The Grand Jade Arena buzzed with anticipation.
Nobles filled the upper galleries. Ministers murmured from shaded booths. Eunuchs whispered lists of betting odds. Even the outer families of the imperial clan had sent envoys to observe.
The Crown Prince was about to spar — and this time, it wasn't for practice.
It was a test.
An unspoken one — given by the Emperor.
A single victory wouldn't change the empire.
But a single failure?
That could shift succession itself.
Li Ren entered in full ceremonial armor. Crimson steel plates forged from flame-tempered spirit ore. His ironwood spear gleamed under the sun.
The announcer's voice echoed:
"Crown Prince Li Ren shall spar against General Bai's disciple — Lan Feng of the Silver Tiger Battalion."
The crowd reacted with surprise.
Lan Feng wasn't a royal. But he was known — a rising martial genius from a military lineage. Tall, muscular, ruthless in duels.
Even Shen, watching from a shaded service post, narrowed his eyes.
"That's not a test. That's a trap."
The spar began.
Clash!
Spear against blade.
The fight was fast — faster than most nobles could follow. But Shen's eyes tracked every move, every flaw.
"Li Ren's strikes are clean, but predictable.""Lan Feng… he's not just fighting. He's aiming to humiliate."
As if on cue, Lan Feng spun low and knocked Li Ren's spear from his hands.
The crowd gasped.
But Lan Feng didn't stop — he pressed forward with a strike aimed at the Crown Prince's throat.
Too aggressive for a spar.
Too close for a clean block.
Li Ren stepped back.
Slipped.
Fell.
Flat on the arena floor.
A stunned silence fell across the jade tiles.
From the Emperor's dais, the silence was colder than snow.
His gaze… unreadable.
His lips, a tight line.
Li Ren stood quickly and bowed stiffly to Lan Feng.
"Thank you… for the lesson."
The announcer didn't speak. No one clapped.
The shame was loud enough.
Shen turned and walked away.
He'd seen enough.
But he wasn't smiling.
Instead, he whispered, "Too early."
That night, the Silver Tiger General was called to a private council chamber.
He knelt before the Emperor, proud.
"Your son's performance was impressive," the Emperor said.
Then… silence.
Until:
"Too impressive. For a spar.""Did someone tell him to go that far?"
The general hesitated.
A flash of fear crossed his face.
"No, Your Majesty. My son fights… with passion."
"…I see."
A beat passed.
Then:
"Your son will leave the capital tomorrow."
Back in the quiet servant quarters, Shen removed his gray robes and changed into midnight-black underclothes.
He looked out at the moon, calm.
"The Emperor protects the throne. But he's not stupid.""He saw the move for what it was."
He turned his hand.
A tiny charm rested in his palm.
An enchanted seal, planted earlier — right inside Lan Feng's armor strap.
Shen had overheard the plans two nights before and quietly… helped them along.
He didn't want Li Ren dead.
Not yet.
But weakened?
Oh yes.
"This is how you win an empire.""You let others swing the sword — while you sharpen the edge."