The silence within the Empress Dowager's private hall was suffocating. Shadows stretched long across the polished floor, and the faint smell of sandalwood burned from an incense stand in the corner. Tie Hongchen sat quietly, her sharp eyes half-lidded as she observed everything without speaking.
Opposite Tai Jian sat the emissary of the Shadow Guild, cloaked in dark phoenix robes that seemed to absorb the flickering lamplight. The Empress Dowager herself was seated with serene composure, though her eyes betrayed both calculation and urgency.
"So the Dong family has decided to ally with the Shadow Guild," Tai Jian said casually, almost as if commenting on the weather. His tone, however, carried an edge.
The emissary's lips curled. "Does it matter? Join us, and I can assure you the throne of Qin will be yours. Your parents will remain safe."
A cold gleam flashed in Tai Jian's eyes. His voice dropped into ice. "Have you ever been told what I hate most in this world?"
The emissary tilted his head. "Enlighten me."
"Being threatened," Tai Jian answered flatly.
The emissary chuckled. "And yet I can threaten you precisely because you are weak. If you were strong enough to stand on equal footing, I would not dare. You are sentimental, and sentiment is weakness. Without it, perhaps you could have been a danger to us. But like this…" He gestured lazily with his hand. "You are nothing more than a man shackled by his own heart."
Tie Hongchen's lips curved faintly, though she said nothing.
The Empress Dowager leaned forward slightly. Her voice was calm, coaxing, and authoritative. "Indeed, the emissary speaks truth. Tai Jian, you may have been a war god in the past, but in the eyes of the Shadow Guild, such figures are countless. To them, you are merely a pawn. A speck of dust. Yet, they are willing to nurture you. If you join, you will not be mistreated. The throne, wealth, fame—they will all be yours."
"What is your condition?" Tai Jian asked, feigning interest, his voice devoid of emotion.
The emissary's eyes gleamed. "Marry her… and become her shadow."
A sharp, unexpected laugh broke from Tai Jian's lips. It was cold, cutting, and mocking, as though the words themselves were the funniest joke he had ever heard.
"You want me to become a puppet?" His gaze sharpened like a drawn blade. "The Heaven Battling State is already in your grasp. The Nan family, too, bows to you, and even its emperor has become nothing but a shadow of your guild. Yet you still want Qin? Your appetite is boundless. Be careful, or you might burst."
The emissary's expression darkened. "Should I take that as a refusal?"
Before Tai Jian could respond, a trembling voice suddenly pierced the silence.
"Cousin Jian!"
Everyone turned. Dong Ning, who had sat in silence until now, could no longer hold back. Her fists were clenched tightly, her eyes glistening with tears.
"What does she have that I do not?" Her voice cracked. "What can she give you that I cannot? I am willing—willing even to give you Qin itself if you wish. So why do you still refuse me? Why can't you marry me?"
Her chest rose and fell violently. Even she did not know whether her anguish came from love or from wounded pride. All she knew was that this man, who had rejected her time and again, had accepted a foreigner, an outsider, and would even go against the Empress Dowager for her sake.
Her voice grew hoarse as her tears slipped down her face. "Am I not beautiful enough? Not loyal enough?"
Her eyes flared with hatred as they darted toward Tie Hongchen.
Tai Jian's reply was merciless. "You are nothing compared to her."
The words were like a blade thrust into Dong Ning's heart. Her body shook, and for a moment, she could not breathe.
"I refuse to believe that!" she screamed, her voice sharp and desperate. "She is just a cripple who cannot even protect herself! How can she compare to me? I am a seasoned fighter—if we were born in different eras, I would have been the War God. How can she compare?"
Tai Jian only snorted coldly, not even bothering to waste more words.
His attention shifted back to the emissary. "Dark Shadow Emissary, I will spare your life today. But punishment is necessary—otherwise, you may think my blade has dulled." His eyes turned deathly cold. "Go back and tell your master to wash his neck clean. I will come for his head."
A monstrous aura erupted from Tai Jian's body. It was as though an ancient beast had awakened, shaking the very air in the hall. The ground seemed to tremble, the lamps flickered wildly, and even the Empress Dowager paled.
The emissary staggered backward, horror filling his eyes. He had only felt such pressure before from his master.
"So… that person was indeed you," he whispered in disbelief.
In a flash, Tai Jian's blade moved. The emissary barely had time to raise his guard before he was struck. The clash resounded like thunder. He screamed, his martial veins shattered, his body collapsing. Crippled.
Tai Jian had spared his life—but condemned him to death all the same. In the Shadow Guild, weakness was unforgivable. With countless enemies, the emissary would not live long.
Tie Hongchen sat calmly, sipping her wine, watching the scene as though it were theater. She wanted to see how far Tai Jian would go.
After a long silence, Tai Jian turned to face the Empress Dowager and Dong Ning. His eyes softened, and for a moment, hesitation flickered within them. He was ruthless to outsiders, but when it came to family… his hand always trembled.
Tie Hongchen saw it, and quietly sighed.
At last, Tai Jian raised his hand, forming a seal. Ancient light rippled outward, encasing the mansion in a spell. The Empress Dowager and Dong Ning felt their bloodlines stir as the restriction fell into place.
"From this day on," Tai Jian said calmly, "you may walk freely within this palace. But neither of you shall step beyond these walls."
He turned his back to them, his cloak sweeping behind him as he walked out with Tie Hongchen at his side.
---
Back in his mansion, the atmosphere shifted. The soldiers were given orders to prepare for war. Armor was polished, blades sharpened, banners unfurled.
In the hidden chamber, Tai Jian sat upon his throne, his sword resting across his knees. He ran the whetstone along its edge, sparks dancing faintly with each stroke. Beside him, Tie Hongchen reclined gracefully, sipping wine from a jade cup.
The contrast was almost surreal—him sharpening his blade for blood, her drinking as though it were a festival. Yet both carried the same aura: calm before a storm.
"Will you really sharpen your sword the whole day?" Tie Hongchen finally asked with a teasing smile. "Why not drink with me instead?"
Tai Jian paused, lifting his eyes. He smiled faintly, his gaze locking with hers. "You really do have beautiful eyes."
She arched a brow, setting down her cup. "Are you trying to flirt with me?"
In a smooth motion, she slid closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her breath brushed against his cheek.
"You're playing with fire," Tai Jian murmured, his hand lifting her chin. His eyes bore into hers, deep and unyielding. "Be careful, or you might burn."
Tie Hongchen's lips curved in defiance. "So what? Don't tell me you're afraid."
Tai Jian only smiled, gently removing her arms. His voice dropped, steady and firm. "I am not interested in your body… only in this." His finger touched her chest, over her heart.
Her breath caught.
"You know," she said slowly, testing him, "if we joined together… our powers would multiply. You would have a higher chance of victory."
Tai Jian nodded once. He knew she was right. But he also knew where his line was.
And so, in the quiet of that hidden chamber, the war god sharpened his blade while the princess watched, both of them waiting for the storm to break.