The silence of the imperial palace was a deceptive thing. Beneath the polished marble floors and gilded archways, a war of whispers and unseen blades had already begun.
Zhao Min sat in his chambers, a single candle flickering at his side, casting shifting shadows across the walls. In his hand, he held a sealed parchment, delivered in the dead of night by an unseen messenger. No insignia. No markings. Only a few cryptic words written in blood-red ink:
"The winds shift. The enemy moves. Trust no one."
His grip tightened. This was no ordinary warning. It was a move in a game he had yet to fully understand.
A soft knock on the door. Liang Hua entered, her silhouette framed by the dim candlelight. She took one look at his expression and knew something was amiss.
"Another message?" she asked, her voice calm but edged with curiosity.
Zhao Min handed her the parchment without a word. She scanned the words, her fingers tightening slightly around the edges. "Whoever sent this isn't just watching you," she murmured. "They want you to know that they are watching you."
Zhao Min exhaled slowly. "It's not just a warning—it's an invitation. A challenge."
Liang Hua's gaze flickered with something unreadable. "A test of how far you're willing to go."
For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts. Then, with deliberate movements, Zhao Min poured two cups of wine, sliding one toward her. "If the enemy is making their move in the dark, then we must be the ones to bring light to their shadows."
Liang Hua smirked, lifting her cup. "Then let's see just how far this storm can be pushed before it breaks."
The air between them crackled, an unspoken understanding settling in. But before either could say another word, a sharp rap on the door shattered the moment. A messenger, breathless and wide-eyed, stumbled in.
"My lord—there has been an attack!"
Zhao Min and Liang Hua locked eyes. The game had already begun. And this time, neither of them would wait for the next move.