalong ruined this theory. Huli, again, appeared to be the perpetrator; he had an extremely good reason to act, especially if he knew the truth about Shanhe bloodlines.


    ¡°Boy.¡±


    Disung raised his head. In the doorway stood Mingzhu, holding a bowl of soup with her usual, angry expression. Her dishevelled hair fell from its style and framed her narrow face, the auburn streaks matching her temper. As she approached, she stumbled and relied on the guard to keep upright. It ruined her nonchalant act and Disung couldn¡¯t help but laugh as soup splattered onto the floor.


    ¡°That is quite a performance. Can I expect another?¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Both the guard and Mingzhu shouted together.


    ¡°I expect you to clean this filth up,¡± the guard ordered.


    Mingzhu glared at him. Oh dear. Disung knew to intervene. She would be punished if she insulted an emperor''s soldier. ¡°Why are you here? I expected Wu Tai.¡±


    ¡°Everyone else fears the great ¨¤nsh¨´. I was the only servant willing to attend since Wu Tai tends to Master Wang,¡± Mingzhu explained, irritated by the situation. She carelessly shoved him the bowls in her hands. ¡°Eat. I am leaving.¡±


    ¡°So Joaolong is recovering,¡± Disung stated, sighing in relief. ¡°Thank the gods.¡±


    ¡°He was stabbed three times and the wounds just missed his vital organs. But there are still many opportunities for him to die.¡±


    Disung chuckled. ¡°You are terrible at comforting others.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t comfort others.¡±


    ¡°Ah but you did last night,¡± Disung teased with a wink. He grinned when he saw the guard raise his eyebrows, happy to eavesdrop.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°I hope you rot in here,¡± Mingzhu snapped, flustered by his playfulness.


    ¡°Speaking to a master like that means we certainly have changed roles. Now I am being punished and you arrive to watch my humiliation with crude remarks.¡±


    ¡°Good. You deserve it.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you try to be nice?¡±


    ¡°Shut up and drink the soup. It tastes disgusting, like rusty keys,¡± Mingzhu said. ¡°I will leave, as I expect you to do later after being released.¡±


    ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t go! I need a favour!¡±


    ¡°Do it yourself, boy.¡±


    ¡°Please! For the empress! For Lin Jiang! I can¡¯t do it trapped in here!¡±


    The maid''s step faltered. Seconds ticked by. Slowly, she turned back around. ¡°Speak.¡±


    ¡°You are still acting like a master,¡± Disung mused.


    ¡°And you act like a snotty boy. Speak. Unless you don¡¯t want this favour.¡±


    Disung held his hands up in defeat. ¡°Fine. Tonight, place a flower in the river for me. I want to commemorate the empress and emperor but cannot inside a cell. I would be forever grateful if¡­¡±


    Mingzhu rolled her eyes. ¡°You will live. Just drink the soup.¡±


    ¡°You are persistent about the soup.¡±


    ¡°And you are persistently getting on my nerves. I should have poisoned it!¡± With that, Mingzhu stormed away.


    ¡°I think she likes me a lot,¡± Disung said, answering the guards curious glance between the empty doorway and prisoner.


    The smell of food wafted the prison cell. A smaller bowl sat beside the soup, filled to the brim with dried berries. The colour looked odd, the dark red hinting at a poisonous taste. Yet, Disung shoved them into his mouth regardless of the warning.


    Deep in the mountains, these berries grew on wild bushes. Often, children mistook a similar fruit for it and would run home with swollen lips and red faces. Disung vaguely remembered daring friends to figure out which berry was safe to eat; most of his childhood was fuzzy because of trauma the Fox caused. Luckily, he could still envision a blurry face of a girl with large purple lips and angry eyes. He recalled her screaming at him and being so angry that her hair looked on fire¡­ just like Mingzhu.


    No, Disung dismissed. Last night¡¯s dream played with his memories. It can¡¯t be Mingzhu. Could it? Ever since they met, she felt familiar and acted like she had some grudge against him. Also, there was that pet name ¡®boy¡¯ and the drunken stories that matched the Masked Masters. It had to be connected. Next time they met, he would make her talk.


    ¡°This is too complicated,¡± He sighed and started gulping the watery soup instead.


    It tasted terrible, lacking meat or a good serving of vegetables. When his mother cooked, she ensured soup had more chunks than liquid. This food strayed far from that quality and even had that metallic taste Mingzhu warned of. On the third sip, the rusty flavour grew stronger. Then, something hard hit Disung¡¯s lips.


    What on earth...? An object swam in the soup. With cautious fingers, Disung poked around the bowl. He felt something hard meet his touch and swirled it around, fishing it out to look. To his pleasant surprise, he discovered a key that matched to cell lock.


    It tastes disgusting, like rusty keys.


    Disung smiled at the lack of subtlety. The maid never failed to amuse them. When did she even get the keys? Was it in her fall? Or did she grab them earlier? Why did she help him? Disung¡¯s grin grew with each question. If the prince decided to execute him ¨C which Disung doubted ¨C then Mingzhu had saved his life. He vowed to repay her kindness but after questioning about the past. He needed more answers before trusting her.

 Chapter 35: Blooming Warning

    At night, every person in the entire kingdom went to a water source, whether it be a stream or lake, to place a flower or lantern to float into the spirit realm. During this, no one dared utter a single word. Instead, silent prayers filled the heavy air.


    Even the palace turned into a quiet temple during this time of mourning. Everyone inside, no matter hierarchy position, gathered along water entrances and streams that flowed inside the bordered wall. Mingzhu joined them, holding two ugly paper flowers. Slaves, although permitted to grieve, had limited supplies to show their sorrow; they were given rations of old paper while nobles carried huge lanterns.


    After a chime carried on the wind, she placed them into the water like those around her. Rest in peace Lin Jiang, she thought dangerously before backing into the crowd.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    More people shuffled forward and to continue the ceremony, placing their symbols of farewell into the water. From the sky, birds cawed in admiration at the fake fireflies dancing on the waters in snake-like formations. It all looked beautiful for a single moment. Then, sad eyes and sunken hearts were briefly forgotten; something in the stream poisoned the peace.


    A body floated in a small boat, scaring the fish and disrupting the lanterns spinning on the water. The woman looked like a goddess sleeping in a meadow of bright flowers from the summer. The strong, floral scents masked wafts of rot. Lace and jewellery hid the dislocation of the head from the neck. The corpse wore a stark white dress, pearls and ruffles adding liveliness, and festive makeup and hairstyling gave character to the lifeless, stiff body. A large, rectangle plank of wood sat on Jiang¡¯s chest, willing anyone able to read the message.


    Blaming an innocent was the first mistake as a new emperor, Hong Huli. The Fox comes for you.

 Chapter 36: For the Crowned

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    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

 Chapter 37: Wang Joaolongs Dismissal

    <div>


    We cannot manage the crops. All men left to recruit in the army. Only young boys remain. Please send any spare men to assist in the harvest season.


    Our water supply has become contaminated due to the damming of the river. We will have to abandon our homes if nothing is done.


    The villagers of Kaim cannot afford tax increase. Please withdraw the proposal for higher tax collections.


    Bandits have appeared in the outer villages near the border. Send officers.


    The requests from villager officials scattered across the table. The problems seemed contagious. More men had left home for Weishan¡¯s war cause ¨C which Huli confirmed would continue ¨C and those in power gave nothing back to sustain life. The kingdom would fall to ruin quickly.


    ¡°Councilman Xue. Report on agriculture and food production,¡± Joaolong said, conducting his role as the minister of agriculture and economy.


    The middle-aged man grunted, clearing his throat before speaking. ¡°Our land remains difficult to harvest, no matter the various methods employed. The reports for each section of Shanhe are the same as last week. We remain heavily dependent on Linlong¡¯s resources but cannot continue to pay the expensive prices they request. Any negotiation with the kingdom has been banned by Hong Weishan, may he rest peacefully. The new demand for military training and army food supplies is also causing harm. Either, we have to increase the tax for citizens to meet the demand or continue relying on Linlong.¡±


    ¡°Any suggestions?¡± Joaolong asked, more out of respect than advice.


    As predicted, the answers stated unreasonable solutions that disregarded the welfare of the people. Since majority of the councilmen at the meeting came from privileged families and never strayed far from the palace, they only sought benefits for themselves. It left them greedy and uncultured about the struggle of others around them. As for Joaolong, he lived in the slums as a child and had a better understanding of the crisis.


    ¡°What are you thinking, Master Wang?¡± Cheng asked, noticing Joaolong¡¯s changing expression.


    ¡°The people will not stand to continue trade with Linlong if we are to go to war against them. Therefore, we must be able to support ourselves. To do this, we have to remove the dam from She River. The blockage is ruining the fertile farmlands closer to the border. Over the years, the soil has lost its richeness. We have no better option if Shanhe people are to survive the winter and possibly, a war. Anyone who objects¡ª¡±


    The new emperor¡¯s grand entrance into the meeting room cut off the sentence. As always, he wore a mixture of maroon robes with parts of bronze armour. Supposedly, the style showed a constant readiness for battle despite the impracticality. When Disung first saw this, he had to run away so he wasn¡¯t caught laughing at the ridiculousness of the clothing choice. Joaolong could only imagine what Disung would do if he was invited to the meeting and had to watch the emperor.


    ¡°Continue,¡± Huli said as he stalked around the table.


    Everyone remained cautious. Since the crowning of a new emperor, no official meetings had been held. Huli would only take a handful of noblemen into the study, leaving dozens more to blindly continue their daily tasks. Hence, no one expected him to attend today but now that he watched them like a hawk, their worries changed from the kingdom matters to themselves.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Joaolong kept his voice calm and steady. ¡°Emperor, we are facing a crisis for our people. Food is scarce and poverty has risen. War or no war, we need solutions but it depends on your intentions. We have no information on army size nor battle tactics to determine how much supplies, both food and other, are needed.¡±


    ¡°You do not need to know about that, Master Wang Joaolong. You, you and you-¡± Huli pointed at a few other councilmen, ¡°-are dismissed from all future meetings regarding the imperial council. To speak bluntly, I have resigned you of the positions relating to agriculture and economy. Leave immediately.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡± Joaolong was in shock, along with the other councilmen selected.


    There had been many changes since Huli ascended the throne but none so stupid as this. Joaolong had proved himself worthy of the position as minister of agriculture and economy, successfully aiding drought victims without jeopardising others through tax or supplies, and reducing poverty in villages. He knew he did his job well. To remove him could be compared to removing the heart from the body.


    ¡°I have proved myself valuable many times. Is there a specific reason for my sudden dismissal?¡±


    ¡°Anyone who dares defy the emperor shall be beheaded!¡± Huli roared with a smug smile on his face.


    Cheng tried to intervene. ¡°Emperor, this is too hasty. Master Wang is reliable and intelligent, as are the other masters. It would be unwise¡ª¡±


    ¡°Do you wish to join him, Master Zhao?¡±


    All councilmen felt a noose tighten around their own necks at Huli¡¯s reply. No one was safe. Tai guided Joaolong silently outside before more disaster struck.


    Under the sun, Tai started pessimistically discussing their peril and picked anxiously at his nails. ¡°Master Wang, our situation is grim. The kitchen maid has gone missing and the allied seamstress has finished her time as a maid in the palace. If you are removed from a minister position, we have no informants. The slope we were climbing has become too steep.¡±


    Joaolong continued to walk with his head down, fists clenching and unclenching. They lost everything they built to establish power in the palace. It took years to gather allies to stay alive but it crumbled into ash in a day. Even when spotting Disung, who had been beaten to a bloody pulp during his imprisonment, Joaolong couldn¡¯t swallow his emotions like usual. Instead, he thought of every possible wrongdoing in his life to fuel the rage inside him.


    The gods were cruel. They took Yenay, the sweetest person in the kingdom, from the mortal realm. They forced Jiang to suffer an injust death. They spared Disung¡¯s life, helping every nobleman persuade the emperor to save him, only to reassign him as the emperor¡¯s dirty lapdog when called. They played with people like toys. Joaolong had enough. No longer would the gods treat him like a weak child.


    ¡°Has the meeting already finished? I often have more time to play,¡± Disung said and strolled over. This stride faltered at the grim faces. ¡°I presume it is bad that you left early.¡±


    ¡°Train me,¡± Joaolong stated.


    ¡°Little Wu?¡± Disung questioned, seeking an explanation.


    ¡°The emperor dismissed Master Wang from a minister position,¡± Tai said, worry filling his voice. Behind him, more councilmen littered the stairs with miserable expressions; within minutes, Huli had destroyed his economy council.


    Disung cursed loudly. ¡°How can he do that?¡±


    ¡°The same way he made you into his slave.¡± Tai sighed. ¡°He is the emperor. Power is in his hands.¡±


    The kingdom, similar to the three men, felt the heavy weight of the new ruler. At first, they celebrated the dawn of a new age but recoiled as new regulations followed. Taxes increased, more men left home to train in the army and those in high positions cared little for the people. Poverty was the new lifestyle.


    ¡°Disung. Train me,¡± Joaolong demanded again.


    ¡°The only reason you learnt bow and arrow was because I insisted and even then, it caused Hong Huli to attack you. You have always believed brain will outmatch brawn. Do not change your mind impulsively because of this minor setback.¡±


    ¡°I cannot defeat them!¡± Joaolong snapped. ¡°Not this time. Brain defeats brawn, but power triumphs over all. I need your help.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°Disung, I order you to train me.¡±


    The harsh clip in his tone stunned Disung and so, without hesitation he punched him. Joaolong was knocked to the ground in agony, his cheek throbbing relentlessly.


    ¡°Lesson one with Anshu: expect the unexpected.¡±


    ¡°I thought I had,¡± Joaolong remarked, his face scrunching into a scowl.


    He should have known the enthronement of Huli would change everything but he still didn¡¯t expect the new emperor to involve himself in mundane matters such as produce and economy. How many times had he skipped a war meeting requested by his father, over tiredness or servant wrongdoings? At least the past emperor was predictable and Joaolong foolishly got used to that. Today, he learnt his lesson.

 Chapter 38: New Position

    This is certainly delayed, Mingzhu thought to herself. The question was about the late morning arrival last week, after a night of absence. Judgement met Mingzhu at every corner since then, whispering about her dishevelled appearance and tipsy state days ago. Matters became worse when she, unwillingly, served Disung during imprisonment. No one acknowledged how every maid cowered at the thought of meeting a killing tool and she was chosen due to her nonchalance. By now, everyone believed she disgracefully fornicated out of wedlock and sought a higher slave position.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    You are an idiot, Mingzhu. This is why the mountain clan distrusts you. ¡°What if I refuse to comply with your plan?¡±

 Chapter 39: Deception

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 Chapter 40: Speak Fears to the Dead

    Each emperor brought great change to Shanhe. The first established the new kingdom, the second nurtured it, the third caused poverty, the fourth grew greedy and the fifth, Hong Weishan, became bloodthirsty for war. Looking at this progression, Cheng feared the new emperor. Huli had been nurtured to bring war, his father endlessly discussing it and making preparations to attack Linlong. Despite his lack of training in fighting, Huli anticipated the bloodshed. That malicious glint in his eyes scared Cheng, who could not reason with the boy like he had with his father.


    The new emperor depended on no one. He saw Cheng as a foolish uncle rather than an advisor, his future wife as a toy, not an ally, and councilmen as loyal dogs instead of men with greater insight to the kingdom. Huli¡¯s rein would bring chaos and, Cheng predicted, be short-lived. An impulsive ruler would get slain in a few years. He already acted based on his own rivalry and feelings, firing Joaolong from a minister position without recognising the consequence. He did not consider the commoners clever enough to connect the sudden poverty and Joaolong¡¯s absence, nor acknowledge the shift in respect. This foolishness vexed Cheng. However, it wasn¡¯t the advisor¡¯s only problem that had arisen.


    The Fox kept leaving tokens in Cheng¡¯s chambers. The variety of sizes and wood had a hidden meaning, whether it referred to secrets or false identities remained a mystery. It boggled Cheng. Sleep failed him under their watchful, warning eyes peeking from around the room. Whenever he hid one, another appeared but he could not leave them in the open. He continuously stashed them in a hidden draw until it overflowed with tokens. Each came message-less yet Cheng could hear the Fox taunting him over his past, about his acts and especially Bai Juan¡¯s death. These were ominous signs.


    The only relief came from leaving the palace. The air smelled sweeter in Yinying Yueguang and helped Cheng forget his dire situation that circulated around Huli, Fox and Joaolong, who still blackmailed him relentlessly. People bumped into each other and frantically prepared for the upcoming celebrations. The Moon Festival was one of Shanhe¡¯s most famous times of year that lasted for nights in the villages. Blue and white lanterns filled the streets and aromas of traditional sugar treats wafted from windows.


    Cheng marvelled at it all, reminded of his many journeys across Shanhe in preparation for war; he surveyed routes and training grounds that could secretly accommodate a large army. Weishan wanted to methodically plan everything to obtain a glorious victory after centuries of no battles. He was patient with is desires. Huli was not.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°The sooner this ends, the better,¡± Cheng mumbled to himself and ventured into the forest on a hidden trail.


    Young, persimmon trees, planted a week after Juan¡¯s death, formed a circle around a stone plague. The dry, thin branches stretched out like old fingers and supported the weight of the circular orange fruit, the colour adding life to the dying forest. Autumn settled in and dusted the ground full of leaves, covering the clearing for the memorial plaque. ¡®My osmanthus¡¯ had been carved into this, leaving no clarity about the true identity that had this place dedicated to them. Joaolong created this for Cheng to mourn his wife, which proved both a blessing and curse; it was yet another weakness the nobleman exploited.


    From a distance, everything looked normal however, on closer inspection, Cheng realised something was amiss. It cannot be, he thought in horror. Water dripped down the plaque ¨C part of Shanhe memorial customs ¨C with picked persimmons sitting in a weaved basket. Someone else had visited. It must be Wang Joaolong. Only he knows about this place unless¡­ The image of Mingzhu sprang to mind, with her glaring eyes and scowl that looked too old for a young girl. He did not believe the proclamation of her death. Anyone who met Mingzhu knew she would never die over weak reasons like heartache. The idea of her prowling the town and palace made his breathing falter. Wang Joaolong visited. Wang Joaolong visited. Wang Joaolong visited, not Bai Mingzhu.


    To distract himself, Cheng began his own memorial for Juan, pretending the ceremony enacted by a stranger had not happened. Essence was lit and slowly waved around the plaque, then water, collected from a clear stream, trickled over the stone. Cheng placed his own gifts, including tea and honey cakes, beside the basket before kotowing.


    ¡°Accept these offerings and be at peace,¡± he whispered, a sad smile on his lips. Day by day, it became harder to remember the softness of his wife¡¯s skin, the daintiness of her waist or the beauty which made men gawk. ¡°I hope the spirit world is keeping you well, my love. The mortal realm is falling into chaos, as you predicted. I should have listened to you. Hong Huli is a cruel ruler. Everyone fears him but are unable to act. Yet, if he dies, Qiaolian will act far worse. A grieving, irrational mother is far more frightening than a war-hungry ruler. If only...¡±


    The leaves rustled behind Cheng. For a moment, he swore he saw a pair of eyes glare at him through the shrubs. His heartbeat spiked. He blinked. Nothing appeared unordinary. This did not calm him. All day, he felt someone watching his movements. This person remained undetected and quiet. They were trained. It made him sweat.

 Chapter 41: Arrival of Linlong

    <div>


    It had been close to a month since Huli¡¯s coronation as emperor when the third prince, his wife and the first princess of Linlong visited Shanhe. They travelled across the land on horseback, and only the prince¡¯s wife, Kuang Yanyan, was authorised a carriage. The princess, Xun Caihong, refused to ride in one and throughout the whole trip, proved to be a nuisance by jumping on other men¡¯s horses and taking them for herself. Each guard groaned and rolled their eyes at her mischief, expecting it to occur; Caihong developed a reputation to be extremely reckless and na?ve. In the end, the prince felt pressured to allow her to ride with him to end the stupid behaviour.


    Once in the heart of Shanhe, in Yinying Yueguang, the troupe divided; the soldiers celebrated a long journey with royal wine, delivered by eunuchs from the palace, and set up camp in the forest. Although they eagerly looked towards the taverns and brothels, the Shanhe villagers¡¯ glares and insults kept them away. The welcoming into the kingdom had been cold as Xun Shaiming, the third prince, expected. The Shanhe royals were equally unsociable, waiting at the palace entrance near the Divine Gate with glum faces.


    Approaching them, Shaiming studied the contrasts in appearance of Shanhe and Linlong. The clothing looked similar but Shanhe prioritised aesthetic appeal over practicality; Linlong people preferred mobility rather than constricted by heavy layers of clothing and so, wore shorter tunics with thick pants. He also saw no braids in their hair, unlike his family. Braids identified status in the bloodlines and as a prince, he had three braids on his left side that met in a ponytail. Meanwhile, his sister and wife wore two braids that followed the rest of their hair into two low buns.


    ¡°Husband, you must speak.¡± Yanyan nudged him. In Linlong, he had become accustomed to remaining silent during exchanges because of his lower status and age.


    Cheng took initiative instead. ¡°Welcome, Xun family, to Shanhe. The emperor hopes you had a safe and pleasant travel. It is an honour to meet again.¡±


    The family guard, Dong Mencius, covered in large muscles and hair, cracked his neck. A single breath caused his chest to puff out and shoulders to roll back, displaying natural dominance. All Linlong soldiers feared to fight him.


    ¡°The hospitality of your kingdom was thrilling. A few bandits attacked us on the way, your majesty. Your kingdom is looking wild as ours.¡±


    ¡°Dong Mencius.¡± Shaiming used his name to serve as a warning.


    ¡°We will dispose of them immediately,¡± Huli snapped, irked by the man speaking out of turn.


    ¡°We are grateful, your majesty, but do not haste. They were only poor citizens that had little food and money. Concern yourself not for our well-being but for your people,¡± Shaiming replied, full of wisdom despite being on the cusp of finishing his teenage years.


    In Linlong, both councilmen and his family overlooked his intelligence due to youth. The small facial features did not help age him, but instead made him look pretty rather than masculine. No one believed him to speak like a scholar nor present great wisdom, except his wife. It was one of many reasons why he sought to marry her in haste and fought his family over the commoner.


    ¡°I am certain you have more wild bandits in your lands,¡± Huli remarked.


    The insult forced Qiaolian to intervene to keep peace. ¡°Excuse the emperor. He is resolving this problem and has spent many nights awake until the moon was high in the sky.We face misfortune to receive your letter late and could not organise a grander celebration in time for your arrival, Third Prince. I am inclined to assume that our previous festivities enticed your return.¡±


    ¡°You are indeed correct although, I hope my return does not bring as many calamities as that over a year ago,¡± Shaiming politely responded.


    ¡°You must not blame yourself. It was a blessing you weren¡¯t injured in the chaos. How far along is this woman?¡± Qiaolian asked, eyes crinkling happily at the site of Yanyan¡¯s swollen stomach. No amount of loose dresses could hide her pregnancy.


    ¡°Forgive my rudeness. Emperor Hong Huli. Zhao Qiaolian. Zhao Cheng. May I introduce my wife, Kuang Yanyan. We married shortly after my last visit in Shanhe. I wish she be treated with great care since she is due in a few months. The woman beside her is my younger sister, Princess Xun Caihong.¡±


    ¡°It is wonderfully refreshing to meet such beautiful women from across the lands,¡± Cheng said, following Qiaolian¡¯s example of grace and kind words. The compliment primarily referred to the princess, as Yenay kept her face hidden by draping material attached to a headdress.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°We are grateful for the warm welcome,¡± Yenay said softly. ¡°We have brought gifts to express¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why have you come in the place of Linlong¡¯s emperor or eldest son?¡± Huli asked tersely, sick of the false niceties and etiquette.


    ¡°The emperor is solving our water crisis, along with my second eldest brother. Our rivers are drying up at a rapid rate and we fear for Winter. My eldest brother is currently going through his trials. It is a tradition in our kingdom that you must prove your worth before gaining the throne by a series of challenges,¡± Shaiming answered. Throughout speaking, his voice remained even and polite but there was an underlying terseness. Rumours already reached Linlong about the new emperor¡¯s uncaring and harsh reputation. ¡°To ask my family¡¯s whereabouts must mean I have offended you. I apologise if my company is displeasing.¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡± Qiaolian interrupted with haste, filling her role as a royal perfectly. ¡°Shall we tour the palace? I imagine after a long travel, you wish to rest your weary souls and our gardens¡¯ beauty will revitalise you.¡±


    Indeed, she was right. TheLotus Palace never ceased to amaze him. Every season, different flowers bloomed and a new colour theme speckled the grounds. The structure lived up to its reputation in beauty, the sun hitting the building walls in such a way that gold sparkled flirtatiously while the border shimmered in pink to compliment the tones around. Shaiming smiled a few times, recalling his last visit and the company on Bai Juan. She took his breath away at every corner and the way she had talked added more life to the palace.


    The Xun family¡¯s chambers resided to the west, nestled away in the guest housing. They passed a great waterfall of plants that spread out across the path. The leaves and flowers swirled down in shades of orange, red and pinks, creating an enchanting entrance to the hidden chambers. Behind this, soft yellows and creams washed the walls of the buildings, while deep brown beams and crossed wooden panels provided decoration and support. Bronze tiled roofs stood at different heights that curved outwards, each corner morphed into a water bird. The smaller dwelling to the right would be Caihong¡¯s residence during their stay, while the larger building provided more comfort for the prince and his wife.


    At the residence, Shaiming politely interrupted Qiaolian¡¯s pleasant flow of Shanhe¡¯s history. ¡°I do appreciate your earlier offer for tea but I am afraid my wife has grown weary from travel, as have I. Please excuse us while we adjust ourselves.¡±


    ¡°As you wish,¡± Qiaolian said softly. ¡°Can I expect we arrange for tea tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°It would be my honour.¡±


    The families divided and when the Shanhe rulers disappeared behind the flower curtain, Shaiming entered the prepared chambers. Although grand on the outside, inside lacked the fine detailing. A large bed floated in the joined room to the left, whereas a table for tea sat in the bare, main room. The array of embroiled materials, such as rugs and cushions, added enough elegance but did not compare to the attention to detail outside. It felt like a tavern rather than royal guest chamber. The only hint at their location came from a painting of the current emperor, Hong Huli, which hung from the wall.


    The artwork looked freshly completed, likely at Huli¡¯s coronation. In the past visits, Shaiming recalled a mystical picture of a mountain in the exact same spot. Bai Juan wistfully told him Shanhe¡¯s version of the Mountain Master legends during their reoccurring afternoon teas.


    ¡°Is it too late to run away?¡± Caihong groaned and collapsed on the bed. She had yet to bother investigating her own chambers.


    ¡°Sister. Do not slouch. Keep your guard up at all times for there are eyes everywhere in this palace,¡± Shaiming scolded but his voice lacked conviction.


    Their mother fussed more over her etiquette than him. From an early age, Caihong proved unruly and wild. She suited a life in wild areas of the forest than the palace where rules confined her. The journey to Shanhe proved she was not ready for the duties of royalty nor their father¡¯s decision for marriage.


    ¡°When you are ordered to have a concubine like I am ordered to wed, then you may criticise me,¡± Caihong sneered. ¡°This trip is horrible. If sister-in-law was not here to keep me company, I fear boredom would overcome me! I still do not understand why she is here at all.¡±


    ¡°A baby needs his father,¡± Yanyan replied and rubbed her stomach. Her voice, so soft and gentle, covered Shaiming like a warm blanket. The sound always soothed him.


    Caihong snorted. ¡°That father is disappearing as we speak. Look! How can you call me rude when he is sneaking away!¡±


    Shaiming ignored his sister and continued scanning the courtyard through an opened door. Their arrival should have been announced so that meant the flickering beam should appear. There! Shaiming suppressed a smile and the directed light that blinded his eyes. He turned back to the women, giving Caihong a lie to sate her complaints of abandonment.


    ¡°I want to ensure Mencius is familiar with the area to properly complete his duty. Stay here and rest after a long day.¡±


    ¡°Who can rest when it smells like a swamp here,¡± Caihong groaned and rolled her eyes. ¡°I want to go home.¡±


    ¡°I will ensure everything is ready for your return,¡± Yanyan said politely and Shaiming left.


    The real destination was, thankfully, close by. Although he stayed in the same building before, the plants and design had been altered so it took a great amount of concentration to find his way. The old pathway had vanished and Shaiming wandered on grass and dirt instead, estimating where to turn and the direction. This hid his secret meetings better; taking an unknown track meant less people would see him greet someone apart from the royal family.


    ¡°Perfect timing.¡±


    Joaolong sat in his room, the doors wide open to greet the prince. He gestured to the teapot and matching black cups, full of an unusual musky tea. Light snacks whispered their tastes from the plate and Shaiming followed their call.


    ¡°It has been awhile, my friend.¡±


    ¡°We have lots to discuss, Third Prince.¡±

 Chapter 42: Scouting for Problems

    The forest prepared for the change in weather, the leaves falling down to create disturbed pools of yellows and oranges. In a few weeks, everything would turn red instead. Disung loved the season, recalling hunting and his mother¡¯s joy over small harvests in her garden. Today, he found a new reason to enjoy this time, admiring how the bright colours emphasised the strands of dark auburn in Mingzhu¡¯s hair. It made her appear like an Autumn goddess strolling in her creation. Unfortunately, she displayed no elegant or charming qualities like a deity. If anything, she cussed and raged like a demon.


    ¡°Why are you following me?!¡± Mingzhu huffed, stopping abruptly on the dirt path.


    ¡°Master¡¯s orders,¡± Disung explained nonchalantly.


    For days, he stalked her like a tiger with its prey. She moved with the grace of a swan and took hours to tire. It had been interesting to watch, especially when she practiced a dance in the evenings. It looked beautiful from afar but ended deadly; she always threw a knife after a series of spins. What she intended to use this for remained a mystery which concerned Disung.


    ¡°Whose? Master Wang or the emperor?¡±


    The snark remark bothered Disung, who hated being Huli¡¯s puppet. ¡°The emperor cannot use me if he cannot find me. It is easy to avoid the calamity!¡±


    ¡°I do not care! Just leave me alone! Does Master Wang have nothing else for you to do?!¡±


    ¡°He wants us to share the mission.¡±


    Days ago, Joaolong gave Mingzhu the task to monitor training camps; rumours spread about more establishments, built for training soldiers, in Shanhe since Weishan¡¯s death. This hinted at the impending war which the old emperor started and his successor continued. Joaolong grew more anxious since his removal as minister made him unaware of progress.


    This ominous situation provided an opportunity for the newest member of the alliance to prove her worthiness. Yet, Joaolong still believed she was the Fox so he had Disung follow. He did obey the order until he got bored. This took two days and since she remained dedicated to the mission, staying on path and checking the rumoured training grounds, he revealed himself.


    ¡°Not for a while. Linlong are visiting. Only idiots attack while the other kingdom is present. It shows the lack of security in the legendary palace.¡±


    Mingzhu sucked in a breath, prepared to argue, but released it in a defeated slump. She stormed off ahead. ¡°If you join me, do not get in my way.¡±


    ¡°Do not get in mine. I have been spying for Joaolong longer than you and more capable in these parts.¡±


    ¡°And I have trained with someone with far better skills than you!¡±


    ¡°Who would that be? Someone from the mountain clan?¡±


    ¡°You must be delusional.¡±


    ¡°Which remaining Masked Master?¡±


    Mingzhu slowed. She stared at him, both cautious and inquisitive. ¡°How much do you know about the mountain clan?¡±


    They never spoke of the mountains before. She ignored Disung¡¯s questions at every turn. Why did she ask him now? Was it because Joaolong was not near? Or Tai? Did she plan to tell something to him alone? Hope sparked in Disung, igniting a bubbling happiness in his gut.


    ¡°I know that you are part of the mountain clan.¡±


    ¡°Ha! Then you know nothing.¡±


    Displeased with the response, Mingzhu continued on at her usual pace. However, Disung hadn¡¯t finished with the conversation. He wanted answers. He would not be denied. The dreams about the past became more vivid in the passing weeks and he grew certain the girl appearing in them was Mingzhu. If these were not snippets of memories, which his trauma stole years ago, then he would be confronting his smitten feelings for her. Either outcome, he wanted clarity.


    ¡°I know the clan was nomadic in the mountains, travelling from ruins to temples and back. I know which mountain range they resided in. I know there were originally seven Masked Masters, including the Fox before he went rogue.¡±


    ¡°Eight.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°There are eight Masked Masters. You forgot the Dragon,¡± Mingzhu said and her lips twitched into a half smile. ¡°You always did when you were young.¡±


    ¡°Ah, of course. The Dragon is¡­¡±


    Mingzhu snapped shut and rebuilt her guard. A stone mask came over her expression. ¡°Focus on the mission, boy.¡±


    ¡°I find talking passes the time. It keeps us alert. With that, I must ask why you avoided me when we first met.¡±


    The only answer came from tweeting birds, disturbed by the wind rustling the leaves they hid behind.


    ¡°Another question then. Why do you keep calling me boy? I can assure you in various ways that I am a man,¡± Disung retorted.


    Relief washed over him when Mingzhu turned a delightful shade of pink at the insinuation. She was adorable when trapped by his jokes and insults. Each time, she acted like a child fooled by their parents for the first time. Disung felt certain he would never tire from seeing her red cheeks and confused expression. It almost made up for her avoidance about discussing the mountain clan. Almost.


    ¡°You act like a boy! Immature, stinking and a nuisance!¡±


    ¡°If you keep saying that, you will hurt my feelings.¡±


    ¡°I will¡ª¡±


    ¡°Shush!¡±


    Mingzhu looked ready to slit his throat. ¡°You ask me question and then dare¡ª¡±


    Disung covered her mouth with his hand. Quickly, he whispered in her ear to stop any noisy struggle. ¡°Although I am riveted by our conversation, I need you to be quiet. Listen. We are near the suspected training site and there is someone else in the woods. I thought you were well-trained to hear such things.¡±


    Mingzhu bit his hand. He retracted it and held his breath to supress an exclamation of pain. When he looked down, teeth imprinted his saliva-soaked skin.


    ¡°Serves you right,¡± Mingzhu whispered half-heartedly, distracted by the woods.


    After listening more to the voices the wind carried, they both firmly suspected people were near. Silently, the odd pair snuck between trees and braced their feet on the uneven terrain. Disung copied Mingzhu step for step, until he got into the rhythm and kept up with the same incredible, silent footing. They stopped every so often, listening and changing directions in unison. During the final pause to assess, they clearly heard a woman screaming and ran.


    Two men restrained her; one held her wrists in his large hand while the other pinned down her legs, slowly pushing up the skirt of her dress. He moved aside his top layer of tunic and with great haste, dropped his pants. Just as the fabric reached the ground, he suddenly rolled across the rocky ground. Disung stood above him, a vicious glare cutting him into pieces. Meanwhile, Mingzhu beat the other man using a fighting combination consisting of three, repetitive jabs. Finally, when he curled up in pain, she hit his neck artery. At the agonizing contact, he blacked out and met the grass below.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Get up!¡± Mingzhu barked at the crying woman between pants.


    Disung intervened, ensuring his voice remained gentle and caring. ¡°Are you hurt, Miss?¡±


    ¡°N-n-no,¡± the woman stammered and fresh tears rolled down her rosy cheeks. Thin wisps of her brown hair clung to the wetness and got caught on her long lashes. Judging by her plain dress, both in style and colour, she was a commoner.


    ¡°I will not ask for details. Are you from Hirane?¡±


    The woman nodded, unable to steady her breathing between chokes and sobs.


    ¡°Bastards!¡± Mingzhu growled and grabbed one man¡¯s dagger.


    ¡°Do not kill them.¡±


    ¡°They must be punished!¡± A string of curses followed her demand.


    ¡°Then slice their foreheads a little. It bleeds like a waterfall in the rain season and should scar well. That will be punishment enough in Shanhe.¡±


    Needing no further permission, Mingzhu carved into man she knocked unconscious. The pain did not stir him and he remained lost in darkness. Blood poured out and Disung used his body to block the woman¡¯s view. She shook and curled into a ball like a child. Unsure how to handle the situation, as well as distract her from Mingzhu¡¯s bloodlust, he tried talking to her in a soothing voice. A timid smile, breaking the rhythmic sobs, rewarded the attempt at comfort.


    Meanwhile, Mingzhu continued her gruesome work. Disung risked at the mutilation to inspect the men¡¯s clothing. They wore few layers and the top cream tunic had navy trim. On their left breast, the Shanhe emblem ¨C a navy lotus flower ¨C shimmered in the sun.


    ¡°Soldiers,¡± he murmured, recognising the uniform.


    Apparently Mingzhu heard him and replied to his observation. ¡°Bastards dared to rape their own kingdom¡¯s people. They deserve to die in war¡­ not that the officers will keep them with these new scars¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you done?¡± Disung asked, gesturing to the traumatized woman to hint at leaving soon.


    Something changed in Mingzhu¡¯s eyes; they lost their fierceness and anger. Instead, a sadness rippled in them, like fallen petals on water. Then, for an instant, her expression softened. She dropped the dagger and left the men. Both had ¡®rotten egg¡¯ carved into their foreheads, nearly indistinguishable with all the blood pouring from the cuts.


    ¡°The village is not far,¡± Mingzhu stated. ¡°We shall take her back. The detour will not hinder our plans.¡±


    Indeed, she was right. Uphill and beyond the thickest of trees, Hirane came into view. The village looked like a large, farming town filled to the brim with food markets. Buildings stood tall against the grassy, sloped hills, overlooking animals and crops on patches of flat land. For years, it grew in size and became an agriculture hub. The preparation of the upcoming Moon Festival showed this large population with people littering the streets to organise decorative goods and festive food. Colourful banners and lanterns stretched between balconies and roofs, cluttering the air. Some musicians took it upon themselves to play upbeat music in the streets to maintain a bright atmosphere.


    The woman stuck closely to Mingzhu, rather than Disung, as they walked along the streets. It showed the traumatic happenings in the forest already tainted her perception of men. Unfortunately for her, she did not know Mingzhu had a temper and would not be kind with her words. The gods blessed them thought as this rough personality remained hidden and for once, Mingzhu appeared as a protector rather than a snarky woman. It was a pleasant surprise and lasted until they immersed themselves into the crowd.


    Eventually, they stopped at a small market stall, built from planks of wood. Bright purple and white blankets covered most of it, contrasting against the blues and green of neighbouring stands. The older woman, standing behind the store, hunched over and bartered with a commoner about the price of scarf. At the sight of her kin, who shared her flat nose and swollen eyes, she approached and ignored the customer.


    The mother opened her mouth, ready to scold her daughter, but upon seeing her fearful eyes and trembling lips, she sighed and led her inside the house behind them. They talked in hushed voices, low enough for their words to remain unheard, while younger brothers and sisters served customers outside. Disung made Mingzhu stay, until they guaranteed the woman¡¯s welfare, and eyed the items laid before them.


    The stall sold an arrangement of accessories for women. Scarves and handkerchiefs laid on the edges of the table, while the hairpin jewels glittered in the sun and flaunted their unspoken vows to loved ones. Masks lined up next to them; each reflected a tale about the gods and legends on the land. Disung saw Mingzhu pause at one mask, intrigued by the design. A cream colour created a foundation to the mask, then bright red and orange flames flicked up the slanted sides in swirls. Black outlined the thin eye holes, shifting the mask from stunning to an eerie elegance.


    ¡°Are you familiar in the folklore of the Dragon and demi-goddess?¡± Disung asked curiously.


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°I think the story inspired lots of their crafts. Look! This pin must be the only thing that does not relate to any legend!¡±


    The hairpin weighed down Mingzhu¡¯s hair. Disung smiled at his sly hand and placement, then whistled at the jewels. He tucked a loose hair behind Mingzhu¡¯s ear so it did not hide the accessory. The pin was long and golden, twisting up to the end to form a bird¡¯s body and head. The head outstretched, as if the bird wished to sing its melody to the world. Small, red opaque gems covered the body while a collection of long, oval gems represented wings, flecked with purple and blues. Mingzhu looked beautiful with it and Disung¡¯s heart fully agreed with this thought, encouraging a blush to stain his cheeks.


    ¡°You are beautiful when you look like a lady,¡± Disung admired, entranced by her.


    Mingzhu glared and put the hairpin down. ¡°You are delusional, boy.¡±


    ¡°You should wear it. Under Master Wang¡¯s orders.¡±


    ¡°Last time I checked, you were not a sickly nobleman. Stop fooling around. We have greater matters to attend to.¡±


    Stop fooling around. The phrase caused a mischievous grin to surface. Joaolong learnt long ago to avoid the words, as it only made Disung more enthusiastic to act out. For days he kept a low profile and spied on Mingzhu. Now, he wanted fun, encouraged by the order to calm down, and anticipated her raw reactions to his taunts.


    ¡°What should I do!¡± Disung wailed and caught the inquisitiveness of onlookers. He hid is smug smile at the drama yet to unfold. ¡°My love rejects my gift to her! Oh, the gods can hear my sorrow! How can she be so cold!¡±


    Mingzhu grabbed his tunic, the threat expressed by the viciousness of the tug. ¡°Liu Disung, shut it. We need to pass undetected. This is no time to become a mockery.¡±


    ¡°She threatens to leave me! Have I not done enough to sate your romantic dreams?! What shall I do with my broken heart if so?! If only you accept the token of my love! See the promises I give inside each jewel! Am I still not worthy?!


    A crowd gathered, their interest piqued. Whispers travelled among the people over the lover¡¯s quarrel. Mingzhu let go of the tunic and squirmed, uncomfortable with the attention. Blotches of red skin marked her embarrassment.


    ¡°What would you do, sir, if your wife refused you?! Can you pass on advice to my sorry soul?¡±


    ¡°Liu Disung.¡±


    ¡°My love, have I not done enough?! I have answered to all your desires! You ask me to embrace you and I have! You ask I take you in the woods and I have! You ask we explore brothels and I have! You ask to be wed and I made it so! Now I ask of you to accept this token of my love. Look at these jewels. Do you not see the yearning of my heart?¡±


    ¡°Fine!¡± Mingzhu shouted. Her face looked indescribable, full of anger and humiliation. She thrusted the hairpin at the mother, who reappeared during the display. ¡°How much?¡±


    ¡°Ah! It is a miracle, people of Hirane. This hairpin made it so! She accepts my love!¡± Disung exclaimed and he threw his arm around Mingzhu. To his hidden delight, she did not push him away. The acceptance of contact sent a tingle where their bodies met.


    The applauding crowd voiced their relief. Many of the young men approached the stall in earnest, convinced the craftsmanship held spells and good fortune for love. Whereas women glanced longingly at the ¡®couple¡¯ and the jewellery that kept them together.


    ¡°Fool. Now the soldiers will discover strangers came to Hirane and were the ones that wounded their men,¡± Mingzhu whispered.


    ¡°No. Now the family will have great income and the girl will not need to venture far from home to bring profits. Besides, the Moon Festival is near and everyone travels across Shanhe. We are safe from spies,¡± Disung assured her in a soft voice and faced the mother instead. ¡°How much?¡±


    ¡°My daughter insists anything you want is free¡­ Will you tell me what happened? She was meant to draw some flowers to expand our hairpin designs for the festival. I have never seen her like that and she lost all of her drawings. Ever since she was a child, charcoal or a brush was always in her hand. It worries me.¡±


    Mingzhu spoke. ¡°Animals attacked her on the path. We rescued her. That is all.¡±


    The mother looked fleetingly towards her home behind them. In her eyes held deep empathy and pain. However, she perked up to be a perfect saleswoman. ¡°Our hairpins are made for confessions of love and symbolise unity. You chose a unique style. It is about the freedom of the heart to love as it pleases.¡±


    ¡°That is a load of¡ª¡±


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Disung interrupted. ¡°Thank you for a splendid expression of our love. As you witnessed, it is truly magical!¡±


    ¡°Are you interested in anything else?¡±


    ¡°Is this free too?¡± Mingzhu pointed to the flame mask she eyed earlier.


    ¡°You have good taste, Miss. The mask is the only one of its kind. If you wish, it is yours without payment as well to express gratitude for saving my daughter.¡±


    Without a minute to waste, the pair bundled up their gifts and left. Disung upheld the physical contact for all to see and suspected the long strides towards the forest intended to end this as soon as possible. After the tree cover welcomed them, Mingzhu vented her anger at the lover display through physically demanding pathways and tarnishing insults at Disung. Only after an hour, it felt safe to talk as the frown vanished from Mingzhu¡¯s face.


    ¡°What is the mask for?¡±


    ¡°Because you are an egg! Since you stupidly announced our arrival, as well as mentioned Wang Joaolong in Hirane, we need to hide our identities if we find the training camp.¡±


    ¡°We will not be found. Besides, Joaolong only wants verification that the camp is real and a count of the soldiers. No more. We do not need to be seen.¡±


    ¡°Then that will be done for Master Wang but for that woman, the demi-goddess, Hirane, will act.¡±


    Disung gulped audibly and a bad feeling settled in his gut. For once, he regretted his foolish actions as he saw Mingzhu preparing to do her own.

 Chapter 43: Dragon and Goddess

    The training grounds took a few hours to find so Mingzhu and Disung set up a temporary camp until nightfall. For the entire afternoon, under the setting sun and pink sky, they spied on the soldiers. They practiced combat, learnt commands and endured the exercise regime. Mingzhu estimated two hundred men but Disung wanted to be precise, correcting her number to one hundred and eighty-nine.


    ¡°Are you from the mountain clan?¡±


    Another question. Can¡¯t he just keep quiet for once? It irritated Mingzhu. He never stopped talking! Either he made jokes, asked about the mountain clan or whistled to endless songs. It seemed like the older he became, the more his immaturity grew.


    ¡°Do they still roam every two years? I remember it being a hassle. The temple was my favourite home but the winters were coldest up there. Which did you like?¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡±


    Disung grinned and with his smugness, Mingzhu¡¯s stomach sank; he was up to something. ¡°I would if you answered my questions. Otherwise, I might keep talking when you are sneaking into camp¡­¡±


    ¡°Just shut up.¡±


    ¡°Ah but telling me to shut up only entices my curiosity further. What do you think I will ask next? How many questions will you endure? The more you ignore, the more I shall ask. When did you leave the mountain clan? Is your family still in the mountain clan? Have you met all the Masked Masters? Have they been replaced over the ten years? Is it true the Fox is rogue? Are others rogue? Did¡ª¡±


    ¡°Fine! I yield! You win, bastard!¡± Mingzhu yelled, unable to take his annoying questions anymore. When his smile widened, she knew she fell into his trap.


    ¡°What do you want then?¡±


    ¡°I want to know about the mountain clan. It has been over ten years since I saw it, not that I remember much. I learnt most things from my mother and her stories. She told them to me every night, while we lived in a cave.¡±


    ¡°So you do remember nothing,¡± Mingzhu stated. Although she suspected this, her mixed reaction still baffled her. A flicker of relief fluttered in her stomach but a moment later, her insides sank. Why did she want him to remember?


    ¡°My memory is hazy from the trauma. The Fox attacked my family and killed my father. I have nightmares about the screams from the clan, the bodies of children and the discarded masks from Masters. It haunts me, no matter of the time that has passed.¡±


    ¡°The clan continues to suffer too,¡± Mingzhu said softly.


    She risked glancing at Disung and saw him leaning towards her, intent on listening to her every word. If he moved any closer, they would be touching. The idea must have made her annoyed again, as the fluttery, tickling feeling returned.


    ¡°They still travel between the temples, ruins and cave castle. At the end of each spring, they move homes. Since that day, they did not return to those ruins. Instead, they built tree houses as another home. It looks incredible. The houses are made of twigs, weaved leaves, animal hides and anything else available. And they built them so the branches are hidden from view, as if the homes themselves are floating.¡±


    ¡°Do you still live there?¡±


    ¡°No. I cannot.¡± Mingzhu refused to elaborate, despite the plead in Disung¡¯s warm eyes. ¡°My sister and I lived elsewhere... in the land. We stayed in Shanhe and sold herbs from the mountain ranges. We built a new home from an abandoned farmhouse.¡±


    ¡°We must have drunk from the same pool of wisdom! My mother and I did the same except we made our cabin from the trees around us. It took seasons to finish. I would like to take you there one day.¡±


    ¡°Where did you live before that?¡±


    ¡°Oh, in caves mainly. It depended on seasons. No one wanted to take in refugees from unknown lands with odd accents. So we spent a year in the wild.¡±


    ¡°Juan liked living in the wild. At least, I think she did. She found hope in every situation by grabbing onto the smallest of comforts. We could be starving and she still smiled¡­ Did you meet her in the palace?¡±


    ¡°I saw her,¡± Disung replied, gazing at the sky. ¡°She was a beauty and I heard she shared kind words. Every man grew jealous of Zhao Cheng¡¯s marriage.¡±


    ¡°Do you believe she killed him?¡±


    Disung shifted uncomfortably on the ground. ¡°No. Truth be spoken; I believe she was the victim.¡±


    The soft response tightened Mingzhu¡¯s chest. Something lodged in her throat, causing her eyes to water sensation. She bit her lip in hopes of keeping her emotions under control. I knew it, she thought. I knew you stayed sweet, sister. To distract herself from the overwhelming sadness that began to crush her, she changed the conversation route.


    ¡°You never thought to return to the mountains?¡±


    The sadness crept back in Disung¡¯s expression. He leaned back, uncomfortable with the conversation direction. It looked strange to see his carefree expression leave.


    ¡°No. We did not know if anyone else survived or if that home still remained.¡± Disung leaned back, the carefree expression fading at the memory replaying in his mind. ¡°How did you survive the Fox¡¯s rampage?¡±


    There it was again; he kept blaming the Fox. It made Mingzhu wonder what he did remember. This was the perfect chance to tell the truth and amend for her wrongdoings in the past. He needed it. The words were so simple. I caused the mountain clan¡¯s destruction, not the Fox. Yet, the explanation remained stuck in her throat. Her heart tightened at the image of Disung¡¯s fury if she confessed. All the weeks¡¯ mischief, from insults to pranks, would be forgotten in the storm of anger. No longer would he grin nor tease her. Why did she care so much? When did she crave his attention? Was this truly irritation?


    She needed to tell him. Hesitantly, she opened her mouth but the words died again. ¡°The Pheasant killed the murderer and saved me. My sister and I left after that. So many died that day and I thought you were among them. How did you survive?¡±


    ¡°My father saved us. The Fox was after someone else and we got in the way. He tried to kill us too but my father fought him. He died saving us.¡±


    Mingzhu didn¡¯t know how to respond. She let the awkward silence settle and watched the sky. The sun sank behind mountains and above, orange consumed the pink before fading into a deep purple. Anticipating the arrival of night, a few rogue stars appeared.


    ¡°How did we meet before the Lotus Palace?¡± Disung asked to rekindle the conversation. ¡°I was certain we met when I first saw you. Those flaming eyes, unique hair and scowl all seemed scarily familiar but I cannot remember anything about you.¡±


    ¡°We were rivals as children.¡±


    Disung raised an eyebrow and his lips curled into a disbelieving smile. ¡°We were?¡±


    ¡°I hated you with every part of my being.¡±


    ¡°Hated. So that must mean you like me now.¡±


    Mingzhu rolled her eyes. ¡°The only reason I did not kill you was because of your father. If not for his kindness, wisdom and patience, I would be lost. I owe everything to him.¡±


    ¡°Be careful with your words. I might get jealous if you talk about him like that.¡±


    ¡°You should be since you are not a Masked Master.¡±


    Disung¡¯s jaw dropped and his eyebrows jumped. It looked comical. ¡°He was a Masked Master?!¡±


    The shock of this truth clicked into place, like the final move in a wooden puzzle. Mingzhu mulled over this, realising the twisted truth in Disung¡¯s mind, as the darkness stole the sky. Far below the hill, the training camp illuminated by flaming torches. This signalled the time to act and Mingzhu felt a small bit of relief as the truth waited another day. She would tell him. He deserved the closure. Yet, right now, she chose to be ignorant and focus on their mission.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Under the mask, which covered most of her face, cooled charcoal smeared Mingzhu¡¯s eyelids, emphasising her light eyes. Wild berry juice stained her lips a dark pink and she smudged some down to look unkempt. Her ruffled hair cascaded down her back to reflect the dishevelment of the wandering demi-goddess. To complete this look, she wore plain white robes, stolen from a farm yard whilst drying.


    ¡°Will they recognise your performance?¡± Disung asked, playing with the remaining charcoal.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    The people of Hirane passed down a tale for generations, telling of a legendary love between dragon and demi-goddess. In the early years, long before the land divided in two, a god descended from the heavens and became the guardian of the forest. During the day, he walked as a human, but at night, he flew as a majestic and powerful dragon. One night, under the inky sky, a fire appeared in the ancient trees and the dragon sought to save his home. However, the fire did not touch any plants. It crackled and danced on air, following the mesmerising movements of a person¡¯s delicate hands. The woman was a demi-goddess, cast aside by the gods for her human emotions, yet isolated by humans due to her magical ability which controlled fire. Her name was Hirane.


    Their eyes met across the forest, golden pupils staring at bright green irises. Their connection caused every katsura branch to stand straight and animals scurry away, convinced a storm approached. Their love only grew from then on, like a flower blooming in the spring. They spent endless seasons together, relishing a companion able to empathise with their difference. However, the lovers could never remain together.


    The gods frowned upon the odd relationship, both due to envy and disgust. They feared that the half-cast and purest of gods would create great peril if not separated. To prevent any disasters, the gods whispered into humans¡¯ ears and caused fear and chaos to consume them. Driven by these primitive emotions, they hunted the dragon god and goddess.


    The humans trapped the dragon and stabbed him with magical weapons, gifted from the jealous gods above. The dragon, soiling the earth with is golden blood, knew his fate. Yet, he could not leave his lover. Instead, with the last of his energy, he turned himself to stone. Here, he remained, waiting for Hirane to find him once again and set fire to his breath. Until then, the remanence of magic in his stone granted wishes.


    As for Hirane, she learnt of her lover¡¯s death from passing spirits. Full of rage, she burnt down anything that blocked her path and spent her lifetime wandering the forest in search of the dragon god. This endless walk led to her demise but even when her body was left to decay in the ground, her spirit continued the journey.


    Throughout the generations, the story remained the same and many prayed to Hirane and the dragon god. This formed an idea in Mingzhu¡¯s head after seeing the mask. Then, when they spotted the training camp in the same region as the village, she felt confident in her plan.


    ¡°Will it suffice?¡± Minghzu asked about her outfit, feeling unusually sheepish. A wave of nervousness washed over her under Disung¡¯s scrutiny.


    ¡°You look as magnificent as a goddess,¡± Disung replied, sincerity and excitement mixed into his voice. For a reason beyond Mingzhu¡¯s comprehension, she felt both shy and giddy from the answer. ¡°I dare say you look more beautiful than that maid friend of yours that everyone fawns over.¡±


    The mention of Meifan squeezed at Mingzhu¡¯s heart. They had not spoken since the day of their fight, nor saw much of each other. Their sleeping residence rooms changed based on new positions and their duties never crossed paths. Whenever they did spot the other, they kept silent. Meifan still looked both beautiful yet miserable like a goddess. It was hard not to stare and regret the terrible words spoken.


    ¡°Any changes in the camp?¡± Mingzhu asked, trying to shake away the anguish in her soul.


    The training camp nestled in a valley, easy to find based on Disung¡¯s knowledge of preferred army settlements. Tents scattered the open land and in any large spaces, either horses were kept or it was prepared with training dummies and weapons. There were no identifiable symbols to represent the different sections of the camp, such as medic or meeting tent. Disung gave insight to this, explaining medics and cooks posted closest to the stream, while the most valuable people and information camped at the North.


    ¡°No banners. Mainly tents. This camp must have been established by Hong Huli.¡± Disung elaborated further, ¡°Hong Weishan flaunted everything he accomplished with Shanhe¡¯s symbol. Also, he prided on building sustainable grounds. The tents show this arrangement is temporary or new.¡±


    ¡°Let us break these rotten eggs,¡± Mingzhu said and ran down the hill before Disung could stop her.


    The light breeze weaved through the longer grass around Mingzhu¡¯s feet, making it appear like she was floating out from the forest and darkness. She wandered into the training camp, indifferent to the guards that ordered her to halt. Those familiar with the tale of Hirane scampered away, convinced the angry spirit returned. In the original legend, it was told she still wandered the forest at night, in search of men that killed her lover.


    An officer, identifiable by his bronze belt and navy robes, blocked her path. His sword threateningly cursed at her in the flaming torches. The man¡¯s face was grimy with beads of sweat smearing the dirt down his neck. The black beard along his jawline stood to attention like the soldiers behind him.


    ¡°You do not belong here. Leave immediately.¡±


    Mingzhu ignored him and scanned the approaching men. There were twenty so far, with a few hobbling from tough combat sessions. Most looked youthful and only turned eighteen, the conscription age, recently. Mingzhu hid her smirk as a burst of confidence ran through her; escape would come easy.


    ¡°You were ordered to leave. Do not curse me or my men at the repercussions,¡± a newcomer shouted. Wearing an armoured uniform, he stepped forward with a loud clank and reached out to Mingzhu. This cued the beginning of the performance.


    After attempting to grab Mingzhu, the man found himself restrained by his pinned elbow, which had been twisted behind his back. The applied pressure released a sharp pain in his arm and forced him to lower himself. To stop his struggle, Mingzhu kicked the soft spot behind his knees to drop him to the ground and held a knife at his throat. It happened too fast for anyone to move. Still got it, Mingzhu gleefully thought to herself. Master would be impressed.


    ¡°What do you want?!¡± The officer from earlier demanded.


    ¡°You ask this of me, knowing full well I want revenge! It was your kind that killed my dragon! He was my only happiness and you took him from me! Just as you took the flower of a woman in the forest! Just like you plan to take lives from innocent that oppose you!¡±


    While she talked, the men observed her short height and pettiness. After realising the spirit they faced looked meek and tiny, they grew confident to attack. A recruit aimed a punch, learnt from his combat training, to defeat the woman. Mingzhu dodged this with ease; she kicked her prisoner forward and stabbed the attacker¡¯s pressure points with her locked fingers while he juggled his commander. Many other men jumped at the opportunity to use their training but followed similar, crippling fates.


    The Pheasant¡¯s style looked comical to the men, for an individual always remained either on only a foot or a hand while the rest of their body sliced the air. Just like a bird collecting food, attacks were short, sharp jabs to specific points on the body. It was suitable for a woman, especially one so small, and the soldiers were surprised they were defeated by this childish technique. Mingzhu bounced from her foot, to her hand and kick anyone in her way with unpredictable attacks. Then, by the time she landed back on her feet, she jabbed an unsuspecting man at his most vulnerable points, forcing him to fall. To further aggravate the young soldiers, no one landed a blow on her. She dived and weaved like flowing water, unable to be captured.


    The hardest opponent was the officer. Unlike the others, he had experience in combat and held his ground. He grabbed Mingzhu¡¯s legs whenever she kicked, using it to topple her forward to his advantage. Then, he rained consecutive punches down on her. She rolled away, ignoring the aches of her forearms from shielding the blows, and flipped herself to standing, before cartwheeling away from his own frontal kicks. A punch to her sternum from him caught her off-guard and winded. She couldn¡¯t breathe. It felt as if her body shattered. Panic rose. While stuck in this state, the officer clipped the bottom of her jaw, then her temple. Pain clawed around her head. Everything went blurry. She couldn¡¯t fail like this. She needed to fight. Without thinking, she dropped to the ground and knocked the officer off his feet with a spinning kick. It didn¡¯t work; he simply stumbled then regained his stance. Yet, it was enough run away and just in time, as she saw light rising from the tents ahead.


    Mingzhu climbed on the ration bags ahead. She ignored the pain that consumed her body and stood straight, facing the men as if unaffected. Behind her, the fire she sneakily started before the grand entrance grew in strength. Embers filled the night sky around her, looking like fireflies drawn to their demi-goddess master.


    In a confident voice, Mingzhu roared her warning. ¡°Too much blood has stained my forest and too much innocence has been lost. Anyone who dares continue to do train to kill shall feel the wrath of Hirane!¡±


    The spirit pretended to unleash her curse, raising her arms to welcome the flames behind to consume the training camp. In the same moment, tents exploded in the North, as if controlled by her. This shocked Mingzhu but she continued her performance, determined to remain undeterred. The fire continued its destruction, jumping from tent to tent, while small balls of fire fell from the sky, also baffling, at the flickering of her fingers. A few soldiers yelped, others froze in fear. When their eyes turned back to the pile of ration bags instead of the blaze, the woman disappeared.


    From inside the tent, where she fell, a giddy laugh bubbled inside Mingzhu. The feeling remained while she bolted away into the dark pathways between tents. It had been years since she felt so alive and carefree. The fight against so many enemies stroked her ego and the brush with near-doom awakened her senses. She imagined the mountain clan¡¯s appeased expressions at her work, which far extended from their original action to stop war. The lack of letters and orders felt miniscule now. Mission or no mission, she was proving to be still valuable to them. This, she decided, was her new task; prevent the war.


    Unfortunately, all good things had to end. Too distracted by the new sensations, Mingzhu met her demise. She narrowly dodged the outstretched sword that flung in front of her but slammed into the massive bicep. The hit against her collarbones forced her backwards, until she lay staring at the sky. She gasped for air. Pain radiated throughout her body, spreading like poison. Moving felt impossible. Adrenaline was slipping.


    A teenager stared down at her with arrogance only nurtured to an extreme extent from noble upbringing. ¡°Time to unmask the spirit.¡±

 Chapter 44: Hiranes Lover

    Disung refused to sit idly while Mingzhu risked her life to destroy the training camp. He wanted to be reckless too. So, instead of waiting in the forest for an emergency whistle, he came up with his own plan. Using the charcoal from earlier, he created black, three claw marks on his face and ran down into the mountain of tents.


    The soldiers on duty paraded sparsely across the grounds, providing Disung easy access to sneak through the dark pathways undetected. The layout felt familiar and a wave of nostalgia washed over him passing recruit and officer tents. It had been years since he trained in these types of camps, surrounded by fresh air and rewarding challenges. Each day brought great exhaustion which Disung craved to keep sharp and fit. He missed the equality among his comrades and longed for the extra teaspoon of freedom accompanying the isolation of the area. The palace bound him to the hierarchy, political correct behaviour and slavery through invisible restraints. The pranks he played were attempts to keep him sane, otherwise he would not cope.


    ¡°Who goes there?¡± The chef glanced around his domain like a bird wary of predators.


    The kitchen was one of the few properly built structures in the area. Thick logs stood strong to be foundational pillars, while bamboo, tied together, created walls and helped reinforce the straw ceiling. The materials, or lack of, showed the priority had been reducing cost rather than durability. This reaffirmed the camp was formed by Huli and not the past emperor, who liked to display his wealth to boost morale.


    ¡°Chef, the general wishes to speak to you,¡± Disung shouted from behind the black bamboo. ¡°The rations have changed.¡±


    ¡°Again?¡± The man mumbled curses under his breath.


    As soon as he emerged from the building, a forearm clamped around the front of his throat. Disung used his other arm to secure the grip and apply more pressure, forcing the man downwards to submit. The chef struggled and eventually, collapsed, unable to breathe. Tossing aside the man, Disung ran inside to collect any vases with oil, grease and other flammable liquids. While juggling these pots, he spotted the array of powders on the back table stored in large bowls. One caught his attention, the white crystals reminding him of mischief from years ago. He discovered certain types of salt changes the colour of fire. Instead of burning a mix of oranges, it blew up into a white flame. He smirked, remembering the horrified face of their cook in camp as his brew boiled on top of a magical fire. They all thought the spirits returned to the mortal realm to warn them of danger. If only there was enough salt to make the new recruits share similar fears¡­


    ¡°The armory!¡± Disung exclaimed in excitement when an epiphany struck him.


    Unwilling to waste a single second, he bolted out from the kitchen, carelessly kicking the chef who remained weak on the ground. He placed a few pots in a safe space, near the edge of the camp, and honed in on the armory. No soldiers stopped him, most marching to the distraction in the centre of the grounds. This gave Disung the ability to steal standing torches and set tents aflame in his wake. Once he reached the armory and blacksmith, a half-constructed building, he grinned at the metals littering the grounds and items inside. The armours and swords which hung on the walls looked far from normal, their colour and thickness contrasting greatly. He overheard Rong mention at the end of this rein, Weishan wanted to experiment with different metals for new swords. Apparently, Huli shared the same intention but expanded it to all military items. Alas, Disung¡¯s confidence and he acted.


    After placing a few pots inside, near the unusual equipment, he set the building alight using a nearby standing torch. The fire, although slow to start, devoured the structure as he ran away. Behind him, he glanced back to see the orange flame contain spurts of turquoise and green before exploding further. Chunks of metal flew into the air and reached higher than his initial expectation. They must store explosives in there too, he thought absent-mindedly, already focused on his next action to ignite chaos.


    Grabbing another torch and carrying the bow and arrows ¨C stolen before destroying the armory ¨C in a vise grip, he returned to his remaining pots. He tore his clothes into bundled balls, pierced them with the arrows and dipped each into oil. With a steady hand, he readied his bow and lit the arrow head, pleased when the material immediately caught fire, and pulled back the bow string. The first shot flew through the air and he watched the experiment to determine the weight effect and flame. The fire flickered but grew once it hit a nearby tent. Excited by this success, Disung lit another.


    ¡°Put the arrow down!¡± A man ordered in a husky voice.


    Disung winced, disappointed to already be caught. He turned around. The man was huge, his muscles bulging from under his robes. The silver belt showed his status as the general, as did the embroiled grey emblem on his chest. The sword by his side begged to be withdrawn and the man held his hand against it, as if hearing its call.


    ¡°Ah, my friend! How have you been?¡±


    ¡°¨¤nsh¨´? What are you doing here?¡± Rong asked in disbelief. As soon as the words left his lips, he noticed the flaming arrow in Disung¡¯s hand and the collection of kitchen vases around him. To confirm his fear, Disung gave a guilty smile. ¡°Do not tell me the commotion in the camp is you.¡±


    ¡°The camp needs some remodeling is all,¡± Disung replied casually, lowering his bow.


    ¡°I should have known,¡± Rong mumbled.


    ¡°You indeed should but now you have learnt the lesson and can stop me next time.¡±


    Rong unsheathed his sword and rested it near Disung¡¯s neck. ¡°There will not be a next time.¡±


    Cocky and confident, Disung smiled and pushed the blade away with a single finger. The force, although soft, was enough to puncture his skin and blood gathered at the blade. ¡°Be careful. The pointy end of this is sharp. You would hate to injure your pupil.¡±


    ¡°Why are you doing this?¡±


    ¡°You are my reason!¡± Disung lied and acted overdramatically shocked. No smile rewarded his theatrics. ¡°You are at fault! Weeks ago, you left the palace and your recruits without a farewell. What else was I supposed to do when you did not reply to my letters after that?! Then I thought this would catch your attention!¡±


    ¡°They were not letters! They were jokes and gossip!¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°The snake did steal the cakes from the baby!¡± The misunderstanding in Rong¡¯s expression disheartened Disung. The great general did not see the truth behind the words. Maybe Disung had hung around Joaolong too much, for he found codes in most letters without trying and started to assume others would understand too. ¡°Jokes and codes keep us safe. The baby is Hong Weishan, the snake is the new emperor and the cake, delicious and irresistible, represents life. I wrote it this way so if a recruit intercepted the message, it meant nothing to them.¡±


    ¡°That is pointless. We do not teach soldiers to read anymore.¡±


    This was new change to the recruiting process. The old training camps nurtured growth in all aspects of learning, not solely combat. The soldiers were meant to protect the emperor and to do so, must be able to notice any obscure letters or behaviour. Disung learnt to read, write, observe human habits and fight, along with his comrades. Weishan prided himself on this tradition of learning, following the wisdom of the past Shanhe emperors. It also greatly encouraged more men to enlist as soldiers for education.


    ¡°What if a soldier comes across an important letter? What if the letter held the fate of the kingdom? What if the fact they could not read the letter killed everyone?¡± Disung questioned, perplexed by the change. Rong remained silent, expressing a hidden agreement, as if the training was out of his control as general. ¡°Ah, it is the new emperor¡¯s wish for his subjects to remain worthless. His paranoia has grown instead of diminished since Hong Weishan¡¯s¡ªsorry, I mean the baby¡¯s death.¡±


    ¡°You cannot say such things, in code or bluntly stated.¡±


    ¡°I will keep my mouth shut if-¡± Disung paused for dramatic effect, finding amusement in Rong¡¯s frustration, ¡°-you let me go.¡±


    ¡°Do you remain ignorant to the chaos you have caused? Not here but your gossiping in the town. Already, the people clung those sweet words you say and whisper of Wang Joaolong as their hero. For he was born with the soul of a wise man, the intelligence of a thousand emperors and heart of a mothering bird. Wang Joaolong will not live as he is! The past emperor let him be, for the love of the empress, and his intelligence. Alas, you saw the restraint and jealousy in council meetings. No emperor is pleased by someone more witty and clever than he. Hong Weishan restored his inferiority by brandishing Wang Joaolong¡¯s ideas as his own. That was why Wang Joaolong remained. The new emperor is too self-centered and impulsive to follow in the same steps. Already, he has clearly tried to assassinate the man since youth and it is getting worse. He will blame this destruction of a training camp on someone smart like you master! Your whisperings in the village and antics tonight will be the destruction of your life!¡±


    Dread filled Disung¡¯s body. Argh! Why is the emperor always after Joalong¡¯s head? It cannot be over simple jealousy! Then, has he learnt the truth? No. There is no evidence. The only person that share the secret are the empress, myself and¡­ the Fox. Disung¡¯s stomach dropped. The Fox could form an alliance with the emperor. It would explain the extreme measures Huli placed to disgrace Joaolong and undermine him. If so, they had to leave Shaneh soon. There was no time for gather allies and create the performance needed. After the Moon Festival, they had to simply run.


    ¡°Get out of the way, old man! Unless you want to be uglier than normal!¡± Disung yelled, hearing the groans and cried of men in the distance. He raised his bow and fired a few more arrows.


    Rong did not stop him. ¡°What shall I report to the emperor about the destroyed camp? He will not believe in ghosts and gods that sought vengeance like the men are screaming. I will be amazed what he accepts as the truth.¡±


    An epiphany struck Disung like lightening, sending currents crawling on his skin. It almost matched his coloured flame explosion. The chaos in the camp presented a grand opportunity to sever any enemy alliances. Disung whispered this idea to Rong, who looked at him in dread.


    ¡°I will be hunted.¡±


    ¡°You will not. At least, not by our emperor. It is the only answer he will accept that does not blame Joaolong.¡±


    ¡°You play a dangerous game.¡±


    Disung smirked. ¡°Greater the danger reaps a greater reward.¡±


    ¡°I am only doing this because I owe you and my wife adores you. If I get caught, I will turn you in.¡±


    ¡°And if you live easily for the rest of your days, I will rub it in your face who made it so.¡±


    The two men separated; Rong joined his terrified recruits while Disung snuck through outer pathways of the camp. Escaping proved more difficult than anticipated, especially when all soldiers were on alert to look for the female intruder. Several times, he almost got caught and narrowly avoided danger by hiding inside tents and taking different paths. The best route to leave was the way he came in, as the trees gathered right near the tents. As he stealthily made his way through the camp, a weird feeling settled in his gut. Then, he heard something. The sound reminded him of a dying bird since the whistle lost its strength and turned airy. For a strange reason, he knew Mingzhu was in trouble.


    Seconds felt like long minutes. His legs didn¡¯t move fast enough. The whistle stopped. Disung heard blood roar in his ears. Wasps soared in his stomach, churning his insides. The image of Mingzhu without a frown stole his thoughts. It broke his heart. He needed to save her. Otherwise, he would make them all pay.


    In a fateful moment, he looked left and spotted a man pinning someone. Disung dug his heels into the ground and turned sharp towards the scene. Mingzhu bucked and kicked the man but she remained helpless in his stoic grip. His fingertips crept along the edges of her mask. The tent material flapped from Disung¡¯s speed as he ran faster than he had before. He was almost there.


    ¡°Touch her and I¡¯ll kill you!¡± he shouted and tackled the soldier. They fell to the ground. Adrenaline pumped through Disung. Grabbing the soldier¡¯s head, he slammed it into the dirt. He lowered his voice to a hideous snarl. ¡°Keep your filthy mortal hands off my Hirane!¡±


    He was ready to kill him. He wanted to. A dark mist came over him, fogging his senses. Every punch sent a thrill through him. A smile crept on his lips at the sound of bones breaking. He fell into the trance, as he did many times before, and became a beast instead of human.


    ¡°That costume destroys your dignity far more than I could!¡± Mingzhu burst out laughing like a maniac. The sweet sound pulled Disung like a puppet and the brutality than destroyed his conscious disappeared. ¡°Who are you pretending to be?¡±


    ¡°Your lover,¡± Disung replied, his voice uneven. The energy, ridiculously powerful and flowing seconds ago, seeped out of him. This left his bloody hands to shake and scream over the pain they endured because of his savage intent. What had he done? It took a great internal fight to convince his usual smile to return.


    ¡°You look ridiculous!¡± More laughter poured from Mingzhu¡¯s petite frame as she stood. Awkwardly, she offered her hand to help him up but looked the other way, embarrassed at the gesture.


    ¡°You talk big for someone about to give away our identity,¡± Disung replied and used her to stand. He did not let it go and dragged her to run away. ¡°Why is it that I am always saving you?¡±


    ¡°This is the first time you have saved me.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean I cannot call you a fair, helpless maiden yet?¡±


    For once, Mingzhu smiled. All the harsh lines that carved her face disappeared and in their place, were soft creases. She looked radiant especially when the happiness reached her eyes. In that breath, which Disung lost, she appeared far more beautiful than anyone he ever saw. Just like that, he became beyond smitten by her.


    ¡°That will not happen, even in your dreams,¡± she taunted as they ran into the forest.


    The heat in the field increased, as did the panicked cries and orders. The fire worked beyond expectations and burnt down half the camp, rendering it useless. Smoke filled the air and for once, the forest was illuminated at night. Disung and Mingzhu found refuge in the cool, dark depths of the woods at a high vantage point. They watched everything unfold and wore wide smiles which grew when they looked at each other. How odd it seemed that their loathing from childhood changed into the complete opposite emotion. They used to fight each other but now, fought together. Something shifted between them that night and Disung felt the term ¡®friendship¡¯ felt too lenient of a word.

 Chapter 45: Game of Weiqi

    Weiqi was an art form. It required prediction, strategy and understanding of your opponent to win. Players took turns, one at a time, to put either black or white stones on a lined board. To win, there needed to be a strategic balance of expanding territory and capturing the opponent. One thing was always certain: black moved first.


    Unfortunately for Joaolong, he always played as white. He fidgeted with the smooth pebble from the game, deciding his next move. Across from him, Shaiming waited in silence. His face was hard to read, looking youthful but in his eyes hid an old soul. Joaolong enjoyed his company, with or without the alliance and treachery shared between them.


    ¡°Are you afraid?¡± Shaiming asked, glancing up from the board.


    Joaolong laid his Weiqi piece on the board, satisfied by his growing line which blocked his opponent¡¯s advances. The game reminded him of the Lotus Palace, with every move carefully planned and prepared while someone plotted against him. The empress learnt of this risky life early and hid her son, heir to the throne, and didn¡¯t confide in the boy¡¯s father. The move saved her for a time and speaking this secret aloud only got her killed. Then, those that followed her, received injustice. Joaolong had to be smarter to succeed.


    ¡°Of losing in Weiqi?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    They kept their tone light to disguise the heavy codes buried in their nonchalant words. After their last secret meeting, which became jeopardised from inquisitive servants who worked for Qiaolian, they changed their arrangements and code words. Now, they played in the garden under an archway to be visible to everyone too. Sneaking around brought trouble and in public, their gatherings appeared unsuspicious and friendly rather than full of deceit.


    ¡°I cannot be afraid when I have placed my pieces to win,¡± Joaolong replied, referring to his actions in the palace.


    Chaos showered down on the new emperor, soaking his spirits in anxiety. Watching Huli suffer pleased Joaolong, especially after the assassination at the funerals. The more difficulty he faced, the more Joalong smiled and the ache from his abdominal wounds and healing shoulder lay forgotten. So far, bandits grew in numbers across the land, poverty halted plans in war according to recent news from Su Rong, and the destruction of a new military training camp shattered the emperor¡¯s dreams to attack Linlong in spring. The only piece left to play in this game was revealing the true heir of Shanhe; once he arose from the shadows, the people would support the change in power that might save their misery-stricken lives. The mission to find the real emperor rested on Disung¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°Arrogance leads to mistakes,¡± Shaiming reminded and placed his black stone down, trapping multiple white stones in a corner.


    ¡°So does naivety.¡± The letters Joaolong written, proving his treachery, remained in Shaiming¡¯s keep instead of destroyed. He remained bitter about it.


    The men continued on with their game, focusing on playing rather than talking. Shaiming showed talent in strategies and his expressionless face gave the impression of readiness for any predicament. Yet, Joaolong obtained victory. He smirked and defeated his opponent.


    ¡°Another round?¡±


    ¡°I fear your maid may not be as enthused,¡± Shaiming said, glancing at Mingzhu.


    The bags under her eyes looked as dark as the Weiqi stones. Throughout the match, she yawned every few turns and did not bother hide it. There had been no time for rest after her latest mission. Instead, Joaolong lectured her impulsivity and stupidity and made her read guides to strategy games until late at night.


    He opened his mouth ready to scold her, but followed her line of sight. She watched Cheng from afar, who looked equally exhausted. He hobbled down the pathways like an old man, with a face to match it. Grey hairs sprouted on his chin, showing the immense stress he felt from the emperor, as well as another person. Good, Joaolong thought. She still has some sense to remain wary while tired.


    Shaiming followed the stares to the advisor. ¡°Is it true an assassin named the Fox roams your palace?¡±


    ¡°Third Prince, it is not my place to answer such accusations.¡±


    ¡°I heard rumours the Fox has secretly left Zhao Cheng many tokens. No one is supposed to speak of it. Had I not overheard some servants, I would be unaware too.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear,¡± Joaolong mumbled and risked looking at Mingzhu. Her eyebrows knitted in confusion, processing the news. The reaction he hoped for seemed unachievable; was she truly the Fox? He expected anger or an outburst but her small surprise made him worry about his initial suspicion. ¡°The Fox has been quiet of late. I wondered if it is about the shift in power.¡±


    ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± Shaiming asked but corrected himself to code. ¡°What plans do you have for Winter? I heard a great breeze travels across Shanhe which may be disastrous for your health. My kingdom has many trees to protect you from such wind.¡±


    ¡°May I correctly assume you are inviting me to explore your estate?¡±


    ¡°It is a request, by royalty of Linlong, to express our gratitude for saving myself against the assassin, Bai Juan.¡±


    ¡°Who speaks of a traitor?¡± A smooth voice asked, each word dripping with sweet sound.


    On the path, Qiaolian, Xiaoli and a handful of servants, both maids and eunuchs, approached. The women looked stunning, their hair sharing similar knotting styles and filled with expensive jewels. The betrothal flower shone proudly in Xiaoli¡¯s hair, matching the hue of Qiaolian¡¯s lips. Both women wore dark robes, either violet or navy, with white embroidery covering the sleeves and waistband.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Shaiming bowed, smiling warmly to the newcomers. ¡°Madam. Miss. I greet you on this pleasant day. I sincerely apologise if I have offended you for speaking of the name of a deceased enemy. With Wang Joaolong, I found myself recalling the fear of my last visit. Had I not been so na?ve, I could have stopped the assassin¡¯s wrath and deepened the relationship between Linlong and Shanhe.¡±


    ¡°Do not regret, Third Prince, for none of us had known.¡± Qiaolian¡¯s attention turned to Mingzhu. ¡°I must assume the conversation started because of this maid. She shares features so similar to the assassination, do you agree? I admit my brother had a fright when he saw her.¡±


    ¡°The resemblance is lost in my eyes, Madam. The breeding at the border creates features like the maid has. Many people have lighter eyes and hair. The uniqueness is not startling to me anymore.¡±


    Appeased by this, Qiaolian turned to Xiaoli, whose interest peaked at the Weiqi match. Since both men remained standing after acknowledging the arrival of the women, it became difficult to tell who played which colour. The game looked interesting and both colours appeared to gain victories while suffering losses.


    ¡°Who won?¡± Xiaoli asked.


    ¡°Third Prince,¡± Joaolong lied before Shaiming could speak.


    ¡°I shall not be surprised. Wang Joaolong may look intelligent but this mainly comes from rumours. Why else be retired from his council position? You chose the wrong opponent to play, Third Prince. May I suggest Miss Ju next time you have an urge for games? I wish to offer the emperor¡¯s time but he is too busy for such luxuries,¡± Qiaolian sighed.


    ¡°I must take your invitation on another day. Since the match is finished, along with the tea, I will return to my wife. The more days that pass, the more she worries over our baby. Madam. Miss. Wang Joaolong. Please excuse me,¡± Shaiming said and bowed. A mix of servants from the Shanhe palace followed, along with Tai who Joaolong arranged to serve the Linlong royal.


    Once the remaining company rose from their bow, Qiaolian fixed her eyes on Mingzhu, who stared at her. ¡°What are you doing, slave? Do not look into my eyes!¡±


    The slap seemed to ring around them. Joaolong said nothing but raised his eyebrows, surprised. Qiaolian never acted this way; she always kept composed and cunning with her malice.


    ¡°Madam, I can punish my own servants,¡± Joaolong interjected. This was the most he could do. Even in the past, when they beat Tai for bowing inappropriately, he had to watch in fake disappointment for his servant.


    ¡°Madam is helping you,¡± Xiaoli said, watching the punishment with dark delight.


    Helping me? Joaolong stared at the woman beside him, unable to recognise her despite growing up together. Did she also consider killing Yenay, the person who treated everyone with love and respect, as ''help''. All past thougths of denial Xiaoli could murder someone evaporated in an instant. This was not his friend but a new, younger Qiaolian. He loathed her. He wanted her gone. Greed got to you and may it destroy your life. You deserve every terrible thing, Ju Xiaoli.


    ¡°I fail to comprehend what possessed you to take an ugly, disobedient maid into your care,¡± Xiaoli commented as Qiaolian composed herself.


    What possessed you to kill the empress? Joaolong swallowed his hatred for a moment and kept his face blank. ¡°Many others ponder along with you. Alas, this is for my own amusement. I find taming a wild horse is far more satisfying than buying beast calmed by another."


    ¡°If I were you, Wang Joaolong, I would prepare to gather my belongings rather than reacquaint with a prince and fool with slaves,¡± Qiaolian interrupted. ¡°Your title as ¡®Master¡¯ has been already striped and as we speak, the councilmen are discussing your removal from the palace. After all, the passed empress¡¯s death has severed your welcome among officials and without a minister position, you are wasting space.¡±


    ¡°Much could be said about your position. You are just widow,¡± Mingzhu mumbled, failing to restrain her tongue like her master.


    A strangled laugh erupted from Joaolong¡¯s throat and he attempted to disguise it by faking a coughing fit. The courageous but stupid comment made his mood lighten slightly and it reminded him of Disung, who happily blurted whatever came to mind. However, unlike the ultimate warrior of Shanhe, Qiaolian could act against the maid without fear or consequence.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± She snarled, catching the barely audible insult. ¡°Listen, wench. A sold slave is worthless so never act as if you are free. Remember, I could have your head sitting decoratively in my room if I wish it or I could hang your friend, Song Meifan, from the tree outside your chambers. That choice can be yours but everything else is beyond your control, filthy peasant.¡±


    The only sign of effect of those words was a slight twitch in Mingzhu¡¯s fingers. She kept her mouth closed and head low. The tense muscles radiated defiance. Joaolong had to intervene before Mingzhu acted stupid again; he feared the endless nights reading about control did nothing to steady her emotional actions.


    ¡°¨¤nsh¨´ will be displeased if you killed her. He has a fondness for this particular maid and I cannot imagine his reaction to her sudden disappearance.¡±


    ¡°May I suggest this maid be in charge of the noose for her friend then. She can pull it up high into the tree and watch Song Meifan dangle,¡± Xiaoli suggested, matching Qiaolian¡¯s tone and calm demeanour. It made Joaolong sick to his stomach. Had they both been so keen for death before? Or was it the pressures of the crumbling kingdom''s favour to the new emperor?


    ¡°Do not haste, Madam,¡± he warned. ¡°I have yet to tame this slave. Death is her escape but a punishment reminds one of their place. By punishing her friend, the lesson learnt will not be about respect but how she is superior compared to other slaves. I request she remains bowing in the same position until night falls.¡±


    All women, slaves included, looked at him in surprise, equally flabbergasted by his input and defence. Xiaoli¡¯s expression read betrayal. In the past, he never ignored her advice and turned a blind eye to maids she beat.


    Qiaolain smirked, pleased by the punishment. ¡°Excellent. She can strain herself and you can collect your belongings independently. A fitting punishment.¡±


    For us both, Joaolong suspected. The women continued their stroll after brief farwells and Joaolong dragged Mingzhu away, mustering up fake fury and distress in his public performance. Anyone who spotted him quaked in fear, having never seen the sickly man enraged. He continued this act until they reached his chambers, where he shoved Mingzhu to the ground.


    ¡°Was that truly worth it?¡± He barked. "Keep your mouth shut and stay alive for a few more days! That is how this palace works! I thought slaves learnt that quickly!


    ¡°Do you want the Lost Prince token?¡± Mingzhu suddenly asked, her voice rumbled in loathing. It seemed to echo in the following silence.


    Finally, pushing past his shock, Joaolong replied. ¡°The Fox took it.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Mingzhu smirked. ¡°I did. Remember, I helped you in the cave first."


    "Why return it?" Joaolong didn''t believe the lie. There was no proof another entered the cave after her. He went back to check and the only entrance was from the crack between rocks. The Fox couldn''t have snuck in while Ying guarded his unconscious body without arising some attention.


    "You saw them. They beat me in fear. Their power is in danger. I think it is time to ruin them."


    Joaolong smirked. ¡°If you keep saying things like that, it will make me more regretful for punishing you.¡±

 Chapter 46: Moon Festival

    The Moon Festival celebrated the last full moon of the season. It blessed harvests, gathered families and shared marvellous foods from Shanhe, including the famous mooncakes. Wheat flour and a sweet stuffing formed these traditional pastries. The cakes were eaten in the glow of the full moon, among burning incense enrich a deeper part of their soul.


    However, among the loud music and happy families, anxiety crept in the shadows. Many heirlooms or symbolic gifts were sacrificed in autumn to show the strong yearning for a kinder winter. Since the change of emperors, many Shanhe people turned more reluctant about the offering. The spike in tax demands spread more poverty and many relied on their valuables to survive a few more months. They feared giving up expensive items but in the same breath, if they did not offer a sacrifice, winter would be cruel to them. In contrast, Xiaoli¡¯s worries differed greatly for the festival reminded her of the past.


    Many years ago, her father, an old councilman and unsuccessful farmer, passed away from illness on this celebratory day. The children distanced themselves from Xiaoli¡¯s mother ¨C a hopeless gambler and pushover who gave away money to ¡®help¡¯ desperate relatives ¨C since they saw her unfit to provide them safety. Eventually, their mother left first, running away from debt collectors into the mountains carrying the seventh sibling due soon. This forced the children to survive alone.


    They lived on the streets for years. Xiaoli hated every moment she slept under itchy blankets, shared her personal belongings or got scolded for cussing her real family name ¡®Yu¡¯. It was a blessing to leave the family behind through adoption.


    A couple picked Xiaoli from the streets based on her beauty. Throughout generations, their wealth and power remained strong, leaving a great impression on the emperor. Alas, this would be for nothing if their family remained at two. Watching the children on the streets for months, they took Xiaoli and revealed to everyone they miraculously had a daughter, who they ¡®hid¡¯ from everyone. She never looked back and left her siblings behind, enjoying her new life as a noblewoman wearing the surname ¡®Ju¡¯. It was a fairy tale, especially when the emperor betrothed her to his son.


    The delusional vanished within months at the palace. To keep her dream alive, she did unspeakable deeds. To remain at the top of the hierarchy, she deceived and lied. Friends lessened and the foes grew in numbers. She did everything to keep a strong relationship with Qiaolian and secure her position. Yet, killing the empress ate away at her soul. Yenay always said kind words to her and in return, Xiaoli took her life. That was not my fault, she reminded herself. Qiaolian tricked me. She made me do it! It is not my fault! These thoughts did not stop the nightmares or Joaolong looking at her in disgust at her acts.


    The autumn changed them both. Xiaoli battled waves of fear and depression, while Joaolong closed himself from the world. Through his trials, like the hunt, he appeared stronger than before. The death of Yenay and Jiang, who he cared for unconditionally, did not affect him like everyone predicted. Instead of crumbling, he turned into fierce statue, glaring coldly at those who opposed him. This included Xiaoli. The hate from him broke her heart. He avoided her, spoke against her and with each glance, showed he saw a demon and not a friend. Did he know the truth? Xiaoli feared it more than the emperor. The empress died because of Qiaolian, not me. It is not my fault. How dare Joaolong act like that towards me!


    The expanse celebration inside the palace, from circus performances to delicious food, kept Xiaoli¡¯s mind away from her troubles. She clasped onto the distractions for dear life, investing in conversations and marvelling at the decorations. The compliments about her outfit stroked her ego, making her feel worthy of empress. She wore maroon robes with striking gold trimming and embroidery of flames. Instead of wrapping around her body in layers, the material fit snug on her chest, abdomen and legs. Black, sheer silk covered her arms and matched the large waistband. The attention from the unique style elevated her spirits well into the night.


    When darkness flooded the sky, the celebrations began inside the palace. Circular, white lanterns dangled high in the air, shining brightly to imitate the glorious full moon while flaming torches stood tall on the outskirts of the entertainment area. Embroiled blue rugs, mimicking the lake the palace sat on, covered the paved ground and a mixture of orange and yellow material decorated the tables to represent the swimming fish. Three long, rectangular tables, positioned together to form an incomplete square, waited on a higher platform for the royal families of both kingdoms to rest. Smaller tables littered the perimeter for noblemen, their families and other guests to sit.


    The Shanhe citizens¡¯ clothes matched the setting. The men wore dark blues and greys, while the women happily chose the brighter yellows and oranges to draw attention on themselves. Qiaolian, as expected, dressed the most extravagantly. Jewels were sewn into her dress of yellow and white, these matching the gems in her styled hair. As soon as her eyes met Xiaoli, she beckoned her over to sit with them. Xiaoli released a breath she didn¡¯t realise she held; Qiaolian still accepted her. Tension rose as Huli¡¯s reputation plummeted in Shanhe and Xiaoli feared the blame. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    After everyone seated or stilled, musicians sped their tempo to excite the crowd. Dressed in bright blue, they blended into the colour scheme of the festival to be unnoticed during the performances. They played at the far end imperial courtyard and Xiaoli recognised the instruments. She saw a Pipa, Guzheng, Erhu, Sihu, Dizi and drums. Joaolong told her stories of music with these instruments and the gods they connected with. Thinking of this, she searched for him in the crowd. His removal as minister and upcoming exile as councilman showed in his grouping; he stood alone with servants, Disung nowhere to be seen. Xiaoli¡¯s heart sank, just as it had when Qiaolian threatened him days before. She wished he could stay in the palace. Without him, she would not have found happiness years earlier. Better him than you, a voice snickered in her mind.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen. The Third Prince of Linlong wishes to speak,¡± a eunuch announced.


    Shaiming stood up from his seat, his elegant green robes catching the fire light, and everyone went silent. A mist came over him, transforming him from a timid teenager to a wise old, man. ¡°I speak in the place of my father, Xun Jinsong, emperor of Linlong. A new emperor of Shanhe has risen and we wish to make our respect known to the people. The kingdoms of Shanhe and Linlong have remained peaceful for centuries and to continue this treaty, the emperor of Linlong offers his eldest daughter, Xun Caihong, as a wife to the new emperor, Hong Huli. May the unity help our lands flourish!¡±


    The crowd roared but Xiaoli only heard white noise. No! She wanted to scream but her throat closed up. No! This is not happening! I am the future empress! Me! Huli had to decline the offer! She put too much effort into this life for it to be ruined by a country bumpkin. This couldn¡¯t happen. In her mind, Qiaolian¡¯s old threat echoed: fail and I will make you return to the life of a poor, filthy peasant like your mother.


    ¡°It is wonderfully generous of Linlong! Express your appreciation, your majesty!¡± Qiaolain exclaimed while she tried to encourage her son to put on a smile. The acceptance made Xiaoli shake in fury.


    ¡°Let us unite through marraige,¡± Huli announced monotonously.


    ¡°May we enjoy the festivities with renewed happiness over the prosperity of the kingdoms!¡± Shaiming declared and returned to sit down.


    Exotic dancers entered the performance area, interrupting the conflicted reactions of the kingdoms¡¯ marriage, and delicately stepped into their positions. They were beautiful, most of their hair spiralling down while any tied into braids shone with glass hairpins and flowers. The makeup looked exquisite as well, everything soft in colour and blended except for the glitter leaves on the sides of their faces. The lotus flower costumes split into two parts, the divide displaying the women¡¯s abdomen and lower back to everyone. The top, dyed yellow, covered the chest firmly and sheer, blue material draped down the women¡¯s arms before clasping onto their wrists. The bottom skirt sat on their hips and freely flowed down in waves of differing pink shades. The crowd became lost in admiration.


    Their music began, the beat slow in the beginning and the dancers gracefully followed the rhythm. They swayed like water in a stream and spun around until their skirts rose to look like blooming flowers. The main dancer enraptured everyone but Xiaoli noticed Joaolong staring at another. The moves this minor dancer made were precise and perfect, not even a finger out of place. There was something indescribable which set her apart from the other women.


    In the flicker of flames, the dancer¡¯s hair looked like it caught alight. Xiaoli gasped but this sound of astonishment got lost in the awes and appreciative remarks about the lead dancer. Only two people had this odd auburn hair colouring: Bai Juan and Fa Huian. Since Juan was dead, the dancer had to be the maid Fa Huian.


    The music raised into a crescendo and the dance quickened until all the women¡¯s toes barely touched the floor. Xiaoli kept her eyes on the imposter, unwilling to be tricked by the upbeat and carefree atmosphere. The more she stared, the more she noticed ¨C or convinced herself about ¨C the familiar facial features of the maid and those burning eyes that never left Cheng. Xiaoli couldn¡¯t understand it and searched find an answer.


    Was she Cheng¡¯s lover? Did she want to be his concubine? On the day they met, she acted strangely around him. It was plausible that she was a shallow whore who worked her way up in status through her body. The idea made Xiaoli feel dignified and better about herself. She continued to watch the dance with a smug smirk. The slut can dance. Zhao Cheng will like that especially sharing a face similar of Bai Juan. Will he help me if I give her to him? Maybe he could get rid of the marriage between Linlong¡­


    Huian stepped and turned in time with the music, reaching into her hair, matching the others around her. No one saw the weapon ¨C a fine blade hidden in a hairpin ¨C until too late. She faced Huli, then Cheng and finally threw the weapon.


    Blood spurted out of the target¡¯s neck. Those nearby screamed, igniting hysteria. Xiaoli joined the mess of fleeing bodies, running around to hide. She heard people shout about the Fox while others thought bandits broke into the palace. Soldiers shoved their way into the courtyard to save the emperor.


    Among the terror, madness and panic, a separate emotion burst inside Xiaoli while she hid under the table. It was relief; she saw who threw the weapon and the opportunity attached. She could seal her fate as empress of Shanhe. Huli would have a legacy because of his true wife. He would be the emperor that unveiled a Masked Master.

 Chapter 47: Tricks, Lies and Scandals

    The mission depended on death yet, Mingzhu feared for her sanity if she took someone¡¯s life. She knew she would become a monster. To appease her and the mountain clan, Master devised a clever death dance. He thought for many days in the forest about the steps until he realised how to disguise a weapon meant to kill; a sharpened hairpin covered in venom would suffice. The small blade would cut the target, originally the emperor Hong Weishan, and the poison would decide his fate, not the assassin. However, with no letters from the mountain clan after the emperor¡¯s death, Mingzhu grew anxious over the plan.


    She remained stuck at a forked road without direction. Still, she continued to practice her dance and arrange to be part of the Moon Festival. Just like master spent days thinking of a solution for murder, Mingzhu spent days deliberating whether to use the death dance to avenge her sister instead. The idea tempted her again and again. No more Cheng meant no more injustice. It appeared perfect. Except for her debts which needed to be repaid.


    Unwillingly bottling her loathing, Mingzhu forced herself to consider giving to the mountain clan instead. The answer appeared simple; kill the new emperor. Huli¡¯s paranoia threw the kingdom into despair and his growing army proved he held the same greedy ambition for power as his father. The Masked Masters would want someone to act. But was it the right choice?


    During the festivities, still lacking a decision about her target and her eyes continuously spotting Cheng, Mingzhu snuck into the dance house, bribed the woman she replaced handsomely and dressed like those around her. No one suspected anything, especially when she followed the routine perfectly. A thrill prickled her body with each move. She counted the beats and suddenly, it was time. All her practice led to this moment. Her eyes locked on Cheng, then the emperor. Which one to kill, she debated. The beat quickened. Which will be the best choice? Her blood pounded along with the rhythm. It has to be¡­ She turned, reached up and grabbed her concealed hairpin, then threw it.


    It pierced the target.


    The irrational mother, Mingzhu finished in her head, remembering Cheng¡¯s private words at Juan¡¯s grave. A grieving, irrational mother is far more frightening than a war-hungry ruler. The concubine clasped at her bleeding neck; the pin had sliced near the Qiaolian¡¯s artery. Mingzhu bit inside her cheek; she had been lucky to hit anything. The weapon was meant to land in her chest. Yet, there was no time to wallow in shame as screams and panic erupted. Mingzhu blended into the crowd before rushing off into the darkness before any soldiers scouted the area.


    Run. Run. Run. The word repeated with each step. Faster. Faster. Faster. The cries echoed from afar, bouncing from walls and diving through the air like Masked Masters. Chaos exploded in full force behind in the imperial courtyard. The adrenaline pounded in her veins, spiking her nerves. To prevent panicking, she focused on the ache in her legs. It made her smile, as did the pain her chest from the physical demand. How long since she ran? The destruction of the training camp felt like years ago instead of days. The feeling never failed to make her feel alive. Too bad she was running from certain death.


    The building came into view. The torches nearby all burnt low, providing greater shadows than the alleyways. She barged in, disregarding the patterned knock arranged prior to the festival. The door slammed after she slid inside and she collided with a warm chest.


    ¡°Are you hurt? Are you okay?¡± Disung asked, clasping Mingzhu¡¯s shoulders and scanning her body.


    When did he care so much? She thought and felt more confused by the unpermitted smile on her lips. Why am I happy about this? Is it the adrenaline? Is it about the running?


    ¡°I am fine but someone else is not.¡±


    ¡°What are you blabbering about?¡±


    Disung didn¡¯t know what she had done. No one did. Otherwise, she would be imprisoned or one of her new allies would have stopped her. The mountain clan needed this success. They needed the emperor dead, not his mother, Mingzhu scolded herself and bit her cheek again. She wasn¡¯t surprised by the sudden metallic taste in her mouth.


    ¡°Where is my uniform?¡±


    ¡°On the bed, as agreed. Put your clothes in the chest.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Unable to steady her shaking fingers in a hurry, Mingzhu clumsily unclasped the buttons resting on her back. After pulling down her skirt, revealing white puffy pants, she met Disung¡¯s eye. His face turned red and he gawked, unable to speak. She cocked her head and in her pause, she realised the indecency of the situation. In her haste, she forgot she was in the company of a man. A blush blotched her whole body, right to the tips of her toes. Her guts churned and a tickling feeling wormed among the mess inside her.


    ¡°T-t-turn around! Pervert!¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± Disung replied and put his back to her immediately. ¡°I will keep guard.¡±


    ¡°Leave the room!¡±


    ¡°We have no time, as you are aware of. You disregarded your modesty because of that¡­ unless you have a secret crush on me,¡± Disung said, the cheerfulness returning in his voice.


    ¡°I will never think that way about you, boy. Not even in your wildest dreams.¡±


    ¡°You have never visited my dreams then.¡±


    Mingzhu felt his smirk and bore her eyes in the back of his neck, as if hoping they could burn him. Ignoring the flutter of her heart, she shoved her dance outfit in the wooden chest and grabbed her uniform. Had there always been so many layers? She ground her teeth and roughly dressed herself again. They had no time for a perfect appearance, as housemaids should be, and she let the layers of fabric messily cover her body. The material askew on her shoulder was ignored, as was the wide gape below her collarbone; it looked like a child dressed her.


    ¡°They are coming. Are you decent?¡± Disung asked, matching her frenzy at the close sound of footsteps and shouts.


    ¡°This stupid belt!¡±


    ¡°Damn it! Forgive me for this.¡±


    Disung rushed towards her and wrapped the material around her waist. Meanwhile, Mingzhu undid the braids in her hair, letting it fall around her face. The pair worked together to return her to a slave instead of the dancer from minutes ago.


    ¡°Your makeup!¡± Disung exclaimed, watching the glitter sparkle on her skin.


    ¡°Where is a cloth?¡± Mingzhu demanded, rather than ask.


    Someone banged at the door.


    Disung swore. ¡°No time. You must trust me.¡±


    ¡°I would rather trust a dead bird with¡ª¡±


    ¡°Trust me.¡±


    Without an agreeance, he whisked Mingzhu around, facing her back towards the door. He threaded his fingers through her hair, resting his palm over the glitter, while his other hand rested low on her back.


    ¡°Quickly put your hands on my neck.¡±


    Despite her fear of touching him, she obeyed, as if instructed by her master. Disung rested his forehead against hers, closing the space between them. Before Mingzhu could punch him, infuriated and, honestly terrified by the physical contact, soldiers burst through the doors. Behind her, she heard them ransack the room on entry, searching for an assassin. Throughout this, Disung beamed at her and she found herself drawn into his warm, brown eyes.


    The noises abruptly stopped.


    Disung cleared his throat and looked to the soldiers. ¡°Ah¡­ comrades¡­ Please keep this quiet as my dignity as a virgin which ¡®strikes fear to others¡¯ is at stake. Best come at another time when I am not preoccupied with a woman. Enjoy the remainder of the festivities.¡±


    ¡°The festival is over!¡± A gruff voice replied. ¡°The Madam has been assassinated.¡±


    "What?" Disung blurted, clearly shocked. He briefly glanced down at Mingzhu and she felt keenly aware he connected the dots; she wanted an alibi the same night someone died.


    ¡°Have you seen anyone pass by?¡± Another asked.


    ¡°Men, I was in the middle of something with the only person I have seen tonight! If an assassin passed by here, he would not win against the great ¨¤nsh¨´ especially with a lover to protect,¡± Disung spouted.


    ¡°Why does she hide her face?¡±


    ¡°Because her reputation will be tarnished!¡± Disung replied dramatically, appalled by the accusation. ¡°A maid fornicating out of wedlock with a soldier of death will bring terrible rumours. While you are interrupting my precious time and questioning my livelihood, the assassin is escaping!¡±


    ¡°We need you to join us.¡±


    ¡°But! I am busy! Don¡¯t glare at me! Fine!¡± Disung sighed and looked back to Mingzhu. ¡°We will have to end this splendid night here.¡±


    Mingzhu dug her nails into his necks, satisfied at the pain watering his eyes.


    ¡°Men, go! I will leave once this fine lady is dressed. That is an order.¡±


    ¡°Scope the rooftops and inform the men what you find,¡± the gruff voice spoke again.


    ¡°This is not my first assassin scout. You forget your place and who you speak to,¡± Disung replied, tone deepening to a growl, but a happy expression on his face mismatched his words. It made him appear more psychotic.


    ¡°We will be in Lady Gaze.¡±


    The door slammed, indicating the soldiers left. Mingzhu and Disung both released their breaths and a nervous chuckle as their facade vanished. The adrenaline left Mingzhu in a cold rush but she felt warm in the hands of Disung. Where he kissed radiated with heat, his touch feeling like fire. Only once, she felt this way before.It cannot be¡­


    ¡°Then you can let go of my hair now.¡±


    Disung grimaced. ¡°I would at once¡­¡±


    ¡°But?¡±


    ¡°My hand is stuck.¡±


    Mingzhu scowled. True to his word, the half-undone braids, tangled with jewels, held his hand prisoner. All gratitude about fooling the guards disappeared. The shining saviour turned back into an immature boy once more. The fear over what she might feel for Disung lessened as she cursed at him endlessly.

 Chapter 48: Accused

    New wind chimes hung up around the palace at every building corner. The stained glass tops gleamed in the sun and caused patches of blues, greens, pinks and yellows to appear on walls around. By the end of the day, every frail decoration would be destroyed. This was tradition to commemorate an imperial concubine during the funeral.


    By the next day, Joaolong let out a peaceful sigh as the air remained natural-sounding, without pollution of tiny, sweet clangs or shattering of glass. The death of Qiaolian relieved him. No, the feeling he had was far darker; he felt glad. After being part of Yenay¡¯s murder and framing Jiang ¨C based on the hidden vial and reputation of cutting tongues ¨C she deserved a humiliating death on a merry occasion. Yet, he hadn¡¯t had a chance to question the assassin. Mingzhukept busy completing chores and somehow, avoided Joaolong at every turn. From this, his curiosity grew. What did she, the Fox, gain from killing a concubine? The Masked Masters were not known for revenge in their legends. Had something changed? Or was the murder a rogue action? The questionscontinued to grow.


    In the late morning on the day after Qiaolian¡¯s commemoration, a meeting was called requiring all male residence of the palace, as well as the entirety of councilmen. Joaolong wore plain navy robes and followed the other men inside the imperial hall. It looked the same, which suprised himwith the change of emperors becauseHuli loved emphasising thenew rein of leadership. As soon as Joaolong stood on the blue carpet, leading to the throne, he veered off and took his place at the back of the room. Since he had no role in council and faced eviction from the palace, he stood far away from the emperor to symbolise his lack of status. It made his lip twitch as anger blanketed him, especially watching Disung forcibly stay near the emperor¡¯s side instead.


    Huli sat on his throne, on raised floorboards, to look down on everyone else. His outfit looked intimidating; the dark rouge material poured over the first few steps like a stream of venom. The armour on his chest sat oddly but meant to warn his readiness for battle. The string of beads on the emperor¡¯s headpiece swayed as he watched the room fill.


    Beside him, Cheng, who kept his position as imperial advisor, raised his hand to demand attention. The crowd stilled. Worry made the air stuffy. Everyone shared a united and nervous thought: what did the emperor want? Dread filled Joaolong¡¯s stomach.


    ¡°Those that serve his majesty, I welcome you to an important event today. We have departed with our past rulers and recently, the loved mother of the new emperor. However, Zhao Qiaolian will not find peace until we find justice! The Fox must be punished for killing her!¡±


    The crowd murmured in agreement. Within minutes of the assassination, rumours spun about the Fox killing the concubine. When no soldiers could find the perpetrator, these whispers spread from the palace and into the town like wildfire.


    ¡°The mighty emperor has done as needed, searching for the destroyer of our kingdom! No more shall the Fox strike terror into our hearts! For the first time in history, they have been caught!¡± Cheng announced and ignored the shocked responses. ¡°Bring her in!¡±


    Step by step, Mingzhu sunk into the blue carpet of the main hall, as if she were too heavy to cross the fabric river. The councilmen watched her slow movements, unable to comprehend the prisoner. Guards pushed Mingzhu roughly to her knees and she kept her head low.


    What happened? Joaolong reviewed every detail in his mind. She killed the concubine but they hid her well enough. They had witnesses who saw herwith Disung on the night of the assassination. Also, he ensured Tai burnt the dance clothes and hid any other evidence. How was she caught? It doesn¡¯t make sense.


    ¡°Fa Huian. You have been summoned for questioning by the emperor and those representing Shanhe. You are accused of hiding your identity as the notorious assassin, the Fox. If deemed true, this also means you were an accomplice in the old ruler¡¯s death, manipulating servants like Lin Jiang, to obey you, and assassinating the emperor¡¯s mother, Zhao Qioalian. Do you admit to your crimes?¡± Cheng askedin a steady voice.


    Mingzhu looked like a gasping fish; her jaw dropped and eyes bulged. Apparently, she had no idea of her summoning. ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°Do you admit to these crimes?¡± Cheng repeated, more sternly.


    ¡°I am innocent,¡± Mingzhu replied but her voice cracked. After clearing her throat, she tried again. ¡°I am innocent! I am but a weak servant, dedicated to serving the rulers of Shanhe. I cannot kill them, nor the emperor¡¯s mother. Many maids can verify my whereabouts on the past emperor and empress¡¯s death and my new master, Wang Joaolong can explain the Moon¡ª¡±


    Joaolong cringed. A removed minister and ex-relative of a past empress brought no advantage, especially when the emperor displayed clear loathing towards him. Using his name wasfoolish but what else could she do? He did not blame her desperate cling to help; they had been ambushed.


    ¡°Bring forth the evidence and witnesses!¡± Huli called.


    A tiny woman entered the grand room. The blue robes, held together by a bronze waistband, indicated her status as a kitchen-maid. Joaolong recognised the distinct rat-like face; this was Xiaoli¡¯s friend. They spent many seasons together as noblewomen before she volunteered to start her serving year early.


    This woman had evidence? Joaolong puzzled. Housemaids and kitchen-maids only spoke during meals as slaves. It seemed unlikely, especially for Mingzhu who guarded her secrets like an animal in birthing season, to talk to others. This left a feeling of dread develop in Joaolong''s gut.


    "Kneel before the emperor."


    With each small step she took, a greater realisation dawned on Joaolong. This deception was too extravagant for Huli¡¯s personality; he would just order a beheading without care. The staged plot smelled like Qioalian or much rather, her successor, Xiaoli. Joaolong cursed internally and his hands shook as rage swirled inside him. She already took away Yenay and Jiang from him. Why touch his new ally? Hadn''t she ruined his life enough?I curse you, he growled in his mind, looking away. I curse you to a life of pain, old friend.


    ¡°State your name, position and case,¡± Cheng instructed.


    The kitchen-maid knelt beside Mingzhu but remained wary of the distance between them. ¡°My name is Sum Yiu, daughter of a resigned councilman and recent merchant. I am a temporary kitchen-maid, finishing my time next week. I wish to relay information about Fa Huian.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    ¡°On multiple occasions during servant meals, I overheard Fa Huian and Lin Jiang scheming and complaining about their life. Fa Huian gave Lin Jiang instructions to kill the Shanhe emperor and empress. Other maids can confirm Fa Huian went missing that very night.¡±


    Mingzhu looked outraged, her face morphing into a vengeful monster. ¡°That is a lie! You dare¡ª¡±


    ¡°Silence! Fa Huian, you will not speak unless called upon!¡± Cheng shouted, his strong reaction surprising himself. The guards shoved Mingzhu to the ground in warning. ¡°Sum Yiu, if what you claim is the truth, why did you withhold this information?¡±


    ¡°I was threatened and feared for my safety. It was only when the Madam was killed, I gathered my courage before Fa Huian continued her murderous spree. I hope to be excused for this silence through my confession today,¡± Yiu replied.


    ¡°Thank you for your words.¡±


    ¡°You are dismissed,¡± Huli said and the maid walked away, failing to hide her smug smile.


    A few other maids and even a eunuch spoke after Yiu. Each described ideas of treachery and escape coming from Mingzhu, and created an image of a greedy, heartless woman. Likely, most had heavy ring purses in their pockets in exchange for their lies. The worst part was the lack of defence against the claims; Mingzhu was repetitively denied to speak, as if her tongue were cut like Jiang.


    ¡°May the last witness enter!¡± Cheng ordered.


    Two eunuchs opened the doors and Xiaoli stepped out, graceful as ever. It appeared her appetite returned after Huli¡¯s coronation and the sunken cheeks were plump once more. Even a shine returned to her oak hair. She looked nothing like the scared girl at the empress¡¯s funeral. Joaolong wanted to shake the truth from her. Did you kill Yenay? Did you kill Yenay? Did you kill Yenay? No. Why did you kill Yenay?


    Unable to bare watching her, he focused his attention on the maid following from behind. She was beautiful and pale, her hair extending low on her back. The reputation she gained in the palace as the untouched pearl was based on truth and not overdramatic, smitten descriptions. Innocence and naivety floated in her eyes and somehow,


    Meifan fell into a deep bow before the emperor. Her eyes remained low and she flinched at any sudden movement. Beside her, Mingzhu''s aghast mask broke into heartbreak and sorrow. The raw emotions flooded her eyes, brightening their colour. From afar, Joaolong emphasised;a close friend¡¯s betrayal was like having your own hand strangle you.


    ¡°Your majesty, members of the royal family and council,¡± Meifan greeted. ¡°My name is Song Meifan. I am a housemaid of two years, sold to the Lotus Palace, and have worked beside both Lin Jiang and Fa Huain for a long period of time. I wish to confess Fa Huian¡¯s crimes.¡±


    ¡°Speak,¡± Cheng encouraged.


    Meifan shook with every word. ¡°Fa Huian first arrived in spring. Over the months she has been here, nothing but chaos has occurred. I have been abused by her and offered to join her treacherous cause. When I refused, she threatened me and I feared for my life. I helplessly watched her lie about her whereabouts and sneak away night after night. Only later did I realise these were the same nights the Fox appeared.¡±


    An uproar proceeded. Most councilmen shouted abuse at the accused, their final verdict already decided. This was nothing but white noise to Joaolong, who felt the ground crumble under him. The emperor stole Disung from him, Tai could be beat to death at any moment and if this tiny connection to Masked Masters, through Mingzhu as the Fox, got ruined, Joaolong would never fulfil the empress¡¯s wish. He needed allies to crown the true heir of Shanhe. He needed allies to fight the injustices. He needed allies to live.


    ¡°Please, Meifan. Don¡¯t do this. Please don¡¯t do this." Mingzhu''s voice came out as a barely audible whisper.


    Meifan¡¯s eyes watered but after a deep breath, she raised her head without regret. The crowd shut their mouths to listen. ¡°That is not all! I wanted more proof for Shanhe! So I searched Fa Huain¡¯s valuables while she disappeared one day and found this!¡±


    A deafening silence consumed the hall at the evidence. Cheng held up an item wrapped in fine silk, and showed the emperor, then the royal court. ¡°Fa Huian, how do you explain this?¡±


    The mask was carved from golden wood and had rough edges from tools chipping away sharp features. The polished exterior shined in the light but the inside remained coarse, likely giving the wearer splinters. The attempt at carving a fox face was poor, the sides asymmetrical and the grooves too shallow for any define characteristics to be seen at a distance. The imitation was in insult to the Masked Master. Yet, based on the grumbles and gasps, the council believed the lies.


    Suddenly, Mingzhu burst into laughter, the noise sounding so crazy that it scared half of the people in the room.


    ¡°You are a monster!¡± A councilman shouted dramatically.


    Another man joined in with the claim. ¡°You laugh because you are guilty and do not regret the crimes you committed! Emperor, punish the accused!¡±


    ¡°Punish the Fox!¡± A chorus of voices shouted.


    Nothing would save her now. Joaolong raised his head and met Disung¡¯s pleading eyes. He looked as desperate as Joaolong felt. But what could they do? The council had been swayed by the clever plan of the enemy and unless another Fox appeared, it was hopeless. Unable to find a solution, Joaolong shook his head to Disung. The guard knitted his eyebrows and mouthed a curse before stepping forward.


    ¡°May I speak?¡± Disung requested, pushing through the crowd to kneel before the emperor. The other councilmen sneered at the rude and unpermitted action. ¡°I wish to attest the statements presented today against Fa Huian.¡±


    What are you doing? Joaolong wanted to shout. Do not be a fool!


    ¡°Please step back to your guard post and do not involve yourself in a court matter,¡± Huli ordered, ticked by the interruption.


    ¡°I can account for the absent nights!" Disung continued. "The reason Fa Huian was missing for many nights is because she was with me!"


    In the back of the hall, Joaolong wasstunned, as was everyone else. No one had defied an emperor in public. More incredible was the guardswouldn''t act against Anshu, whose name striked fear into the hearts of many. They were trapped in a stalemate;no one could obey either the emperor or Anshu without severe consequence.Disung latched on to this advantage to quickly convince everyone of Mingzhu''s innoncence.


    ¡°To prove our affair, Fa Huian is now carrying my child!¡±


    ¡°Can anyone confirm this nonsense?¡± Xiaoli barked, standing forward and glancing around the room, breaking the overwhelming shock.


    ¡°Master Wang Joaolong can personally confirm this, keeping my secret affair private. It was his repayment of gratitude which changed Fa Huian¡¯s role to his personal handmaiden for my benefit. Yet, I believe others have suspected my affair for a while. You may recall, it was Fa Huian that tended to me during my short imprisonment and on the night of the Moon Festival, Fa Huian was caught in my chambers by soldiers. As time progressed, we became careless. If this proof does not satisfy you suspicion, I demand a physical examination of Fa Huian to be done.¡±


    The bluff was too risky. Any admiration Joaolong held for Disung evaporated. If the examination were done, they needed time to actually impregnate the girl. Maybe they could fake a miscarriage but again, they needed a day to prepare the scene. However, this quick delve into analysing ploys proved to be a waste of energy; the emperor did not care.


    ¡°You do not make demands from me!¡± Huli laughed and stood, pacing to the front of the platform. ¡°I, Hong Huli, new emperor of Shanhe, declare that Fa Huian is guilty of her crimes. She is the Fox! Many can confirm her scheming nature and a mask was found in her possession! A child does not change the fact she is an assassin! I order that she is sentenced to death!¡±


    ¡°Emperor, there are traditions and regulations we must follow,¡± Cheng began to say but Huli stopped him.


    ¡°Trial dismissed! Guards, take her away to the palace prison cell! We shall proceed with the death penalty tomorrow at dawn. Let all the Shanhe people be invited! Spread word the Fox¡¯s blood will be spilled!¡± Huli exclaimed and then, a dark smile spread across his face. "Let all know that the Fox''s bloodlinewill end."

 Chapter 49: Worthy of Saving

    The trial stirred a ferocious storm of rage, heartache and astonishment inside Disung. Councilmen moved out of his path in fear, sensing his animosity, when he left the hall alongside them. While stamping towards the study, where he saw Joaolong slither into, he huffed and slammed his fist against pillars, alerting others of his dangerous mood. This bite of pain did nothing to settle his emotions but he believed beating Joaolong might.


    ¡°You did nothing!¡± He spat as he entered the study. ¡°You watched her get unfairly trialled over preposterous crimes and did nothing!¡±


    ¡°Why do you assume they are preposterous?¡± Joaolong asked nonchalantly. A sigh drifted between the shelves while he searched for interesting scrolls. ¡°Take a break and return when you have calmed. I cannot talk with someone in your state.¡±


    Disung grabbed Joaolong firmly by the robes and slammed him against the shelves. How could he act so relaxed and uncaring? To toss someone aside so easily was despicable! He expected it from Huli or Qioalian but never his friend. Was Disung equally disposable?


    ¡°If you don¡¯t help Mingzhu and she dies, I will never tell you the secret about Wang Yenay,¡± Disung threatened, desperate for some reaction to make Joaolong¡¯s fa?ade fail.


    ¡°If it is about her death, do not bother. I already learnt the initial cause was poison, not stabbing. I also know Ju Xiaoli shared the same rash on her skin as the empress. This rash occurs from contact with a rare nectar, which I found hidden in Qiaolian¡¯s personal belongings. The Zhao family is behind the rulers¡¯ death. You cannot bargain with anything which will surprise me further.¡±


    The overwhelming desire to punch Joaolong washed over Disung. Always a smart arse, he thought darkly and clenched his fingers tighter. One punch would wipe away the effortless smug responses. One punch and he might break. Yet, Disung restrained himself from any assault. Although his friend was intelligent, he did not know everything.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Disung smiled but the light never reached his cold eyes. ¡°I wasn¡¯t referring to her death. I was referring to her secret. The greatest truth which will affect whole kingdom of Shanhe. I know who is the true heir of Shanhe.¡±


    After letting go of Joaolong, Disung leaned back on the opposing shelf and watched his friend¡¯s poker face falter. He relished the shock.


    ¡°You would withhold valuable information over a woman?¡± Joaolong asked incredulously.


    ¡°A war will start over less. Make your decision. Save the girl and get the secret or lose everything?¡±


    Both men glared at each other, too stubborn and proud to back down. Only when Disung prepared to leave, Joaolong broke. The mask he wore shattered to show his true self.


    Emotion shook his voice. ¡°Do you not think I am as angry as you? Do you think I wanted to do nothing? I may not have a deep relationship with the girl but that does not mean I disregard innocent lives. I wanted to get involved. Trust me. But I am but a weak man since the new emperor ascended to the throne. The mere mention on my name sealed Bai Mingzhu¡¯s demise. You forget I am disliked by many and have no powerful connections. That is why I did nothing. That is why I couldn¡¯t interfere.¡±


    ¡°You should have said that to start with!¡± Disung snarled, unable to let go of his fury. ¡°I feared your harsh scrutiny of her overcame you!¡±


    ¡°She is impulsive, uncontrollable and angry. These are displeasing qualities but I am not heartless to let her die for it. I only scrutinise because of her secrets.¡±


    ¡°She has a right to keep them since we haven¡¯t told her everything either.¡±


    Joaolong groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose, as if trying to stop a headache. ¡°Fine. I will try to help. Happy? Now tell me about the true heir.¡±


    Disung backed away, still feeling too heated to talk normally. ¡°Save Mingzhu first.¡±


    ¡°You are more irritating than normal,¡± Joaolong muttered. ¡°How far are you willing to go to save this woman?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do anything, even if it means to go through fire and water.¡±


    ¡°Remember that. We may be about to meet the end of our time at the Lotus Palace, alive or dead, especially if you are determined to save this slave. Meet me again tonight and we will discuss it.¡±


    The men parted ways, both needing time to soothe their stew of negative emotions. Disung disappeared to practice fighting while Joaolong aggressively rummaged through scrolls, finding nothing of interest. It wasn¡¯t until late in the afternoon, when their anger fizzled out, the men reconvened and invited Shaiming to join them. On good terms once again, they formulated a plan in haste. Already, gossip spread about the Fox¡¯s execution at sunrise.

 Chapter 50: Prison Affair

    After dragged roughly from the imperial hall, the guards threw Mingzhu into the cell hidden in a guest building at the front of the palace. Bamboo bars divided the room, creating an inescapable prison in one half and a collection of torture weapons on the other. Blood stained the floors and Mingzhu wondered how much of it belonged to Jiang and Disung.


    While counting down the seconds until the execution, Mingzhu experienced many horrendous things. Every few hours, someone ¨C either Xiaoli¡¯s minions or a noble desiring the emperor¡¯s favour ¨C tortured her. She withstood all of it, falling into a trance like she did at a young age during her father¡¯s punishment. He hit her harder if she cried or screamed so she learnt how to curl inside herself and become an empty puppet instead. A few councilmen spat threats when knives rested against her throat, some women scratched her face, while other visitors purposely beat her stomach, intending to eliminate the claimed child. None broke her.


    Sleep offered no salvation though. In her mind, memories stirred and prepared for a grand, terrifying performance. Most were unpleasant, always linking back to her father. Fear of seeing him kept her awake for a while but as the moon rose higher, her eyelids grew heavy. The weight of them felt unbearable. Yet, she fought it, too scared to revisit the past in her dreams. To combat reliving certain events, she forced her mind to drift towards Disung. For some reason, he was easy to conjure up and imagining his carefree smile gave her comfort.


    Does he ever brush his hair? She wondered. It always looked tangled. His mother used to scream at him about it in the mountains. It amazed Mingzhu it fit into a semi-respectable bun. His dress style hadn¡¯t changed over the years either; he preferred neutral tones to avoid indulging vanity, just like his father. They were so similar to the extent of continuing stroking their head when anxious. Mingzhu wondered if Disung would behave more like him once age gave him more wisdom. Without meaning to, she fell asleep thinking of this.


    Master sat on his old cushion outside the cave, bald head gleaming in the sunlight. It was a pleasant day, ¡®perfect for tea¡¯ he explained. A fallen log, smoothed at the top, formed a table they cherished since it provided signs of civilisation in the wilderness. On this, Mingzhu ground tea leaves and stirred them into a boiling pot of water. Finally, after straining it, she served it to Master. He sipped from a chipped bowl, a hidden smile twitching his lips.


    ¡°You cannot brew tea,¡± he resigned and ran a hand over his bald head. ¡°It is a pity.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, you make it!¡± Mingzhu said, her outburst caused by the disappointment she felt.


    Every single day, she tried hard to make it the way he liked. This originally stemmed from the need of approval and attention but developed more as the mountain clan became involved in their lives again. Childishly, she held onto the belief that a well-brewed tea would entice her master to stay longer rather than return to the new mountain village. It was selfish but after losing Juan, she clung onto him like a weening babe. He had been there in her time of need and she feared losing him.


    ¡°You still have your old temper. The mountain clan won¡¯t accept a character so similar to your father. Reflect and balance yourself.¡±


    ¡°Everything is about balance or incorrect proverbs.¡±


    Master grinned and made a new batch of tea instead. ¡°Tea is all about perfect balance. You need to control the strength of the fire, the amount of water and the use of the tea leaves provided. Otherwise, the tea will not be as you anticipate. How is this?¡±


    ¡°Disgusting!¡± Mingzhu lied but continued to subtly drink the offered tea. Master chuckled, seeing her true emotions bubbling under the surface. He read her with ease like an open scroll.


    Tea is different in the palace, Mingzhu thought to her master, stirring from a brief slumber. Someone extinguishes your fire, another steals your water and the leaves are poison to weaken you further. On this bitter note, Mingzhu attempted to hum one of her mother¡¯s tune to lift her spirits. It did nothing.


    ¡°Visitor!¡± The guard announced, banging his sword on the bamboo.


    A woman entered, looking beautiful like the sky at twilight but Mingzhu felt like a child, whose despair grew about the approaching night. The deep violet robes veiled the floor around the woman¡¯s feet as she entered the dark room, and curved up around her slim figure. Jewels blinked in her neatly styled, oak hair. There was enough for a bird nest, as always.


    ¡°It must be tragic. You look like a bird locked in a cage, singing out your sorrow. It is so pitiful. I wonder if your crying out for justice or revenge on Song Meifan,¡± Xiaoli said with a wicked smile.


    Mingzhu scoffed but this took too much energy. It sounded like a strangled cough. ¡°If I remain quiet, I am pitiful. If I sing a tune, I am pitiful. There is nothing that will make me look less pitiful to you. If I am disgusting to your eyes, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°To offer a deal,¡± Xiaoli replied. ¡°You claim treachery against Song Meifan and I will help punish her. If you do this, I will grant you a comfortable life as a noblewoman at the Lotus Palace.¡±


    ¡°Is this a trick?¡± Mingzhu didn¡¯t believe her; the emperor wanted her head and no lover could stop it from happening.


    ¡°I kept my promise to Song Meifan. I gave her a position as a personal maid for the imperial concubine, may her soul rest, and all she had to do was betray her closest friend. I wanted to ask you how that felt when your only companion blamed you. Do you hate her? Isn¡¯t it fair to do the same to her? Do you want revenge?¡±


    Mingzhu looked away, unwilling to make eye contact. The betrayal stung deep in her bones and she battled between wanting to cry or hurt Meifan. How na?ve and stupid of her to trust someone without clear intentions. Joaolong, on the other hand, made his goal clear and even let her have insight to his treachery. He was a better choice to relay on. Then again, he watched the trial without a word. The only person that sacrificed their reputation and defended her was Disung, who should hate her the most.


    Despite the undeniable hate and rage at Meifan, Mingzhu refused to show it to Xiaoli. ¡°This offer is nonsense. You would not ruin an execution you set up so well and simply want me to make Meifan fall too. Then, there is no threat to you. Everyone is dead. Aren¡¯t you tired of these schemes and evil games? You bully Song Meifan, I taunt you, you punish me and then Song Meifan betrays me. Now you want me to seek revenge to continue our circle of drama. No flower can bloom in this condition. I won¡¯t accept your filthy hand to help.¡±


    ¡°You are filthier than I! You proved to be quite the whore today!¡± Xiaoli snapped.


    ¡°Least I do not kill others for their position!¡± The angry eyes of the mountain clan appeared in Mingzhu¡¯s head, expressing their loathing, and she flinched. ¡°There is no royal blood on my hands.¡±


    Xiaoli had the decency to look shocked. ¡°Y-you are the criminal! Not me!¡±


    ¡°I said royal blood. It is true that greater amounts of blood are smeared onto my soul,¡± Mingzhu whispered and shut her eyes, ready to rest again. The small amount of strength she had was fleeting and all the painful emotions felt too overwhelming to handle. ¡°Least I did not kill the empress.¡±


    ¡°You dare accuse me¡ª¡±


    ¡°I am not accusing but stating fact. If I am truly the Fox, then I should know who killed the past rulers in a heartbeat and you should know the mountain clan watches you because of it.¡±


    ¡°Everyone knows the Fox is rogue and has no affiliation with the Masked Masters, if they are indeed true.¡±


    ¡°Ah but who said the Fox was rogue? The very same, gullible people who all believed your performance today? If I were you Miss Ju, I would be very careful. The Masked Masters are known to be ¡®godly¡¯ for a very dark reason.¡± Mingzhu smiled slightly, enjoying Xiaoli¡¯s shocked expression. ¡°Before you leave, answer me this one question. Why do you hate Song Meifan so much? Maybe then I will consider your offer.¡±


    ¡°Song Meifan is a horrible person. She is cowardly and desperate to please everyone. Remember this, she betrayed you not for freedom but for power. That should reflect the scum she is! You should seek revenge!¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you doing the same by marrying the emperor?¡± Mingzhu countered. ¡°Do not waste your pretty face glaring at me. I lied. I will never accept any negotiations from pathetic people like you.¡±


    In a huff, Xiaoli left without another word, nor attempt at torture. Alone again, Mingzhu slipped on the floor while attempting to lie down and a splinter imbedded into her fingertip. A bead of blood appeared. In the dark, it reminded her of ink used in the mountain clan. In a history lesson, they learnt the original Masked Masters wrote with ink instead of carvings. They changed their methods due to the ¡®ghost¡¯s fire¡¯. Mingzhu wondered which took longer; using liquid to write or charcoal, which she trialled on the map during her palace arrival.


    An epiphany suddenly struck her. Mustering up any strength left, she sat up, ripped part of her dress and found more sharp edges around the cell. Blindly, she cut her fingers and then smeared the flowing blood onto the fabric. It spread across the threads but as she tried again, the word she intended to make could be deciphered. She smiled and full of renewed determination, tried to write a letter. The process took a long time and by the time she finished, her fingers throbbed and she fell asleep.


    Another bang awoke her. The guard announced a new visitor arrived and Mingzhu groaned. It had been awhile since a new torturer came. What would they do now? Rip out her hair, poke an eyeball until bloody or slice at her stomach? No, Mingzhu realised. They haven¡¯t come for my tongue yet. This must be it.


    ¡°Save yourself precious time and do not beat my stomach. Many have already done so. Instead, cut my hair. I¡¯ll be so relieved that you removed the matted tangles that I will tell you everything about my great assassinations!¡± She shouted, mustering up courage to face more pain.


    ¡°That is a strange way to greet a friend,¡± Disung replied and grinned down at her. ¡°You look terrible.¡±


    ¡°I could say the same about you,¡± she sputtered and took in his bright, dancing eyes, wild hair and bulging body. He looked handsome and fierce. Why hadn¡¯t she noticed it before? Maybe the torture had got to her.


    ¡°Can I talk to the prisoner alone?¡± Disung asked the soldier on duty.


    ¡°The emperor ordered the prisoner to be guarded under all circumstances especially if¡­¡± you came. They all knew how he meant to finish the sentence.


    Without a word and obviously fearful of Disung, the guard returned to his station at the door. Disung ignored him and when he turned back to Mingzhu, his eyes landed on her hands. Gently, he inspected the crusted, dried blood on each fingertip.


    ¡°How many times did they torture you?¡± The protectiveness in his voice surprised her.


    ¡°It is not your concern,¡± she replied but didn¡¯t push him away. His touch felt cool and pleasant.


    The more he looked at her, the greater his brows furrowed. It must have looked like someone stuck needles into her hands. Did they torture Disung that way? She recalled he broke a finger but she saw no wounds on the top of his fingers. Just when she opened her mouth to lessen his worry, his hands moved up her arms. He inspected her, like a mother did with a dirty child.


    ¡°Stop touching me or I will hurt you.¡±


    ¡°You did not mind touching the other night,¡± Disung replied and raised his eyebrows in a provoking way. The cheeky grin made the guard uncomfortable as did Disung¡¯s wink. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you could walk afterwards. You didn¡¯t hold anything back. I honestly confess a woman has never done those things to me.¡±


    ¡°Shut it, Liu Disung. Stop giving the wrong impression to others,¡± Mingzhu scolded lightly.


    In spite of everything, she secretly appreciated the humour and foolishness. It felt more comforting than the pitying looks or false words of hope that others overused. Whenever Juan and her were in difficult times, they both remained silent, neither wanting to lie or admit the hopelessness of their predicament. This lack of communication led to Juan¡¯s secret marriage with Cheng.


    ¡°Call me Disung. There is no need for formalities now,¡± Disung added. ¡°Especially since you carry my child.¡±


    ¡°I wish I could say the child will be born deformed after the visitors I had today but with your appearance, it never had a chance at beauty.¡±


    Disung raised his eyebrows, a half-smile tugging his lips. ¡°Was that a joke? Did the short, angry beast make a joke for me?¡±


    ¡°Keep it pleasant for the Pheasant.¡± Master loved saying that to Mingzhu. Perhaps he wanted to remind her that her blood was mixed with some good.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Disung slumped down against the cell, defeated. His face scrunched in a mixture of anger and pain. ¡°They must have hurt you bad if you cannot curse at me for teasing you. I vow to make sure the guards let no one else in without my permission.¡±


    ¡°Will you threaten them?¡± The idea seemed comedic and Mingzhu could envision the soldiers whimpering at Disung, whose cheery expression wouldn''t match his words.


    ¡°Maybe I already have.¡±


    ¡°The baby will still be born deformed.¡±


    ¡°That will make him a more terrifying warrior than I! They will write ballads about the Liu Monster.¡±


    Mingzhu smiled and weakly leaned against the bamboo. The idea of babies made her think of Juan. She would have been an amazing mother; kind, compassionate and wise. Yet, someone stole that life from her. They stole her life and for months, Mingzhu did nothing to avenge her sister. Guilt rained down on her. Since entering the palace, she kept quiet and avoided questions because of the mountain clan¡¯s mission. Now, she awaited her execution with no closure.


    ¡°Did Juan ever expect?¡± Mingzhu asked, dreading the answer.


    Beside her, Disung stiffened. ¡°She did not.¡±


    Good. ¡°I heard she was an assassin. Is that true?¡±


    Disung gulped and looked towards the guard. ¡°Ah.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re worried about the guard, tap my hand once for no, twice for yes. Please.¡±


    Seconds ticked by and finally, Disung shuffled in his spot and reached for her hand. One tap. Mingzhu bit her lip, waiting for the next contact. Her stomach dropped. Then, when Disung moved his fingers away, relief washed over her, like a cool bath in the springs. I knew it.


    ¡°Was she happy in the palace?¡±


    ¡°She was taken care of. Any fabric and jewels could be demanded by her. Every day, the maids served extravagant dishes. She loved the study and spent many days reading.¡±


    ¡°Was she happy?¡± Mingzhu repeated, a desperate airiness added to her words.


    ¡°For a time, she was.¡±


    Tears welled up in Mingzhu¡¯s eyes. The lump in her throat returned. She bit her cheek hard, seeking pain as a distraction; it felt nearly impossible to stop crying. For hours, she had withstood torture but this broke her. Juan sacrificed herself for Mingzhu but found a slither of happiness. At least, not all was in vain. But she is still dead, a voice whispered in her head. And you live.


    The guard cleared his throat. ¡°The emperor calls you, ¨¤nsh¨´.¡±


    Disung groaned. ¡°He never lets me have fun! I cannot defecate in peace with him around!¡±


    ¡°Do not speak about our emperor in such foulness! He will have your head!¡±


    ¡°Hear that, my love. Maybe we could be executed together.¡±


    Mingzhu laughed, finding delight in the dark humour, but the sound came out strangled. Her face felt wet and she reached up to mess the hot stream of tears. When had she started crying? Thankfully for her, the darkness shielded her shameful weakness.


    ¡°Joaolong and Little Wu could make bets whose head rolls the farthest,¡± Disung whispered, nudging her to encourage more jokes.


    ¡°Or who bleeds more.¡±


    ¡°No fair. Your already covered in blood.¡±


    ¡°I can help make it equal if you want?¡± Mingzhu offered with an evil smirk.


    ¡°You would never be able to land a single blow.¡±


    ¡°I beat you before¡ª¡±


    ¡°The emperor calls you, ¨¤nsh¨´,¡± the guard repeated.


    Disung rolled his eyes. ¡°Give me a moment to say goodbye to my family before you take them from me!¡±


    The time has come, Mingzhu accepted. ¡°About that¡­ Disung¡­¡±


    He had given her closure about Juan and so, she had to returned the favour. With the execution set, he needed to learn the full truth of his past. This last minute should involve her groveling and begging for forgiveness. Yet, something made her hesitate. Again. The fear of losing him, after discovering a deep bond, ruined her determination. Instead of explaining the past and her part in ruining his life, she toyed with the bloody fabric hidden at her knees.


    ¡°Can I trust you? No. That is not the right question. Can you forgive me and grant one last favour?¡±


    ¡°You have given me no reason to doubt you. My trust is yours.¡±


    Fighting dizziness, Mingzhu pushed up onto her knees. Disung mimicked, close to the cell wall. They stared at each other, their sad smile reflecting each other.


    ¡°This may be the last time we see each other. Let me give you a proper farewell,¡± Mingzhu loudly spoke, glancing briefly at the guard.


    Aggressively, she grabbed Disung¡¯s robes and yanked him forward. Before he had the chance to react, she kissed him through the bars. At first, it felt awkward but as his lips moved with hers, he coaxed her to be gentler. He tasted of wine and berries. Were they the same berries from the mountains? Did he save them? Now is not the time, she scolded herself. Instead, she focused on her original plan, struggling to ignore the heavenly coolness of his lips against her fevered skin. She snaked her hand towards him and stuffed her bloody fabric into his robes. Mingzhu broke the kiss and trailed her lips delicately across his cheek and towards his ear.


    ¡°I will whistle a tune when you leave. Copy it and a pigeon will come. Send the letter in your robes. It is my last request.¡±


    Mingzhu slumped back on her heels, unsure if she felt dizzy because of the torture she endured or the kiss. Slowly and melodically, she whistled her mother¡¯s famous tune, watching Disung walk away in a daze matching her own. Hopefully, the letter reached her master.


    ¡°Do not say goodbye just yet. Dawn has yet to rise!¡± Disung yelled and vanished from sight.


    ¡°Then, may you live peacefully, Disung.¡±


    Unconsciously, Mingzhu raised her fingers to brush against her lips. It felt strange; the ghost of Disung¡¯s lips were still there, his essence lingering. The kiss replayed in her head and her heart flipped at the sensation. Joy sparked deep inside her in a burst of energy. That was her first kiss. Juan would never believe it. Mingzhu didn¡¯t. Among all the hatred and revenge, she still found sweetness before death.


    Death. The word sent a shiver down her spine and triggered an awful feeling of helplessness. I will die tomorrow. In Mingzhu¡¯s delusional mind, she saw her father laugh from the shadows of her cell. Are you scared of death? He mocked and although she tried to deny her father¡¯s words, deep down, it rang true. Then, disappointed faces of the mountain clan replaced her father¡¯s mirage, each shaking their head at her. Even the Panda, a huge, cuddly man, cringed at the sight of the woman. If she feared death, she couldn¡¯t repay her debts to them. In this execution, a final task required her sacrifice.


    You will do well to bring down the corrupted, Fa Biming, the Dragon, said in a calm voice. The illusion stroked her cheek and kissed her forehead. It sparked a fire of determination in her stomach and grew stronger when henchmen invaded the cell. She refused to let them win while she still breathed.

 Chapter 51: Palace of Blood

    Under the emperor¡¯s demand, commoners and nobles attended the trial of the Fox. This invite welcomed them into the palace, not the patch of death outside, as the execution intended to be conducted inside the border walls. The symbolism appeased the crowd; an assassin who entered the Lotus Palace would never leave.


    Guards dragged Mingzhu to the courtyard by her chains, then tossed her onto the ground. The gown, originally pink and white, hung loosely on her, covered in red and tattered. Dried blood and bruises covered her from head to toe. Yet, no one offered sympathy and pity. The crowd rejoiced in her undoing, expressing their delight and disgust by yelling threats and verbal abuse. The words felt like puffs of dust to Mingzhu, who remained limp and submissive.


    ¡°Men of Shanhe! Women of Shanhe! Welcome to this historic day!¡± Cheng bellowed. ¡°Today, Hong Huli, son of Hong Weishan and fifth emperor of Shanhe, brings you justice! The Fox has threatened Shanhe for months but no longer! Using his own wit and cunning, our emperor discovered the assassin and brings her forth for you to witness!¡±


    The crowd cheered and demanded Mingzhu¡¯s head. Their cries blended into one deafening scream. The only people who remained silent were Joaolong, Disung, Tai and the Linlong royalty. Mingzhu wished they cheered too, instead of watching the scene gravely. It made regret for her harsh words trickle inside her. Prepare yourself, she redirected her thoughts. Focus. This is your last mission.


    ¡°Greet your emperor, Fa Huian,¡± Cheng advised Mingzhu as the crowd hushed, anticipating death. ¡°You dare act this way in front on the emperor? Speak!¡±


    Mingzhu raised her head and tapped at her lips. Thick blood, still wet and bright in colour, caked them and her chin. When she opened her mouth, it revealed a mess; a tongue could not be seen among the blood and mangled flesh. The henchman last night did their dirty duty well.


    A guard spoke in place of Mingzhu. ¡°Excuse the prisoner, your majesty. She has been mute and bleeding since late last night. I believe she attempted suicide by swallowing her tongue. Please continue despite her silence.¡±


    Lies. Mingzhu watched Huli and Xiaoli from the higher platform. They looked both beautiful and deadly when they smiled. Damn. How was she supposed to tell who ordered her tongue removal now if they shared a pleased reaction? Maybe, like true, uniting rulers, they worked together. What a horrible idea. Mingzhu pitied the people of Shanhe, who had no idea the monsters which controlled the kingdom. If only the true heir rose to save them.


    ¡°Fa Huian, you are hereby guilty of crimes against the kingdom of Shanhe. You had a proven relationship to the murderer of the past rulers, Lin Jiang, and hid your identify as the notorious assassin, the Fox. Emperor Hong Huli has decided your punishment will be death by beheading,¡± Cheng announced. ¡°Bring her forth to proceed with the penalty.¡±


    The soldiers obeyed but their actions remained slow and hesitant. While one grabbed the sword and others tightened their grip on Mingzhu¡¯s chains, they looked to Disung. Unlike the commoners, they heard the rumours from the trial. They learnt they were to kill the notorious ¨¤nsh¨´¡¯s lover and unborn child. There was no possibility he wouldn¡¯t avenge her. All the guards felt their lives shorten dramatically under his hateful gaze. Little did they know, Mingzhu planned to do it, not her fake lover. If they wanted a monster, she could be one just like her father.


    ¡°Do you have any last words?¡± Huli asked in a condescending tone. He chuckled at her lack of response.


    Cocky, bloody bastard. Wait until the true heir returns. Then, you will look like me and I hope I can see your face from the spirit realm. An endless, strangled sound escaped Mingzhu at the image of Huli cowering. At first the noise resembled a sob but after raising her head, the cackle of laughter was heard clearly. The fire in her belly roared and she felt the wildness of it flicker in her eyes. People around her trembled, scared by her.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°Did you think it was that easy to cut out my tongue?¡± She crooned.


    Everyone stared in disbelief, reflecting the emperor¡¯s shock.


    ¡°Zhao Cheng, what were Bai Juan¡¯s last words? I lack the inspiration at this moment before my death and since you killed her, you could give me some insight. Did she beg you to end her life because she couldn¡¯t stand being your wife? Or did she find out that you burnt down her home to force marriage upon her?¡± Mingzhu kept her eyes on Cheng. She watched him turn into a vessel lost in the ocean of emotions. Regret. Disbelief. Denial. Grief. Each came up and pounded against him, darkening his eyes. Just like that, Mingzhu knew the story about Juan¡¯s death was a lie. Too bad she would have to ask Juan about it in the spirit realm while Cheng remained here. ¡°Or maybe I should ask Ju Xiaoli and Hong Huli, since they share experience in murder. Alas, I think my best last words would be this: the true heir of Shanhe is alive and he will come to take his rightful place! People of Shanhe, hear my promise! A new dawn approaches!¡±


    ¡°Kill her!¡± Huli screeched.


    Soldiers ran towards her and the people scattered. Mingzhu rose to her feet and sunk into a familiar fighting stance. She breathed in. Her body ached from last night¡¯s brawl. The trembling of her hand never ceased.


    ¡°Watch out!¡± A feminine voice screamed, coming from the covered woman beside the Third Prince.


    A guard raised his sword. The muscles in Mingzhu tightened and the tension they held since this morning snapped. She weaved by him, jabbed his wrists and forearms, then stole his sword. Heaving it up, she spun and smashed it against another soldier¡¯s weapon. The clash of metal filled her ears. The soldiers blurred. The world spun. Focus, she reminded herself and blinked away the fog. She attempted a flipped handstand but as her face approached the ground, someone pulled at her chains. She tumbled and barely avoided breaking her neck.


    With a low growl, she bolted towards the culprit holding her restraints. He tried to tug on the metal again but Mingzhu already had her weapon raised. She used the sword handle to whack him across the face. Immediately, he let go of the chains while she ignored the headache clawing inside her skull. She scrambled around and set her eyes of the three targets; Xiaoli, Huli and Cheng.


    ¡°Come with me!¡± A hand grabbed Mingzhu, yanking her off path.


    ¡°Let me go, boy!¡±


    Disung held her arms up high to trap her in place. He gritted his teeth, pain and anger swirling in those warm eyes. ¡°We have a plan to leave but we need to go now. Joaolong arranged a farmer¡¯s cart to sneak us out.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°No buts! We leave. Otherwise, if you die-¡± Disung kicked a soldier away, ¡°-then I cannot forgive myself. Come with me. Please.¡±


    The greater battle than the execution was not crying. Mingzhu felt the tears from last night return, demanding to be spilt. Her chest contracted. Why was he doing this to her? Why was he making it harder? She swore to serve the mountain clan even if it meant sacrificing her life. All night, she prepared for death. Why now, moments before, did he offer a reason to live? When had she come to love him too much to let go? And for gods¡¯ sakes, when did she turn into a crybaby?


    ¡°No. I must do this,¡± Mingzhu replied and looked backed to her targets.


    ¡°Mingzhu¡ª¡±


    He wouldn¡¯t let her go and she couldn¡¯t fight him. This was the last chance to repay her debts and she couldn¡¯t lose it. Do it, a voice said to her. Tell him and be a monster of death.


    ¡°I ruined your family! I was the reason you left the mountain clan! It¡ª¡±


    Blackness swarmed Mingzhu¡¯s vision. The early morning migraine won with a sudden stab and began stealing her senses.


    Among her confusion, the palace suddenly went silent. Everyone froze and looked towards the south. A man stood alone on the pathway, leaning against a pillar and ate a clementine carelessly. Black clothing tightly covered his muscular body and the only bright colour came from the primarily-orange sewn mask on the top half of his face. It curved oddly around his features, masking his true appearance and forming into a pointed nose and ears.


    ¡°Did I arrive too late to see my death?¡± The Fox asked and clicked his tongue, judging the execution harshly.

 Chapter 52: Fox in Daylight

    It was so quiet in the palace that the stunned people heard water droplets on the outskirts of Kye Lake. Fear consumed them and they didn¡¯t dare speak or move a single muscle. They had to confront their gullibility. They had to confront their misguided blame. They had to confront the real Fox in daylight.


    ¡°How dare you enter! I will have your head!¡± The emperor shouted, breaking the spell fallen over his followers.


    Cheng blocked him from reaching a sword. Those experienced in combat should fight but Huli acted too arrogant for his own good. He would die fighting an assassin. Right now, they needed their best weapon to be victorious.


    The soldiers ¨C six in total and more coming ¨C formed a border between the emperor and the assassin. They withdrew their swords and a few charged, while other remained by the ruler¡¯s side for final defence. The Fox stepped closer, stretched leisurely and cracked his neck, nonchalant about the oncoming battle.


    ¡°Men. There is no need to be aggressive!¡± He said in a deep voice. ¡°Let us settle this over some tea and a nice, long chat... Or not.¡±


    The Fox disarmed the first two men, fresh recruits, easily; he used both his hands to hit their attacking arm on either side, applying pressure to force them one by one to drop their weapons. Then, with a simple hit to the chest, he left them struggling for breath. The next attacker learnt from their mistakes and kept his weapon close, the sword effectively slicing the air back and forth in short, rigid strokes. Too worried about his grip and stabbing, he failed to shield his body. The Fox slipped through the miserable attacks and punched him on his nose, cheek and stomach. Then, he let a final front kick knock him to the ground.


    ¡°¨¤nsh¨´! Protect your emperor!¡± Cheng shouted, finding him and the accused maid hiding behind the mass of people.


    ¡°The emperor must renounce the order to kill Fa Huian and let her live beside me,¡± Disung demanded.


    ¡°Protect your ruler! That is your order!¡±


    Disung remained plastered to the floor and staring forward, unwilling to yield. It felt overwhelming to deny unleashing his own rage towards the Fox. Vengeance could be his within seconds. Yet, he restrained himself almost as much as Joaolong¡¯s hand on his shoulder. No words were shared between them but he knew what would be said: think strategically, not impulsively. Their original escape plan had many risks and this could be their opportunity to succeed unscathed.


    ¡°The emperor must renounce the execution and accept my demands if I am to serve him without hesitation.¡±


    ¡°I will have your head! I do not need you!¡± Huli screamed, still trying to fight himself.


    Cheng looked to the approaching Fox and back to the emperor. He sighed, submitting to the demand. ¡°As the Imperial Advisor, I speak for the emperor and hereby announce Fa Huian innocent of crimes against her and position to be revised to serve Liu Disung since she carries his child. Now protect your emperor!¡±


    After a victorious smirk, Disung obeyed the order and bolted toward the Fox. The momentum added more strength to the first kick at the assassin. The Fox ducked but Disung¡¯s foot clipped the side of his skull. As soon as he stood, Disung blocked his vision with parries and punches. However, the Fox reacted almost instinctively, expecting a sudden attack. He held up his hands to shield his face and manoeuvred around Disung, trying to put distance between them. When Disung finally had the advantage in the fight ¨C the Fox caught on unsteady footing in a crouched position ¨C the assassin fled away from the courtyard. Disung followed.


    The chasing game went through the buildings and onto roofs. Whenever Disung caught the Fox off-guard, he blocked and continued to escape. It irritated Disung, who already relied on his rage and revenge to push his limits. Why did the Fox not fight back? What game did he play? Or was he choosing to run away like a coward? Not this time. Not again. Disung refused to be taken lightly.


    The Fox swung onto another roof but abruptly stopped in the building¡¯s centre. With perfect balance, he waited patiently for his opponent on the beam. He smiled, his cheekbones moving the mask upwards.


    ¡°You are brave to follow the Fox.¡± The voice sounded familiar.


    ¡°I have my reasons,¡± Disung replied but his attempt to act casual failed. He was too absorbed in his hatred to play cheery.


    ¡°Reasons which make you leave loved ones behind in their most vulnerable state. Not a smart decision. I thought you would have grown up smarter.¡±


    ¡°I am smart enough to kill my father¡¯s murderer that stands before me!¡± Disung shouted and leapt forward.


    The men stepped along the wood, which challenged their balance in its curved design. Of course, they could¡¯ve stepped off the slope and onto the tiled roof but both remained stubborn, determined to win at every minor gamble. Disung launched at the Fox but the assassin leaned to the left, then hit Disung in the jaw. The inside of his cheek caught on teeth and ripped the flesh, forcing him to spit blood. This is better, he thought bitterly. Now you fight like a man instead of fleeing like a cowardly fox. As soon as the red liquid hit the ground, Disung blocked an oncoming attack and used his outside arm to swing around to collide with the enemy. Arms and hands sliced through the air, both attacking and defending in swift, flowing motions while the opponents moved back and forth across the roof. The movements were incredibly quick and caused unsuspecting onlookers ¨C such as maids and eunuchs completing daily duties ¨C to gasp while their minds registered the fight.


    The men¡¯s capabilities appeared equal, Disung returning severe blows to his body with just as much force as his enemy. When a tile slid under the Fox¡¯s foot, Disung found the opportunity to hit him with a right heel kicked to knock him off his feet. The Fox rolled downwards off the roof but while in mid-air, he adjusted his body to roll painlessly on the ground and into Lady Gaze. As soon as his feet found the ground again, he bounced up the garden¡¯s trees for coverage.


    ¡°Come out, bloody scum!¡± Disung called.


    ¡°You are very good at the rare, traditional Ma!¡± The Fox mused from his hiding spot.


    It had been awhile since Disung heard mention of the secret fighting. Chunhua told him great stories about his heritage in the mountain clan and related secrets, including the combat style known as ¡®Ma¡¯. The meaning derived from the concept of first instinct, like most infants muttering ¡®ma¡¯ for their first word. It was believed the learnt martial art technique engrained in generations to the point of becoming instinctive in children of the mountain clan. The aim was not to be able to battle but protect oneself in peril, similar to animals; birds had an instinct to fly away from danger or snakes hissed to hide their fear.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    The primary stance had to be strong and unwavering, with legs slightly bent side-on to the opponent. The technique basics consisted of strong strikes, light steps and rapid movements to reflect the unyielding and fluid changes in the mountains they resided in. From this, ¡®Ma¡¯ branched off into specific styles which focused on weapons, fists, defence or other unique aspects of fighting. This was how the Mountain Masked Masters formed; each man or woman represented the proficiency in a specific style of ¡®Ma¡¯.


    ¡°We are not children playing games! Show yourself! Fight like a man!¡± Disung yelled out in the empty air. He wandered around Lady Gaze with cautious steps and flinched at every slight rustle of leaves.


    ¡°You loved this game as a child. It took me hours to find you,¡± The Fox stated but when Disung looked in the voice¡¯s direction, he knew the man climbed another tree.


    ¡°You speak of nonsense! The only game we played together, Fox, was you hiding from me all these years!¡±


    A twig snapped. The Fox dived towards Disung. His hand reached towards him. Sharp, stone blades covered all his fingers. Only the Wolf wears claws, Disung thought subconsciously. You haven¡¯t changed since then¡­


    The day had been hot yet Disung felt nothing but chills. His mother pushed him forward and the desperate expression on her face made him shudder; Chunhua never showed weakness. They ran into the forest, chasing the small footsteps of Duckling. Why did his sister run this way? In the distance, Disung saw a small, blurry figure. He screamed her name but it was not Duckling. Instead, Mingzhu turned around. She looked traumatised, with blotchy, red skin and endless streams of tears. The arm he fixed hung limply by her side while the other held onto Juan¡¯s hand tightly. In front of them, a tall shadow emerged. He grinned and Disung yelled as the twins screamed.


    Without thinking, Disung threw a rock. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt them!¡±


    The man looked up and his cold eyes met Disung. Fear spiked his heartbeat. This intense terror blurred the man¡¯s features into an unrecognisable face as he came forward. Just before he launched into a sprint, Disung¡¯s father leapt into view like a hero from a story. His father blocked the man¡¯s clawing hands, revealing stones protruding from each fingernail.


    The pain from the fresh, four scratches on his cheek awoke Disung from unpermitted reminiscing. He fell to the side, out of the Fox¡¯s reach, and felt blood smear across his face. Tuffs of grass and leaves stuck to it. The sting from the wound faded as adrenaline pumped harder throughout Disung¡¯s body. The Fox continued to claw, stab or seize in rapid succession as they wrestled on the ground. Despite finding his feet and keeping his defence strong, Disung didn¡¯t stop five sudden, shallow punctures. Warm blood dribbled from the wounds on his open skin.


    Remember what you fight for. Avenge your father, he reminded himself and forced his mind to analyse movements instead of pain. The pattern of attack played repetitively in his head, the basics of ¡®Ma¡¯ incorporated into a new fierce style, and suddenly, he could follow it better. It felt like a second breath of life went through him. He backed up a few paces then charged forward, bouncing on the balls of his feet and catching the Fox in surprise. He experimented in grappling, the Panda¡¯s style, somehow remembering the Panda always conquered the Wolf in his mother¡¯s bedtime stories.


    At first, the technique looked sloppy but as they continued to spar, Disung became stronger and faster. He re-enacted what he recalled about the Panda from childhood and reflected the fierceness of his opponent. But something was wrong. It wasn¡¯t until he noticed the Fox retreat from several opportunities to plunge his nails into Disung, that he became enraged. The assassin still held back his true strength and ability.


    ¡°Fight, dammit! Fight me properly!¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± the Fox replied.


    Disung got hold of the assassin¡¯s neck in a grappling grip and added pressure. Nails dug into the tender skin until red incisions marked the Fox. ¡°Selfish bastard. You killed my father and then try kill my pride as a warrior! You are scum between the emperor¡¯s toes!¡±


    ¡°I did not come here to kill anybody.¡±


    ¡°A killer cannot change! You left me to suffer all those years ago!¡±


    ¡°Do not blame me for that day. I had no choice,¡± the Fox puffed out.


    He landed a solid heel kick on Disung¡¯s shin, making him flinch. This proved just enough for the assassin to wiggle free. He brought his back to Disung¡¯s chest and kicked backwards, using the power to flip over in a handstand. Disung flew across and into gardens. While recovering from this blow, the Fox grabbed slave punishers ¨C bamboo sticks ¨C laying at the edge of the garden and ran. Once again, he returned to the rooftops for the battle.


    ¡°Fool,¡± Disung laughed humourlessly. ¡°I am ¨¤nsh¨´, the emperor¡¯s secret tool for death. I am a master of blades.¡±


    No one used weapons against him; he defeated all Shanhe generals and officers in weapon play. Wearing a dark smirk, he withdrew the sword by his side and ran down pathways, predicting the Fox¡¯s route. Each step added more determination to the feral hatred in his soul.


    At a dead end, Disung climbed onto the roof of the nearest building and successfully blocked the assassin. The mask looked brighter in the direct sunlight. Each orange thread seemed to represent the dead bodies the Fox left in his wake. Disung glared, feeling the tingle of adrenaline heighten. It was time to kill.


    ¡°You had a choice, Fox. You could have let my father live but instead you killed him! I have vowed to avenge him for as long as I remember. Do not expect to live after today.¡±


    The Fox leaned on his bamboo stick. ¡°Oh dear. I fear we have a grave misunderstanding.¡±


    ¡°Bastard!¡±


    Disung dummied hitting high and used the butt handle of his sword to bruise the Fox on his legs. The man buckled and when the blade came near again, he grabbed hold of the bamboo tighter. He swung the plant widely and filled the open spaces with front kicks. This forced Disung backpedal but he didn¡¯t give up. He tried attacking at varying distances, while using a mix of combinations which defeated countless recruits in the past. A few worked and a hum of satisfaction went through Disung at the sight of his enemy¡¯s blood. Unfortunately, the wounds were only shallow.


    Without warning, the Fox abandoned the bamboo stick and changed fighting style again from a stoic stance to fluid movements. He used balance and posture to guide his attacks, which consisted of quick, sharp steps and smalls blows from a trio of daggers protruding from between his fingers. The jabs came in rounds of three and maintained a steady rhythm. Unlike the other styles, Disung mimicked the basic steps with ease, his muscles remembering before his mind did. The pattern was eerily familiar. Like the first, unexpected bolt of lightning in a thunderstorm, it stuck him why he knew the style: Mingzhu fought this way during the hunt and training camp destruction.


    ¡°How did you learn this?¡± He asked, dumbfounded.


    He assumed Mingzhu made it up, varying ¡®Ma¡¯ to suit herself. What if it originated from the mountain clan? But how did Mingzhu perfect it so well if she left? Did it hold a reason why she never answered his questions?


    Palace soldiers interrupted the fight. They rapidly approached the rooftops and prepared to bombard the Fox. A few attempted to climb onto the roof while others readied their bows with clumsy, inexperienced hands. It proved Disung¡¯s argument that all recruits, no matter their nobility, should be trained in the mountains. At least he could give them a show to remember and aspire them to train harder; ¨¤nsh¨´¡¯s true ability became a rarity to witness due to his role as Joaolong¡¯s guard.


    ¡°What a shame. Our time has run out. I shall only leave you with this: protect Bai Mingzhu. Do this and I will explain everything next time.¡±


    ¡°There will never be next time! I will kill you!¡± Disung roared, as fierce as a lion, blinded by loathing.


    Before Disung could stab him, the Fox jumped back to edge of the border wall ¨C which had never done before ¨C and smiled. His balance on the curved surface astonished everyone. Yet, Disung found distraction in something far greater; the Fox removed his intricate mask. It revealed aged skin, a poorly-fitted wig and kind, dark eyes. The most recognisable features, from his large nose to the huge smile, were hauntingly similar to Disung¡¯s own face.


    The Fox ran a hand over his head; the habit turned into a family trait. Disung¡¯s breath caught in his throat. It was not possible. ¡°Father?¡±


    The Fox dived backwards and plummeted into the murky depths of the lake, narrowly missing collision into the border wall. The bubbles from his breath gradually depleted and the man never resurfaced. Guards spent ages searching but the Fox wasn¡¯t seen again. This left Disung to wallow in all his unanswered questions about his father and the Fox. He couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. Who was the real killer and who was the real Fox?

 Chapter 53: Calls of the Past

    The imperial building hosted a frenzied stampede of fearful men, all running around to protect themselves from the assassin. Only the most loyal stayed to guard the emperor, which seemed few. The last thing Mingzhu remembered, before her senses failed, was the Fox¡¯s smug face.


    In the darkness, she heard the wind whistle through the mountains and smelled the fresh dew which came every morning. Then the memory opened up to her like curtains during a performance. The mountains looked beautiful and had an even contrast of grey stone and vibrant, green shrubbery. In this area, near the border of Shanhe and Linlong, the mountain clan established their main safe haven. Originally intended to be a school of martial arts, it progressed and formed into a small village instead which cultivated ¡®Ma¡¯.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    The people of the mountain clan continued being nomadic, as intended by the Great Emperor, to ensure their existence remained a mystery. Every two years, they moved to another abandoned city or temple in the steep mountains, providing protection from outsiders. Rice fields were hidden in muddy crevices and livestock was scattered around the land. Everyone lived freely and in peace.


    Until that day.


    Blood sprayed the temple ruins. The cries of children swirled around the lifeless bodies falling to the ground. The crunch of breaking bones sent shivers up Mingzhu¡¯s spine. She ran away, desperate to escape the terror she created.


    My name is Bai Mingzhu. I am no longer Hou Mingzhu. My name is Bai Mingzhu. Please forgive me. My name is Bai Mingzhu. I did not want anyone to die. My name is Bai Mingzhu. I am a curse. My name is Bai Mingzhu. Please forgive me. My name is Bai Mingzhu. I am a curse. My name is Bai Mingzhu and I deserve to die.

 Chapter 54: Grasp for Power

    The emperor¡¯s room large room intimidated Xiaoli. The blue hanging drapes and expensive furniture did not alleviate the feeling of dread. She passed by painted scrolls, reading ¡®power¡¯, ¡®glory¡¯ and ¡®worth¡¯, and paused to stare at the protruding, blackened hands holding Huli¡¯s renowned sword. Too caught up in her anxiety and thoughts of her chosen life, she momentarily forgot the failed Fox execution until a fist collided with her face.


    The excruciating pain left her speechless and weakened to the floor. A solid foot landed into her ribs with a horrifying crunch. Xiaoli sobbed, shaken by the sudden punishment. Deep down, she knew this had been coming. Since his enthronement, Huli enjoyed displaying his dominance through physical displays. It became worse after Qiaolian¡¯s death and slaves did not satisfy him any longer. Instead, he toyed with Xiaoli, slapping her whenever he pleased. Yet, he never was this violent.


    The emperor ripped a handful of her hair upwards and bellowed into her ear. ¡°You bitch! You humiliated me in public! My dignity is tarnished because of your stupidity! Have you ever seen the Fox before? Do you know more than the rumours perhaps?¡±


    The execution turned into a disaster. When Xiaoli suggested it to Huli, he frothed over the plan and showed genuine happiness. She never imagined it would backfire so severely. Just as she had been trained by Qiaolian, everything was arranged to prove her lies about the Fox; servants gave false statements, they cut out the maid¡¯s tongue and Xiaoli found time to carve a fox mask. How did she fail? Even when Disung stuck his foot in the business, Huli over-ruled him. It looked so successful right until the real Fox showed up.


    ¡°Forgive me! Please! It isn¡¯t my fault! Please!¡± Xiaoli wept.


    ¡°I should never have let my mother accept filthy scum like you as a future wife,¡± Huli spat. ¡°Now, not only is my reputation tarnished but my position! Have you heard the people?! Even the poor filthy peasants speak of the emperor as a hopeless child! This is your fault, you whore!¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I swear I knew nothing! I only wanted to serve you!¡±


    ¡°Serve?! My mother¡¯s maid serves me better than you have done in all your years at the palace!¡±


    In the corner of the room, hidden in shadows, Meifan kneeled and bowed her head. Her attire ¨C the uniform red instead of pink to show a high-ranking housemaid ¨C looked immaculate, as did her features. She remained beautiful while Xiaoli felt her cheek swell. It pissed her off. Why her! A scream ricocheted inside her head. Why is it always her! Did she seduce him? Is that why she keeps her pretty eyes shining and lips pouting? The pain Huli inflicted seemed to worsen with her jealousy.


    ¡°That servant did not do her duty! She did not warn us that Fa Huian had relations with ¨¤nsh¨´! It is her fault!¡± Xiaoli desperately argued.


    ¡°You are a fool who is no better than those mutts living on the street! How pathetic would that look if your plan succeeded? A worthless servant and noblewoman caught a female assassin instead of the emperor. The people would shout about the foolishness of their new emperor for years!¡±


    But you agreed to it. I suggested the plan and you helped me. This isn¡¯t fair! ¡°It was never my intention¡ª¡±


    The words were cut by Xiaoli¡¯s face slamming into the ground. A pool of blood spread out from the nostrils of a flattened nose. Terror stole her breath as much as the beatings to her ribs had. Huli stood on her leg, pushing more weight until she yelped. Then, he held the pressure and watched her squirm.


    ¡°If you wish to gain my forgiveness, cry louder and beg for mercy!¡± Helpless, Xiaoli cried to appease the emperor¡¯s dark delight. ¡°Grovel more. I am still not pleased by your efforts.¡±


    Xiaoli had no choice and obeyed. If she didn¡¯t scream loud enough for forgiveness, he kicked her harder. After his amusement died, Huli went off somehow without bothering announcing his plans. Xiaoli stayed on the floor, the pain and paralysing horror stopping her from leaving. This felt worse than her father¡¯s death and the poverty of her family. She believed her most wretched experience would be attached to that farmhouse in the country but this seemed far more humiliating. Especially when she caught Meifan¡¯s eyes, full of pity and a slither of joy.

 Chapter 55: Recovery

    The room smelt stuffy, full of dirt and sweat. The odour worsened throughout the week and Mingzhu fought to escape. Physicians found her at different places on the ground each day, obviously trying to flee the confinement despite being so weak. She felt like an animal trying to be tamed as a pet.


    On the first day after the execution, she refused to have medicine for her fever and argued the bland diet of garlic sufficed. In the woods, Master lived on it during sickness and survived for years. Yet, Disung, along with the physician, harassed her until she gave him and drank the medicinal concoctions. The fever, which controlled her senses like a puppet, subsided after three days. During this, time blurred together from unpredictable sleeping periods. By the end of the week, Mingzhu felt sore but strong enough to go outside. This was unpermitted, of course, but she left her care behind in the room.


    A vibrant, blue sky greeted her with fluffy white clouds rolling into waves on the horizon. The sun warmed her skin and she breathed in the sweet air. The slight chill, warning of the upcoming winter, made her feel alive. She looked at Lady Gaze with a great smile. Fresh air cures the soul, Master always said. He was right. Mingzhu felt infinitely better among nature. She whistled along with birds as she took slow steps into the garden, leaving Disung¡¯s chambers, where she recovered, far behind. The pain in her abdomen could not stop her, despite her wincing and groans. A dark bruise stretched across her lower stomach, from all the punches in prison, and cried out over every small movement. Mingzhu ignored this, determined to journey onwards.


    A man blocked her path and stood under an arbour. Vines crept around the cracks between planks of wood and onto the roof, making it part of the garden instead of a feature. Wilting leaves of autumn and flower petals swirled around the figure, catching the light of the soft sun. The scene appeared worthy of a painting. Disung looked undeniably handsome, his brown hair casually secured in a bun and his muscles bulging against his robes. She admired him for a brief moment and a blush brightened her pink cheeks. Bashful and embarrassed, she turned around to leave. However, in the haste to flee undetected, she carelessly stepped on dying leaves and twigs with a crunch.


    ¡°It is irresponsible to freely roam the palace after nearly being beheaded,¡± Disung called, catching Mingzhu.


    A grin lit up his face but the imprint of his brooding came from a wrinkled line on his forehead. The sudden cheery expression didn¡¯t hide his sorrow-filled eyes which swept across the glistening water and withering plants. It felt taboo to see him in upset.


    ¡°I will permit it because you are so desperate to see me.¡±


    ¡°Do not confuse your own desires with mine,¡± Mingzhu snapped but the viciousness lacked in her voice as she approached.


    During the fever, she came to a harsh realisation; she was in love with him. The damn kiss in prison replayed in her head so often she was almost convinced it happened more than once. Then, as days passed, she discovered her yearning for his lively presence and carefree attitude. She missed him. It seemed ridiculous and these new emotions scared her. Even now, a smile threatened to appear because of their meeting which was unlike her.


    ¡°I wondered how long it would take for you to sneak away. A whole army couldn¡¯t confine you anywhere.¡±


    ¡°They would be dead if they tried.¡±


    ¡°The cleaning would be horrendous. The maids always complain it takes them hours to remove blood from my clothes.¡±


    ¡°Try scrubbing it yourself using stones in the heat of day. Then you can complain.¡±


    The warm, deep tone of Disung¡¯s laughter filled the air. Mingzhu didn¡¯t understand what he found funny but couldn¡¯t resist giving a small smile at the pleasant sound. The garden grew in vibrancy, sharing her feeling. More warm hue flora had invited themselves to the end of the season and would last longer than other years; winter remained slow to arrive in Shanhe.


    ¡°I missed your blunt replies.¡±


    ¡°Why is everyone staring at you?¡± Mingzhu asked, ignoring his comment. She noticed maids, eunuchs and nobles glance in their direction from afar, then whisper. It irked her. ¡°You haven¡¯t grown uglier since I last saw you.¡±


    Disung chuckled. ¡°The great ¨¤nsh¨´ has a lover. That is true, valuable gossip. Then, to add more drama, she is a servant and carries his child. It would be stranger if I got no attention.¡±


    ¡°The child was an unnecessary lie,¡± Mingzhu snarled. ¡°Was it really worth all the trouble?¡±


    ¡°Every single second,¡± Disung replied with a wink. ¡°I am hurt you cannot see my true feelings.¡±


    ¡°Stop spouting nonsense. This is not a time to joke.¡±


    ¡°The worst circumstances make for the best jokes.¡±


    ¡°Have the council and emperor agreed to banish me?¡± Mingzhu asked, leaning against the arbour. ¡°They will not want their mistake to remain in the palace.¡±


    ¡°Not yet. There have been no meetings to discuss it. The emperor keeps disappearing and insists he is too busy for mundane affairs. A few councilmen believe he is avoiding the shame of his mistaken Fox execution. Until his order, you are permitted to stay. No one dares to do anything to you while I am by your side now. Many learnt to stay away by watching those that tortured you.¡±


    ¡°Did you do something to them?¡± Minghu asked. Did he avenge her? The notion made a pleasant feeling cover her like warm honey.


    Disung smirked. ¡°I may have given them a limp or two.¡±


    ¡°Then your reputation as ¨¤nsh¨´ remains true.¡±


    ¡°And your reputation has flourished. I have seen a few entertainers use the trick of a missing tongue in their performances. They are quite amusing. We should see it together when you fully recover. I will pay for whatever food you desire during our outing.¡±


    Mingzhu lost her words. Her tongue went missing, like it had been cut off and turned useless like in the plays he told. Instead, her heart answered and beat at a rapid rate. It pushed more blood around her body, turning her red like a flower. It sounded like Disung was courting her. The fever has made you foolish, she thought but the giddiness did not die inside her. A curse is still a curse. Remember your place.


    ¡°How did you stop them cutting out your tongue?¡± Disung asked.


    ¡°A master never reveals their secrets.¡±


    ¡°Please? I will tell you how to shatter a man¡¯s wrist in one movement in exchange. Otherwise, think of me as an apprentice admiring a master. Confide in me.¡±


    The guards switched duties, providing an opening for at least ten minutes. Three men entered the cell, wearing black and covering their faces. In normal circumstances, Mingzhu could have taken them on but in her state, she was far too weak. No wonder Jiang stood no chance.


    Pretending to restlessly sleep to ambush the men, Mingzhu relied on her hearing to calculate when to move. Two of them came close to her while the other footsteps grew softer in sound, indicating he guarded the entrance into the room. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Ugly, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡°Maybe she has talents in bed for ¨¤nsh¨´ to be so interested.¡±


    ¡°If only we had more time then we could see if it were true.¡±


    ¡°I can finish fast.¡±


    ¡°The emperor will have your head if we get caught. Focus on the instruction.¡±


    Mingzhu opened her eyes and jumped up to attack. It caught the men off-guard and when they registered what happened, one landed on his back, winded, while the other battled against the woman. Each punch he threw, she dodged underneath and around, fluidly moving like a river. Then, she hit his jaw by using a wickedly flexible kick. His head bobbled and he struggle to continue.


    The fight became repetitive and the soldier showed his ability limited to novice, since he relied on the same combination of hits to attack his opponent. Mingzhu dodged under one particular punch and instead of creating distance, entered his personal space. She jabbed him three times, then ducked under and popped up behind him, dragging his arm with her. After a few jabs to his side torso, he crumpled on the floor, moaning. The winded soldier came at her then, with great ferocity thrown in every hit or kick.


    Energy died in her muscles. A few times, cartwheels or flipped handstands failed from the injuries of the night. The soldier easily shoved her to the ground. With this disadvantage, she got a few harsh kicks to her already bruised ribs and stomach. The intense pain nauseated her. She needed to be smarter to end this quickly.


    ¡°Do you need help?¡± The man on guard asked anxiously.


    ¡°Ignore us and keep watch!¡±


    The men underestimated her. No one before had been trained to defend themselves so they only carried a knife to cut the tongue. Mingzhu eyed the weapon in the darkness and launched at its owner, as the men charged at her.


    She ran up one man¡¯s body within a few steps and propelled off him ¨C which threw him backwards ¨C then spun around mid-air for her foot to collide with the other soldier while plummeting to the ground. The sideways kick landed perfectly and the enemy turned motionless. This left some time with the other soldier. He swung at Mingzhu, hitting her shoulder and attempted to tackle her to the floor. Taking opportunity of his wider stance, Mingzhu riskily slid between his; the blood from the fight and torture helped reduce friction and let her glide. During this, she yanked on his robe and tugged him towards the ground. He fell head first.


    Before he could do anything, she jumped on his back and restrained his neck, blocking the flow of oxygen. It almost didn¡¯t work; Mingzhu was petite and small while the man had a solid build and tall physique. One. Two. Three¡­ Mingzhu counted in her head and only took a full, relieved breath when the man became limp. Now, for the knife.


    ¡°Argh!¡± Mingzhu ground out, exasperated.


    She lost sight of the blade. This man did not hold it in his belt and the groan from his companion warned she had no time to search. Adrenaline would leave her almost as lifeless as a doll. There was only one, bloody option to do before that happened.


    In desperate times, prisoners committed suicide by biting off their tongue and relying on either blood loss or choking to succumb to death. Mingzhu needed to force this man to do this in the same, messy manner. She lifted his floppy head up ¨C leaving his bottom jaw linger on the ground ¨C and gingerly pulled his tongue out, then slammed his top jaw back down on the tongue. The man startled and Mingzhu used all her strength to keep going. With a final disgusting sound, the man¡¯s tongue tumbled onto the floor, cut by his own teeth. Mingzhu shoved the squishy thing into her own mouth. The sensation of the foreign body part and someone else¡¯s blood made her gag. No kicks to the stomach sickened her as much as this. Yet, she persevered.


    The other man ripped her off his friend and shoved her to the corner of the cell, withdrawing his dagger. Mingzhu gave up the fight and watched as the soldier on guard joined his comrade. The man pinned her to the ground, yanking her mouth open to slice her open. In that critical moment, she coughed out the tongue and blood that wasn¡¯t her own.


    The beaten man laughed and the other on guard walked over to the unconscious man, unknowingly missing a tongue, and carried him. ¡°This sly rookie. He must have cut it out while we weren¡¯t looking. When he wakes, we must drink to celebrate!¡±


    ¡°The emperor and Miss Ju wish you luck tomorrow, slave.¡±


    Mingzhu shook the memory away. ¡°I stole their tongue when they were distracted. That is all. You would have fared better than I.¡±


    ¡°Whose blood did you write the letter in? Was it theirs?¡±


    A pregnant silence fell between them. Finally, Mingzhu found her voice. ¡°You read it?¡±


    ¡°No sane man would send a scroll of unknown contents to a mysterious person, in an unusual way. If I was not already curious, the smell made me wonder. I pity the person who received it.¡±


    Did he connect it? Did he know? Mingzhu¡¯s gut dropped. The letter had been a desperate attempt to reach Master and prepare for the future. The need to repay her debts felt overwhelming once she accepted death. She wanted to die knowing forgiveness.


    ¡°Only writing ¡®I am compromised¡¯ is clever. No one can decipher who the letter is for and what will happen from it. I suspected it was for the mountain clan so imagine my surprise when the rogue Fox showed up on your execution.¡±


    Oh no, she thought in dismay. Here come the questions.


    ¡°Mingzhu, you can¡¯t avoid telling my everything. Look what¡¯s happened. You never told us that Ju Xiaoli despised you and as such, we couldn¡¯t fight for you. The secrets are bothering us all and we can¡¯t help if we don¡¯t know. Joaolong already suspects¡­ Mingzhu, you need to be truthful and it must start here¡­ Are you the Fox?¡±


    With those eyes locked on her, silently pleading, Mingzhu knew she did not have the strength to lie. His hatred scared her, far more than the mountain clan. She could not remember when she cared so much but it was why she withheld her past. He was part of the mountain clan. He can learn. Fa Biming will allow it, she convinced herself. Yet, this did not settle her worry. He made his loathing for the Fox clear as crystals. No matter if she spoke or not, he would not forgive her.


    ¡°I¡¯m not the Fox but I am as well.¡±


    Disung¡¯s lips twitched. His body tensed. ¡°Explain.¡±


    ¡°The Fox was never rogue. The rumours began because he appeared in random villager=s across the kingdoms. He was searching for something. To this day, he remains part of the mountain clan.


    ¡°I came to the Lotus Palace to serve the mountain clan, to repay my debts. The plan was to remind the royalty of both kingdoms that the Masked Masters continue their watch over them. My role was to report the happenings in the palace.¡±


    ¡°You sold yourself to slavery.¡±


    Mingzhu pressed her lips together. ¡°I deserve worse than a life serving others.¡±


    ¡°But how does this make you the Fox?¡± Disung ground out, the anger present in his gruff tone.


    ¡°I impersonated him. It was me who put the token on the Divine Gate, it was me who gave Zhao Cheng a token, it was me who threatened the emperor, it was me who gave Senior Lin a proper farewell and it was me who was supposed to kill Hong Weishan at the Moon Festival.¡±


    ¡°That means¡­ I fought you when the Fox first appeared in the palace.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Mingzhu gulped. Why were her hands shaking? Why did she want to run? If she acted pathetic like this over the Fox, she would not be able to give him the truth about their twisted past.


    ¡°Did you destroy Joaolong¡¯s garden before the hunt?¡± Disung asked and Mingzhu nodded. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°To warn you to stay away. The mountain clan needed to use Zhao Cheng and if Wang Joaolong, who has renowned intelligence, helped him in some way to remove our blackmail methods, then it would ruin our plan.¡±


    ¡°This is¡­ wow. Well, I owe Joaolong a fully paid trip to the dance house or something. He was right about you being the Fox.¡±


    ¡°I am not the real Fox.¡±


    ¡°Ah so I might get my money back,¡± Disung said, attempting to hide his frustration and confusion. ¡°Then the real Fox¡ª¡±


    ¡°Should not have saved me. My death was pre-determined since I received my mission. He was not meant to interfere. I was ready to die and take the new emperor with me.¡±


    Something changed in Disung¡¯s expression. The anger vanished and he looked at Mingzhu with something else in his eyes. Pity? Despair? She hated it.


    ¡°All these months, you waited for death?¡±


    I am a curse. ¡°It benefits all.¡±


    ¡°Stop!¡± Disung demanded and suddenly, held her face in his calloused hands. The warmth seeped into Mingzhu¡¯s skin and she struggled to fight against it. ¡°Stop it. Please. Do not speak like your life is invaluable.¡±


    My name is Bai Mingzhu. I am a curse. The memory of the lifeless bodies of the mountain clan placed side by side haunted Mingzhu. I am worth nothing. She killed so many people. Why did everyone still speak about her worth? First Ying, then Master and now Disung. A simple grain of sand at the shore was worth more than she.


    ¡°You should hate me.¡± The words slipped out through a crack in Mingzhu¡¯s lips.


    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°That is because you know nothing,¡± Mingzhu replied and pulled away from his embrace. ¡°You don¡¯t know what I did to you all those years ago. Your father¡­ The reason why he¡ª¡±


    ¡°Fa Huian!¡± Tai shouted. He emerged from Disung¡¯s chambers and searched the edge of Lady Gaze in panic. ¡°Fa Huian! Fa Huian!¡±


    ¡°I best go,¡± Mingzhu quickly said, pouncing to avoid her confession. ¡°Otherwise they will give me more medicine.¡±


    ¡°Mingzhu.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I am glad you are recovering.¡±


    The words broke her heart. During the next meeting, she swore to reveal everything.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be.¡±

 Chapter 56: She Who Lived

    It was not often Huli was seen outside the imperial building, strolling around the palace for no reason in particular. The man did not indulge himself in pointless pleasures, especially with councilmen desperate for guidance. Thus, still in mourning of his mother, many people feared Huli¡¯s wander. Among the worry was Meifan¡¯s own concern; the higher servant role promised to her was taken with Qiaolian¡¯s life. With no mistress to serve, she fell into redundancy. This left her to fear falling in ranks or forced to leave the imperial palace she had grown accustomed to. The only hope glimmered from Huli¡¯s daily demands but even this, lessened over the days.


    They continued to wander and came to a private shrine which sat in the corner of the imperial building near Lady Gaze. All beams and arches were bright red and the golden roof was slightly smaller than the first floor of the imperial building. Trees and an assortment of untrimmed plants added a sense of abandonment and concealed a hidden door.


    ¡°Get in,¡± Huli ordered, watching his usual servants remain metres away under his instruction.


    Meifan walked through the plants and through the doorway. Walls, painted with soft swirls of pale blue and white, surrounded her and the burning incense lead her further down the short hallway. This opened into a small room on a higher level, with a bed and lanterns. Here, Qiaolian laid.


    Old, soiled bandages were disposed in a ceramic bowl, leaving the woman¡¯s disgusting wound visible. A deep cut split a portion of skin on the side of Qiaolian¡¯s neck, the layers of muscles indistinguishable due to the blackness which contaminated the blood. Dark veins protruded around this wound, displaying the poison¡¯s devastating effect. However, Meifan found her mistress¡¯s rising and falling chest far more shocking than any injury.


    Helpless to the relief of self-preservation, since her mistress lived, the maid ran over to the bed and grasped hold of Qiaolian¡¯s hand. ¡°I thought you were dead, Madam! We carried your coffin!¡±


    ¡°Nothing can kill Zhao Qiaolian,¡± Huli said proudly. ¡°The Fox should fear the woman who can survive a slit throat and poison. He should fear the Zhao family.¡±


    ¡°The gods have blessed you, Madam and your majesty.¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Recovery is slow, since the poison is rare, and that is why no one is to know my mother is alive. Except you. I have brought you here for a reason, Song Meifan. My mother requested it. For you to learn this secret means my mother holds great value to your name.¡±


    ¡°I am honoured, your majesty.¡± Meifan bowed but hesitated to let go of Qiaolian¡¯s hand. She hoped her sincerity shone through this action.


    ¡°My mother has not spoken many words since the incident. I will speak in her pla¡ª¡± Huli stopped his sentence and watched Qiaolian mov slightly; she wanted to talk.


    The strain on Qialian¡¯s vocal chords after days of silence caused her to sound semi- strangled. ¡°I need your help, young girl. You shall be my eyes and ears.¡±


    ¡°Forgive me. I do not understand,¡± Meifan replied quietly.


    ¡°This Fa Huian is valuable to the Fox. Why else would he stop her execution? I have contemplated this over and over but cannot understand their connection. This is why I need you. From my understanding you had a bond with Fa Huian and I want you to earn it back. Gain her trust and report back to me. Do this and the royal family is in your favour. We can lift your position as a slave and educate you to become a proper lady. Continue to prove your loyalty and we can offer anything beyond your wildest dreams. The emperor¡¯s concubine could be achievable, shall you accept.¡±


    Meifan¡¯s eyes shone and her heart grew giddy from its own rapid beating. Minutes ago she feared her dismissal and now, she was offered as a concubine. The reply couldn¡¯t come fast enough. ¡°I accept your proposal.¡±


    After this, Huli dismissed Meifan with a tense expression settling on his face. ¡°It¡¯s disgusting and I don¡¯t like it. You know I hate communicating with dirty servants.¡±


    ¡°The temptation of becoming an imperial concubine will make her do anything for us. We haven¡¯t promised it to her, only put the idea in her head. Trust me, my son.¡± Qiaolian remained flat on the bed, unmoving except for her lips and eyes.


    ¡°I also disagree with announcing the marriage between Fa Huian and ¨¤nsh¨´. He is an unworthy general with no bounds. If anything, he saw it as his victory!¡± Huli seethed.


    ¡°You need ¨¤nsh¨´. He is a great weapon to have at your disposal.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°The larger the horse, the higher the fall. We gave ¨¤nsh¨´ what he wanted and after we remove Wang Joaolong, he will loyally serve you. If your uncle does his role well, everything will be perfect and no one will dare defy or speak ill against you.¡±


    ¡°Too many already people defy me!¡± Huli roared, recalling recent news. ¡°The Hirane training camp was destroyed because of the Fox! Mother, who cares for Wang Joaolong! He is nothing now! My troubles lie with assassins!¡±


    ¡°Which is why you need ¨¤nsh¨´!¡± Qiaolian tried to yell but choked on her words. ¡°Trust me. We will prevail. Oh and bring your uncle next time, Huli. I need to speak to him too. There is much we must prepare for.¡±

 Chapter 57: Bai Mingzhus Fox

    ¡°Practice, indeed, made permanence. The dance festival sounded spectacular.¡±


    The Fox sat on the windowsill, smiling. The mask moved to sit loosely on his collarbone and revealed his whole face to Mingzhu. Nothing changed since their last encounter; he had the same bald head, bushy eyebrows and ageing, kind face. The habit of smoothing his head ¨C which his son inherited ¨C was just as Mingzhu remembered months ago. At the sight of him, she couldn¡¯t stop the smile taking over her face.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, Master.¡±


    Liu Hanxiong stepped inside the chambers without a sound, like a ghost, and walked over to hug Mingzhu tightly. Hesitantly, she returned the embrace, still finding it hard to adapt to physical contact without malicious intent. I missed you. The words played on the tip of her tongue but she refused to admit it aloud. I missed you a lot.


    Over a year ago, Hanxiong found her in the mountains, wandering aimlessly in search of the Mountain Masters help to avenge Juan. In the bitter cold, she marched on a path to death through exhaustion, dehydration and injuries. Hanxiong took her back to his cave ¨C a makeshift home while he searched for his family ¨C and nursed her back to recovery. Apart from Juan, he was the only other person who loved her unconditionally.


    ¡°I hope I¡¯m not a bother but could I have that?¡± Hanxiong ravenously eyed Mingzhu¡¯s half-eaten vegetable soup and side bowl of rice. ¡°If you are finished?¡±


    ¡°You are such an old man,¡± she remarked but pushed the food towards him, her lips tugging upwards.


    ¡°You are a blessing!¡± He said and greedily devoured the meal.


    As he ate, Mingzhu did not delay the conversation, knowing their time had a limit. ¡°Did you come because of my letter or a request from the Mountain Masters?¡±


    ¡°Both. News spread of the Shanhe rulers¡¯ death and it didn¡¯t match our original plan to dispose of the emperor. I was sent to confirm if you were the cause. However, as I left, I received your letter and due to the extreme measures the new emperor of Shanhe went to kill a suspected Mountain Master, it was agreed that he too, must be removed. But my main concern is with you: Mingzhu, don¡¯t ever scare me like that again. I never wish to receive a letter written in your blood.¡±


    ¡°It was a desperate situation and I had to be resourceful,¡± Mingzhu muttered, deflated. She thought he would be proud at her resourcefulness. Instead, he acted just like his son.


    ¡°I have been requested by the Masked Masters to carry out the new task. Will you join me?¡± Hanxiong asked.


    ¡°You saved me when I did not deserve it. I have done nothing during my time at the palace worthy of their forgiveness and failed to complete the original mission. I owe it to you and them to undertake this mission as well.¡±


    Hanxiong looked straight into her eyes, both displaying harshness and care. He always wore this typical scolding look when she said something insensitive in the mountains. It made him seem like a father.


    ¡°Mingzhu, you have spent your whole life living for someone else. You were prepared to die for the mountain clan. This loyalty, although commendable, has grown from guilt and blame. The Dragon and I despise it. So, we decided after this mission, you must find a family, new passion and live a happy life. If you do not, we will force a match-maker onto you. Be warned. The Dragon loves those meddling things.¡±


    Mingzhu scrunched up her face. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±


    ¡°Fa Biming would. You know him. So please, heed my wish. Do not search for a reason to be punished and a reason to die. Promise me this.¡±


    ¡°I learnt about the lost prince,¡± Mingzhu said instead, shifting to a new topic. The hefty promise seemed unfair; she deserved every pain in the world after destroying so many families.


    ¡°I was waiting for this conversation. How is our prince?¡± Hanxiong asked and drank the rest of the contents in the bowl. A full and content stomach bulged under the master¡¯s robes.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°You knew the identity all along?!¡±


    ¡°Of course. I was the one that helped the empress hide him as an infant,¡± Hanxiong replied. Mingzhu stared at him, willing him to continue explaining. ¡°The Masked Masters are split to monitor different kingdoms. Some are given duties regarding villages while others are sent directly to the palace to provide a report.¡±


    ¡°I already learnt this.¡±


    ¡°Well, during my earlier years, I was in charge of the Lotus Palace. I visited every few months to check on situations and every time, the empress was facing a miscarriage. When she did carry a child to full term, I kept a closer eye on the baby after birth. I stopped two assassination attempts but when the third happened and the child fell ill, I had to intervene to an extreme measure. The prince needed togrow up elsewhere until the right age, then return to the palace. I¡¯ve been waiting the moment to crown him ever sinceI left the child."


    ¡°You haven¡¯t done a good job. He has almost died a few times from what I¡¯ve heard.¡±


    ¡°Least he is still alive,¡± Hanxiong mused, ignoring the seriousness of the situation. ¡°Now you can keep a close eye on him.¡±


    ¡°I cannot with your idiotic son hanging around me,¡± Mingzhu groaned and she watched Hanxiong freeze at her words. ¡°Will you meet with him?¡±


    If it were her, she would want to meet a kind father like Hanxiong. Disung needed it. He struggled with false memories over his father¡¯s death which Mingzhu faced first-hand during their fight as the Fox. Their reuniting would ease lots of unresolved pain and then, Hanxiong could explain their past instead of Mingzhu. In her head, it appeared perfect.


    ¡°He lives in the Lotus Palace and became a great general before his eighteenth birthday. After, he has been protecting Wang Joaolong. He is very much like you: always laughing and many find peace in his aura. The pompous wart changed into a tolerable man. Well, for the most part: he still plays jokes on me. But he is¡­ Why are you staring at me?¡±


    Their eyes met as Hanxiong rested his face in his hand, smiling at the babble about his son. ¡°You¡¯ve changed.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Mingzhu asked defensively, blood rushing to her cheeks.


    ¡°You smile a lot more. It makes you look like your mother.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡± Mingzhu snorted. ¡°Juan looked like my mother. I have nothing but my father¡¯s traits and misfortune following me. Besides, the only reason I smile is because¡­¡±


    Hanxiong sighed and drummed his fingers. Then, he grabbed a nearby wash jug and poured its water into his empty soup bowl. He tested the weight and pushed it towards Mingzhu, expectantly.


    ¡°Do you remember our old training game with tea? You had to take it from me but it was full and I had to keep it that way. Today, you will be the one holding the bowl and I¡¯ll take it from you. Let me test if you have lost your abilities.¡±


    No warning came when he pounced but Mingzhu was instantly ready. She stood, transferring the bowl into the other hand without a single spill. As soon as the fine porcelain touched her right palm, she bounced it behind her just as Hanxiong reach out. With a simple spin and defensive block, the bowl was repossessed by her.


    ¡°You have improved,¡± Hanxiong acknowledged.


    ¡°You have gotten worse,¡± Mingzhu insulted with a grin.


    ¡°Oh is that so?¡±


    Hanxiong tried again, going for an unpredicted move. Yet, Minghzu easily dodged this one as well. Since fighting Disung, she understood some of her master¡¯s movements. They both shared similar little tricks in fighting like the sly trips or confusing flinches.


    The fun game soon turned serious. Sweat trickled down Mingzhu¡¯s forehead as she endlessly juggled the bowl between her limbs, using every flexible position advantageous in fighting. If he went up, she ducked down. If he lunged to the side, she moved the bowl away to an extended leg behind her or put it on her head. At one stage, Hanxiong almost won and Mingzhu was forced to sacrifice water spilling to get away. After this, feeling more confident, the master smiled and teased her.


    ¡°If I get the bowl, you won¡¯t be eating the snack I brought you.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t do well, you won¡¯t be eating dinner.¡±


    Mingzhu froze.


    She tried again but failed, sliding along the mud and scrapping her knees. Shing looked at his daughter in disgust, displeased by her attempts. The threat of withdrawing food became a reoccurring form of punishment. Mingzhu wasn¡¯t sure which was worse; beatings or hunger.


    ¡°You are pathetic! Don¡¯t expect me to give you food tonight unless you earn it! You were born a female instead of a male, so you must prove your worth as my child! I have no need for two daughters! Show me a warrior!"


    Air struggled to get to her lungs and her breath shortened. The excruciating pain deep in Mingzhu¡¯s chest made her panic and on cue, her throat tightened as well. Her father¡¯s voice screamed over her master¡¯s current questions. He isn¡¯t real, she tried to remind herself but it was useless. She crouched on the floor, unable to calm. Suddenly, a hand gently rubbed her back, coaxing her to relax. It was large and warm, the kindness sapping into her trembling body.


    ¡°My father,¡± Mingzhu struggled to spout, offering an explanation. It had been a long time since she had an anxiety attack. At least Master understood them. ¡°I have more dreams of him. This will pass. It always does.¡±


    ¡°Your¡­ father?¡± That deep voice didn¡¯t belong to Hanxiong.


    The young man, with messy hair, stared in worry at her with those warm, brown eyes. True, he had the same eyebrows as her master, but many features were different. During the anxiety attack, Disung had entered. Mingzhu looked around but there were no signs of the Fox.


    Why does he always leave me?

 Chapter 58: Preparing to Flee

    His days were numbered. Joaolong purposely kept close to Linlong royalty or escaped to Yinying Yueguang in hopes of avoiding the order to leave the palace. He was not prepared yet. Too many things needed to be arranged. Hence, he spent yet another day in the town but unlike usual, without Disung.


    Around him, the market awakened and awaited the prime selling hours which approached. Bright material covered stalls and flags waved at oncoming customers, beckoning them to venture closer. In an instant, bright jewellery blinded Joaolong and an earthy smell hit his nostrils, telling of the freshly farmed vegetables ready for sale further down the road.


    ¡°Master Wang, it is a pleasure to see you again!¡± A merchant said and beamed. He leaned against his temporary stall with enough weight to make it groan.


    Joaolong returned his smile for the town¡¯s renowned gossip. ¡°The pleasure is mine. What are you selling today?¡±


    ¡°This month, I learnt from a friend¡¯s cousin¡¯s wife that everyone wants to buy valuable ornaments. See? Like this golden pig. It isn¡¯t real gold but it is real in bringing luck to the house. Or this! It¡¯s a wooden dragon who will scare away the Masked Masters!¡±


    ¡°I heard the leader of the Masked Masters is a dragon.¡±


    The merchant paused and considered this. ¡°That is why¡­hmm¡­ it will stop Masked Master trespassers as they know you respect them! Ah-ha!¡±


    ¡°Very clever indeed.¡±


    ¡°Are you interested in anything from my shop?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps soon I will come again. I need some items to decorate my new home.¡±


    The man¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Are you moving from the palace?¡±


    ¡°I am sure rumours have spread about my unwelcomed presence,¡± Joaolong said, knowing with certainty the merchant already was aware. ¡°I decided to prepare to leave and live in the country for the remainder of my days. I am finalising property payment in a place far south near Pilador.¡±


    ¡°That is a long way to travel, sir. I have many suggestions of goods to make your journey easier. My friends sell a marvellous array of items from comfort to decorations.¡±


    Joaolong smiled again; this worked far better than expected. If the merchant already involved others, then half the town would learn of this move by sundown. The gossip of his ¡®new home¡¯ would then misdirect anyone hunting him when he finally left the palace. This way, no one would suspect his intention to cross the Linlong border.


    ¡°I would appreciate that from the bottom of my heart. I promise to return in a week or two to purchase some items.¡±


    With that, Joaolong left the market completely satisfied. He felt in control again, which he craved for the past few days. The execution, planned escape the same day, threat of leaving Lotus Palace and the emperor¡¯s unpredictable nature made him suffer. He couldn¡¯t handle any of it with the finesse he usually possessed. It infuriated him, as did Disung¡¯s absent mind. He walked around like a dead person brought to life and Joaolong eventually relieved him from duties for a few days. A distracted guard held no value. Also, as a friend, he knew Disung needed space; hence he never hurriedly pressed for the true heir¡¯s identity like they agreed upon.


    This didn''t resolve the mess though. Many things came to light from the execution, the first being the emperor was uncontrollable. He did not hesitate to spare a woman with child, who he likely knew was innocent. Next, Mingzhu was not the Fox but had a connection to him. Why else did he appear in daylight? Then, and most vexing of all, Cheng could not be blackmailed anymore; he locked himself up in mourning over his sister''s death.


    Qiaolian deserved to die. After all the terrible deeds she did, it seemed fitting to die suddenly and without a glimmer of hope. Joaolong should''ve been happy; Yenay was partially avenged. Yet, for some reason, he felt empty inside. Was it because the other killer, Xiaoli, had not suffered? Was it because he still had no reason why they murdered the empress? He wasn''t sure.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°Master Wang, I wasn¡¯t sure to enter without you first.¡±


    Ahead, Ying bowed and awkwardly waited outside an old tavern. His fidgeting hands showed his nervousness. Good, Joaolong thought. Least I have the advantage to start with.


    Inside the run-down building, the men chose a table near the loudest groups of drunk men. The wooden walls, covered in flaky yellow paint, struggled to contain the noise inside and the workers winced as they left the safety of the kitchen. However, many commoners favoured this tavern because of its history as the first built in the city. Thankfully, despite the withering appearance of the building, the service remained commendable and the men were greeted by freshly brewed tea within minutes.


    ¡°How is your family?¡± Joaolong asked.


    Ying nodded but then realised the action didn¡¯t answer the question. A blush rose on his blemished cheeks and he rubbed his budding facial hair nervously. He didn¡¯t appear as greasy as the first time they met, nor had gangly limbs and even looked a few inches taller as well. Joaolong wondered if manhood was near for the teenage boy.


    ¡°We are well, thanks to you. The rings you gave was generous and each night, we are sleeping with full bellies. I cannot express my gratitude enough.¡±


    ¡°You saved my life. Also my guard beat you. I would call it even indeed.¡±


    ¡°But I feel indebted¡ª¡±


    He is a kind soul, Joaolong deduced with a hint of admiration. It reminds me of Tai. ¡°Ah, there is something you could help me with though¡­¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Bai Mingzhu.¡±


    The name had an instant effect. Ying lost all nervousness and sat up straighter with a puffed chest. ¡°What about her?¡±


    ¡°I need assurance she is someone I can trust. As you may have heard, the palace has become a bit unhinged and your friend is being pulled into the centre of it all. I need to know if she is worth protecting and whether I can trust in her.¡±


    ¡°Of course she is!¡± The boy yelled and then coiled, noticing a few glances his way. ¡°Mingzhu is worth everything. What do you need to know?¡±


    ¡°Everything.¡±


    Naivety shone through. Ying revealed his experience with complete trust, as if Joaolong were his closest friend. He explained how he and Mingzhu met, how she saved him and their life together afterwards. The way he talked about her seemed angelic and Joaolong struggled to share the same view. While by his side, he simply learnt she had a nasty tongue and temper. How was she protective? How was she kind? How did she have this boy hooked around her finger?


    ¡°Is there anything else you need to know?¡± Ying finally finished.


    ¡°No and I thank you for your kind words. Please be mindful who you speak to about this. Vow to keep this conversation and anything about Bai Mingzhu a secret.


    ¡°I promise,¡± Ying blurted with deep sincerity.


    ¡°Good. Then I must le¡ª¡±


    ¡°Wait! I heard you are leaving the Lotus Palace.¡±


    News spreads fast. ¡°Who told you such things?¡±


    ¡°The emperor¡¯s dislike of you is joked around the town. I even hear children make silly songs over it.¡±


    ¡°Disung would love that,¡± Joaolong muttered, imagining the guard singing the songs while skipping around the palace. ¡°So? What is your point?¡±


    ¡°If you leave, make sure Mingzhu does too. Please. She doesn¡¯t suit a life of a maid.¡±


    Just like Tai: loyal to a fault. But¡­ A plan formed in Joaolong¡¯s mind. This teenager, although stupid, could be a valuable asset. If anything happened during the escape, no one in Yinying Yueguang would protect them. However, the boy adored Mingzhu and they could use that. Joaolong just needed to make sure of something.


    ¡°Do you like the emperor?¡±


    Ying choked on his drink. ¡°You dare speak of such things in public?!¡±


    ¡°I chose this seat for a reason. We are surrounded by noise and drunken rambling. No one will notice what we say and I suspect if they are farmers, would say much worse. Tell me, do you think the emperor is worthy of his title?¡±


    ¡°Er¡­ N-no,¡± Ying whispered and shook his head slightly in case his words weren¡¯t heard. ¡°He has raised the taxes too much. I see dozens of children starve, mothers resort to prostitution and men die in the streets over crumbs. Without your rings, my family would have died while my father and older brothers serve in his army. An emperor should bring peace to the people, not calamity.¡±


    ¡°Would you risk rebelling?¡± Joaolong asked but didn¡¯t wait for an answer. ¡°It is true I intend to leave the palace but the emperor would prefer my head, as you seem to understand his greed for death. I plan to escape soon but cannot do so without help. Of course, if you did help, I could take Mingzhu with me and I would ensure the Linlong royalty know who protected their ally. Think about it. If you want to meet again, send a message to Lan May.¡±


    ¡°But I cannot write or read.¡±


    He has already chosen to help, Joaolong noticed by his response. ¡°Then send a pebble. I will know who it¡¯s from and find you again. Take care, Han Ying.¡±


    Joaolong left the boy in the tavern with his unfinished drink. Deciding his main errands were complete, he returned to the Lotus Palace by midday. The sun gazed down on him, trying to bring some final moments of warmth as autumn ended. It made Joaolong contemplate having tea in the garden but this idea ended when he saw inside his room.


    A Fox token sat upright on his bed like an uncomfortable guest who waited for company. Unlike Joaolong¡¯s carving attempts, the rich wood remained smooth and perfectly even. On the flat back, he read the message in caution.


    I shall come in a week to talk about the Lost Prince. Be alone.

 Chapter 59: Fears of Truths

    The woods appeared eerie towards the end of the Autumn season. The leaves, graceful in their fall, littered the ground and the wonderful displays of warm colours decayed after many frosty mornings. Grotesque dark greens and browns overcame each leaf and forced them to crinkle in shame as they died. The wind blew these into sparse patches, trying to cover the dirt below. Mingzhu felt it reflected her current predicament; she had been too busy trying to hide her past without avail. Now, she faced final judgement.


    The tradition before a wedding required home visits from the involved families. A betrothal gift was offered to the bride, while a dowry to the groom. Despite the unique situations regarding parents and status, everyone forced Disung and Mingzhu to comply. This only added to Mingzhu¡¯s troubles. She thought receiving the marriage approval from Huli¡¯s messengers was horrid enough but today, steps away from a ghost of the past, she felt far worse.


    ¡°You are acting weird,¡± Disung noticed as they approached the cabin.


    ¡°No more than you,¡± Mingzhu replied, observing his fidgeting hands and shifting of paces.


    ¡°Why do you keep looking in the forest?¡±


    Busted. Her eyes remained focused on shadows for the entirety of their travel. She swallowed passed the building lump in her throat. The dreaded moment arrived. ¡°Liu Disung¡ª¡±


    ¡°I told you before and I¡¯ll tell you again: call me Disung. We are about to wed and there is no need for formalities anymore.¡±


    ¡°There is something I must tell you. It¡¯s about your father, Liu Hanxiong.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The world stood still for the name. Even the shadows Mingzhu watched with hawk eyes seemed to freeze, as if trapped by a winter blizzard. You can do this, Mingzhu reminded herself. After hearing the news of the wedding, she immediately planned for this day. Now, the truth needed to be revealed. She opened her mouth and¡ª


    ¡°That is no way to greet your mother and introduce your bride!¡±


    Before the pair realised who called, Chunhua whacked her son over the head and bowed to Mingzhu. However, when she rose and looked at her future daughter-in-law, the smile disappeared.


    ¡°Y-you?¡±


    ¡°Mother, this is Fa Huian.¡±


    Mingzhu dropped to the ground and kotowed, both out of respect and because her legs turned weak. How long had it been? Ten years? Eleven years? A lifetime? Did it truly matter? Chunhua still looked the same; broad, tough and maintained a glare which pierced hearts.


    You can do this.


    ¡°Shao Chunhua, many moons have passed since we set eyes on each other and I cannot express my regret you meet me again. My name is Bai Mingzhu, daughter of the Pheasant and the monster of the mountain clan. Please listen to me. I do not plan to marry you son. I will not force my curse upon you and your family anymore. Instead, I come here today to offer a gift, not for a wedding, but as an apology for all those years ago.¡±


    ¡°Mingzhu?¡± Disung whispered, struggling to comprehend what was happening.


    ¡°Come out now! As the Fox, you should face your fears!¡±


    A man shyly left the safe shadows of the large trees into the clearing. The black clothes, which hugged his lean, short frame, did not get spared from clouds of dirt huffing around the forest. The only hair on his body were his bushy eyebrows, similar in shape and size of the ones on Disung¡¯s face. The years in the wilderness hadn¡¯t aged him but the tragedies of life did, giving him a wise aura.


    ¡°Hanxiong?¡± Chunhua gasped.


    ¡°Father?¡±


    With those shattering words, Mingzhu bolted. Unlike Master, she could not face her fears. The rejection already stung, although she did not wait to see the face of Disung as he learnt the truth. She loathed her weak heart. She loathed cowardness. Most of all, she loathed herself.

 Chapter 60: Fox Den

    At first, his body refused to move. The day Disung fought the real Fox, he saw true. Behind the mask was his father. He had not died. He had not crossed realms. He remained breathing in this world.


    Every heartbreak Disung felt from his father¡¯s absence washed over him. The sleepless nights in his teenage years resurfaced, as did their reason; he hated that his father died. He sacrificed so much to provide a comfortable life for his mother. Yet, now the man was alive, it raised the question of why he never returned. Similarly, his mother shared this anger.


    In a rage, Chunhua threw every rock and stick on her path towards her husband. ¡°You dare show your ugly mutt face here again?! I will skin you alive! You good-for-nothing egg! I will spit on you like the filth you are!¡±


    An uncomfortable laugh left Hanxiong as he dodged the flying objects. ¡°Ha. My dear! My honey! How long it has been since I saw your beautiful face.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother with sweet words! Compliments will only make me want to rip out your tongue! You balding, pompous wart!¡±


    ¡°Chunhua¡­¡±


    Disung watched his mother and father, a hand space apart, stare into each other¡¯s eyes. Slowly, the anger seeped from his mother and she slumped. Hanxiong took the cue to embrace her, locking himself around her. She sobbed into his chest and weakly beat against it.


    ¡°I am truly sorry, my honey. I promise to explain.¡±


    Disung glared, annoyed his mother lost her fight so quickly. Fortunately, he held enough fury for both of them. ¡°You better.¡±


    Trying to decipher his emotions, and barely acknowledging Mingzhu¡¯s disappearance, Disung went inside first. The cabin¡¯s temperature matched outside, even though a blanket hung in the doorway to try retain heat. When the days turned colder, he would visit again to install the ¡®Winter door¡¯; a temporary wind blocker made from maidenhair trees, tied together. As a teenager, he made it to ensure his mother didn¡¯t freeze to death while he left for the army. At the very bottom, he carved an idiom to commemorate his father. Just like the man, it was also as wrong as he told it. Instead of ¡®get the moon from the bottom of the sea¡¯, it read ¡®aim for the moon even if you are a fish¡¯. The heartfelt action of adding the words seemed bittersweet, especially today.


    By the time his mother and father joined him, snacks he brought from the palace rested on the small table. An awkward silence filled the space. Disung didn¡¯t know what to say or how to handle the fury he keenly felt. He abandoned us, he brooded. He abandoned us for years.


    Hanxiong cleared his throat. ¡°I am at loss for words. Do you have any questions?¡±


    Why did you never come? Why did you leave us? Are you the murdering Fox? Why can¡¯t I remember anything clearly? Where have you been? Why did you abandon us? All these popped into Disung¡¯s head in an instant. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°From when I was born to now, start to finish, explain everything.¡±


    After a slight hesitation, his father complied. The truth slowly unveiled itself over tea, Hanxiong bothering to explain the mountain clan origins and Masked Masters. Disung already knew of this, both from his mother¡¯s stories and Joaolong¡¯s fascination. However, he quietly listened, comparing his knowledge to the words told; it all rang true.


    ¡°Did you ever find Peizhi?¡± Chunhu asked desperately, interrupting the flow of the story.


    Hanxiong smiled. ¡°She lives in the mountain clan village still. One day, I will bring you with me to see her.¡±


    Thank the gods, Disung thought but refused to show any relief about his sister¡¯s survival. This proved difficult, as a bunch of memories of the chubby child with oak hair and long eyelashes came rushing back. She must be close to sixteen now. Does she still hate shoes? Does she eat rice with a monster-like enthusiasm? Does she love waterfalls? Did she grow up kind? Is she okay? The questions rose in time with the beat of his aching heart.


    ¡°How did she get out?¡± Chunhua asked.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t. The fight in the village¡­ she got caught in it. Other than a scar to her face, she is fine. We lived together until two years ago because she wanted to invest more with the Masked Masters. She hoped her efforts would find you both once again.¡±


    As his mother tried to fan her face and fight back a new wave of tears, Disung felt himself break, like a shattered vase. This was too much. He couldn¡¯t handle it. His father lived. His sister lived. Yet, why did he harbour so much rage inside instead of joy? Whenever he met his father¡¯s eyes, he wanted to fight.


    ¡°Why did you never look for us?¡±


    Hanxiong had the decency to look ashamed. ¡°I tried. At first, it was hard because of the village restoration. There were orphans, so many families fallen and Peizhi to protect¡­ Time slipped through my hands¡­ I assumed from the route I put you on, you escaped to Linlong. I searched across the entire kingdom for years without a glimmer of hope. At the end of my wits end, I met Mingzhu again in the mountains.¡±


    ¡°You stayed with her instead of searched,¡± Chunhua snarled with aggressive tones rising in her voice.


    ¡°I had to.¡±


    ¡°You know what she did!¡±


    ¡°And you should know what she went through,¡± Hanxiong whispered yet Chunhua suddenly closed her lips, as if reprimanded by a threatening screech. Something in his voice seemed both wise and authoritative, making those around compelled to listen. Disung remembered being scolded in a similar way as a child.


    ¡°Why does it matter?!" Disung ground out throug clenched teeth, latching onto the last of his patience and calm. "This isn¡¯t about her. I saw the Fox kill you. How was a child like her involved in that?!¡±


    Although his memories seemed scattered and jumbled, he remembered the Fox kicking his father to the ground. The gleam of the blade. The cry from his mother. The Fox mask splattered with blood. Even now, it appeared crystal clear in his mind.


    A sad chuckle rumbled out of Hanxiong, as if he was darkly amused by something. ¡°Hou Shing and his tokens. How ironic that my close call to death was by my own mask.¡±


    What is that supposed to mean? Disung ran his nails through his hair, trying to find clarity and control through the refreshing pain. ¡°Speak clearly! You said you would explain everything so stop toying with me.¡±


    ¡°Hou Shing destroyed the mountain clan over ten years ago. He wore my mask, along with many others, to kill the Masked Masters. That is why your mother and you ran away. It might be the reason you are confused by the real Fox.¡±


    Disung released his breath. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand how Mingzhu is involved.¡±


    A pregnant silence filled the room. Disung¡¯s parents exchanged looks, their expressions clearly showing discomfort. What on earth happened all those years ago?


    Finally, Hanxiong spoke. ¡°Hou Shing was Mingzhu¡¯s father.¡±

 Chapter 61: The Monster of the Mountain Clan

    The mountain clan all whispered stories about Mingzhu¡¯s mother and father. Bai Ruiling appeared like a rose among thorns. Her femininity outshone most mountain clan women, as her fragile appearance remained intact despite the gruelling work she underwent every day. Ever since childhood, everyone spoke of her gift in appearance and fighting, so when she blossomed into womanhood, no one seemed surprised by her development of a new style of ¡®Ma¡¯ to suit her slender frame. Apparently, the technique derived from her observations of a fight between a small bird and larger bird of prey. Fa Biming, Dragon and leader of the masters, foresaw the potential in this creation and gave Ruiling a position as the new Masked Master, the Pheasant.


    Meanwhile, Hou Shing, son of a strict farmer, did not find the same fortune. He sought the life of a Masked Master and pushed himself harder than anyone to obtain this dream. Yet, his efforts went unrewarded. Biming saw the greed and anger hidden behind his determined eyes and refused to grant him access into the master council. However, Ruiling only saw a passionate man.


    The attraction between them ignited during their combat training. The love, filled with passion and yearning, glowed brightly for years until the birth of their children. The Bai sisters ¨C originally taking their father¡¯s name Hou until the incident ¨C entered the world in the early hours of morning, panicking villagers. Never, in the mountain clan history, had there been twins and Ruiling only expected a large son due to the size of her pregnant stomach. The labour turned complicated and Juan, the first born, came out tiny and weak. Everyone doubted her survival. Left to rest on her mother¡¯s bare skin, she recovered from the warmth and love surrounding her or at least, that was what Ruiling told her daughters. In contrast, Mingzhu entered the world chubby and strong, like a warrior.


    The twin sisters grew up differently from the very beginning. Juan, adored by her mother and raised to be free, acted like an empress¡¯s reincarnation. Birds flew hurriedly down to sing along with her sweet voice on spring days and fluttered their wings to dance with the melody. The villagers complimented, that just like her mother, Juan could stop birds migrating in one single song. In contrast, Mingzhu acted like a snarky general who saw too many battles. By the age of four, she learnt to fight and displayed her father¡¯s displeasing temper. No one told her she looked pretty or was a delight to meet.


    ¡°Only if you were a boy! Our family would have good prospects! You are unwanted! May the spirits pity me and bring me a son!¡± Shing repeated whenever his daughter messed up a ¡®Ma¡¯ combination. The words felt venomous and the poison slowly marched towards Mingzhu¡¯s heart but still, she endured. During most of her childhood, she wanted to please him; Juan had their mother, so Mingzhu needed to have her father.


    After two years of despising fighting because of the verbal abuse, Mingzhu twisted the training to be an outlet for her anger. Then, during her first year in the official teaching of combat, she met her master, Liu Hanxiong. The Fox was not a master in any specific ¡®Ma¡¯ style like the other masked men and women, but gained a position due to competence in all techniques. The ability to switch styles at a rapid rate and fight unpredictably against enemies made him nearly unrivalled. Hence, since he was a position below the Dragon and understood each Masked Master¡¯s traits, he trained the children until they showed specific talents.


    He always kept an eye on Mingzhu. At the time, she assumed it came from his friendship with her mother and did not realise her own appearance ¨C bruised, thin and wearing constant dark circles ¨C raised concerns among a few villagers. Consequentially for Mingzhu, keeping her master¡¯s company meant sharing it with his son, Liu Disung.


    The children loathed each other since the day they met. No one knew the real reason for their rivalry. Some joked it stemmed from jealousy over Hanxiong, others commented the pressure to get along from parents caused it and many women toyed with the idea of young love. This did not matter to Mingzhu, who remained focused on how to insult Disung using childish words and beating him other during sparring. In her mind, she didn¡¯t, and would never, love her master¡¯s immature son.


    However, a dramatic shift in their relationship occurred because of Peizhi¡¯s development. Years before their training, a poverty-stricken, pregnant woman wandered into the mountains in search of safety after a gambling debt. The mountain clan took her in with open arms, following their sacred tradition of welcome. A few days later, she died during childbirth and her baby girl opened her eyes as an orphan. The Liu family adopted Peizhi and adored their new daughter.


    During her toddler years, Peizhi took a shine to Mingzhu ¨C a young child ¨C and followed her around everywhere. The village created the nickname ¡®duckling¡¯ due to this imprinted behaviour and eventually, Mingzhu warmed up to the toddler. This little happiness slowly encouraged her to be more pleasant to Disung, since he shadowed Peizhi like an overprotective brother should. Then, as time went by and he matured into a teenager, the hatred dwindled tremendously. By the age of ten, Mingzhu found a strange happiness sprinkled in their friendship-rivalry and clung to it in an attempt to forget the dismal reality of her home life. Unfortunately, this did not last.


    The Wolf died. It left a Masked Master position available for the villagers and true natures unmasked themselves, especially for Shing. The harder he trained, the more certain he became he would succeed and his arrogance grew. Nevertheless, the Dragon still denied him the title and gave it to a quiet man in charge of the rice fields. This drove Shing mad and he vented his frustration on Mingzhu. Their extra training was relentless and physical punishment became integrated into the routine, which roused the villagers¡¯ initial suspicion of abuse. In contrast, Ruiling remained ignorant to this and cast aside her distraught for Mingzhu; so blinded by love for Shing, she couldn¡¯t see the monster he turned into or perhaps, was from the very beginning.


    The breaking point came when the Masked Masters requested Mingzhu. There, she nervously waited and felt uneasy about the reason for her audience. Beside her, Disung ¨C also called upon ¨C tried to soothe her worry through teasing. Inside the temple, the Masked Masters offered warm smiles to the children and explained their summoning. The Dragon decided the two children were fated to be Masked Masters; he gave them the opportunity to be his disciples, then he would choose their masks ¡ª either Fox or Dragon ¡ª once they reached adulthood.


    Most parents would¡¯ve been honoured about their child achieving greatness so young. Mingzhu imagined her father¡¯s proud expression at her news as she exceeded his expectations. Maybe he would hug her. Maybe she could eat herbed rice saved for special occasions. Maybe he would not beat her today. The thoughts made her leap with joy but these foolish ideas remained chained to her dreams.


    Shing saw the very person he morphed from a clay heap into a sculpture outshine and surpass him. All praise went to her instead of him and he hated how the family fawned over the child. He could not stand it and so, took her out to train that very day. Each move she did, he criticised and sparred with her at his full strength. When she did land a few punches on his body, he became blinded by rage and jealousy.


    ¡°Ungrateful child! You take what is mine and spit on my face!¡±


    For some reason, Mingzhu changed that day. She did not keep her lips shut nor cower from him. Instead, she met his eye with an internal fire making hers alight. ¡°I can spit in your face because I did beat you! I won, father! I won!¡±


    Shing lost control. The force of the punch from him caused by Mingzhu¡¯s tiny body to fly across the field. A pop, followed by excruciating pain, indicated her shoulder dislocated during the contact with the ground. It scared her but she had no time to recover; Shing stormed over and kicked, making her roll in the dirt.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°How dare you insult me!¡±


    No one, not even Mingzhu, knew how she managed to run away. All of a sudden, she entered the village, hobbling and holding her disfigured shoulder. In the distance, she heard, as did the clan, Shing shout like a beast wanting blood. The villagers seemed to await this day and needed no explanation to act. The community bond strengthened in this time of need, their values shining in the moment, and created a wall to stop Shing. Any spare people ran to inform the Masked Masters of trouble or ushered Mingzhu away into the safety of homes made from fallen ruins. When Shing arrived, the crazed eyes melded his friends and foes as one. He fought anyone in his way and killed the new masked Wolf. As a trophy, he took his mask and place it on his head.


    Meanwhile, Mingzhu reached the Liu family home first and dove inside. Subconsciously, she sought Hanxiong for protection, however, met his son instead. At the age of fourteen, his child body began to grow into a man, one part at a time. The dangly limbs looked like a misshapen tree and disproportionate.


    Disung stared at the dislocated shoulder in bewilderment. Then, he snapped into action just like his father would. ¡°I will fix it! Stay still. This is going to hurt¡­ Now, twist away from me.¡±


    He pulled the arm gradually and Mingzhu sobbed at the twinge of pain rooting in her shoulder. The bone popped back into the socket joint and Disung wrapped the arm against her body with any material he mustered.


    ¡°Do not use it,¡± he said in a steady voice. ¡°Stay here for now and explain what happened.¡±


    ¡°I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Mingzhu! Mingzhu!¡± Juan cried out in the street. Without a second thought, Mingzhu shut her mouth and ran outside, leaving Disung in a cloud of dust.


    For the first time in years, the twin girls ran hand in hand and never exchanged a word. They cried as they took hidden routes out of the village, which turned into a blood bath, into the forest. During this escape, Shing almost caught them but Mingzhu swore she heard someone yell her name, which cued Hanxiong to intervene wearing his fox mask. Mingzhu did not wait to see the outcome and headed for the abandoned watch shack.


    The half-rotted wood creaked and swayed along with the wind on the edge of a cliff. Many children participated in role play games in here while teenagers dared each other to spend the night in the spooky place. The twins hid under the broken, wooden crates near the walls and panted. Mingzhu prayed Master stopped her father. Please, she begged. Please. Please. Please! The floorboards groaned under the weight on a stranger. Mingzhu forgot to breath as her body trembled in terror. Please don''t let him get us!


    ¡°Come out, come out, wherever you are!¡± Shing taunted and searched the shack.


    Three masks hung around his neck from the masters he defeated, the colourful threads soaked in red. The grin on his face chilled Mingzhu to the depths of her soul. This fear skyrocketed when he grabbed hold of Juan¡¯s hair ¨C poking out of the wood ¨C and tugged at it, forcing her out of hiding. Mingzhu tried biting the hairy arm taking Juan but her protective instinct made her fall into her father¡¯s cruel embrace.


    He immediately attacked and, although she tried to defend herself, Mingzhu¡¯s wrapped arm protested. No matter her efforts, she kept getting hit or falling to the floor. Shing laughed at every injury, mocking her ability; it reminded her of training sessions. It was hopeless. Splayed on her back, exhausted, she watched Shing raise his foot above her chest. He was going to crush her heart. Hope fleeted; she gave up.


    The physical pain from combat felt miniscule compared to the emotional wound caused by the intended action to reap death. Mingzhu stared at the man she spent her whole life trying to please in sorrow. Why did he detest her? It felt unfair and cruel that she was hated for being his dream creation. She did everything he wanted. At least in death, she had no duty to be his daughter.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry like that! You are weak! This is your fault! You do not deserve to cry! I didn¡¯t kill everyone, you did! If you just died, none of this would have happened! You are my curse!¡±


    The tears overflowed in for once, Mingzhu did not care if her father saw. How many people got hurt because of her? Was Duckling safe? Did Disung get away? She saw him running when the Fox saved them. How was her master? How many died? How many families were destroyed?


    Spirits, hear me, she thought in desperation. My name is Bai Mingzhu. I am no longer Hou Mingzhu. My name is Bai Mingzhu. Please forgive me. My name is Bai Mingzhu. I did not want anyone to die. My name is Bai Mingzhu. I am a curse. My name is Bai Mingzhu. I am a curse. My name is Bai Mingzhu. I am a curse. Please forgive me.


    The foot came down. Mingzhu held her breath. Just as she felt the padding of his boot, something whistled through the air. A blade, shaped like an odd diamond, sunk into Shing¡¯s foot. Blood gushed out from the sliced shoe. He withdrew his injured leg and crouched into his fighting stance. Mingzhu saw him flinch as he looked at his new opponent.


    ¡°Ruiling? Why are you doing this?¡± Shing asked, pain breaking his voice.


    ¡°I should ask you that question,¡± Ruiling replied with tears streaming down her face. She wore her combat costume; the red, puffy pants and train moved like living creatures, while her top, swirled in black and orange, remained skin-tight. Auburn wisps of hair fell from her braided Mohawk, making her look like an unhinged goddess. ¡°Why do you want to hurt your own child?! You love Mingzhu!¡±


    Shing dropped his guard and limped over to his wife, the menacing expression replaced by a look of pure, unconditional love. In this light, he appeared to be a kind and wholesome man, if not for the blood splattered on his face. Despair consumed Mingzhu. Why did he never look at me like that?


    ¡°I never meant for anyone else to get hurt. They didn¡¯t understand. Mingzhu is the problem! She ruined everything! It¡¯s all her fault! She took what was mine! If only we had a son¡ª¡±


    ¡°She is our child!¡± Ruiling shrieked and her mask ¨C designed to blend blue and greens around a crown of reds, oranges and yellows ¨C dropped over her sepia eyes.


    ¡°She is a curse!¡±


    The Pheasant attacked. Her movements showed her remarkable agility and balance through acrobatic tricks used in offence and defence. Blades, strapped between two fingers, added lethal punctures to her jabs. Yet, she restrained her strength to only cause small inflictions of pain. Shing did the same and to Mingzhu, it looked like a sparring session rather than deadly combat.


    They couldn¡¯t kill each other; their love still remained more powerful than anything. Ruiling seemed to be continuously lost in happy and sweet memories; their first kiss, the wedding, building their house and the birth of their daughters. Mingzhu saw her emotions flicker under the mask. It felt like betrayal. Her own mother didn¡¯t want to protect her. My name is Bai Mingzhu. I am a curse. My name is Bai Mingzhu. I am unwanted. My name is Bai Mingzhu. They are dead because of me.


    ¡°Stop this, please!¡± Shing cried. ¡°I cannot kill you!¡±


    ¡°But I can.¡± Suddenly, Ruiling stabbed herself.


    The fight ended. Shing dropped his raised fists and stumbled over to his dying wife. He cradled her neck tenderly and used his other hand to pull out her own small, finger blade. The blood rushed out from her wound, staining her top. Shing tried to stop the bleeding by putting pressure on her chest but it was pointless. The infliction had been deep and beyond repair.


    ¡°Y-y-you have to be fine. S-stay with me. Don¡¯t look at me like that. Y-you will live. We can run away. We can be together. This is all their fault! If we never had children, then it would be perfect! I¡¯ll kill Mingzhu! It will fix everything! Just don¡¯t leave me!¡±


    ¡°I loved you too much,¡± Ruiling whispered as she hugged him a final time. Then, she stabbed in multiple times in the back. Life drained from his body, as did hers. The lovers died together, tightly wrapped in each other¡¯s embrace.


    The death of Shing did not erase the terror left in the village. Although Juan and Mingzhu became orphans, most people refused to sympathise. The clan isolated the twins, refusing their help to rebuild the village or reconstruct the past life. They came to believe the children would jeopardise the rehabilitation. Finally, Biming gave the girls an order to leave the mountain clan for their own protection, supplying them with money and information to last another season. Mingzhu and Juan, at the young age of ten, left their only home to fend for themselves.


    The village recommended by Biming was a known travellers town. To earn a living, many people sold trinkets and odd items. At first, the twins struggled, for they had no valuables or craftsmanship to give away. Juan¡¯s knowledge of herbs and medicinal plants saved them, which they gathered and sold. By the following year, the twins thrived especially after Juan saved a small child who ate toxic berries.


    The best discovery in this new life was the abandoned house. Mingzhu kept the memory of watching the old farmhouse transform into their new home close to her heart. She used all her strength to make it sustainable for Juan, who became her only reason to live. Freshly cut trunks replaced rotted, wooden beams, and Mingzhu collected whatever her sister desired. Their new home became filled with hope. It seemed like the curse lifted.


    Then, five years later, Zhao Cheng ruined everything.

 Chapter 62: Sow the Seeds

    He was to meet the Fox. Joaolong looked forward to it but his nerves made him hyperaware of every noise and small movement around. Was the man a friend or foe? Trust had to be earned but even then, Joaolong felt wary. He struggled to decipher the Fox¡¯s past actions; did he leave tokens, in the hunt and funerals, to save him or threaten him? At least with Mingzhu, he grew to understand their relationship dynamic. However, this new player made him anxious and there was no time to gain advantage.


    A few days before the Fox¡¯s arrival, Joaoloang wandered around the palace to complete a final check for the future escape plan. The guard regime remained precise and they changed shifts to the exact second. This, paired with the lack of visitors because of Huli''s ruling, gave many opportunities to sneak in the shadows. No one hovered around the garden much either, which tempted Joaolong to throw the rope ladder over the border wall already. Yet, he did not wish to bring bad luck.


    On his way out of Lady Gaze, Joaolong stumbled upon Xiaoli. With clenched teeth, he watched her in anger as she, a murderer, enjoyed her day. On a weaved mat in front of her, the sun glimmered on the wet, black teapot. Using a wooden pouring cup, Xiaoli trickled more floral-flavoured water over the pot and cups, the action puffing out the blush sleeves of her robes. Then, she cupped her hands and extended her fingers to symbolise a lotus flower blooming. This additional action to the tea ceremony meant the occasion was for royalty or a renowned celebration, like a beloved family member returning home.


    Following these graceful hand movements, she emptied the teapot to prepare for the beginning of serving. After placing tea leaves on each petal of the traditional lotus flower carving, she immersed the small sculpture into the teapot. A new scoop of hot water surrounded it and she filled each warmed cup with the brown liquid. A small, satisfied smile brightened up her lean face however, her breathtaking beauty, once admired by Joaolong, remained absent from his hated observation.


    ¡°Do you wish to join me?¡± Xiaoli asked, noticing the shadow he cast over the teapot by his figure.


    ¡°I will for a brief moment, Miss Ju. May I ask why you are practicing?¡±


    ¡°An excellent brew makes an excellent household. My mother told me this once. If I am to be married to the emperor then I should be prepared.¡±


    How odd. Xiaoli hated to reminisce about her past. What changed? Did it relate to the bruise poking out from the covering of her robes? Do not delve, Joaolong commanded his mind. She is not worthy of sympathy nor pity. She left Yenay to die painfully. Do not concern yourself over a murderer.


    ¡°Excuse my frankness but I believe the Linlong princess should be practicing, not you. After all, since we are reaching a calmer time, the true royal wedding will be arranged.¡±


    The comment must¡¯ve hit a nerve because she suddenly scowled. ¡°Perhaps I am practicing a tea ceremony to celebrate.¡±


    ¡°How noble of you,¡± Joaolong mused. ¡°Most concubines have a deep-rooted hatred for any love rivals. I expected you, of all people, to be especially bitter.¡±


    ¡°A person of the royal family should not harbour pettiness.¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Agreed but you are not a member of the royal family yet.¡±


    ¡°Stop mocking me like that traitorous ¨¤nsh¨´! What is wrong with you?!¡± Xiaoli snapped. ¡°You have no right! You are a nobody!¡±


    Joaolong ground his teeth but somehow, manage to keep his soft smile. How did he not see her true, horrendous nature? He hated himself for overlooking these qualities in the past because of her upbringing hardships. Others faced greater losses as children and grew into better people. He was one of them so she had no excuse. Never again would he overlook somebody''s viciousness.


    ¡°You are right, Miss Ju. My mistake. I am a nobody so I do not understand the need for heavy sacrifices like morality,¡± Joaolong replied, keeping his facade. He swirled his tea and tried to find the right words to display his awareness of events transpired. ¡°Did you practice serving tea when you kept company with Wang Yenay?¡±


    Xiaoli¡¯s eyes widened into giant spheres. The brief pause in her movements was all Joaolong needed to affirm his suspicions. Why flinch? Why stop? Unless she did kill Yenay that night with Qiaolian.


    ¡°She did request I serve her a few times.¡±


    ¡°Just enough to understand her tastes and preferences. How did she prefer her tea?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Xiaoli swallowed audibly. ¡°Why ask me, Joaolong? You would know far better than I.¡±


    ¡°I wondered if you took much notice. The past empress always loved floral teas but every cup needed to be extra sweet.¡±


    ¡°Ah yes, I do recall that.¡±


    ¡°How did you sweeten it?¡±


    ¡°Honey, of course.¡±


    ¡°I heard nectar is equally effective,¡± Joaolong said and reached for Xiaoli¡¯s hands. He turned them over, studying without acknowledging her shock. ¡°It must be a relief for your hands to heal so well. Rashes from poisonous plants have unpredictable effects and even I feared for my skin when I found a particularly interesting bottle of nectar. I wonder¡­ if one were to ingest it what would happen¡­¡±


    ¡°What are you¡ª¡±


    Joaolong smirked, relishing the panic building in Xiaoli¡¯s eyes. He wanted to do this when he first discovered the truth. To see her crumble under his implied meanings and targetted words gave him indescribable power.


    ¡°If you plant a seed, you must be ready for it to bloom no matter if the flower has thorns or not.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are talking about.¡±


    ¡°I believe you do. Zhao Qiaolian just learnt this the hard way and you will too. If you get pricked by a thorn, it is your own fault for growing such a flower.¡±


    Xiaoli¡¯s hands flung up to cover her gasping mouth. In her haste, a cup smashed. How fitting, Joaolong thought. It poetically symbolised the ruined friendship between them.


    ¡°Y-you killed Madam?!¡±


    ¡°No but I wish I had. Rather, it was someone who both you and the past imperial concubine tried to destroy. But wait. Who could that be? After all, you have ruined so many lives.¡±


    ¡°The emperor will have your head for hiding the truth!¡±


    ¡°I disagree. Who would want to listen to the likes of you? Judging by those bruises and your weight loss, life as a potential imperial concubine is not so glamorous as you once told me. Your power is gone. No one cares.¡±


    Xiaoli stared at him with watery eyes, as if seeing a demon rather than a friend. ¡°Joaolong¡ª¡±


    ¡°Miss Ju, I prefer only my friends call me so casually. Do not bring yourself so low to talk with a commoner and nobody like me, and I will make sure not to interact with someone so worthy as you. We have no more to discuss and so I will leave you practice,¡± Joaolong stated and stood up.


    ¡°What happened to you? Y-you¡¯ve changed!¡±


    ¡°Grief is a powerful thing but paired with betrayal, it tends to morph the soul irreversibly. You took Wang Yenay from me, then you took Lin Jiang from me and now, you still reach out with greedy hands to meddle with my servants.¡±


    ¡°But the emperor¡ª¡±


    ¡°You brought this on yourself. Remember these words; do not blame your own flower¡¯s thorns when it pricks you. I must warn you that of all the plants you cared for, I am the most dangerous. Do not dream of crossing me again because I have no mercy left for someone as despicable as you. Have a good day and keep practicing, Miss Ju, as I''ve seen the Linlong princess do it much better."

 Chapter 63: Final Mischief

    As the sky darkened, it transformed into a dazzling display of sparkling lights and rich, dark colours of purple and charcoal. The bustling noises of the palace quietened and Disung relished the peace. Since his father¡¯s return, he remained in a state of bewilderment. He couldn¡¯t pull himself out of the depths of amazement. My father lived! My father lived! My father is alive and is the Fox you fear! He wanted to scream it at the top of the mountains. Yet, he had to kill this excitement otherwise, risk making a mistake in the palace. With the end near, he wouldn''t be the one to ruin everything. Therefore, he decided to take time to evaluate and celebrate everything with a pot of wine and Joaolong.


    He looked down at his friend, whose eyes glared at the perplexing path onto the roof. To reach the spot, he had to use a low, protruding branch on a tree to lift himself up, then climb higher until he could jump onto the roof. Apparently it was a difficult task. Disung laughed hysterically as he watched the attempts from his friend. When Joaolong finally joined him, his stomach had cramps.


    ¡°Fancy peach wine?¡± Disung asked, passing over the pot and catching his breath.


    Joaolong half-smiled and drank mouthfuls of the liquid without a break. This led him to violently cough as it burned his throat.


    ¡°Rough day?¡±


    ¡°Rough days,¡± Joaolong corrected. ¡°I feel like we haven¡¯t spoken in weeks.¡±


    ¡°The baby is demanding," Disung replied, referring to Huli. "I am always at his beck and call.¡±


    ¡°Does he still want my head on a platter?¡±


    ¡°He wants everyones head on a platter. I only see or hear what he wants but occasionally, I wander on some serious discussions. His plans are ridiculous. The kingdom is doomed if we don¡¯t throne the Lost Prince.¡±


    ¡°Be careful where you speak such words.¡±


    Disung rolled his eyes and muttered a curse under his breath. He hated keeping tight-lipped and restricted. It felt like he couldn¡¯t take a dump without the emperor breathing down his back or an informant watching him. They were so close to freedom yet, it seemed like the palace restraints tightend around him.


    ¡°So, why is the usually sober Joaolong drinking tonight?¡±


    ¡°My first friend in the Lotus Palace killed the person I loved most.¡±


    He finally is accepting the truth. Disung had been waiting for Joaolong to crack his tough armour. As the weeks passed since he discovered who killed Yenay, Disung worried more about Joaolong''s indifferent appearance. ¡°Well I can beat you. My betrothed never told me my father was alive.¡±


    Joaolong nodded, processing the confession, and handed the pot back. ¡°My parents were killed by a plague and fires.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The wine passed between them again. ¡°My village was destroyed by a mad man.¡±


    ¡°I studied poisons because I got poisoned so much.¡±


    ¡°I joined the army because I was poor, not because I supported it."


    ¡°There hasn¡¯t been a year where I¡¯m not assassinated over my status or mind.¡±


    ¡°The Fox didn¡¯t kill my father.¡±


    "Oh"


    "Who wins?"


    Joaolong took the wine back. ¡°No one. Only the gods win in this twisted game of life.¡±


    ¡°Bastards!¡± Disung replied. ¡°Should we play our own twisted game then?¡±


    ¡°What do you suggest?¡±


    ***


    Just as anticipated, Tai laid on the mat in his chamber, fast asleep. Disung and Joaolong giggled like young girls while they threw pebbles at him, trying to wake him, and not the other servants, up. Sluggishly, he stirred and sighed when he saw the drunk masters. However, he followed them without complaint.


    Back in Joaolong¡¯s chambers, the men drank wine together; they cheered as their vision blurred, laughed at their failing movements and groaned at their slurred speech. The drinking games blended together, somehow changing without the men realising when this occurred. First they praticed their memory, secondy made up poetic songs, challenged their counting and then, played truth games.


    ¡°First: I beat up a soldier because he touched my sister. Second: I ate five bowls of rice in one sitting. Which rings true?" Tai asked, swaying in his spot with unfocused eyes.


    ¡°First rings true,¡± Disung deduced, grinning at Tai¡¯s terrible poker face.


    ¡°Agreed. First is true,¡± Joaolong said. ¡°Because you only ate four bowls of rice in one sitting with me! Drink!¡±


    Tai laughed merrily and finished the remainder of the pot in front of him. By the time he put it back down, he fell onto the floor. The suddness of the action made it look like a performance rather than reality.


    ¡°Is he dead?¡± Joaolong asked.


    Disung poked him, provoking a snore from Tai. ¡°No. Little Wu just can¡¯t hold his liquor. I can¡¯t believe he can sleep with that pot resting on most of his tiny body!¡±


    ¡°He can handle anything. Tai will always amaze¡­ He does not deserve a life like this.¡±


    ¡°I know. Drinking with you is no different from being haunted by a demon,¡± Disung joked, twisting Joaolong''s meaning. As he spoke, he stared at the fallen pot and comrade. Slowly, a foolish idea sprouted in his head. ¡°Joaolong, how about another game? Whoever puts more on Little Wu, before he stirs, wins.¡±


    ¡°I''m intrigued. What will the prize be?¡±


    ¡°Winner pays for drinks and dances at a tavern?"


    ¡°No. It isn¡¯t worthy enough. How about¡­¡±


    Joaolong crawled over to his bed. In the wooden frame, he reached up, moved his hand around as if sliding a loose plank, then revealed his treasure. In the candlelight, Disung saw the long jade pendant, adorned with a lotus flower carving, along with the words ¡®True Prince¡¯. He hadn¡¯t seen it since the hunt. When did Mingzhu give back? Should I even be surprised? he thought. She hides everything from me.


    ¡°Joaolong, that is a risky prize.¡±


    ¡°Then it is worthy!¡±


    Disung grinned and crept closer to Tai. First, he placed cushion on the eunuch. Joaolong raised an eyebrow and added an ugly wooden Fox, to which Disung responded with two scrolls. They continued to add objects on Tai, becoming more daring when he remained still. At one point, Tai¡¯s loud snores ceased and they both bit their laughter, begging him not to move. They heard their beating hearts. Tai made a choked noise. Seconds ticked by. Then, the snores continued and signalled their game to commence once more. By ten minutes, the last objects in the room were a half-empty pot of wine and the table they drank at.


    Joaolong held the table in a tight grasp and wobbled closer. A droplet of sweat trickled down his face as he attempted to delicately place the furniture on the pile of loose items. As soon as the weight pressed down and Joaolong let go, Tai rolled over and crashed the tower. The objects stretched across the floor, creating a huge mess for the morning servants. Disung and Joaolong fell on their backs and lost themselves in laughter. Meanwhile, Tai continued to sleep without complaint.

 Chapter 64: Unusual Tea Invites

    In Shanhe, marriage tradition forced the bride undergo an extensive beauty ¡®cleanse¡¯ a few days prior to the wedding. Every meal contained goji berries to boost immunity in preparation for the wedding night and help the woman produce a healthy baby. Mingzhu argued against it, since everyone believed her already with child, but the servants either infused it in tea or sneakily hid it in snacks. They probably did it to spite her; she was the only sold slave to move ranks and then, be married. Mingzhu also doubted the purity of the rice water for her hair and often tipped it out the window. No one could be trusted, especially servants. She learnt her lesson with Meifan.


    A knock sounded on the door. ¡°Miss? Forgive the intrusion but she awaits.¡±


    Great, Mingzhu thought sarcastically. She finished styling her disgusting turquoise gowns and barged open the door. Tai flinched at the noise and kept his head low, as if hiding from the light above him. He looked like a drunk and sorry man.


    ¡°Are you ready, Miss?"


    ¡°Does she really expect me to wear this?¡± Mingzhu grumbled, unhappy about the odd request.


    Princess Kuang Yanyan had invited her for tea over the past week. Apparently, she offered because of the gloomy expression on Mingzhu¡¯s face. Embarrassed by the comment, Mingzhu refused every time Tai approached her. However, the princess saw this as a challenge and the day before, arranged everything from the robes to the snacks. This forced Mingzhu to accept or otherwise, answer to irritated servants who spent hours preparing.


    Why would a princess want to meet me? I have better things to do like¡­ Disung¡¯s face popped into her head. She avoided him since he reunited with his father, not ready to face her past. He can have his revenge on me later. I need to check with Master about my final task.


    Tai led her under a small archway in Lady Gaze, overlooking water flora, where the tea had been arranged. Near the surface of the misty blue water swam giant fish of white and dark orange. They looked glorious, like tigers of the lake. Yanyan watched them while she waited and looked like a scene from a painting. The peach veil ¨C attached to hairpins that were intricately woven into a braid ¨C was lifted slightly to allow her to see without care. Hearing Mingzhu¡¯s loud footsteps from her awkward, new shoes, the material fell to hide her mysterious face again. Yanyan brushed off her stunning orange robes and greeted her guest.


    With the grace of royalty, she crossed her delicate hands over her chest, to form a bird-like shape, and bowed; this was the traditional greeting in Linlong. Mingzhu reciprocated poorly, confused which bow to do. Since the trial, no one outright spoke of her position or status. Was she a slave? Was she a commoner? Was she a mistake the palace intended to rid themselves of soon? It gave her a headache to think about.


    ¡°Miss Fa, you look beautiful. Please sit,¡± Yanyan said and a personal handmaiden poured the tea. ¡°I wanted to provide you with comfort. I understand weddings can heighten nerves. I remember when¡­¡±


    Mingzhu nodded along and sipped her tea to not say anything. She found something about the tone of Yanyan¡¯s voice comforting and soothing. Her words sounded like a sweet song. Juan used to share a similar, melodic way of speaking but Mingzhu struggled to recall it. Time slowly stole the memory of her sister.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°Ah...¡± Was she asking about the wedding? If so, Mingzhu hated it and bitterly wondered why Disung hadn¡¯t called it off yet. However, she couldn¡¯t say that aloud.


    ¡°Are you craving any sweet or salty food?¡±


    Mingzhu became more lost about their conversation. Could you crave sweet food when you didn¡¯t want to marry your enemy? Did others eat to forget their feelings? What was the princess talking about?Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°I love salty snacks. It is how I know we are having a boy. Do you feel sick yet? Do you have headaches?¡± Yanyan said with animated gestures.


    It suddenly clicked; they were apparently talking about the fake baby. This had to be why the princess wanted tea; no one else in the palace was pregnant or shared a similar age. ¡°I have not focused on the baby.¡±


    ¡°When you do, I will be here. It can be very scary but it is equally wonderful! Just picturing my son turning into a warrior gives me immense joy.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know Linlong had warriors,¡± Mingzhu replied, now intrigued by the conversation.


    ¡°Oh. Of course they must. Unlike the Shanhe coastlines, we have no cliffs or dangerous beaches. Enemies invade the shores with ease. Alas, I did not want to discuss such political matters with you.¡±


    ¡°Then what did you want to discuss?¡± Mingzhu asked bluntly.


    Surprisingly, Yenay chuckled. ¡°I like your transparency, Miss Bai.¡±


    Mingzhu tensed. Her expression hardened. On instinct, she reached for the blade hidden under her robes.


    ¡°I apologise for my rudeness. I did not mean to frighten you but make my alliance with Master Wang known. Please, relax and humour me.¡±


    ¡°Is that all you wanted from me?¡±


    ¡°No. Truthfully, I just wanted a friend, who shares a similar goal, while I stay here. Besides, if I really like your company then you won''t be left behind in the palace."


    "You are-" Mingzhu paused to find the right word among her shock, "-too kind."


    "It does help you join the journey to motherhood, as I do.¡±


    ¡°I do not make friends easily.¡± What was happening? Mingzhu''s head swirled.


    Although it could not be easily seen, a warm smile radiated from under the veil like the sun¡¯s warmth. ¡°I do. Shall I tell you how I met the Third Prince? I was not born of wealth or glory, similar to you. We met in the early Spring and fell in love as soon as our eyes met. I had never felt like that. I imagine it was similar with yourself and Anshu?¡±


    Not in a million years. ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°But I was a country woman, born from rural farmers and had no right to love the prince. I am lucky that Xun Shaiming possesses such a big heart and stubborn determination. He pleaded with his father relentlessly and gave up any ambition to claim the throne to marry me. Due to this, his older brothers supported him since he provided no threat to their power. The emperor, moved by his sons, miraculously agreed to the proposed marriage. No matter my background, they have treated me as family and all look forward to the birth of another grandchild. I am truly blessed.¡±


    ¡°Did they force you to wear the veil?¡± Mingzhu asked.


    ¡°Of course not! It was my own choice. I have very tan skin from my days in the sun and do not wish to disgrace the royal family. I cover myself to slowly become pale and appear as an appropriate woman of status should. After the baby is born, I will be at an adequate skin tone to present myself to others.¡±


    ¡°You must love him a lot to do that.¡± It seemed far too much effort.


    ¡°When did you fall in love with Anshu?¡±


    Mingzhu choked on her tea and despite her shock, she saw Yanyan wait for a response expectantly. No extravagant story came to mind so Mingzhu settled for a realistic answer.


    ¡°It was lust before love.¡±


    ¡°My dear, I believe fate is guiding you! Lust turns into a miracle child, which has united you and Anshu. It sounds very romantic,¡± Yenay swooned.


    ¡°How do you like the tea?¡± Mingzhu asked, desperate to change the subject before she threw up from disgust.


    The tea in question had a bitter flavour. It suited Mingzhu¡¯s taste more than the sweet tea combinations in the Lotus Palace. At least, she knew the servants didn¡¯t hide goji berries in it or so she hoped.


    ¡°It is missing something. You will think me mad for doing this but it is a habit I learnt from Linlong,¡± Yenay spoke as she retrieved a pouch from Tai. Gracefully, she sprinkled small petals into her cup before drinking from it.


    ¡°Why are you putting petals in tea? It¡¯s weird.¡±


    Juan ignored her sister, putting her snobby nose high in the air. At the young age of six, she had a displeasing attitude but this vanished as she grew older. ¡°Not that it is your business but it¡¯s what goddesses drink. It makes the tea pretty.¡±


    ¡°It makes you look stupid.¡±


    ¡°You are a meanie! I¡¯m telling mother!¡± Juan replied and, as siblings do, Mingzhu tried everything to stop her.


    To displease her mother meant ending the world. Their relationship became distant due to the rigorous training requested by her father and in the moments they shared together, Mingzhu selfishly wanted it all to be pleasant memories.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t! I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯ll do your chores tomorrow! Please don¡¯t tell her!¡±


    ¡°Fine. I forgive you,¡± Juan replied, her initial emotions leaving as quick as they came.


    Since then, Mingzhu never commented on the tea leaves and this quirk remained. Every day, Juan always drank tea with petals to appear pretty and unique.


    ¡°Juan?¡± Mingzhu whispered and stood abruptly, looking at the woman before her.

 Chapter 65: Garden Stroll

    Nature slowly died. Leaves wilted and animals disappeared in preparation for winter. Less and less bugs chirped outside while birds flocked to far away lands to escape the dreaded cold. Miraculously, while the rest of the Lotus Palace gardens failed to please the eye, Lady Gaze remained beautiful. Amongst the decay, chrysmanthemums, monkshood and asters enjoyed being centre of attention. The whites, purples and blues complimented each other to provide a wondrous sight for those still willing to wander.


    Already, Joaolong wore a fur cape over his grey robes as a precaution to the crisp chill in the air. Winter brought dangers for his frail body; he fell sick every year and feared death grasping onto him. With a few days remaining until the escape, he didn¡¯t want to risk getting ill before the long journey began. In addition, he wanted to be strong for his meeting with the Fox tonight.


    ¡°Defend yourself!¡±


    Joaolong cocked his head and strengthened his stance. He raised his hands to block his head and readied himself. Out from the bushes, Disung jumped with an extended fist. Joaolong stepped back, dodging the fist but barely managed to block the sudden uppercut. The punch grazed his chin. He cursed. Disung continued to try a few other basic combinations, quickening the pace and grinned when Joaolong blocked the hits.


    ¡°You are improving!¡± Disung praised. Since Joaolong¡¯s demotion, they practiced relaxed defence techniques a few times a week. Joaolong¡¯s body could handle no more than that.


    ¡°Indeed but not fast enough I fear.¡±


    ¡°Lucky I have the precious carved flower then,¡± Disung stated, referring to the pendant in a ridiculous code of his choosing. ¡°It is much safer on my body than yours.¡±


    Joaolong sighed and feared the answer to his question. ¡°Where have you hidden it?¡±


    ¡°With something else just as long, hard and smelling of flowers,¡± Disung replied with a wink.


    ¡°You disgust me.¡±


    ¡°Then go play with your new buddy then. He is close by.¡±


    Up ahead, Shaiming stood alone, admiring the flowers in Lady Gaze. The worry on his face grew evident by the twitch in his jaw and constant need to move. A dark green ribbon entwined with his braid, matching the formal robes that were mixtures of sepia and green.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Joaolong stumbled and on cue, Shaiming pretended to bump into him. During their collide, a scroll fell on the ground.


    ¡°I believe you dropped this, Third Prince,¡± Disung said, perfectly rehearsed and offered him the scroll. ¡°I imagine it must tell of some important dates.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Anshu. It is pleasant to meet you again, Wang Joaolong.¡±


    ¡°The honour is my own. Please forgive my rudeness for the lack of invitations to tea. I noticed you are busy with the emperor and your family.¡±


    After the Moon Festival, neither of them met again. Everyone in the palace suspected each other of foul deeds and if anyone appeared well enough for tea with company, it was seen as treachery to the dead imperial concubine. Shaiming¡¯s obvious anxiety came from this lost contact, hence, Joaolong created this new form of contact of letter exchanges. He only hoped Shaiming had the wise mind to destroy the parchment after reading.


    ¡°Indeed. I am free to take a quick stroll with you now. My wife is currently having tea with your former servant.¡±


    ¡°That is very¡­ interesting.¡± What is Mingzhu doing? Joaolong growled in his head. He ordered her to stay out of sight. Why is she parading around? Especially when she hid from Disung with enthusiasm. Why has she become so reckless since the trial? If she is out of sight, then she is out of the emperor''s mind.


    ¡°Shall we walk?¡±


    The main garden path widened until it reached an archway, perfect for tea gatherings. Maids stood still by two women of higher status, immersed in their own world. Yanyan remained seated with refined posture while Mingzhu leaned over the table, reaching out to grasp the hanging material covering the princess¡¯s face.


    Joaolong cursed along with the other men. His gut dropped. This was dangerous. Fortunately, Disung found his feet and reacted.


    ¡°My dear love! How long has it been since I saw your face?!¡± He yelled merrily.


    The call broke Mingzhu from her spell and she flinched as if cold water splashed on her. She retracted her hand and stared at him in horror. ¡°You.¡±


    ¡°It is me, honey!¡± Disung confirmed and approached her in a rush. He ran his hand over her cheek and pinched her chin in a fond gesture. ¡°Lucky I came. You almost embarrassed yourself in front of the prince and princess.¡±


    Mingzhu looked like a confused child. Her eyes flickered between Disung and Yanyan. Eventually, she found her tongue. ¡°My apologies, princess. I acted inappropriately. You reminded me of someone.¡±


    ¡°You must miss her,¡± Yanyan breathlessly replied and briefly glanced at the necklace around Mingzhu. Then, she clarified herself. ¡°Your sister.¡±


    Shadows fell over Mingzhu¡¯s face. Her eyebrows knitted together and she left without another word. They all watched her storm away in a clumsy manner from her new shoes and layers of clothes. Joaolong worried.


    "Follow her," He ordered Disung in a low voice before turning back to Linlong royalty. "May I join your outing instead? Third Prince and I were just discussing how long it has been since we''ve had a proper gathering."


    "How could I ever decline your company after all you''ve done?" Yanyang said and underneath her veil, he felt her grateful smile.

 Chapter 66: True Heir of Shanhe

    Joaolong savoured the remaining essence of jasmine tea on his tongue. He relished the subtle flavour to calm his nerves. Across from him, an empty cup signalled the leave of his visitor. However, it was not who he expected.


    In the evening, Shaiming barged into his room in a panic. The note from the garden exchange, which detailed their escape, overwhelmed him. He paced the room, chewed his thumb nail and tapped his foot whenever he stilled. His youthfulness and naivety of danger shone through; he may have shared intelligence but he hadn¡¯t faced death as much as Joalong. The neccessity of sneaking out of the palace to avoid assassination, without his soldier convoy to protection, terrified the prince. As for Joaolong, he expressed little concern as something else plagued his mind.


    The Fox arrived tonight. Nerves coiled Joaolong¡¯s stomach. After years of legends and searching for information, he would finally meet a Masked Master face-to-face. It was beyond his wildest expectations. What did he want with him? Through his own deduction and Disung¡¯s confession, he learnt about Mingzhu¡¯s connection to the mountain clan. But why does he want to meet me? Is he a friend or foe? Will he use me or side with me?


    A noise startled Joaolong. He looked to the window and saw a shadow leap inside the room. Black covered every part of the intruder¡¯s body except for his face. A threaded fox mask sat on the top half, leaving his smirk visible in the candlelight.


    The Foxfinally came.


    ¡°It is a lovely night to meet you, Master Wang.¡±


    ¡°Likewise.¡±


    ¡°Are you still pretending to be me?¡± The Fox asked as he wandered around the room and observed his surroundings. ¡°You gave Zhao Cheng quite a fright with all those carved foxes. I should have made Mingzhu scare him the same way while the past emperor still lived¡­ Where is your guard?¡±


    ¡°Elsewhere. I feared the extra company would be unappreciated.¡±


    ¡°You are far too clever to risk being alone with a Masked Master. Mingzhu warned me of your mind. I suspect your guard is hidden nearby and awaiting a signal if danger arises.¡±


    ¡°And if he isn¡¯t?¡± Joaolong replied, keeping his expression unfazed. Indeed, Disung hid nearby just in case but he didn¡¯t want to give the Fox satisfaction over his guess. ¡°The emperor calls on him every day.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not ponder over lies. We must talk while we have time.¡±


    Suddenly, the Fox took off his mask, head covering and wig. This revealed a balding, aged man who shared similar features to Disung. In an instant, Joaolong registered the truth; the Fox was Disung¡¯s father. Apart from height and hair, they looked nearly identical. It explained Disung¡¯s change of attitude towards the assassin since Mingzhu¡¯s failed execution.


    The Fox noticed Joaolong''s bewilderment. ¡°To answer you stumped expression: yes, I am Disung¡¯s father. My name is Liu Hanxiong. No one else outside the mountain clan knows of my identity.¡±


    Then why show me? Joaolong struggled to find a response and keep his calm facade. ¡°How does this benefit me?¡±


    ¡°Interpret it as a gift of unwavering trust and belief in you. I have put myself in a vulnerable situation to prove I speak truth.¡±


    ¡°Very well. What is it you wish to tell me?¡±


    Hanxiong smiled. ¡°Where shall I begin? It has been a long time since we last met. I remember you as a baby. So many years passed and so much has happened. When I heard about Wang Yenay¡¯s death, my heart became heavy and it took all of my determination not to run to the Lotus Palace. The Masked Masters have a plan and I needed to stick to it. However, without guidance, Mingzhu strayed as the fake Fox and when they accused her for terrible deeds, I knew it was time to visit you, especially since the empress can no longer explain everything.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°How are you acquainted with Wang Yenay?¡± Joaolong asked, his heart beating fast. He needed answers like a dying man needed water in a desert.


    ¡°I protected her while she carried the true heir to Shanhe. I was the one who prevented the assassinations and I took the emperor¡¯s son when he grew ill from a snake bite. I hid him away until he was ready.¡±


    ¡°Ready for what?¡±


    ¡°To take the throne. To read this,¡± Hanxiong said and withdrew a letter from his tight, black robes. ¡°This was placed in Wang Yenay¡¯s tombstone when I hid her child away. She chose a protector to deliver it when the right time came. However, with her sudden death and the rising suspicion about the Lost Prince, I took it for safe keeping. Now, I wish to hand it to you.¡±


    With apprehensive hands, Joaolong took the letter. He looked at the faded parchment smeared with dirt and stray strands of webs. On the opposing side, the Shanhe crest imprinted a wax seal. There was no denying the authenticity; only the emperor and empress had the special type of stamp. After slight hesitation, Joaolong read.


    My dearest son.


    Forgive me for I cannot be with you.


    I have too many enemies in the Lotus Palace and your existence brings danger. I declared you dead for your own protection. As I write, the Fox is hiding you far away so you may grow to manhood. Although I am saddened to not know your looks nor your character, my heart understands this is for the best.


    I wait for the day to proudly speak your name and cheer those words with the people of this kingdom: Hong Yondan, he who will rise like the dawn of a new day.


    You are the rightful heir, my lost prince: son of Hong Weishan, the fifth emperor of Shanhe. His blood runs through your veins and mine crowns you the successor of the kingdom.


    I will always love you. Stay strong, my dawn.


    Wang Yenay, empress of Shanhe.


    The fine brush strokes on parchment shattered Joaolong¡¯s conception of the world. The Fox was Shanhe¡¯s saviour. The more absurd idea was his own identity. It couldn¡¯t be¡­


    ¡°Why did you let me read this?¡±


    ¡°You know the answer.¡±


    ¡°It is not possible. For starters, I am older than the true heir.¡±


    ¡°Your birthday was a simple lie. You have lived thinking you were a few years older than you actually are. It dampens suspicions from others.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°Did the inconsistencies and strange happenings never bother you? An intelligent man must have been a curious child. Why did you look nothing like your adoptive parents? How did the village suddenly get plagued and why burn it? Why did the empress adopt a stranger out of all the Shanhe orphans? Why did assassinations always involve you? Why are you always so ill?¡±


    Joaolong¡¯s mind reeled. From a young age, he admitted he grew skeptical of his life. He shared no similar features to his adoptive parents, especially their eyes. While his parents both had smaller, thin eyes, his were larger and had a slight crease. When they died from a blood disease¡ª not air-borne like everyone believed ¡ª he found the announcement of his distant relation to the empress odd. His family consisted of generations of lowly merchants; royalty never came from such backgrounds. However, he altered his inquisitiveness on other interests instead of this to remain blissfully ignorant. He assumed the empress adopted him out of pity, then kept him because of his intelligence, which then ignited assassinations from jealousy, not suspicion of his birthright. Every time his curiosity heightened about himself, he found facts to rebut his idea.


    Now, the bold letter answered his fear. Yenay was his mother and the realisation gave him overwhelming happiness, shortly followed by sorrow. All this time, she never spoke a single word about it. She even gave him the jade pendant and died with that secret. Then, there was Disung, his protector. All along, he knew about this.


    ¡°I understand it is a lot to take in but there is one last thing I must do,¡± Hanxiong said and dropped to his knee. ¡°The Masked Masters have intended for you to take the throne since your birth. They have guided you in minor ways all your life to ensure the Shanhe emperor is worthy of their title. You have met their expectations. Therefore, I, Liu Hanxiong, the Fox, pledge my allegiance to Hong Yondan, son of Hong Weishan and Wang Yenay, rightful heir to Shanhe! May a new dawn rise!¡±


    "May a new dawn rise!" Voices echoed from around the building.


    Suddenly, Disung jumped through the same window as his father, while Mingzhu and Tai entered through the door. Moments later, the Linlong royalty joined them, sneaking through the darkness and into the room. Each person held their hand on their chest and Disung, Mingzhu and Tai shared fresh tattoos on their wrist. From afar, Joaolong made out a lotus flower, matching the design from the Lost Prince pendant, melded together with a sunrise; this was to be the symbol of his rule.

 Chapter 67: Kidnapped

    Theplan seemed simple in Cheng''s mind yet he hated his major involvment. Of course, Qiaolian was too ill to help and Huli only ordered others to do his dirty work. However, the opportunity to personally attend to Huian gave him sudden motivation. After months of his suspicion, he could finally check if she was Mingzhu. All he needed to do was look at her back for burns.


    While he snuck towards Huain''s tiny chambers ¡ª allocated after the wedding announcement ¡ªwith a drug-soaked cloth and dark intent, the hired hitmen ventured towards Joaolong. The emperor would preventDisung''s interferance at this pivotal point in time, just as planned. This left the hitmen to act without fear and deliver the young master to the tavern,after others ruined Huian''s innocence. Already, he pictured the drunkards waiting in merry spirits to rape the girl. Poor thing. You do have my pity, he thought. Always a slave to those with power. In the next life, may you never cross Qiaolian''s reincarnation.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    "Fa Huian?" Cheng called after he knocked on the door. The lack of response fuelled his adrenaline; the drugs in her food worked wonders. "Pardon my intrusion."


    A single candle illuminated a small patch of the room. On the floor, Huian laid with a rising and falling chest. Around her neck hung a familiar necklace of wood and jade. Cheng froze; the scene reminded him of his wife''s death. That wasn''t my fault, he reminded and pushed onwards with the plan. He needed to set the scene of disgrace between Joaolong and Huian, then, Disung would serve the emperor willingly. Otherwise, Huli would kill him for failing. This isn''t my fault either.


    "I am truly sorry for this," Cheng said and lifted Huianover his shoulder. Despite her small size, she weighed more than he anticipated. In a huff, he straightend his back and headed outside.

 Chapter 68: At Mercy

    The request for his audience confused Disung. The night settled hours ago and most of the palace laid in bed. However, his emperor requested him. Why? As he waited in the main hall, anxiety expanded in his chest. This felt like a trap; why steal him late at night during Joaolong¡¯s most vulnerable state unless he meant harm?


    ¡°You summoned me.¡±


    ¡°Yes. It came to my attention that you have not properly thanked me for your marriage happening tomorrow.¡±


    The emperor sat on his throne, dressed in maroon instead of the royal red colour. The understated attire signified the informality of the conversation and lack of importance the meeting held. This infuriated Disung but he remained kneeling on the narrow carpet, feeling Huli¡¯s mismatched eyes stare at him like a demon.


    Disung bowed low. ¡°You are magnanimous, your majesty. My gratitude towards you goes beyond words can express.¡±


    ¡°How is your child? Still alive? I foresaw the thing to be dead by now.¡±


    And I foresee you dead by my hand if you keep this up, Disung replied darkly in his mind. If he did have a child, he would have killed the emperor on the spot for speaking in such a manner, his status be damned. ¡°The gods have blessed my child to stay in the mortal realm.¡±


    ¡°Or they curse you. It is all in the interpretation. Anyway, I requested you company to offer another deal. If you wish it, I can cease the wedding. It was arranged to show my mercy but now that the citizens care no longer, I can withdraw my command.¡±


    ¡°Although I appreciate your kindness, there is no need to stop tomorrow¡¯s events.¡±


    Huli grinned so wide all his teeth went on display. ¡°I have a feeling your mind will change.¡±


    Before Disung could react, a knock sounded on the door. A eunuch scurried towards it, talked to the person outside and then faced the emperor.


    ¡°Your majesty, that housemaid is here in distress.¡±


    Something changed in Huli; his arrogant expression got replaced by worry. Meifan took a tentative step into the room with wide eyes. She didn¡¯t speak but Huli reacted as if she had and raced out the room. This left Disung alone on his knees, forced to wait for his master''s return. However, he cared little for formal permission to leave; he needed to escape and find out why his gut feeling warned of danger. So, he ran away in search of Joaolong.


    It didn''t take long to discover the reason for his unease. After his eyes adjusted to the dark, he saw silhouettes of men around Joalong¡¯s courtyard as he approached. They spoke in hushed, gruff voices and slinked around any nearby fire¡¯s light to keep their presence hidden. More shadows emerged from the building and heaved a body behind them, which caused a collective, satisfied chuckle. Disung planned to stop the chilling sound; he would not let the true heir die so close to the ¡®unveiling¡¯.


    No thudding feet sounded nor groan escape as one man fell to the ground, hit hard on the back of his head. This silent onslaught continued. It was as if the wind played tricks on the kidnappers, taking them into its invisible grasp one by one. However, two men realised the danger and dragged the body back inside to lock themselves with it. Disung grinned, enthused by the challenge.


    With energy boucing through his body, he crawled under the building and wiggled along his self-made path. In his head, he sung a childhood song and when the lyrics finished, he stopped moving. Just above him, he saw light shine through the trapdoor edges. The secret escape route was installed to hide Joaolong if Disung failed to protect him but tonight, it served a greater purpose.


    ¡°What should we do?¡± He heard a voice grunt above him. ¡°They said Anshu would be dealt with.¡±


    Another man cursed. ¡°This isn¡¯t worth two gold rings.¡±


    ¡°Let''s leave before we get killed.¡±


    ¡°Fool! It is too late for that! We are already doomed!¡±


    ¡°He is right,¡± Disung agreed, suddenly appearing in the room. He sat on the floor and dangled his legs in trap door opening. ¡°It is even more dire because you lit a candle in the room too. Now I have seen your faces. Your only option is to bargain with me.¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡± The smaller, panicked man asked.


    ¡°Uncover the body.¡± The man obeyed and removed the blankets from the thing behind them. He revealed Joaolong¡¯s face and Disung ground his teeth. ¡°What did you do?¡±


    ¡°He isn¡¯t dead! He is drugged! It will wear off!¡±


    ¡°Stop talking,¡± the other man warned.


    Without hesitation, Disung threw a dagger on his belt at the domineering assassin. It stuck into his forehead, instantly killing him. He fell to the ground, blood pouring over his face like a stream. This caused the remaining man to quake.


    ¡°What have you planned with Wang Joaolong? Disung asked, scarily happy and studying his withdrawn sword.


    The cheery tone took the man aback. ¡°Er¡ª¡±


    ¡°Should I make you a eunuch to get you confessing? I could make it as quick as you should be talking right now.¡±


    ¡°Please! Have mercy!¡±


    Disung sighed and approached the feeble man. ¡°Drop the knife. Attack Wang Joaolong and I will do more than castrate you.¡±


    The man, who tried to sneak a weapon into his hand, did as instructed. The blade clattered to the ground.


    ¡°What was the plan?¡±


    ¡°We were following orders! We had to take the man to an abandoned shop in Yinying Yueguang.¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Why?¡± Disung asked, his voice too calm to be his real emotion. Were they intending to slaughter Joaolong? Maybe they wanted to sell his organs to the poor as animal meat. But why? No one else knew of his true identity except allies. Qiaolian¡¯s suspicion died with her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know! We were told to put him there with the girl.¡±


    ¡°What girl?¡±


    ¡°Y-y-your betrothed. The m-maid.¡±


    Disung snapped. He grabbed the man''s shirt, bringing his closer to Disung''s sword. ¡°What were you going to do with the girl?¡±


    The man didn¡¯t meet Disung¡¯s eyes, which answered the question. Someone orchestrated for Joaolong and Mingzhu to be disgraced in the city. Huli¡¯s words seem to echo around the room: I have a feeling you mind will change.


    ¡°Where is the abandoned shop?¡±


    ***


    <hr>


    The building came into view. As described, it looked haunted with cobwebs and discoloured wood. The splintered sign on the left pillar had no distinguishable letters and the unhinged door leaned in the doorway. Yet, light came from the back room. Disung barged in, fuelled on adrenaline and rage. Please don¡¯t be too late, he pleaded to the gods. Please let me save her.


    ¡°Let her go!¡± He roared as he entered the space.


    To his shock, he didn¡¯t see Mingzhu helpless and dishevelled on the floor. Nor did he see men having their way with her. Instead, his mouth dropped open at Mingzhu holding a jagged piece of wood on Cheng¡¯s neck. Scratches reddened his face and covered his arms, accompanied by small droplets of blood. Based on this, his ripped clothing and bound limbs, Mingzhu had fought back and won. It filled Disung with relief; this was why he loved a warrior and not a meek, helpless maiden.


    Mingzhu pressed the wood harder against Cheng¡¯s neck but turned to face Disung. ¡°I was just about to ask my dear brother-in-law some questions. Care to join me, boy?¡±


    They hadn¡¯t talked since visiting the cabin. A wave of conflicting emotions rolled over Disung. He wanted to both hate and protect her. She lied to him but also reunited him with Hanxiong. Yet, any angst towards her lessened when he saw the desperation in her eyes.


    ¡°Sounds like fun,¡± he replied with a dark grin. He stalked towards Cheng like a hungry predator. ¡°What will you ask first?¡±


    ¡°Help! Anshu! This is not who you think! This woman is¡ª¡±


    ¡°Bai Mingzhu,¡± Disung finished at the same time Mingzhu punched Cheng.


    She shook her hand to lessen the pain from the blow. ¡°Screaming will be of no use. You picked this place because it is far enough from any nosey people. Also, let me tell you a little secret: Liu Disung knew my identity months ago so he won¡¯t help you. The only way you will get out of here alive is if you answer my questions. Understand?¡±


    Apparently Cheng took too long to answer because Mingzhu kicked his ribs. This knocked him onto the floor. Then, to express her irritation, she stepped on his bound hands and applied all her weight. Cheng cried out in pain.


    ¡°Do you understand?" Mingzhu asked and when Cheng nodded, she stepped back. ¡°Who arranged this kidnapping and why?¡±


    ¡°The emperor! The emperor did it all! I am but a puppet to him! I want no part in all this but my life is at stake! I swear!¡±


    ¡°Why did he want me kidnapped?¡± Mingzhu asked.


    ¡°T-to¡­win over Anshu. He wants a loyal human weapon at his command.¡±


    Both Mingzhu and Disung released a breath, as if sharing the same thought. It meant Huli didn¡¯t know about the true heir¡¯s identity yet. Tomorrow wasn¡¯t ruined.


    ¡°Did he plan all of the assassinations on Joaolong?¡± Disung demanded to know. "Even those years ago?"


    ¡°Yes. He and my sister were behind everything; they didn¡¯t want a smart man ruining their plans. Wang Joaolong intervened himself too much in bribes and councilmen''s exploits so they feared he would target them soon. Everything happened because of Qiaolian and Huli!¡±


    ¡°You are not innocent! Do not blame everything on others! What about my sister?! Will you try say they killed her?¡±


    ¡°They d¡ª¡±


    Mingzhu cut his arm with the rotting wood. It ripped his skin and left a trail of splinters behind. The wound looked ghastly and judging by Cheng¡¯s shrills, it hurt worse than breaking his bones. Tears streamed down his ruined face and the sobs sounded more like screams.


    ¡°The truth only or I will do it again,¡± Mingzhu warned. ¡°Start with the fire that burned my farmhouse. You started it. Why?¡±


    ¡°How did you know?¡± Cheng gasped.


    Mingzhu spat on his face. ¡°I am asking the questions. Why did you do it?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to! It was an accident! I knocked over some candles and then it blew up out of control. I married you sister to rectify my own clumsy mistake. Please believe me! I treated your sister with care!¡±


    ¡°With care?! You murdered her!¡±


    ¡°I was drunk!¡± Cheng tried to explain, not noticing he confessed to Mingzhu¡¯s suspicion of what truly happened. ¡°I was scared. Qiaolian gave her these scrolls full of lies about my past to scorn me. She believed her! I didn¡¯t want to be trapped by my sister! I didn¡¯t want my wife to be so foolish! I was so frightened that I¡ª¡±


    The sickening crunch from Mingzhu¡¯s punch indicated his facial brones broke. ¡°Let¡¯s leave him to die of starvation.¡±


    ¡°Wait! Please! Spare me! I can tell you more!¡± Cheng shouted in desperation. ¡°It has been planned to frame the visiting Linlong royalty. I was to hide false battle plans against Shanhe and stolen goods in their belongings. They would be publicly found and treachery would be declared. The people would rise for war! Please spare me! I¡¯ll tell you everything!¡±


    ¡°When the pig is forced, he does squeal incessantly,¡± Mingzhu commented in disgust. ¡°Too bad it¡¯s all for nothing. You won''t live to see the sunrise.¡±


    ¡°Mingzhu, this is too cruel," Disung whispered, considering Cheng''s confession. "He is just a toy in someone else¡¯s game. Just like¡­¡±


    Their eyes met. Fury and malice retreated from her expression as she considered the unfinished sentence. He didn¡¯t mean to imply she shared Cheng¡¯s situation but knew it was too late to rephrase it. Accepting the accusation, her shoulders slumped in defeat. ¡°Do as you wish. I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    Disung ran a hand through his hair then walked to Cheng. He loosened the restraints. ¡°You will be able to wiggle yourself free of these bindings in a few minutes. By that time, we will be nearing the palace. Tell anyone of tonight and Joaolong will reveal his knowledge about Bai Juan¡¯s death. Your reputation will be destroyed and the kingdom will only see you as a murderer.¡±


    With the final threat, he left and greeted the cool night. He breathed in the fresh air. It appeared like nothing happened; the city remained peaceful and silent. Who would have thought someone was just beaten to a bloody pulp on a calm night?


    "Can you be sure he won''t ruin our plans?" Mingzhu asked.


    "Joaolong has something on him. He won''t risk it," Disung replied. "I need to ask about how you escaped? I feared the worst when I came here."


    Mingzhu smirked. "For the past week I have been eating goji berries in everything. Tonight was the first meal without them. It was too odd. I already took a few mouthfuls when I realised this and it was enough to make me tired. When I finally woke up, he was carrying me into the building. I didn''t give him the chance to do much else."


    "I''m impressed."


    "Did they target anyone else?"


    "Others were hired to handle Wang Joaolong. I just made it in time."


    "Where were you?"


    Disung frowned, his anger bubbling inside at the image of the emperor. "Being a lapdog."


    "Not for much longer. Tomorrow, our battles end so the war can begin."


    "We must keep our guard up at all times. Tonight demonstrated our lapse in judgement. We''ll return to the palace together," Disung said and grabbed Mingzhu''s hand, determined not to let go.


    Mingzhu stared where their skin touched. ¡°I can handle myself."


    "I refuse to risk it."


    "You should hate me. Why did you try save me? You saw what I just did to that man. Did Master not explain everything? I was the reason the village was destroyed. I was the reason you had to run away and live in poverty. I was the reason for so many deaths.¡±


    ¡°You are not nor will ever be your father. To me, you will always remain as Bai Mingzhu; my childhood rival, first love and the woman who shoulders everything."


    The words had an auspicious effect on Mingzhu. He saw the invisible wall she built around herself crumble. Vulnerability shone in her eyes like twinkling stars. The insane happenings, from kidnapping to torturing others, broke her. A single tear escaped and Disung hugged her tightly. Finally, she opened up and accepted him.

 Chapter 69: Dream of the Empress

    Being emperor of Shanhe had its perks and downfalls. Huli loved the power at his fingertips but despised mundane tasks such as organising meetings or listening to his councilmen complain. In the early morning, he leaned back on his throne and stared at the ceiling, bored by the conversation.


    ¡°Your majesty,¡± began an extremely old councilman with a long, wispy, white moustache. He moved away from his formation on the left side on the main hall and to the centre of the blue carpet. Somehow, Huli forgot to remove the original member of his father¡¯s council. ¡°You have heard the councilmen voice their own complaints about thievery and safety but I wish to delve further into the source of these problems. I believe the crime is rising due to our kingdom¡¯s low produce, the withdraw from trade and the new tax for the army. Starving and poor villagers have no choice but to turn to a life of crime. If we punish them instead of solve the original issue, I fear the outcome.¡±


    ¡°Are you suggesting we deny our soldiers food and help when they are preparing to fight for the kingdoms prosperity?!¡± Huli replied accusingly.


    ¡°Of course not but¡ª¡±


    ¡°Emperor! Emperor! Emperor!¡± A eunuch shouted which interrupted their meeting.


    ¡°You dare enter without permission?¡± Huli snarled and immediately, the guards restrained the intruder.


    ¡°It is urgent! The Fox has entered Yinying Yueguang! Trouble is brewing! Emperor, you must do something! Come see!¡±


    At the mention of the Fox, all the men fell into a frenzy. The panicked cries rung in Huli¡¯s head and he rose from his chair. Like a fearless leader, he led the swarm of men to the city without hesitation. He felt an eagerness overcome him and smiled while crossing the bridge to the city. Today, he would kill the Fox who made him a fool.


    ¡°Welcome!¡±


    The Fox, dressed in black except for his mask, squatted on a central balcony rail and spread parchment to those below by a simple sweeping motion from the wrist. The wind caught these and dispersed them throughout the village within seconds. Just as Huli readied himself to follow the guards in front of him, the Fox disappeared. Yet, his mischief continued.


    The villagers ran wild and even their fear of the emperor did not stop him being pushed by the crowd. He had no opportunity to grab the mysterious parchment but he saw buildings wear graffiti like a badge of honour. The jet black ink smeared the grey walls, forming the symbol of the lost prince and a simple instruction to follow.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Go to the imperial tombs.


    The anticipation to kill the Fox turned into dread. Soldiers surrounded him to shove back the frenzied people but he remained helpless to the masses. Multiple times, he saw the Fox dash into buildings, jump across roofs and sneak back into the forest. The inhuman speed exhibited truth behind the theory of the Masked Masters being gods. However, Huli refused to admit defeat yet. If only he could escape the crowd of fools! Unwilling and enraged, he joined the wave of people heading towards the imperial burial grounds.


    Long, bright orange banners led the way past the enormous cave tombs of the royal family. The material soon unravelled into a jumble of threads and ended at the grave of the empress¡¯s son. Lost to death so young and holding such great significance, the passed empress demanded he lay next to a large plum blossom tree. The plant looked as dead as the prince and the only colour came from the person standing beside it.


    People gawked at the Fox, who looked identical to the Fox in the village. Huli had no words. How did the assassin do it? It was impossible. Yet, the most frustrating part was the human trap which held the soldiers in place. None could get through to attack the enemy. It caused fear to crawl into Huli¡¯s heart as he stared helplessly ahead.


    The Fox walked over to the empty grave, pleased by the gathering size. He raised his hand and showed everyone a jade pendant. The royal markings proved its origins and the symbol matched the pictures painted on the village walls; it belonged to the Lost Prince. Next, he reached into the grave and pulled out discoloured parchment, covered in dirt. He showed the delicate writing and empress blood stamp to curious eyes to affirm the authenticity. Finally, with a puffed chest, explained his acts.


    ¡°Today, I have requested the people of Shanhe to hear the words of the empress, Wang Yenay. The time has come to speak of the forgotten prince of Shanhe, Hong Yondan. The son, containing blood of Hong Weishan and Wang Yenay, is alive! Come see this empty grave! It has only ever contained this letter for twenty-five years! In its lines, it explains the extremities that caused our beloved empress to hide her son from the world. Most importantly, we, the Masked Masters, accept him as the true ruler of Shanhe! Cheer for Hong Yondan! Read this letter and know of his identity! See him wear his jade amulet! Be ready for the new dawn of Shanhe!¡±


    The Fox disappeared, running deep into the forest, and only left behind the letter. Immediately, many seized the parchment. First, the noblemen and noblewomen read the name and whispered it among themselves before the commoners tried their best to discover the truth. By the time Huli reached the parchment, it was torn to tatters and he failed to hear the name whispered around him. Who was the true heir? How dare the Masked Masters renounce his title! He would kill them all! Anyone who rebelled against him would perish!

 Chapter 70: Last Palace Debt

    Mingzhu took off her fox mask and stored it in a loose floorboard. She wiped off her sweat and washed the ink from her hands. Disung must¡¯ve been in a similar situation; rushing back and preparing for the wedding as if he never left his chambers. Meanwhile, Hanxiong, Shaiming and Tai continued running around the village in fox masks to entice more chaos. Hopefully, it distracted the emperor enough to remain out of the palace during the wedding and other preparations.


    ¡°What damn thing do I use first?¡± Mingzhu wondered aloud after she tied red cotton threads in her hair. She stared at the small jars in front of her. During the Moon Festival, the other dance girls did her makeup. Without them, she remained a failure at feminine routines. ¡°Do I even have time to practice?¡±


    Hesitantly, she took the logical step and applied oils on her skin to soften it. After these dried, she powdered rice flour onto her face and she burst out laughing because of the ghostly appearance. Disung would love it. She imagined him chuckling and a warm feeling overtook her. In a few hours, he would be her husband.


    Never in a million years did she picture herself married. As a child, she was forced to focus on martial arts and after that, she only cared about Juan¡¯s life. Now, after everything, she was preparing to wed her childhood rival. Fate played a wicked game.


    The belief she only agreed to the arrangement for the escape plan had been cracking as the minutes passed. Since the incident with Cheng ¡ª when Disung risked everything to find her and comforted her after torturing a man ¡ª she realised how deeply she loved him. However, she refused to admit that to anyone else.


    ¡°Pardon the intrusion. I have been told you need assistance.¡±


    Mingzhu recognised the sweet voice. It sent a sharp ache to her heart and saturated the good mood. The lingering emotions she had for Meifan resurfaced with deep unwelcome. They had laughed together. They gave each other hope. They were friends. How could she betray her? Why did Mingzhu trust her? More importantly, why was she here?Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    ¡°You are brave daring to come near,¡± Mingzhu snarled and latched onto anger to hide her pain.


    ¡°Many nobles insist a maid help you prepare,¡± Meifan replied softly and ventured further into the room. Her beauty bloomed, like a budding flower since the trial, from a rich diet of a high housemaid. It made Mingzhu want to vomit at the girl''s profit. ¡°I believe it should be my duty.¡±


    Without an invitation, Meifan perched herself near the duchess. Mingzhu ignored her and continued her makeup. The pregnant silence weighed down on them. As Mingzhu declined any slight movements to help, the tension rose. Finally, Meifan cracked.


    ¡°I¡¯m despicable! I betrayed you! Why do you not curse me?!¡±


    I want to. I want to so badly, Mingzhu thought. But that is how you win. ¡°I do not need someone attending to me for the wedding.¡±


    ¡°Talk to me! Please!¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I made a mistake,¡± Meifan whispered and her eyes watered like disturbed ponds. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it through. I didn¡¯t realise what would happen. I just thought¡ª¡±


    ¡°Accusing me of being an assassin would benefit you,¡± Mingzhu finished.


    ¡°Please understand! I didn¡¯t think they would try kill you!¡±


    Lies! No one is that stupid. I should have let Xiaoli bully you until scars riddled your body! ¡°It does not matter now. I am safe from harm and to be married.¡±


    ¡°D-does that mean you forgive me?¡±


    ¡°Take care of Song Meifan. That was Senior Jiang¡¯s last words.¡±


    ¡°Lin Jiang was a traitor to Shanhe,¡± Meifan replied automatically.


    ¡°As much as I was a traitor to you,¡± Mingzhu retorted and continued her makeup with calm strokes, despite wanting to turn Meifan into a punching dummy. ¡°I will forgive you for feeding me to the wolves because of Senior. I will forget you chose power over friendship. I will also give you a chance at another life.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You dreamed of marrying an ordinary man and living in the countryside. I can make it happen. Tonight, I am planning an escape with the true heir. Come with me,¡± Mingzhu said and offered a parchment. On it, a drawing mapped out an escape route from the palace.


    ¡°B-but why?¡±


    ¡°I hold onto my debts fiercer than my grudges. My offer for tonight will be the last thing I owe you.¡±

 Chapter 71: Wedding

    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    At the end of a long red carpet, placed on the stone walkways, the groom stood between two garden ornaments. The carved marble lanterns had tiny, chiseled lotus flowers all over to further impress admirers. Legend stated they were relics from the first emperor. Behind the fake screening and deep inside, incense burned. It smelt like petrichor combined with dewy floral fragrance.


    This did nothing to calm Disung while he waited. The rush back to the palace, undetected, sent his blood rushing like a flood. In the city, he had painted buildings, avoided screaming people and jumped across roofs near the emperor. The danger of the situation caused a thrill to tingle his bones and the effects still weakened him. However, as the minutes ticked by, he became uncertain which caused this sensation: the morning adventure or the wedding.


    He was getting married to someone who shared his romantic feelings, although she denied it well. It felt impossible to accept. It all appeared too perfect, which caused him to anxiously await for the plan to fail. Yet, the emperor did not appear. No one stopped the bride as she walked down the carpet, dressed in predominantly red and heavy material. The musicians from the local tavern didn¡¯t mess the songs. Everything went smoothly.


    The couple performed the marital tea ceremony and kneeled to offer Chunhua ¡ª the only family ¡ª a drink after kowtowing thrice. Chunhua grinned the whole time, unable to contain her obvious excitement and delight. The couple repeated their kowtow and tea offer to each other, then to the shrine, or in this case, the marble lanterns. Throughout this process, Disung kept trying to see through the red veil which hid Mingzhu¡¯s face. He hoped to find comfort in her expression but instead, remained lost from nervousness.


    The last part of the ceremony remained strict to Shanhe traditions. Disung and Mingzhu held small lotus flowers and to have a good marriage, these could not fall while a strand of blue and red fabric ¨C blue symbolic for Shanhe, while red reflected marriage prosperity ¡ª were tied to their wrists. This bound them together and would be braided to form bracelets.


    Finally, they spoke their vow. ¡°We promise to live together and become grey-haired together. As spirits, our souls will unite in another place and we will continue to let the love guide us.¡±


    This concluded the public display and the stray visitors, along with Linlong royalty, left. This signalled Disung and Mingzhu to part and meet again in the matrimonial room, where the couple were expected to remain until morning. Despite their plans, Disung worried this would happen because when he entered, Mingzhu already finished a cup of wine.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.¡°Slow down,¡± he said and took the goblet from her reaching grasp.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Disung smiled and lifted the red veil so it tangled on the golden hair jewellery. His wife glared at his gawking expression. She looked radiant; her skin turned creamier from the days inside, the makeup flattered her lean face and her wild eyes stared into the deep parts of his soul. It all sent Disung¡¯s heart soaring.


    ¡°If you keep drinking, shall we complete the wedding traditions then?¡± He blurted, hoping his cheekiness disguised his eagerness and infatuation.


    Mingzhu laughed humourlessly and lifted her head in an angry rush to cause the headdress to hit him. Fortunately for Disung, he dodged the impulsive movement by mere millimetres.


    ¡°We should practice for tonight instead,¡± Mingzhu countered.


    A hand flew piercingly at Disung¡¯s neck but he blocked it. To encourage her to continue, he took several steps back to give his opponent room to move. Mingzhu raised herself onto her toes, ready to fight in her preferred style. She ran up and as always, did three quick jabs. These hit near his left shoulder and Disung backed away to avoid serious harm. Then, before she attacked again, he faked a punch and kicked her side. This caused her to wince and handstand-flip back to regain space.


    The couple stalked each other in a circle to contemplate their next moves. Mingzhu leapt to attack but Disung predicted this and yanked her hand forward. Before toppling, she manoeuvred to dive into a roll. However, Disung pounced as soon as she found her feet; he lightly punched, kicked and tripped her. Unwilling to fuel her anger any further, he pinned her back against a wall.


    ¡°I let you win,¡± Mingzhu responded. ¡°I can¡¯t hurt you too much before we begin our mission.¡±


    ¡°We might not see each other again. Shall we savour this moment?¡±


    ¡°I will savour my fist in your¡ª¡±


    He kissed her to cut off the threat. The feeling of their touching bodies and lips made him turn into a crazed animal. For weeks, he wanted to do this and judging her submissive response, she shared his desire. Yet, if he didn¡¯t stop now, he wouldn¡¯t be able to stop at all. So, he pulled back despite the beast inside him growl in fury.


    ¡°Are you ready for tonight?¡± He asked in a gruff voice.


    ¡°Our guests will be arriving soon.¡±


    Pain radiated through Disung¡¯s stomach. He looked down to see Mingzhu¡¯s retracting fist; she punched him. As he bent over, he saw her wicked smile and a fox mask in her other hand.


    ¡°May the Foxes outwit all.¡±

 Chapter 72: Spiders Web

    The Zhao family name had always been associated with poverty. Their history consisted of generations of beggars and Cheng¡¯s mother worked at a ¡®special¡¯ dance house, which led to accidental conceiving of two children during her duties. This pitiful background left the family, especially bastard children, vulnerable to cruelty of the world and they turned to crime for survival. The children pick-pocketed and mastered theft at a young age with a very sharp understanding this was their life. However, as they grew, their greed for more did as well.


    At first, Cheng formed a simple ambition to become a commoner with comfortable wealth to let him live humbly. However, his sibling rivalry pushed him to achieve greater feats. Qiaolian had always been the favourite and their mother became convinced she would save their family by marrying into high society. Yet, he wanted to be the hero.


    Any stolen money afforded him small business beginnings. He observed the desire of others and sold items similar to their wants. To keep his market stall popular, he limited stock and changed products every full moon. This strategy gave him enough income to dress in styles matching noble families, frequent expensive taverns and undergo testing for a council position. Every word he spoke or action was purposeful and had an ulterior motive, which helped him gain good graces with noblemen. Then, the greatest opportunity came.


    The annual hunt commenced after his last exam for council. Rumours whispered of councilmen attending this year, desperate to win land of a recently exiled family. Originally, Cheng planned to kill one of them to take their position but during the adrenaline-fuelled fight, he targeted the imperial advisor instead.


    That day changed Cheng¡¯s life forever and although he did not win the hunt, the young emperor recognised his brave efforts when ¡®saving¡¯ other councilmen from wild animals. Soon after, he entered the Lotus Palace as a friend of the emperor and gained the position as imperial advisor by his connection.


    He visited home soon after his promotion, ready to show his mother the real hero of the family. He exceeded her expectations. However, instead of showering him with praise, she still fussed over Qiaolian and demanded he put her in a position of power too. Unable to refuse, Cheng began assassinating the empress¡¯s unborn children because of his sister¡¯s suggestion.


    This task challenged his morals but over time, the guilt fled and it felt like he was simply a farmer harvesting crops too early. While he did the dirty work, he brought his sister into the palace often and presented her to the emperor, guised under coincidental meetings. It didn¡¯t take long for the emperor¡¯s lust to spur for a new woman, rather than the empress; Qiaolian was selected as a concubine within weeks.


    The year of his promotion and his sister¡¯s royal title formed him into a hidden spider, weaving webs and plucking each strand to ripple disasters. Everyone believed him weak because of his submissiveness but they couldn¡¯t see their entanglement in a trap he created. Even now, the emperor appeared ignorant to his affect on Xiaoli and Cheng took full advantage of it.


    ¡°Good luck, Miss Ju.¡± Cheng smiled under the stars.


    Xiaoli stared at the hidden residence in front of her. ¡°Are you certain?¡±


    ¡°Do this and you will be empress.¡±


    ¡°I will be empress¡­ I will be empress,¡± Xiaoli repeated and entered the building.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Manipulating Xioali seemed too easy. At the first sign of attention from Cheng, she grovelled at his feet before he provided her with a chance at redemption and revenge. Qiaolian and Huli threw away a toy and he picked it up. Fools. Those desperate emotions clouded the young girl¡¯s judgement and made her perfect for play.


    At the sound of a surprised squeal, Cheng snuck into the building. A smirk planted on his face when he saw Xioali pin Meifan to the ground, hands around her throat. He walked over to the next room and gazed at his sister on the bed. Bandages wrapped around her throat and despite the days of rest, she still appeared ill. It felt beyond satisfying to see her in misery.


    ¡°My dear sister. Look at you, so weak and pathetic. I can hear the spirit of our mother snicker at your state. I admit, it does give me immense pleasure to see you suffer this way. Your son¡¯s death will be quicker, I assure you.¡± Cheng grinned as Qiaolian¡¯s eyes snapped wide open at the last part.


    ¡°Guards! Guards!¡± Qiaolian rasped, unable to move. ¡°Song Meifan! Come!¡±


    ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t bother calling for help. Everyone has been rendered useless. They are too busy handling a Fox problem and your precious new prodigy appears to be battling your original successor. Ju Xiaoli has come back to reclaim her place. That¡¯s the trouble with your play: it gets too messy.¡±


    ¡°You dare talk to me like this?! I will have your head!¡±


    ¡°And here I thought your son took after Hong Weishan,¡± Cheng mused. ¡°No matter. I came here to discuss other things. You see, we are seeds cultivated from the same tree. We both thrive in manipulation and do anything to fulfil our own selfish desires. The difference is that you like to glorify yourself in attention and I keep hidden in the shadows. Your deluded ways have proven problematic for me and must end.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? You weak, pathetic imbecile!¡± Qiaolian growled.


    Cheng sighed and sat on the bed, withdrawing a servant kitchen knife. ¡°Do you know why I convinced Hong Weishan to attack Linlong? It¡¯s because they have something I want. Just like you, I always go to extreme lengths to get what I want. For that beauty, Bai Juan, I burnt her house down so she would marry me. As for Linlong, my intentions require severity that is challenging even for me. I have let your son rule and turn Shanhe into poverty which will force them to merge with Linlong after the war, if they are to survive. Then I will rise, the wise man behind two emperors, to rule over one kingdom.¡±


    ¡°My son will rule!¡±


    ¡°That is hard for a dead man to do. Your precious son will lead at the front of the Shanhe army; I will convince him using his paranoia and thirst for attention. He will die in battle and that will leave me, the only blood relative, to take the throne. When Linlong is defeated, I will triumph as the hero that sought peace by forming the kingdoms into one rich nation. I, Zhao Cheng, will rule this country and you, Zhao Qiaolian, will die like the filth you are.¡±


    "What about the true heir?!"


    "Wang Joaolong won''t last the war. His poor health will crumble under the stress he now bares. I have no threats except Linlong after today."


    ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡±


    ¡°You know why.¡±


    Qiaolian¡¯s body trembled at her failed effort to move. Angry tears screamed down her face. If she wasn¡¯t weak from the rare poison, the paralysing agent he mixed into her tea kept her down. At least, Cheng thought to himself, she¡¯ll die just like those she tricked and killed.


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t cry. It¡¯s pitiful, after all, you only have yourself to blame. Just like our dear mother, you were a fool to underestimate me.¡±


    The knife plunged into Qiaolian¡¯s chest and just before she bled out, Cheng choked her. He wanted to bask in the glory taking her life with his bare hands. Too long, he dealt with her insults and underestimation, letting his pride suffer for the sake of his future plans. Then, when he eyes turned empty, he smiled. It was over.


    In the hallway, Xiaoli still fought to control Meifan. They tumbled and grunted, neither strong enough to prevail. While they remained reoccupied, Cheng snuck outside, only to re-enter with a tray of food. He dropped it in fake shock at the girls wrestling and Qiaolian¡¯s dead body metres away, then yelled for guards. They arrived within seconds and shoved Xiaoli off Meifan, before dragging her to the prisoner area after Cheng gave them the impression she killed the emperor¡¯s mother. The orchestration was perfect.

 73: Wasted Chance

    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Huli asked with irritation evident in his low voice. Everything around him lay destroyed.


    The guards all bent their knee and bowed with a hand over their chest. ¡°Your majesty, the imperial concubine is dead.¡±


    Red covered Huli¡¯s vision. The indescribable sorrow hid under a storm of rage. His blood roared. A snarl indented his face. He glared at Meifan, who fell into a pile on the floor.


    ¡°Emperor! Emperor! Emperor!¡± Meifan sobbed before he could add to the red marks on her neck. ¡°Ju Xiaoli killed her! And Fa Huian is escaping with the true heir tonight!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°Fa Huian is escaping tonight! I-I gained her trust again, like s-suggested, and gathered this s-secret i-information for your majesty. I am certain this was the reason for Miss Ju¡¯s attack on the dear imperial concubine! You must haste!¡±


    Huli slapped Meifan. The awful, sudden sound had such force that it pushed the maid to the floor. A bright pink mark illuminated on her cheek, burning into a handprint shape. Huli exhaled through his nose and turned back, only to hesitate and decisively kick the maid again. Unfortunately, this did nothing to quell his anger.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°You, disgusting thing, never give me orders!¡±


    ¡°Have mercy, your majesty!¡± Cheng piped up as he appeared from the hallway. ¡°This woman is lost in sorrow over losing her master. Do not take personal issue with her. The real problems lie with Fa Huian¡¯s escape with the true heir who does threatens your power. What shall we do?¡±


    He offered Huli a note on tattered and stained parchment. On it, a few words messily covered half the page along with a detailed drawing.


    Song Meifan,


    Meet me at the laundry area when the moon is high. Over the long days, I have chipped away at the hole where water enters. It is big enough for us to swim out and a boat waits near.


    Tonight, we will escape with the true heir of Shanhe, Wang Joaolong.


    Join us.


    The letter shook in Huli¡¯s hands. His mismatched brown eyes glowed as a scowl shadowed his face. ¡°Guards! Threats are at the servant laundry area! Seize them at once! Let no one live! Protect your emperor!¡±


    ¡°Protect the emperor!¡± The guards repeated and departed.


    Huli leaned to follow behind them but Cheng stopped him. ¡°It is unwise. Stay safe. A war is coming and you must be at your full potential. We cannot fight without a ruler.¡±


    ¡°Stay the hell away from me! I will kill you too! Like I will kill them! I will kill them all for my mother¡¯s sake!¡± Huli seethed and stomped out of the room, hitting walls and furniture in his way. Too absorbed in his overwhelming hatred, he didn¡¯t see Cheng¡¯s scary smile as the palace was thrown into disarray.

 Chapter 74: The Foxes - Wang Joaolong

    To hide in plain sight came easier than anticipated. While the Foxes did their work riling up the village, Joaolong floated between the study, isolated palace pathways or his own chambers. He avoided guards'' watchful eyes and hide from awkward conversations with remaining councilmen. To make matters better, the emperor returned to his residence in the afternoon and locked himself inside, which gave Joaolong freedom to watch his best friend¡¯s wedding from afar without threat. When night fell, he then got the chance to disturb the ceremony.


    He sat in the dark, crowded room with the other nine allies, and rubbed his freshly shaved face. The tension in the space felt so thick, a knife had to carve it. Death nipped at their heels, eager to find a slight mistake in their escape so he could feast. It was no wonder they uncomfortably shifted as Hanxiong redistributed their fox masks.


    ¡°Are we clear on our routes?¡± The Fox asked and everyone replied with a terse nod. ¡°We had all day for goodbyes so now we must act. Remember, we fight for Shanhe¡¯s future: Wang Yondan. It is time for a new dawn!¡±


    ¡°For the emperor of dawn, Wang Yondan!¡± They all cheered.


    An indescribable weight fell on Joaolong''s shoulders from their words. He always thought highly of himself, believing he had the capabilities to achieve great things, but never emperor. Yet, his true title had been declared and people were already putting all their faith in him. He struggled with it, to the point of confiding in his fears to Disung and Tai yesterday. Disung¡¯s jokes ¡ª including a ridiculous and long title for him to use formally instead of a ¡®bodyguard¡¯ ¡ª helped ease the stress of his fate and Tai stroked his ego, reminding him of his accomplishments. However, he hated the guilt from his close friends willingly sacrificing their lives for him tonight. The pessimist in him knew it was impossible to all escape the Lotus Palace without harm and it made it harder to watch Linlong royalty and Disung leave the building.


    ¡°May you rule one day, Wang Yondan. It has been an honour serving you,¡± Tai said and bowed.


    The fox mask hid his features and the style mimicked the real Fox behind him. They looked identical, from the hair ¡ª which Hanxiong wore a wig ¡ªto the uniform, and should confuse the increasing number of soldiers inside the palace. Still, a twang of regret pierced Joaolong, seeing Tai ready for danger. For years, he proved himself a good man, far more worthy and loyal than a eunuch should be, and tonight emphasised that. Although his bravery and righteousness was admirable, it didn¡¯t make Joaolong¡¯s sadness diminish. The truth of his devotion hit hard when Tai ran out the door, making a loud commotion.


    ¡°Be Shanhe¡¯s finest emperor, young Wang Yondan.¡± The Fox grinned as he snuck outside. ¡°And keep my son out of too much trouble.¡±


    Silence settled in the room. Only two of them remained. With a loud sigh and a subtle wipe of her cheeks for tears, Mingzhu turned to Joaolong.


    ¡°You ready?¡±


    They all agreed it best for Mingzhu and Joaolong to travel together; Huli would expect him to stick by Disung. Hence, splitting up would give them an easier escape and prevent identification. The downfall meant Joaolong had to share Mingzhu¡¯s company for weeks, which he already saw many problems beginning to arise. He couldn¡¯t handle her behaviour like Disung, especially without the rules and consequences of the palace to guide him.


    ¡°You best be able to live up to your boasts.¡±


    Mingzhu furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Which ones?¡±


    ¡°Being a greater warrior than Disung.¡±


    ¡°You best not be a complete dead weight and be capable of basic survival then.¡±


    For once, Joaolong smiled, pleasantly surprised to find he enjoyed her dark response. The fear of death made him tolerate her more. ¡°Fair. Shall we jump out the window now?¡±


    They didn¡¯t exactly do what he stated. Instead, they eased out of the opening in the wall and into the cool night. Both wore thin, dark clothes to blend in the night and carry less weight. On the bank of the lake, inside a marked tree, warmer outfits awaited them. Despite just entering the breeze, Joaolong already became eager for their dangerous adventure to end.


    Mingzhu signalled him to follow, satisfied no prying eyes lurked near and darkness blanketed them well enough to run. They moved quietly to the front gardens of the Lotus Palace, where their escape route waited. Joaolong¡¯s heart pounded in his chest and his body shook in preparation to flee as they snaked around buildings. His senses sharpened; he listened to every small chirp from a grasshopper or his eyes darted towards the sudden flight of a bird.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°I need to prop up the ladder onto the border. Stay hidden,¡± Mingzhu instructed and disappeared around the tall shubbery. Judging by the soft thuds of tiles, she had swung herself onto a nearby rooftop.


    ¡°What is it?¡± He asked when she returned. Through the cracks in her mask, her eyes looked grave.


    ¡°Disung and Linlong royalty are in trouble. Soldiers are all heading to the front gate instead of the servant laundry.¡±


    ¡°There must be something we can do,¡± Joaolong blurted, a sudden determination and courage flowing through him. It overshadowed the dagger of panic stabbed deep in his chest.


    Mingzhu blocked his path. ¡°The priority is your safety. We need to use the back-up plan.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t just let them die!¡± Joaolong shouted. Once the words left his mouth in a roar, he froze. Mingzhu glared but responded without hesitation by shoving him into the nearby building, away from any guards nearby.


    Unfortunately, there was another person inside. A blade prodded Joalong''s back. His breath hitched. Then, Mingzhu proved her skill. She yanked him back and flung herself forward instead, knocking into the guard. She jabbed his pressure points, watched him crumble to the floor like a clay doll before finishing her attack with a smash to his face. Satisfied by his limp body, she turned to Joaolong, a snarl expressing her fury hidden behind the fox mask.


    ¡°What is your great plan to rescue the others? Huh? Tell me that. Was it to be caught by shouting like a child? Get your head in the right place, true heir. Everything we do is for you so don¡¯t waste it.¡±


    As much as Joaolong wished to rebut her argument, she was right. Tonight, he had to be selfish and put himself first. Everyone accepted that before they ventured into the night wearing fox masks. If anyone died, they did for him to take the throne. However, a great emperor couldn¡¯t put himself above his people. He wanted to be worthy and needed to prove it. So, he tried to find discuss it with Mingzhu.


    ¡°We should¡ª¡±


    Mingzhu whacked his head. ¡°Any questions from me are rhetorical! We need to escape before worrying about everyone else. You are Shanhe¡¯s future, don¡¯t forget that. While the attention of others is diverted, we will dive from Lady Gaze instead. No arguments or I will kill you myself.¡±


    Someone coughed, startling Joaolong and Mingzhu. They looked around the room, finally registering where they entered in desperation. The too familiar bamboo bars and hanging weapons sent a chill up Joaolong¡¯s spine. In this place, he visited Jiang and Disung in their worst conditions; they wandered into the palace prison. In the cell, a weak figure crawled to the locked door, looking as wrecked as a poor farmer after a long harvest. A slither of light shone on a slender, feminine face and revealed Ju Xiaoli.


    A red mist came over Joaolong. No guilt or pity came from looking at the beaten girl trapped in a cage. She deserved far worse. How many servants did she beat for fun? Did she hurt his mother before poisoning her? Was she the one to cut out Jiang¡¯s tongue? His hand itched to act. The weapons called and charmed him. They looked so enticing. With a simple thrust of his hand, he could¡ª


    Mingzhu stood against the cell door. ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t. I know that look, Master Wang. She is not worth it. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    ¡°Is that you, Wang Joaolong?¡± Xioali whispered the name like a blessing. Her hand reached through the bars, desperate for help. ¡°Did you come for me?¡±


    ¡°Even in your dreams, no one will come for you, Miss Ju, because you deserve every torment on this wretched earth and you know it. Get back into your prison," Mingzhu hissed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Joaolong demanded, worried what he would do if he stayed in the same place as his mother¡¯s murderer.


    ¡°No! Please! I beg of you!¡± Xiaoli howled. ¡°It wasn¡¯t my fault! Z-Zhao Cheng framed me! Please!¡±


    Joaolong ignored the cries of distress and looked through the crack in the door. Armoured men continued to run to the Lotus Palace entrance. More torches burst into brilliant flames to illuminate the area. He swallowed. They will be okay, he tried to convince himself. Disung is Anshu. He cannot be killed. Yet, he fought with his mind to think about his own escape instead of saving his friends.


    ¡°The way we came will be¡ª¡±


    Keys jingled as they collided with each other and a click indicated the prisoner was free. Joaolong watched in horror as Xiaoli burst into the open. Her body shuddered from the strength of her sobs. It disgusted him.


    ¡°Bai Mingzhu, what in the world possessed you to cause trouble after lecturing me?!¡± He growled.


    ¡°A chance at redemption. Mercy is the secret weapon of a kind man,¡± Mingzhu mumbled. ¡°We gave Meifan a chance.¡±


    First, we are relying of Meifan¡¯s betrayal to distract the soldiers from our real escape routes. Second, Xiaoli is a murderer and deserves far worse. ¡°After all she has done?!¡±


    ¡°We use her for information. A great way to seek forgiveness is for her to tell us everything about Hong Huli and his plans.¡±


    She made a good point. When war began, they needed any advantage they could get. Still¡­ ¡°She will slow us down.¡±


    ¡°We ditch her when it happens.¡±


    ¡°What if she tells someone about us and what we are doing?¡±


    ¡°We cut her tongue before we ditch her.¡±


    Somehow, Joaolong knew he wasn¡¯t going to win. The way Mingzhu acted screamed strange and emotionally complicated, which he couldn''t act against without fearing her reaction. Instead, he locked his eyes with Xiaoli and ground his teeth. ¡°This is your only chance to live. If you jeopardise us in any way, I will personally rip out your heart. Understand?¡±


    Xiaoli nodded.


    ¡°Is it clear outside?¡± Mingzhu asked and yanked Xiaoli to her feet. Despite freeing her like a saint, she treated her as rough as a demon.


    ¡°Looks so. The guards are divided between the laundry and gate.¡±


    ¡°As well as the other Foxes,¡± Mingzhu added. ¡°Excellent. We may be fortunate to leave the palace unscathed.¡±


    Without a moment to waste, she jumped to the ground and dragged Xiaoli with her. Joaolong pursued. They moved back the way they came, less cautious of their surroundings now because of the distractions throughout the palace. Suddenly, a whistled tune pierced the air. It spread around them and Joaolong noticed Mingzhu falter in step at the song. For those unfamiliar listening in, it warned of a bloody night to come.

 Chapter 75: The Foxes - Liu Disung

    Disung wished he spent more time with his father before the wedding. He wanted to bask in the deep comfort of watching his parents together again or learn more fighting tips from the real Fox. However, hours vanished in a blink of an eye and he barely had enough words with anyone else.


    ¡°You should have this.¡±


    Disung looked to his father¡¯s offering he wore early in the day. The real Fox mask stared back at him in his hands. He stroked the fine craftsmanship and found it difficult to describe the beauty of it. No wonder everyone thought the Masked Masters were gods; the masks looked like they came from another world.


    ¡°It is time.¡±


    He met Joaolong¡¯s eyes. They remained cold and impassive but somehow, Disung knew he was nervous. Tonight, they risked everything and may not see each other again. The years of friendship made them both unwilling to part.


    "You best use the lesson I taught you very well," Disung said with a grin. "You would make an awful slave and an even worse corpse. Such a waste of a pretty face."


    "And you best not get too distracted by the new dance houses on the way."


    "I''m a married man now. I have to be faithful, just like I have been to you," Disung replied. "Why are you standing over there? Come here."


    The men hugged each other, the action saying what their mouths failed to. It ended too soon and Disung clasped Joaolong''s shoulder, hoping he got the message. Stay strong. Don''t die.


    ¡°Enough already! Take this and leave,¡± Mingzhu interrupted in a grumble. She thrust some soft material into his hand while pushing him towards he door. A blush reddened her cheeks.


    ¡°What is it?¡± He said, despite knowing it was a handkerchief scrunched up. A victorious grin spread across his face as he marvelled at the poor embroidery; the gift showed the sincerity of her feelings.


    ¡°To wipe of all the blood if you encounter troubles,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Stay alive otherwise I¡¯ll ruin your name, boy. Now, begone!¡±


    <hr>


    The crisp night air sharpened Disung¡¯s focus as he walked along food carts. His red wedding outfit had been replaced with a dark, tattered robe similar to a peasant, with the Fox mask hidden from view. Beside him, Chu Daiyu, an older friend of Chunhua, kept a calm facade like she always did palace errands because of produce demands. Her hair greyed faster than others from the strenuous work on farmland and her wrinkled, tan skin screamed her low status. No one would suspect she was smuggling Linlong royalty.


    At first, Joaolong was hesitant to approach her but Chunhua convinced him otherwise. Daiyu was passionate about change, convinced the world was against her and all Shanhe politicians were evil. Thus, she accepted their initial vague offer of treachery if it meant new councilmen were introduced. So, she arranged to access the palace by swapping produce delivery roles with a neighbour and monitored the carts. However, once she unloaded the vegetables, they were refilled with people; Shaiming and Yanyan rested in one cart, while Caihong and the family guard crouched in another.


    At the palace entrance gate, the carts stopped. The great arching doorway seemed to shrink in Disung¡¯s mind with the pressure of escape. At the top of this shape was an iron gate, ready to slam down when necessary. The bottom spikes winked at him in the moonlight.


    ¡°Identity!¡± A weary guard ordered, strained from working all day.


    Daiyu presented the wooden, inscribed plank, that gave her the authority to come and go. Carved on it was the district she lived in and the produce taken inside. The guard briefly looked over the carts, satisfied by the sunken woollen sheets which hung loosely. Yet, he didn¡¯t let them pass; Disung disturbed him.


    ¡°Who is this with you?¡±


    ¡°My son. I am old and my back offers no support. He will inherit our farm and must learnt the duties that comes with it. I have brought him with me today but if you must verify, I can show you his identification too. It¡¯s just-oh-where did I¡­¡± Daiyu faked confusion while looking for a plank which didn¡¯t exist.


    ¡°No need. You may leave. The emperor thanks you for your services.¡±


    Relief flooded through Disung and his heart skipped. They took a few steps forward along with the carts. Freedom was close. It almost seemed too easy. For hours, he had mentally prepared for everything to go wrong. Maybe the gods were on¡ªLove this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°Halt!¡±


    No one breathed. No one moved. Disung gripped the handle of his sword, hidden under his cloak. Curses filled his head.


    ¡°The emperor has ordered no one may leave the Lotus Palace until morning!¡± A soldier yelled and joined his fellow companion. ¡°You there! Farmers! Stop! You must stay until morning!¡±


    They could handle this. Disung needed to think and remain calm. Right now, there was no suspicion towards them personally and the emperor had no reason to punish either Disung nor the Linlong royalty. All they had to do was return to the palace without their identities revealed and escape in the early hours of dawn. Hopefully, guards at the gate changed over to some of Disung¡¯s old comrades, of which he could bargain to leave. Everything would be fine.


    All this silent preparation was destroyed in mere seconds; Caihong leapt from the safety of the cart and blanket. She raised her saber with a loud war cry shrieked from her slim body and hacked downwards to the shocked, first guard. He was awoken from his sleepy state and defended himself against the woman¡¯s chaotic moves, half-terrified by the fox mask she wore. While this occurred, Disung watched in horror as the other guard ran over to the flame on the wall, lighting a banner inside to alert the others.


    ¡°Push the cart and run!¡± Disung ordered Daiyu and thankfully, she obeyed without hesitation. The cart rolled down the bridge at a slow pace, the wheels worn and straining from the heavy loads.


    Disung felt torn which action to take. The princess of Linlong remain behind him to battle the guards, her ferocity dying to reveal her lack of sword skills. In minutes, many more soldiers would arrive and kill her. Yet, he couldn¡¯t leave the prince and his heavily pregnant wife with a farmer to defend them. Disung stood still, his head swivelling in each direction, unsure what to prioritise. In the past, it was always Joaolong. What should he do? After a single breath, he ran to the princess.


    The hidden blades in his clothes emerged from under the cloak like a deadly water dragon and when his hood dropped, the Fox mask covered half his face. The butt of the sword handle smacked the first guard in the nose and before he reacted, his stomach was sliced open. Some blood spurted on the princess but she did not care. Instead, she smiled at her new fighting companion.


    ¡°We need to bring down the iron gate to stop the soldiers coming!¡± Disung shouted at the princess.


    These controls for the gate were located inside the palace walls. There was only a short opening to pull the switch before the alerted soldiers joined the fight. But they needed to be smart-


    ¡°Princess!¡±


    Caihong already acted; her naivety shone through by her sense of indestructibility. She did not ponder the consequences when she found the switch inside. While Disung kicked the other guard off the bridge with fatal wounds, the princess pulled the lever with little success. Shouts and new glows on building walls alerted of more soldiers coming. It was over.


    Suddenly, Mencius appeared from outside the abandoned cart and stormed to the princess¡¯s side with a grin. He put on his mask as well and withdrew his own hidden weapons. These were strange and obviously not from Shanhe. The first looked similar to a spear but had a long, axe-like blade carved with Linlong¡¯s emblem on the end. This was strapped to his back as his hands held other weapons, with handles in the middle and small blades on either end.


    ¡°This will be as easy as crushing the bones of an elderly man,¡± Mencius said darkly.


    ¡°Then I could do it myself!¡± Caihong taunted, arrogantly claiming herself equally as strong as the massive man.


    ¡°Anshu, go protect the Third Prince! I will handle the First Princess!¡± Mencius bellowed and pushed the man away, urging him to obey without disgruntlement. Disung nodded and ran off; it was a smarter plan to balance the strength.


    Behind him, Caihong managed to move the lever slightly. The screech of metal sliding against the concrete wall filled the air. It made Disung cringe. The iron gate dropped slightly, the straight ends of iron peeking through the border wall like teeth of a monster. The princess, thrilled by her efforts, continued to push harder without care. A cocky grin and wild war cry left her lips and lingered long after a sword protruded through her heart. A soldier appeared behind her and when he pulled back his weapon, she fell to the ground.


    The death of the princess threw Mencius into a mindless rage. The soldiers looked like child toys when he shoved them aside and beat them. A man¡¯s neck broke by the sheer strength of Mencius¡¯s thick, callused hand and he stabbed another right to the hilt of his blade. The last man standing was unfortunate, killed by his own spear and raised off his feet before being swung back into the palace as a corpse. Mencius roared and kicked the lever to the other side to let the iron gate slam down. When it clanged against the ground, he dropped to his knees and cradled the princess.


    ¡°No!¡± Disung yelled back, seeing Mencius trap himself with the guards inside the palace.


    Yet, there was no chance to save him. Arrows sparsely flew from over the border wall. The sky looked no different, apart from the odd swooshing sound as the weapons cut thinly threw the air. Disung tried to change is running pattern to avoid getting injured severely. One arrow sliced is forearm and another ripped his robe.


    At least the cart remained safe. Only a few, stray arrows struck themselves in the wooden planks on the side closest to the palace. Daiyu didn¡¯t share this fortune. Her corpse fell to the ground just as Disung took over pushing the cart. However, he didn¡¯t dare to hesitate. Instead, he pushed himself to move faster and his heartbeat became louder than Yanyan¡¯s sobs. They needed to avoid the next firing line. He needed to live.


    Only when his feet hit the earth instead of the smooth bridge, he risked glancing back. The gate was held shut by a gigantic monster. Mencius clung to the iron bars, weighing it down even in death, impaled by dozens of arrows and blades. Blood drained from him and joined the flood of bodies on the ground. The saddest part of all was the dead princess, who he hopelessly shielded between him and the iron bars.


    Suddenly, a jolt of pain took hold of Disung and everything went black.

 Chapter 76: The Foxes - Bai Mingzhu

    If only everything had fallen into place just as the mountain clan carefully planned. Their mission was to kill the emperor and that task was stolen by someone greedy for power. The exposure of Joaolong''s bloodlines happened in danger instead of in a safety nest. Now, Mingzhu risked her life to make at least one good intention go right; she would protect Joaolong no matter what.


    Lady Gaze stayed empty as seconds ticked by. The whistle ¡ª which warned them of soldiers and foxes in the garden ¡ª still hung in the air. Mingzhu waited behind a bush, tensed up and on high alert. They needed this backup route to work. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and sought signs of struggle. A footprint in the dirt. Fallen leaves. Snapped twigs. She convinced herself the danger had passed and a Fox already led the soldiers away. Otherwise, they were trapped inside the palace.


    ¡°Keep quiet or else,¡± she snarled at Xiaoli.


    The woman cowered and choked on a whimper. She looked pathetic, with all ounce of harshness and strength drained with her loss of power. Why did she save the woman? Mingzhu found herself struggling to grasp the reason of her own actions. It had something to do with pity but it was more than that. Was it for Joaolong¡¯s closure? Was it empathy? Why? Why? Why? Yet, she feared the reason was more personal than she wanted to discover.


    ¡°Is it clear to move?¡± Joaolong asked.


    ¡°When you checked the garden, which tree was your choice?¡±


    ¡°The one beside the red flowers is our only hope. It has strong branches and reaches closest to the border wall but¡­¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°But?¡±


    ¡°We still have to jump.¡±


    Mingzhu cursed; a jump over the border wall decreased their survival. One wrong move and they would be caught or left broken for the enemy. She gripped her rope tighter. For the mountain clan, she reminded in her head, for the new emperor.


    ¡°Desperate times call for desperate measures. Are you ready to¡ª¡±


    The sentence remained unfinished. Boots thudded against pathways. The clank of weapons echoed around. A man laughed with glee. Worst of all, Joaolong stared towards the flaming torches at the garden entrance.


    Huli waltzed onward, illuminated by fire. A dark grin tightened his face and those mismatched eyes glowed as if belonging to a demon. In his hand, he twirled a human head by it''s straw hair. The face looked defeated and blood still dripped from it''s sliced neck. From far away, Mingzhu saw him taunt something to the dead, familiar face. Oh no. She looked at Joaolong and knew this changed everything. The small hope of escape died into embers. Oh no.


    "Master Wang," Mingzhu hissed in desperation. "We must stick to the plan."


    "They killed him."


    Mingzhu swallowed audibly. "That was the price we agreed to pay tonight. We must leave before you follow the same fate and leave Shanhe without a rightful emperor."


    "They killed him."


    "We cannot mourn if you are dead too," Mingzhu argued but she knew her words meant nothing. The look on his face matched the expression she wore over a year ago. The pain stirring in his chest she had once shared. He would not leave now. "Please listen."


    "Is that...?" Xiaoli mumured, joining the to stare towards the courtyard. "E-e-emperor. No. No! He must not know I ran! He will kill me! He will!"


    "Oh, shut up!" Mingzhu growled and gripped Xiaoli''s hair in a threat. But as soon as her eyes left Joalong, he acted.


    Seven guards. One emperor. Only of of us who can fight, Mingzhu calculated while she shoved Xiaoli to the ground. Frustration bubbled in her as she touched her Fox mask. I will be with you soon, my dear sister.

 Chapter 77: Battle of Bloodlines

    It felt like a storm covered Joaolong. It spiralled around him and pulled all his anger to the surface. All he thought was to attack. Nothing could have stopped him, not even his own logical mind. Suddenly, he heard the clash of metal and saw his sword stopped by Huli''s weapon known as Viper.


    "Isn''t this just wonderful," Huli said. "Your friend dies to protect you and you don''t try protect yourself. Can a weak boy like you even hold a sword properly?"


    Joaolong grit his teeth and tried to strike again. His muscles tensed as they remembered the sequence Disung showed him. However, Huli blocked it languidly with his sword and blood-smeared hands.


    "Emperor!"


    "Back off!" Huli commanded his soldiers. "They are all mine!"


    Their swords clanked again. Red splurted over Joaolong. Had he been hit? So quickly? Where had Huli hurt?However, when no pain whispered of the wound and a feminie chuckle sounded, he came to his sense; Mingzhu followed him.To his left, a soldier fell to the ground and the minx stood on top of the body. Despite her tiny frame, she looked like a hunter with that remarkable fire in her eyes.


    "How many Foxes do I have to kill?" Huli remarked but his lips remained in their pleased crescent shape.


    "If there are this many Foxes, imagine how many other Masked Masters wait for you."


    "You aren''t the real Masked Fox. I know there is only one true master for each animal."


    Another soldier ran towards Mingzhu and with a spring in her step, she dove under him and attacked with three jabs. These withdrew blood, revealing blades hidden in her hands. The man fell to the ground.


    "Of course. We are just his puppets. I would be fearful when you do meet him though. That is, if you live after the true heir battles you."Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    This was the only advantage he would get; Joaolong attacked while his enemy remained distracted. He lunged at Huli once more but his opponent proved faster and greatly skilled. Viper sliced his arm instead. It tingled, the pain dulled by the adrenaline pumped into Joaolong. He sucked in a breath and stumbled out of range before he was cut again. Dodge, Disung always instructed in their practice. Dodge and run. You aren''t good enough to fight yet.


    The pair continued this dance; Joaolong weaved away while Huli managed to injure him in small increments. In the background, he saw blurs of Mingzhu taking out the soldiers by herself. A pang of envy fuelled him to try an attack, which only caused him another cut to his forearm. This was deeper than the rest and judging by Huli''s chuckle, he felt it too. Huli played with him, like a cat toying with a mouse.


    "Giving up already, almighty Wang Joaolong?"


    "Never!" Joaolong swung again and missed.


    "You never had a chance. Weak in every way. Take your friend for example," Huli said and stood on top of the severed head discarded earlier. Joaolong felt himself shake in despair and rage. No. He isn''t dead. He can''t be dead. "He was too weak to protect you and you were too weak to protect him. Mother always said you were glued together and so it must be fitting to die together!"


    Huli kicked the head at Joaolong. It flew through the air. Blood stained the courtyard a deeper red as it sailed. Joaolong felt the weight collide against his stomach in a sickening, indescribable way. He fell while his confused hand both tried to catch his friend and push him away. He didn''t want to see it. But he did as well. He couldn''t comprehend a world without him.


    "Where is that intelligence now?!" Huli shouted from above. Viper swayed in his hands. "You outsmarted every other chance to die! First my birthday, then the hunt, then the funeral but now, you act so dumb! If only father saw you now! When I killed him, he knew my cunning! I hope his spirit can see how much superior I am to you!"


    Any tactics to escape were futile. Joaolong held no hope. From his peripherial vision, he saw Mingzhu far away pinning soldiers to the ground. Despite her agility, she wouldn''t reach him in time. It was over. Huli won. Joaolong, known as the intelligent man, fell into a trap like a stupid mouse to meet his demise. He only prayed that when the sword striked hard, it striked true and gave a quick death.


    However, Huli did not know mercy.

 Chapter 77: Epilogue

    Were the Mountain Masters gods?


    Gods were both kind and cruel, the reasons for their actions unknown to anyone except themselves. They did not bleed nor see the sorrow of death as they frolicked in their internal life. So far, the Mountain Masters exceeded these idealisations; they forever lingered in the shadows and gossip of the two kingdoms. The question of their godlike nature haunted emperors for generations, their fear blooming into plans of rebellion. Were they gods or were they men? Did they control everything? Did a normal man stand a chance at winning?


    Hanxiong only proved godly by his unnatural speed. He bolted across the palace, away from the soldiers wrath and used dark corners like fated safe havens. With cat-like grace, he moved through the allies and paths without a single sound. The warmth of Tai''s limp body still lingered despite the distance between them. The image of blood flowing from his neck haunted him, almost as much as the question where the man''s head was now.


    As for his fighting skills, Hanxiong acknowledged his un-godly weaknesses. For years, he avoided combat especially if it involved endurance or multiple enemies. As a result, he lost his keen awareness and predictions in dire situations. No god would be wounded like him right now. This sign showed the need for his apprentice to take the role. Would the Masked Masters accept?


    ""Where is that intelligence now?!"


    The screeched words froze Hanxiong. Somehow, he knew what happened metres away just like he knew the poor odds of his son''s survival. However, this time he was close enough to intervene. Without hesitation, he used his speed to run straight into the warzone. No shadows protected him as he emerged into the flame-lit courtyard.


    A few soldiers littered the ground and Mingzhu, who wore a mask splattered in blood, panted over them. Her eyes stared at Joaolong and the stationary head. Huli''s blade, held high and poised to attack, forced Hanxiong to dive in. He refused to let the true ruler die. His son protected this man for years. He had to do the same for the next few minutes. But would he make it?


    The sword pierced down. Joaolong exhaled in defeat. Mingzhu let out a silent scream. Droplets of blood fell to the ground. However, when Huli looked at his victim, a unique fox mask glared back.


    "By the blood that has smeared the mountains," Hanxiong growled at Huli, "the Masked Masters will destroy you."


    Pain tore through his body. No amount of adrenaline hid it. Yet, he kept his breaths shallow and controlled. He willed himself to be unbreakable and this determination made it so. He felt every inch of the blade withdrew from under his collarbone but kept his mind on the important fact; Joaolong remained alive beneath him.


    The sword slide back from under his collarbone in a quick movement. Huli stepped back. At first, he appeared startled but as this shock wore off, his posture returned stoic and he drew near once more.


    "Run!" Hanxiong ordered Mingzhu and Joaolong. "Run or let me die in vain! Mingzhu, save someone!"


    The words had the desired effect. The girl acted on instinct, stuck in a memory of her training, and ran to Joaolong. She dragged him up and beside him, another woman helped. The harshness of her cheeks showed her malnutrition. A slave? A prisoner? At this moment, Hanxiong did not care. As long as they all escaped. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Where were we?" He asked the emperor and stood. The wound protested but he grabbed a sword from a fallen soldier. Since the injury ruined his right arm, he had to fight left-handed.


    "Another Fox?" Huli scoffed. "Why won''t you all die?!"


    Sorry my friend, Hanxiong thought to Tai''s head and rolled it away from further harm. A second later, metal blades clashed together and hit each other at different angles. The rumoured sword-play talent of Huli rang true; each attack remained powerful, swift and aimed towards lethal targets. It took Hanxiong a moment to analyse his opponent; incredible attack but the arrogance provided an opening. The weak defence beckoned him and Hanxiong exploited it. He calculated moments to wield his weapon while timing kicks. Whenever he hit, Huli growled like an animal and his embarrassment made him try harder.


    While his fury rose, Hanxiong changed tactics. He let the emperor corner him and cut shallow a few times. The satisfied smile from Huli looked similar to a demon. Good, Hanxiong thought. Ego is a dangerous weapon, young emperor. You will soon learn that.


    One. Huli sliced Hanxiong''s forearm, tearing at the fabric but missing his skin.


    Two. His opponent raised his sword, ready to deliver a devastating blow.


    Three. Hanxiong tackled the emperor using his good shoulder and drove himself out from the wall. Then, he rolled and returned to a strong stance as Huli coughed at his bruised stomach. As expected, anger took hold of the emperor. With a hurt ego, he would do anything to get revenge. This meant he had to chase.


    Distance became vital to survival. Hanxiong doubted Mingzhu and Joaolong had enough time to climb over the border. I must flee, he deduced and let his feet step into a jog. From behind Huli shouted insults but pursued, guided by the small loss.


    They ran through small pathways around the imperial building. Hanxiong kept at a slower pace to ensure Huli believed he caught up. Sheets fluttered by them as they weaved through the servant laundry and bushes scratched at their arms in unkept yards. Suddenly, the path widened and forked, forcing the Fox to halt. His chest throbbed and blood covered his robes.


    Behind him, the footsteps ceased. It felt wrong. Hanxiong needed Huli to follow him. Why didn''t he? Did he find Joaolong and Mingzhu sneaking over the border wall? With the little strength left, Hanxiong stumbled back down the path he came to certain death. However, something worse waited him.


    "What is the meaning of this?" He asked in bewilderment.


    Despite the darkness, he recognised Cheng''s face. Over the years, he aged dramatically and stress wrinkles turned him into a shrivelled fruit. The charm he enamoured so many with had faded. This was the cause of Bai Juan''s death and suddenly, Hanxiong knew why Mingzhu hated him; greed shone underneath the average-looking face. In an instance, Hanxiong didn''t doubt this man killed his best friend''s children.


    Cheng grinned as he cradled a bloody body; he stabbed the emperor. "This way, I will be known as the destroyer of masks and saviour to the emperor. If he lives. I tried to avoid the major organs."


    "You won''t find victory against the Masked Masters," Hanxiong warned. "They wish the true emperor of Shanhe to be throned and so it shall be."


    "Do all of them really want that? A secret heir comes with disagreements. A war across the whole kingdom over bloodlines would bring great devastation and prove they failed their original mission to keep peace. If I rule, no wars will come. It is the wisest decision."


    "You speak like you have already won."


    The grin grew. "I already have."


    Like a magician, Hanxiong dropped to his knees. He felt the warmth and energy sap out of him. What happened? Did he lose too much blood? What had the advisor done? Meanwhile, while he sifted through these questions, Cheng placed the emperor down and waltzed over. Using a dagger from his belt, he stabbed Hanxiong in the chest without hesitation.


    "Long live the old world."


    Hanxiong glared back, already half-dead. ¡°Long live the new dawn of Shanhe, Hong Yondan!¡±