Morning court was unusually crowded.
Everyone wanted to see the Crown Prince.
Everyone wanted to see if he would bow.
Zhen Luo stood in his place, posture perfect, expression calm, as if the assassination attempt had never happened.
The ministers whispered.
The Emperor watched.
The Queen smiled.
Li Shuran stood three steps behind Zhen Luo, eyes lowered, fingers clenched in her sleeves.
She had been humiliated at the temple.
She would not let that stand.
Han Jian was not in court.
He walked through the palace corridors instead, hands behind his back, expression bored.
Too bored.
The air shifted.
He stopped.
A palace maid approached, head lowered, carrying a tray of tea.
"Sir Han," she whispered, voice trembling. "Her Highness Lady Li requests your presence."
Han Jian's lips curved slightly.
So direct now?
He took the tea.
Did not drink it.
Instead, he flicked the cup aside. The porcelain shattered. The liquid sizzled against the stone floor.
Poison.
The maid collapsed immediately, shaking.
Han Jian sighed.
"Amateurs."
He turned and walked away as guards rushed in, already knowing this was meant for him.
Back in court, Li Shuran stepped forward, voice gentle.
"Your Majesty," she said softly, bowing. "The temple incident has shaken the people. I believe… the Crown Prince should spend more time in public, to reassure them."
The Queen nodded approvingly.
Zhen Luo smiled politely.
"Lady Li is thoughtful," he said.
Li Shuran's eyes brightened.
Then he continued.
"But I believe forced appearances breed suspicion. Instead, I will handle this personally."
The hall stilled.
The Emperor raised a brow. "Handle how?"
Zhen Luo turned slightly, gaze sharp.
"I request authority to conduct an internal purge of all hidden factions within the palace."
Gasps erupted.
The Queen's smile froze.
That authority meant unrestricted investigation.
That meant her people were exposed.
Elsewhere, Bai Zehan and Luo Xian were not attending court either.
They stood in a quiet courtyard, watching messengers run back and forth.
"The Queen's spies are moving," Bai Zehan muttered.
Luo Xian nodded. "She noticed the archive breach."
Bai Zehan whistled softly. "We're officially on her hit list."
Luo Xian looked calm. "Good. That means we're important."
Back in the court hall, the Emperor studied his son.
"You are asking for power many princes dream of," he said slowly.
Zhen Luo met his gaze without flinching.
"Then allow me to prove I am worthy of it."
A long silence.
Then the Emperor laughed once.
"Very well. Three months. Show me what kind of prince you truly are."
The Queen's fingers tightened.
Li Shuran's face went pale.
Han Jian heard the news from a whispering servant and smiled.
"So he chose fire," he murmured.
He stepped into the shadowed hallway where Zhen Luo waited.
"You're reckless," Han Jian said lightly.
Zhen Luo looked at him. "You were poisoned."
"Again," Han Jian corrected.
Zhen Luo's eyes darkened. "I gave myself power. No one touches you without permission now."
Han Jian tilted his head. "That sounds dangerous."
"It is," Zhen Luo replied.
Han Jian laughed softly. "Then I'll stay very close to Your Highness."
Zhen Luo stared at him for a long moment, then turned away.
"If you die, I will destroy this palace," he said quietly.
Han Jian blinked, then smiled.
"Noted."
In the Queen's chambers, a porcelain cup shattered.
"He thinks he can purge my palace?" she whispered.
A shadow knelt before her. "What are your orders?"
The Queen's eyes gleamed.
"Target the second couple first. The loud one and the quiet one."
Bai Zehan sneezed at the exact same moment.
Luo Xian glanced at him. "Someone is thinking about you."
Bai Zehan laughed. "Hopefully romantically."
Luo Xian stared at him.
"…Hopefully not," he corrected.
The chessboard was no longer quiet.
The Crown Prince had taken the king's permission to burn the board.
Han Jian sharpened his blade.
Bai Zehan and Luo Xian tightened their grip on secrets.
Li Shuran realized she was no longer the heroine—just a pawn.
And the Queen finally understood:
This was not a romance story.
This was war.