Crown Prince Huìwén (惠文) placed the earthenware cup gently on the table. The sound of the base meeting the wood echoed short and sharp in the silence of the room. Without lifting his gaze from the trembling surface of the tea, he spoke with a cold composure:
"The bitterness of the tea is merely a prelude; the news I bring is the heart of the matter."
Shénwǔ (神武), his tone a blend of respect and anxiety, said,
"Your Highness... by undertaking this journey, you have put your life at risk. Your courage is commendable, but..."
The Crown Prince raised his head slightly.
"Not making this journey would have entailed far greater risks."
Shénwǔ's eyes fixed on a dark corner of the room for a moment, as if searching for a hidden truth. He whispered under his breath,
"I, too, saw the crimson face of the moon... is it this omen that has drawn you here?"
Huìwén, lowering his gaze once more, twirled the cup slightly between his fingers.
"It is not unrelated. However, a deeper catastrophe is unfolding at the heart of the Empire."
He paused for a moment to weigh the gravity of his words, then continued :
"The Grand Marshal... was murdered in his bedchamber a few nights ago."
Shénwǔ's gaze suddenly sharpened. A long silence reigned between the two. Eventually, the old man spoke in a tone laced with doubt:
"And from your expression, it appears you have a lead regarding this crime."
The Crown Prince replied,
"I do not yet have sufficient evidence to prove it, but I have no doubt that the fingerprints of my stepmother's family are evident in this bloodshed."
"Lǐ Xuǎn (李选)?"
Shénwǔ uttered the name in surprise, but the Crown Prince dismissed it with a shake of his head.
"He is too old and infirm to even rise from his bed."
The Prince's gaze grew dark and resentful.
"The State of Jīn (金) is now firmly in the grip of Yìfēng (逸風)."
Upon hearing that name, Shénwǔ instinctively struck the table so hard with his fist that the tea inside the cups shuddered.
"That silver-tongued serpent... were he not your stepmother's brother, his foul head would have been crushed under horse hooves years ago."
A bitter, contemptuous smile then touched his lips, "Fortune has favoured him to remain alive until this day."
Huìwén continued, nodding in agreement,
"We have also lost the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Chariots.
Yìfēng's men have swiftly taken their places. I had entrusted the investigation of this case to Hēiláng (黑狼), but… they ultimately succeeded…"
Shénwǔ asked, "What responsibility does your brother hold in your absence?"
Huìwén looked down, his hand resting involuntarily on his knee. In a tone tinged with sorrow, he said,
"The Emperor has demoted him to the rank of Commander of the Palace Guard."
Contrary to expectation, Shénwǔ said with conviction,
"The Emperor has made an exceedingly wise decision.
Have no doubt that he has lost his trust in his wife's family. In your absence, your brother's presence at the heart of the palace will stifle any clandestine movement in its infancy."
The Crown Prince thought for a moment and then nodded in approval. "Perhaps you are right."
A pervasive silence filled the room; only the howling of a wild wind slapping against the wooden walls of the hut could be heard. Huìwén broke the silence:
"I am commanded by the Emperor to return you to the capital. I am aware of your loyalty and service to my grandfather. Today, the Empire needs your presence more than ever."
Shénwǔ replied slowly but with resolve,
"But… this responsibility is heavy for my age.
Why do you not summon General Mùchén (沐臣)?
He has studied the arts of war and statecraft by my side for years and is more capable than all those foolish military officials."
The Crown Prince said with finality,
"I cannot return empty-handed. This is a direct command.
Furthermore, the appointment of General Mùchén is currently quite impossible."
A frown creased Shénwǔ's brow. "What do you mean?"
"The influence of Yìfēng's pawns in the court is more deep-rooted than you imagine. General Mùchén's background from the Lán (嵐) lineage has already sidelined him."
Huìwén lowered his voice and continued,
"Yìfēng will never forget the brutal killing of his son. And that, right on his wedding night to the daughter of Liángwáng (良王)!"
Shénwǔ ran a hand over his thin beard, as if bitter memories of the past were coming alive in his mind. Finally, he said :
"Your words... have steeled my resolve to return. But at night, this region is a haunt for bandits. Let us set out at dawn."
They rose as a mark of respect and bowed to one another. The Crown Prince said with satisfaction,
"You have made the right decision, General."
It was past midnight. Yìfēng sat at the desk in his room, studying a scroll by the flickering candlelight. Suddenly, the candle flame danced, and the shadow of a stranger was cast upon the wall.
Without turning his head, merely shifted his gaze toward the door.
He slowly rolled up the scroll, blew out the flame, and said in the darkness,
"I know you are there. Come in."
The sliding door opened with a short groan. A man dressed in black, his face half-hidden behind a cloth entered. Yìfēng invited him to sit with a gesture of his hand.
"The Emperor has sent for Shénwǔ. The killing of the Grand Marshal was unexpected... was it your doing?"
The hooded man's narrow, piercing eyes stared at him without blinking.
"Everything is proceeding according to plan."
Yìfēng spoke in a warning tone,
"Our survival depends on victory in this operation. I want no obstacles in our path."
The man replied, "We shall leave no trace."
Then, he drew a small piece of paper from his garments and slid it across the table toward Yìfēng.
"Act according to these instructions."
He unfolded the paper and whispered in surprise,
"Reinforcing the North-eastern border forces? What importance does this hold at such a time?"
The man in black, as he rose to vanish back into the darkness, said coldly and curtly,
"I have no answer for that..."