The Palace in Turmoil
Emperor Zhoa Shen sat on his throne, his gaze sharp as steel. The air in the grand hall was thick with tension. Before him knelt the imperial prince, Zhao Ren, and his half-sister, Princess Zhao Ying. The empress, poised and silent, sat beside the emperor, her expression unreadable.
"The stolen jade remains missing," Zhao Shen's voice echoed. "And now, we have reports of betrayal among our trusted generals." His tone was calm, but the underlying fury was unmistakable.
Prince Zhao Ren clenched his fists. "Father, the borders are growing restless. If our enemies sense weakness—"
"They already have," Zhao Ying interrupted. "And we have yet to determine where this betrayal stems from." Her sharp gaze landed on the kneeling form of a court advisor, who had barely escaped the previous night's chaos.
The emperor turned his eyes to the man. "Advisor Liu, explain yourself."
The trembling official bowed low. "Your Majesty, I was but a messenger. I know nothing of the traitor's true master—"
A swift movement, and the empress slammed her cup down. "Lies," she hissed.
A heavy silence followed. Zhao Shen studied the advisor's trembling form before waving a hand. "We will discuss this matter further. For now, leave us."
As the doors swung shut behind the fleeing official, Zhao Ren exhaled. "Father, who do you suspect?"
The emperor's eyes darkened. "Everyone."
---
The Battle in the Dark
Meanwhile, outside the palace walls, Zhao Min and Liang Hua pursued a shadowy figure through the storm-laden streets. Rain pounded against the rooftops, the scent of wet earth mixing with the lingering scent of blood from their previous skirmish.
"This lead better be worth it," Liang Hua murmured, gripping her blade.
"It will be," Zhao Min assured her. "If we catch whoever has been passing information, we'll be one step closer to the truth."
Suddenly, a rustling sound. A flicker of movement in the alley ahead. Before either of them could react, a figure dropped down from the rooftops.
The woman was dressed in black, her eyes a glacial silver that shone under the moonlight. Twin daggers gleamed in her hands. She smirked.
"You've been following my trail," she said. "That was a mistake."
Zhao Min and Liang Hua barely had time to dodge as she lunged. Blades clashed in a flurry of sparks, the narrow alley filled with the sound of steel against steel. The woman was fast, impossibly fast. Every strike aimed to kill.
Liang Hua countered, her movements sharp and precise, but the woman was relentless. Zhao Min moved to flank, only for the woman to twist away, her foot catching his wrist in a sharp blow. He barely managed to deflect her next strike.
"You fight well," she mused. "But I didn't come here to kill you."
Zhao Min narrowed his eyes. "Then why are you here?"
The woman grinned, twirling her dagger before stepping back. "Because you're asking the wrong questions."
Before either of them could stop her, she vanished into the shadows.
Silence hung between Zhao Min and Liang Hua. Then, Liang Hua sheathed her sword. "We need to find out who she is."
Zhao Min nodded, his mind already racing. Whoever she was, she was no ordinary assassin. And that meant their enemies were more powerful than they had ever imagined.