The moment the masked assassin lunged, Li Shen's instincts took over. She twisted aside, the blade whistling past her cheek, slicing a few strands of her hair. The intruder moved with trained precision—no wasted steps, no hesitation. Not a hired thug. This was someone bred for silent kills.
Her bare feet slid across the polished wood as she reached for the lacquered box on her table. Inside lay a slender dagger—ceremonial, but sharpened for emergencies. She snatched it up, just in time to deflect the next strike. Steel rang in the stillness of her chambers, a chilling sound beneath the muffled thud of hurried footfalls from the outer hall.
"Who sent you?" she hissed, locking blades. The assassin said nothing, only pressed harder, their masked eyes cold and unreadable.
Then the door burst inward. A shadow surged in—Shen Zhi, cloak billowing, sword already drawn. He struck with practiced fury, his blade slashing down toward the assassin's exposed side. The intruder disengaged from Li Shen in a fluid leap, twisting away as Shen's sword grazed their sleeve. The fabric tore, but no blood fell.
"Out," Shen barked, and Li Shen obeyed, backing toward the corridor. But even as she moved, she knew the assassin wasn't here to kill her quickly. They were here to test. To send a message.
Outside, the moonlight spilled silver on the courtyard stones. Guards rushed toward the commotion, but the masked figure vaulted over the garden wall before they could close in. By the time the alarm bell rang, the intruder was gone—leaving only a torn scrap of midnight fabric in Shen's hand.
Meanwhile, across the palace, Liang Yi moved through a hidden passage known only to a handful of the imperial bloodline. His cloak was hooded, his steps silent as he entered the Chamber of Records. There, among dust-coated scrolls and locked cabinets, he searched for a single sealed ledger. One that could ruin the Minister of War if revealed.
He found it—and froze. The seal had already been broken.
From the shadows, a voice purred. "Looking for something, Your Highness?"