Lian Yuxi's POV
A woman? As Imperial Guard? This is madness!
The shout echoed through the throne room before I'd even stepped inside.
I paused at the massive doors, hand on my new daggers. Black guard uniform felt strange after eleven years of disguises. Twin blades at my waist felt right.
Ready? Yifeng stood beside me, already wearing his Emperor mask—bored expression, cold eyes, dragon sitting on a throne instead of a man.
No, I admitted.
Good. Fear keeps you sharp. He smirked slightly. Try not to kill anyone. Yet.
Then he walked into the throne room like he owned the world.
Because he did.
I followed three steps behind, exactly as protocol demanded.
The room fell silent.
Fifty ministers knelt on cushions, arranged by rank. They'd been arguing before we entered. Now they stared at me like I'd crawled from the underworld.
Maybe I had.
Whispers spread like poison through water.
That's her, the assassin
woman in guard uniform
disgrace to tradition
His Majesty has lost his mind
I kept my face blank. Eleven years of Guild training taught me how to become a statue. How to ignore stares, insults, hatred.
But my hands wanted to reach for my daggers.
Yifeng climbed the steps to the Dragon Throne and sat with casual grace. Like the whispers didn't exist. Like having a female assassin as his personal guard was perfectly normal.
I stood three steps behind his throne, hands at my sides, watching everyone watch me.
A heavy-set minister with gray hair and red face struggled to his feet. His silk robes were expensive—embroidered with cranes and clouds. Rich. Powerful.
Your Majesty! His voice boomed across the room. This is unprecedented! Inappropriate! A woman cannot serve as Imperial Guard!
Minister Cao Zhiming. Yifeng's voice was bored. You have an objection?
I have many objections! Cao's face turned redder. This... this female is
The person who saved my life last night, Yifeng interrupted coldly. While assassins attacked the palace. Where were you during the attack, Minister Cao?
Cao sputtered. I, I was securing my family
Cowering in your chambers, you mean. Yifeng examined his nails like this conversation bored him. While she fought beside me. Killed for me. Bled for me.
Murmurs rippled through the ministers. Some approving. Most scandalized.
Your Majesty, her presence dishonors the sacred tradition of— Cao started.
Choose your next words very carefully. Yifeng's voice dropped to ice.
The temperature in the room plummeted.
Cao froze mid-sentence. Every minister held their breath.
I'd seen this before—the moment prey realized the predator was done playing.
My personal guard saved my life, Yifeng continued quietly. Deadly. She has proven her loyalty in blood. She has earned her position through skill and sacrifice. If anyone in this court has a problem with that... His gold eyes swept across every minister. They're welcome to challenge her directly. I'm sure she'd be happy to demonstrate exactly why I chose her.
My heart hammered. Was he serious? He wanted me to fight ministers?
Several ministers paled. A few looked intrigued. Cao looked ready to explode.
Furthermore, Yifeng said, the attack last night was coordinated. Professional. Expensive. Someone paid the Shadow Guild a fortune to kill me. Someone in this palace. He let that sink in. Someone in this room might be a traitor.
The whispers turned frantic.
Which is why I need a guard I can trust absolutely. One whose loyalty cannot be bought. One who has no political alliances, no court connections, no reason to betray me. His eyes found mine briefly. She stays. Court is dismissed.
Chaos erupted. Ministers climbed to their feet, arguing, protesting, shouting over each other.
Yifeng stood and walked past them all like they didn't exist.
I followed, feeling fifty pairs of eyes burning into my back.
As I reached the door, Minister Cao's voice cut through the noise: This isn't over, girl.
I stopped. Turned. Met his glare with my own.
No, I agreed quietly. It isn't.
His expression promised revenge.
I smiled.
That went well, I said once we were alone in the corridor.
You think? Yifeng actually laughed. Cao looked ready to poison your tea himself.
Let him try. I've built immunity to seventeen different poisons.
Have you really?
No. But he doesn't know that.
Yifeng's laugh was genuine this time. Warm. Human.
We walked through empty corridors toward his private study. Guards bowed as we passed. Servants scattered. Everyone stared.
You handled that well, Yifeng said. Most people would've flinched when Cao threatened you.
I've faced worse than angry old men.
I believe it. He glanced at me. How's your shoulder?
The wound from last night's crossbow bolt ached but wasn't serious. The imperial physician had cleaned and bandaged it at dawn.
I'll survive.
That seems to be your specialty.
We reached his study—a room filled with maps, documents, and books stacked everywhere. Organized chaos.
Yifeng closed the door behind us. His Emperor mask dropped slightly. He looked tired. Human.
Your first official mission, he said, moving to his desk. Find out who hired last night's assassins. Someone paid the Shadow Guild a fortune. Someone with access to my schedule, my security, my movements.
You think it's someone in your court.
I know it is. He pulled out a document covered in names. These are the ministers who arrived late last night. Who had 'family emergencies' or 'urgent business' during the attack. Convenient timing.
I scanned the list. Twenty names. Including Minister Cao.
You want me to investigate them?
I want you to find the traitor. Use whatever methods necessary. His gold eyes met mine. You were trained as an assassin. You know how to gather information, follow targets, extract secrets.
You're asking me to spy on your own ministers.
I'm asking you to save my life. Again. He moved closer. Someone in that throne room wants me dead, Yuxi. Someone powerful enough to hire the Shadow Guild. Someone who won't stop until I'm buried.
Truth settled heavy between us.
This will make me even more hated, I said.
Probably.
The entire court will see me as your attack dog.
They already do.
If I'm caught, they'll execute me.
I won't let them. His voice held certainty. Promise. You're mine now. Under my protection. Anyone who touches you answers to me.
The words sent something warm through my chest. Dangerous. Distracting.
Where do I start? I asked.
Yifeng handed me a sealed letter. This arrived this morning. Found in the East Wing after the fires were extinguished.
I broke the seal and read:
Payment received. Contract fulfilled. The Dragon falls at the Lantern Festival.
Shadow Guild
My blood turned to ice.
This is Heishan's handwriting, I whispered. I'd recognize it anywhere.
Keep reading.
I flipped the letter over. On the back, barely visible, was another line in different handwriting:
Next payment due when the boy is dead. Send confirmation to the Jade Lotus Pavilion.
Jade Lotus Pavilion. An expensive teahouse in the merchant district. Only the wealthiest nobles could afford it.
Someone's still paying for contracts, I said slowly. Even after last night failed. They're not done.
No. Yifeng's expression turned grim. They're just getting started.
I stared at the letter. At Heishan's familiar handwriting. At the promise of more death.
There's something else, Yifeng said quietly. The Jade Lotus Pavilion? It's owned by the Empress Dowager.
The world tilted.
His mother. The woman who'd put him on the throne. Who controlled half the court. Who had the money, power, and connections to hire the Shadow Guild.
Your Majesty
I know what it looks like. His voice was carefully neutral. But I need proof. Real evidence. Not suspicion.
If she's behind this
Then I'll deal with it. But first, I need you to investigate the Jade Lotus Pavilion. Find out who's been meeting there. Who's making payments. Who's coordinating with the Guild.
I looked at the letter again. At the death sentence written in elegant script.
My first mission as Imperial Guard: investigate the Empress Dowager for treason.
When do I start? I asked.
Tonight. After dark. Don't get caught.
I never do.
He smiled slightly. I'm counting on it.
I turned to leave, mind already planning routes, disguises, entry points—
Yuxi.
I stopped.
Be careful. If my mother is involved... He hesitated. She's more dangerous than any assassin you've ever faced.
Our eyes met. His held genuine concern. Fear, even.
For me.
I'll come back, I promised.
You better. We have an accord, remember?
I smiled despite everything. How could I forget?
That night, I'd discover the truth.
That the Empress Dowager wasn't just involved.
She was the one who'd bought me from my father thirteen years ago.