Xu Lianhua's POV
The Empress will NOT attend war council!
Minister Zhao's shout echoed through the throne room. Every general and minister turned to stare at me in the doorway.
I wanted to disappear. To run.
But the Emperor's voice cut through. The Empress will attend. She predicted this invasion. She's earned her place.
Earned? The Grand Chancellor laughed. She's a woman. An illegitimate
Who saved this empire while you assured me the border was secure. Sit down, Chancellor. Or leave.
The Grand Chancellor sat, face red with rage.
I moved beside the throne, hands shaking. Every eye judged me.
Three days before the Duke's army reaches the capital, the Emperor began. They're flying my banner. Our border troops let them pass, believing the orders came from me.
We must send our full army, General Wang declared. Crush them before they reach the walls.
That's what they want, General Chen countered. Better to fortify the capital. Withstand a siege.
The generals argued. None agreed.
I stayed silent. Watching.
Then I saw it. General Wang's expression when someone mentioned the Duke's route. Not surprise. Recognition.
He knew which path they'd take. Before anyone said it.
Empress? The Emperor pulled me back. Your assessment?
Every eye turned to me. Hostile. Mocking.
My throat went dry. I...
Speak. What do you see?
I forced myself to breathe. Neither plan will work.
Outrage erupted.
SILENCE! The Emperor's voice cracked like thunder. The Empress is speaking. You will listen.
I met his eyes. Found strength.
General Wang's plan sends our army to meet them. But they're flying your banner. Our soldiers won't know who to fight. Chaos. I turned to General Chen. A siege gives the Duke time. Time to convince more troops he's rightful Emperor.
Then what do you suggest? the Grand Chancellor sneered.
I moved to the map. We don't fight them. We don't let them reach us at all.
Impossible, General Wang scoffed.
We cut their supply lines. They're marching fast, traveling light. They'll resupply at garrison towns. I pointed to locations. We send small units to these towns. Empty the granaries. Destroy the wells. Make it look like standard military preparation.
Without supplies, they slow down, the Emperor said. Soldiers get hungry, tired. Morale breaks.
Exactly. And we send messengers ahead with proof the Duke stole your ring. That he's a traitor. Turn his troops against him before he reaches the capital.
Silence.
It could work, General Chen admitted.
Too risky, General Wang argued.
Riskier to let a traitor march to our gates, I countered.
The Emperor stood. We implement the Empress's strategy. General Chen leads supply disruption. General Li prepares messengers.
And me, Your Majesty? General Wang asked.
You'll stay here. Help fortify the capital. The Emperor's tone was neutral. But I caught the meaning.
Keep the suspect close. Under watch.
Council dismissed.
As they filed out, I saw General Wang's face. Rage. And fear.
A messenger burst in. Your Majesty! Minister Zhou the one arrested for embezzlement he's dead. Poison. In his cell.
My blood ran cold. Another murder.
When?
Last night.
Before he could expose connections to the coup.
Third prisoner poisoned, I said quietly. My father. My family. Now Minister Zhou.
Someone with dungeon access. Someone keeping secrets buried.
I looked at the leaving generals. Your Majesty, General Wang knew which route the Duke would take. Before anyone mentioned it.
His eyes sharpened. You're certain?
I saw his face. He knew.
Then he's a traitor or receiving information from one. He called Li Jian. Have Wang followed.
That night, I couldn't sleep. Yue'er sat beside my bed.
You were magnificent today, my lady.
I was terrified.
You showed strength.
A sound outside made us freeze.
Someone's in the courtyard, Yue'er whispered.
My heart pounded. Guards?
Moving too quiet.
The door handle turned slowly.
Someone was coming in.
A figure in dark clothes slipped inside, moving toward my bed.
They had a knife.
Yue'er screamed. GUARDS!
The assassin spun. I threw a candlestick. Hit their shoulder.
They lunged.
We ran for the door
The assassin blocked us. Trapped.
The blade rose
The window shattered. Li Jian crashed through, rolling between us and the assassin.
They fought. Fast. Brutal.
Guards poured in.
The assassin threw the knife at me. Li Jian deflected it but they escaped through the window.
The Emperor burst in, sword drawn. What happened?
Li Jian explained.
They came for you tonight. Right after you proved your worth at council.
Because I'm dangerous now, I whispered.
Or, Li Jian said grimly, because you exposed a traitor.
He held up something the assassin dropped.
A piece of paper.
A message: Kill her before she sees the pattern.
What pattern? the Emperor demanded.
I looked at the words. The handwriting.
Understanding hit me.
The murders. Father. My family. Minister Zhou. I met the Emperor's eyes. Same poison. Same access needed. Same timing. There's a pattern that would tell us who's doing it.
You think you can identify the killer?
Whoever sent this assassin is terrified I will. I held up the message. They wouldn't try to kill me unless I was close.
The Emperor's smile was fierce. Then let's find out what.
He called for all murder investigation reports.
Now? Li Jian asked.
Before anyone else dies.
We headed to his study, surrounded by guards.
But as we walked through the dark palace, one thought haunted me:
Whoever was behind this had power to poison prisoners, send assassins, command armies.
And they were desperate enough to try killing me in the palace itself.
Which meant we were getting close.
And close was the most dangerous place to be.