Prince Long Wei did not withdraw the sword from Mei Lin's neck. His amber eyes burned with a mixture of fury and a dangerous curiosity.
"You speak of secret ledgers and security flaws," he said, his voice low like a tiger's growl. "But all I see is a traitor's daughter trying to buy time before her execution."
Mei Lin smiled, a gesture that clearly irritated him.
[System Alert: Target heart rate increased by 20%.] [Analysis: The Prince is intrigued, but his patience is at its limit.]
"You want proof? Look at the report in your left hand," Mei Lin pointed calmly.
The Prince frowned. It was a sealed document regarding the army's grain logistics. "What about it?"
"The third paragraph has a 15% inconsistency in the numbers. Your Prime Minister isn't just stealing; he's creating a ghost supply route to arm a rebellion in the South. If you follow the convoy tomorrow, you'll walk into an ambush. Your intelligence system is 'leaking,' your Highness."
Long Wei quickly scanned the paper. How could she know the contents of a sealed document? He looked at her with suspicion. "How did you get access to this?"
"I see what others hide," she replied. In reality, the System had scanned the paper through the ink and envelope while she was hidden. "I can be your greatest ally, or the virus that destroys your peace. The choice is yours."
A guard knocked on the carriage door. "Your Highness, we have reached the side gate of the Palace. Should we search the carriage?"
The silence inside was absolute. Jiro, still huddled at their feet, held his breath. Mei Lin kept her gaze fixed on the Prince. She knew that if he said "yes," their lives would end there.
Long Wei sheathed his sword with a sharp motion. "No. Proceed. It is only a shipment of... rare silks."
The carriage passed through the gate. Mei Lin relaxed her shoulders. She was inside the heart of the Empire.
"I will give you one chance, Mei Lin," Long Wei said, leaning in so close she could feel the heat of his breath. "I will take you to my private pavilion. If what you said about tomorrow's ambush is a lie, I will cut your tongue out myself."
Mei Lin tilted her head, victorious. "Prepare the tea, Prince. We have a lot to 'reconfigure' in this palace."
[Objective Complete: Infiltrate the Prince's Pavilion.] [New Skill Unlocked: Network Scanning (Level 1).