The palace did not sleep.
Even after the chaos of the previous night, silence had not returned—only tension. Guards moved more frequently through the corridors, their footsteps sharper, their eyes more alert. Every shadow seemed suspicious. Every whisper felt dangerous.
Inside Zhou Ye's chamber, the air was heavy.
The carved marks lay across the table where she had left them.
Two.
Four.
Six.
Eight.
Zhou Ye stared at them, her gaze unmoving.
Something about this pattern disturbed her—not just the meaning, but the precision behind it.
"It's too clean," she murmured.
Song Lan, standing beside her, frowned. "What do you mean?"
Zhou Ye traced the marks lightly with her fingers.
"No hesitation. No mistakes. Every mark placed exactly where it needed to be."
Song Lan shivered slightly. "That sounds worse."
"It is," Zhou Ye replied quietly.
The door opened.
Xu Yang stepped in, followed by Jing Mo and Jing Yen.
"You're still awake," Xu Yang said.
Zhou Ye didn't turn. "So are you."
Jing Yen walked straight to the table, studying the marks.
"Four victims," he said. "All without visible wounds. All with the same expression."
"Fear," Jing Mo added.
Xu Yang's gaze shifted slightly. "Not just fear. Controlled fear."
Silence settled briefly.
Zhou Ye finally turned.
"Have you found anything?"
Jing Mo nodded. "We checked the patrol routes, guard rotations, and access points."
"And?" Xu Yang asked.
Jing Mo hesitated slightly.
Jing Yen answered instead.
"There's only one type of person who could move through all those areas without being questioned."
Zhou Ye's eyes sharpened slightly.
"A physician," she said.
Jing Yen looked at her. "Yes."
Xu Yang's expression darkened.
"A doctor would be trusted. Allowed close contact. No suspicion."
"And skilled enough to kill without visible injury," Jing Yen added.
Song Lan took a small step back. "You mean… one of the palace doctors?"
Jing Mo nodded. "One is missing."
Silence.
Xu Yang's voice turned cold.
"Name."
"Doctor Lin."
The name settled heavily in the room.
Zhou Ye felt something tighten inside her chest.
Not recognition.
But instinct.
"Where was he last seen?" she asked.
"In the western wing," Jing Mo replied. "Near the medical storage rooms."
Jing Yen crossed his arms. "Poison access. Herbs. Tools. Everything he needs."
Xu Yang turned immediately.
"Search the area. Quietly. Don't alert him."
Jing Mo nodded. "Understood."
As they turned to leave—
"Wait."
They paused.
"He's not hiding," Zhou Ye said.
Jing Yen raised a brow. "You sound certain."
Zhou Ye shook her head slightly.
"No… but if I were him…"
A pause.
"I wouldn't run."
Silence.
"Why?" Xu Yang asked.
Zhou Ye met his gaze.
"Because he hasn't finished yet."
Night fell slowly.
The palace grew quieter—but not safer.
Inside Zhou Ye's chamber, the lamps burned low. Shadows stretched across the walls.
Song Lan stood near the door, her expression uneasy.
"I don't like this," she whispered.
Zhou Ye sat calmly at the table.
"Neither do I."
"But you're still doing it."
Zhou Ye gave a faint smile.
"If we wait for him, more people will die."
Song Lan tightened her hands slightly. "And if you're wrong?"
Zhou Ye didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"Then I'll deal with it."
The door creaked softly.
Song Lan turned sharply.
Xu Yang stepped in.
"You're really doing this," he said.
Zhou Ye didn't deny it.
"You're using yourself as bait," Jing Yen added as he entered behind him.
"Yes."
Xu Yang's expression hardened.
"That's reckless."
"It's necessary."
Silence.
Jing Mo took position near the wall, already alert.
Xu Yang stepped closer to Zhou Ye.
"You could die."
Zhou Ye looked up at him.
"But I haven't."
"That's not the point."
Their eyes locked.
For a moment—
neither moved.
Then Xu Yang spoke again.
"Stay behind me when it happens."
Zhou Ye blinked slightly.
"You're already planning the attack?"
"I'm planning your survival."
Her breath softened.
"…You're confident."
Xu Yang's voice lowered.
"I don't need confidence."
A pause.
"I'll be there."
Something in his tone—
made her chest tighten.
The candle flickered.
A soft sound echoed.
Too soft.
Xu Yang's eyes snapped toward the door.
"Stay back."
The door opened slowly.
A figure stepped inside.
Calm.
Controlled.
Doctor Lin.
His expression was gentle. Almost reassuring.
"Your Highness," he said politely.
Song Lan stepped forward. "You shouldn't be—"
"It's fine," Zhou Ye said quietly.
Silence fell.
Doctor Lin smiled slightly.
"You knew I would come."
Zhou Ye didn't answer.
Jing Yen's hand moved toward his weapon.
"You're finished," he said coldly.
Doctor Lin chuckled softly.
"Am I?"
His sleeve moved.
A thin needle shot forward—
fast. Silent.
Straight toward Zhou Ye.
"Zhou Ye!"
Xu Yang moved instantly.
He pulled her back—
the needle barely missing her throat.
It struck the pillar behind them.
The wood blackened instantly.
Poison.
Jing Mo lunged forward.
Jing Yen blocked the exit.
Doctor Lin stepped back calmly.
"You're quick," he said lightly.
Xu Yang didn't respond.
He attacked.
Fast. Direct.
Doctor Lin dodged—but not perfectly.
Jing Mo closed in from the side.
Jing Yen cut off his retreat.
The room became a cage.
Doctor Lin's movements remained precise—but limited.
He wasn't a fighter.
But he didn't need to be.
Another needle.
Another strike.
Each one aimed to disable.
Each one deadly.
But Xu Yang adapted.
Step by step—
he closed the distance.
Until—
He caught the doctor's wrist.
Twisted.
A sharp crack echoed.
Doctor Lin dropped to one knee.
Jing Mo moved instantly—
pinning him down.
"It's over," he said.
Silence filled the room.
Doctor Lin didn't struggle.
Instead—
he smiled.
Calm.
Unafraid.
Xu Yang stepped forward.
"Why?"
Doctor Lin's gaze shifted slowly—
to Zhou Ye.
"Because she exists."
Zhou Ye's breath stilled.
"She shouldn't be here," he continued softly.
A chill ran through her.
Xu Yang's voice turned cold.
"Take him away."
Jing Mo nodded, pulling the man up.
As he was dragged away—
Doctor Lin suddenly let out a low laugh.
Soft at first.
Then darker.
Colder.
It echoed through the chamber.
Everyone paused.
Doctor Lin tilted his head slightly.
"You really think…" he murmured,
"…this is over?"
Silence.
His smile widened faintly.
"Catching me…"
He let out a quiet breath, almost amused.
"…was the easiest part."
Zhou Ye's fingers tightened.
A chill crept down her spine.
Doctor Lin's eyes flickered with something dangerous.
Then he said—
slowly, clearly—
"After all… this was part of my plan."
A heavy silence fell.
Xu Yang's expression darkened instantly.
"Take him away."
This time—
no one hesitated.
Doctor Lin's soft laughter followed him—
until it disappeared into the corridor.
Silence returned.
Zhou Ye stood still.
Her hands trembling slightly.
Xu Yang turned to her.
"You could have died."
His voice wasn't calm anymore.
It was sharp.
Angry.
Zhou Ye met his gaze.
"But I didn't."
"That's not the point."
He stepped closer.
Closer than before.
"Don't do that again," he said quietly.
Zhou Ye's breath softened.
"Why?"
Xu Yang didn't hesitate.
"Because I won't always be fast enough."
The words hit deep.
For a moment—
neither of them moved.
Then Zhou Ye looked away.
"…You were this time."
A small answer.
But enough.
Outside—
the palace remained silent.
But now—
the danger felt closer than before.