Chương 19: Chapter 17 Interlude 4 (R)

In the secondary audience hall of the Imperial Palace a faint golden light filtered through the windows, creating a solemn atmosphere. Emperor Sun Hao, his expression imperturbable, sat upon his jade throne, his eyes carefully observing the three individuals before him. To his right, Taijian Li Ming, the chief eunuch and the Emperor's right hand, maintained a posture of respect. To his left, the Yushi Dafu of the Yushitai, Zhang Wei, stood ready to give his report.

Finally, the Neingjun of the Nei Wei, Liu Yan, with a tense expression, awaited her turn to be questioned.

"Neingjun Liu Yan, how is it possible that an assassin managed to enter Zhāohuán Wen's room?" Sun Hao's voice, though calm, carried an edge of steel.

"And not only that, but he was also able to successfully escape from the Imperial Palace." Liu Yan stepped forward, bowing her head before speaking.

"Your Majesty, due to the birthday celebration held in the park, much of the guard at the Pavilion of the Scent of Clouds was reassigned to protect the party. Guards were maintained, but in smaller numbers", Liu Yan replied, her voice firm but tinged with concern.

"Apparently, it was not enough. And I greatly fear that someone with knowledge of the new security arrangements informed the person who planned the assassination, since he even knew the route with the fewest guards in order to escape successfully." Sun Hao nodded thoughtfully at the information the Neingjun had revealed and continued his interrogation "Yushi Dafu Zhang Wei, what has your investigation found?"

Zhang Wei stepped forward "Your Majesty, we found the remains of talismans in the rafters above the Zhāohuán's room. According to our investigation, these talismans contained traces of Darkness Qi." Sun Hao frowned "Darkness Qi? What were these talismans supposed to do?"

"Although little of them remained, from the little that did we have been able to deduce that their function was to envelop an area in darkness, making whoever was inside that area completely concealed. Unless someone were specifically searching for a person, only shadows would be visible", Zhang Wei explained.

"Our theory is that the intruder took advantage of the reduced guard to enter the Pavilion and then continually used the talismans to avoid detection." Silence briefly settled over the hall as Sun Hao processed the information. Finally, he spoke again "And what does this suggest about the assassin's origin?" Zhang Wei drew a deep breath before continuing "The quantity of talismans used and their rarity indicate that whoever sent the assassin must be someone with significant backing, Your Majesty.

This is not something just anyone can obtain or use without advanced knowledge." Sun Hao nodded slowly "Very well. Neingjun Liu Yan, from today on I want a Nei Baihu placed in charge of protecting the areas where Zhāohuán Wen normally resides."

"As Your Majesty commands", Neingjun Liu Yan replied, bowing. Sun Hao made a gesture with his arm "Neingjun Liu Yan, Yushi Dafu Zhang Wei, you may withdraw." Both bowed deeply before leaving the hall, leaving the Emperor alone with Taijian Li Ming. Sun Hao turned slightly on his throne, directing his gaze to the eunuch "Taijian Li Ming, what do you make of all this?" Taijian Li Ming, his face serene, stepped forward "Your Majesty, this appears to be a high-level conspiracy.

We must consider every possibility, including the involvement of internal factions."

"You can narrow the investigation further. Look at those who still have contacts with my father and who have access to the guard rotations", Sun Hao instructed in reply.

"With what the Yushitai has found, there is only one faction that could have access to so many talismans, and that is the sect. And within the sect, only my father is mad enough to expend resources on something like this."

"It shall be done as you indicate", Taijian Li Ming replied with a bow, after which he asked "Do you wish anything more, or may I withdraw?"

"Only one thing, how is the matter of the cultivation book that was given to my daughter progressing?" Sun Hao asked, his tone equal to or more serious than the one he had used during his earlier interrogation.

"It is at a dead end, Your Majesty", Taijian Li Ming replied.

"We have questioned everyone who gave Zhāohuán Wen a book at her birthday, and an official from the Jiaofangsi who attended the party at Guifei Xiang's invitation has admitted to giving her a book containing the story it was disguised as, but he insists that the book was complete when he acquired it, and the shop where he bought it says the same.

They appear to be sincere, so we suppose that someone swapped it for the one that was delivered at the party either in the few days he had it in his possession beforehand or during the party itself." Taijian Li Ming sighed and continued "Beyond that, there are no further leads, since practically anyone in the court could have done it."

Sun Hao tapped his fingers on the throne's armrest as he thought for a moment about what Taijian Li Ming had told him before continuing his questioning "And what is my daughter doing with that information? She hasn't started cultivating, has she?"

"According to Wang Lianhua, she usually meditates to observe the Qi when she has nothing better to do, but she believes it's more a form of entertainment than of cultivation", Taijian Li Ming replied.

"She says that what Guifei Xiang told her about the possible dangers of cultivation has left her terrified. She even thought Taiyi Yulin was trying to assassinate her when she observed how the needles in her legs functioned." This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Taijian Li Ming seemed to hesitate for a moment after his words, but in the end posed a question to the Emperor "May I make an observation, Your Majesty?"

Sun Hao looked at him for a second before answering "Go ahead, Taijian Li Ming."

"If what Wang Lianhua has told us about the speed at which she detected Qi is correct, she may already have formed a protodantian", Taijian Li Ming told Sun Hao.

"If we let her cultivate, she could be a one-in-a-million genius."

"I will not risk my daughter's life on a possibility. That is what diabolical sects do, and I do not intend to follow that path", Sun Hao replied.

"My daughter will begin cultivating when there is no danger to her life."

"You may withdraw now", Sun Hao told Taijian Li Ming, dismissing him with a gesture of his hand.

"Then I take my leave, Your Majesty", Taijian Li Ming told the Emperor with a bow, after which he left the room, leaving Sun Hao immersed in his thoughts. In a study of the outer palace, dimly lit by the sunlight filtering through the rice-paper windows, a woman dressed in a luxurious robe embroidered with gold paced with evident agitation. Her eyes fixed on the eunuch standing before her, who maintained a posture of respect.

"Why are the palace guards so worked up?" the consort asked impatiently. The eunuch, in a calm and controlled tone, replied "Furen, from what I've been told, there was an assassination attempt against Zhāohuán Wen last night. An intruder managed to infiltrate her room, but he was stopped before he could do anything." The consort frowned, her eyes filled with contempt as she exclaimed in a voice full of bitterness that echoed through the study "An assassination attempt.

And they couldn't even manage something so simple as killing a useless cripple who can't even move? Incompetents!" The eunuch maintained his composure, waiting for the consort to finish expressing her displeasure before continuing "I have also learned that another reason they are so agitated is that the assassin managed to escape despite every attempt to apprehend him. This has been a serious blot on their reputation, and they are moving heaven and earth to find the culprit and recover some face."

The consort stopped short, turning to look at the eunuch with piercing eyes "Does this pose any risk to us or to our plans regarding the cripple and her mother? Do we know whether she has begun cultivating?"

"I cannot say for certain, Furen", the eunuch replied.

"However, my contacts have reported that over the years they have been interviewing everyone who gave Zhāohuán Wen a book at that birthday. For now, I have decided to maintain a low profile and halt all our plans so as not to draw attention to ourselves." The consort let out a snort of frustration "Incompetent!

Not only do we not know whether that useless girl has begun to cultivate, but on top of it we have to halt all our plans because of another incompetent, that man who doesn't even deserve to be called an assassin. But you did well to halt everything. We cannot allow this incident to interfere with my eldest son's plans." The eunuch nodded with deference "I understand, Furen. We will maintain a low profile and observe closely.

It is not worth risking the possibility of your eldest son being named heir over a girl who poses no real threat." The consort folded her arms, still visibly irritated, but nodded "Very well. I will trust you, but always remember to whom you owe everything. Do what you must."

"As you command, Furen", the eunuch replied with a bow of his head. The consort turned and headed for the door, her posture elegant but rigid, while the eunuch remained in the study, reflecting on the orders received and the implications of the recent events. In the tranquil courtyard of the Pavilion of the Scent of Clouds, Wang Lianhua sat on a stone bench, her mind still agitated by the events of the previous night.

Around her, the song of birds and the soft whisper of wind through the trees attempted to bring a peace she could not find. Lianhua's mind kept returning, again and again, to the moment she had seen the assassin in little Wen's room. Although she had been trained for situations like this, it had been the first time she had faced a real threat. She had never been certain how she would react, but fortunately she had not frozen or hesitated, managing to save little Wen's life.

The crunch of gravel beneath footsteps interrupted her thoughts. She looked up and saw Guifei Xiang approaching with a serious expression, followed by Fei Yi Lingxi.

"Lianhua, we need to talk", Guifei Xiang said softly, but without setting aside her serious tone. Lianhua nodded "Very well, Guifei Xiang. I just needed a moment to reflect." Guifei Xiang sat on a nearby bench while Fei Yi Lingxi remained standing at her side. After sitting down, she looked inquisitively at Lianhua, who began to grow nervous, though thanks to her training she could maintain a facade of serenity.

"I imagine you've had to give a report on what happened last night", Guifei Xiang began.

"I intend to speak with your superiors to ask that you remain Wen's Fei Yi, in addition to whatever tasks they deem appropriate. But I wanted to know your opinion, since if you are not in agreement, I can always request that you be replaced." Lianhua was surprised, since her position, once discovered, lost much of its usefulness. She bowed and replied "I would be delighted to continue being Zhāohuán Wen's Fei Yi, Guifei Xiang."

"Then you will continue to be so if I manage to convince your superiors", Guifei Xiang replied.

"Besides, Wen has also made it perfectly clear to everyone she has spoken with that if you do not return, she intends to start complaining to everyone, even the Emperor if necessary." Lianhua allowed a small smile to appear as she imagined little Wen, with her abrasive personality, pestering everyone to get her back. But she could not help asking one last question "If I may ask a question, Guifei Xiang?"

"Go ahead, Lianhua", Guifei Xiang replied.

"You now know I am a Yushi of the Yushitai, and that I have been reporting everything that happens in the residence to my superiors", Lianhua said before asking.

"Why this trust in me?" Guifei Xiang gave a sad smile as she answered "Although my family is not particularly important, I am still a noble. I grew up surrounded by guards, and I know that the higher one's rank, the tighter the circle becomes around the little freedom we have."

"Compared to what the Yushitai might have sent us, you have always been good with Wen and competent in everything you had to do. We could not ask for more", Guifei Xiang continued as she rose. After casting a final glance at Lianhua, who appeared surprised by the words she had been told, Guifei Xiang headed for the courtyard's exit.

But before leaving, she turned her head to look at Lianhua and offered some last words "Besides, Wen has already decided she wants you back, and I pity the person who tries to prevent it." After those words, she left the courtyard followed by Fei Yi Lingxi, who had not uttered a single word during the entire conversation. After Guifei Xiang's departure, Lianhua allowed herself a moment to close her eyes and take a deep breath. She had to remain strong, not only for little Wen but for all those who believed in her.

With renewed determination, Lianhua rose from the stone bench. There was much to do and she could not allow herself to rest, since little Wen's safety might depend on her actions. As she left the courtyard, a shadow of resolve darkened her eyes.

The danger was real and constant, but beyond her duties, and comparing the difference in how she was treated in this place with how she had been treated in her family, she would not allow anything or anyone to harm those who had trusted her without asking anything in return.