Dawn broke red over the palace, as though the heavens themselves bled. Yun Xi waited by the Hall of Records, her cloak drawn tight, watching each servant hurry past. At last, Liang appeared, his scholar's robes wrinkled, eyes darting like a trapped bird.
He handed her a small bundle wrapped in silk. "These are Zhao's letters," he whispered. "Proof of bribes, shipments, false accounts. But beware—he suspects me already. If this is discovered—"
His words ended in a strangled gasp. An arrow pierced his chest.
Yun Xi froze, horror gripping her as Liang collapsed, the bundle slipping from his fingers. Shadows burst from the rooftops—Zhao's men, bows drawn, blades flashing.
"Take the scribe!" someone shouted.
Yun Xi snatched the bundle and ran. Arrows thudded into pillars as she darted through the courtyards, her breath ragged, her legs burning. Guards shouted, eunuchs scattered. Still the assassins chased her, relentless as hounds.
She veered into the Lotus Pavilion—straight into Mei's path.
The concubine raised an eyebrow, unruffled despite the chaos. "My, Scholar Yun, you do bring storms wherever you go."
"Help me!" Yun Xi gasped.
For an instant, Mei's gaze softened. Then she snapped her fan shut and called to the guards, "Protect Scholar Yun! He carries imperial documents!"
The attackers faltered. The guards surged forward. In the confusion, Yun Xi slipped away, clutching the silk bundle to her chest.
When she reached the Phoenix Hall, she dropped to her knees before the Empress, laying the letters out. "Your Majesty—proof! Zhao's treachery, his bribes, his thefts. It is all here."
The Empress's eyes gleamed as she spread the letters across the table. "So the serpent bares its fangs at last."
But before they could speak further, a gong thundered across the palace.
A herald's voice rang out: "By order of His Majesty, Scholar Yun Xi is to be arrested for treason and the forging of imperial records!"
Yun Xi's blood turned to ice.
The Empress rose, her face unreadable. "Zhao has moved faster than I thought. He has poisoned the Emperor's ear."
Soldiers stormed into the hall, blades drawn. The Empress stepped forward, blocking their path. "Do you dare lay hands on one under the Phoenix's protection?"
The soldiers wavered. But their captain bowed stiffly. "Our orders are absolute, Your Majesty."
Yun Xi clenched her fists. The serpent had struck, and its coils were tightening around her throat.