"Just let him go?" Li Yan stared at Xue Liulan in disbelief. They had cornered Guo Shangzhong, and the Emperor was letting him walk away?
Xue Liulan ignored him, heading for the door.
"Your Majesty!" Li Yan chased after him. "We need an explanation! Letting the tiger return to the mountain… what is your plan?"
Xue Liulan stopped and turned, his gaze cold. "I will give you an explanation. But not now."
"Your Majesty!" Yan Lingfu blocked his path. He had joined Xue Liulan to destroy Guo Shangzhong. Watching the eunuch escape was unbearable.
"Move." Xue Liulan shoved Yan Lingfu aside.
"If you don't explain to us, at least explain to the world!" Yan Lingfu shouted at his back.
"Handle the court. I have my reasons." Xue Liulan walked out without looking back, heading straight for the inner palace.
Li Yan and Yan Lingfu watched him disappear, stunned. The Fifteen stood nearby, waiting for orders.
"What does this mean?" Li Yan asked, unnerved by the silent assassins.
"Don't panic, Minister Li. We're here to help," Xiazhi smiled. "We don't know why the Master let him go either, but you've served him long enough to have some faith, haven't you?"
Li Yan laughed bitterly. Faith? Yes. But what could make Xue Liulan abandon his vengeance?
"Does Miss Xiazhi know anything?"
Xiazhi shook her head. Then she saw Little Dingzi standing nearby, frozen, staring after the Emperor but afraid to follow.
"Little Dingzi." She grabbed his arm.
He flinched violently, his face pale as a ghost.
"What's wrong?" Xiazhi frowned. "I didn't hurt you."
Li Yan approached, sensing something amiss. "Eunuch Ding, do you have something to say?"
Little Dingzi opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, but no sound came out.
Xiazhi scowled. "Qiushuang!"
"Muted. Here." A woman threw a pill to Xiazhi.
Xiazhi shoved it into Little Dingzi's mouth. He clutched his throat, face turning red, gasping for air.
Finally, he croaked, "Save… save the Empress!"
Everyone froze.
"What happened to the Empress?" Xiazhi grabbed him.
Little Dingzi stammered, terrified.
"Useless!" Xiazhi released him. "Stay here and follow Minister Li's orders."
"Yes." The Fifteen bowed.
Xiazhi grabbed Little Dingzi. "Let's go."
"Wait!" Li Yan caught her arm. "What about the Empress?"
"You scholar, so many questions!" Xiazhi rolled her eyes. "The Empress isn't dead. She faked it to escape Guo Shangzhong. But she came back when she heard the Emperor was in danger."
"So she's in danger now?"
"Yes! Let go! Only a trap could catch someone like her."
Li Yan released her. It made sense now. The only person who could make Xue Liulan abandon his revenge was Murong Jin.
Xiazhi dragged Little Dingzi to Zhaoyang Palace. It was quiet. Too quiet.
She pushed the door open. Xue Liulan sat on the steps, staring at a broken jade hairpin in his hands.
"Master." Xiazhi breathed a sigh of relief. He was safe.
Xue Liulan looked up, his eyes empty, then looked back at the hairpin.
Little Dingzi pushed past Xiazhi and fell to his knees. "Master, Little Dingzi has failed you."
"It was you." Xue Liulan's voice was devoid of emotion, but the chill in it was terrifying.
Little Dingzi shrank back. "I failed you."
"You failed Murong Jin." Xue Liulan said softly, grief overwhelming his killing intent.
Xiazhi pulled Little Dingzi up. "What did Guo Shangzhong do to her?"
"Release him, Xiazhi." Xue Liulan stood. "Guo Shangzhong wants to use her against me. She is safe for now."
"Master! A traitor deserves death!" Xiazhi shoved Little Dingzi.
"Why?" Xue Liulan asked him.
Little Dingzi knelt again, head touching the ground. "Punish me, Master."
"Where did he take her?" Xiazhi demanded.
"I don't know."
"How can you not know?"
Xue Liulan waved Xiazhi back. "What leverage does he have on you?"
Little Dingzi trembled. "He has… someone."
Xue Liulan paused, then nodded. "Is she safe now?"
"Yes." Little Dingzi closed his eyes. He had seen her safe outside the hall. That was enough.
"Go." Xue Liulan turned his back.
"Master?"
"I did everything for the one I love. You did the same. I understand." His voice was heavy with sorrow.
Murong Jin, I have put you in danger again.
"Though Master does not blame me, I have no face to serve you anymore. Take care, Master." Little Dingzi kowtowed deeply, his forehead resting on the cold stone. He didn't move again.
Xue Liulan stood with his back to him.
"Xiazhi. Bury him well."