The Mid-Autumn Festival arrived with music instead of silence.
By sunset, the capital had transformed.
Scarlet lanterns floated above crowded streets, children chased one another between market stalls, and the fragrance of roasted chestnuts and sweet rice cakes drifted through the evening air.
For one night, the empire pretended it was at peace.
Li Xuan knew better.
"The Emperor requests your presence."
The palace attendant bowed.
"The entire imperial family will attend tonight's banquet."
Li Xuan adjusted the dark-blue robes laid out for him.
"A festival," he murmured.
"Or a stage."
Advisor Chen stood beneath the palace eaves, watching servants prepare the courtyard.
His investigation had uncovered too many coincidences to ignore.
The Fourth Prince disappeared too often.
The assassin appeared too often.
And somewhere between those two truths...
was the answer.
Far beyond the palace walls, Shen Lian stood atop a tiled rooftop overlooking the celebration.
His white robes blended into the moonlight.
Below him, thousands laughed.
None of them noticed the armed men quietly taking positions around the banquet hall.
Black Lotus.
Disguised as musicians.
Servants.
Even palace guards.
His expression darkened.
"So tonight is the night."
Inside the banquet, music filled the air.
The Emperor raised his cup.
Ministers toasted.
Dancers entered the hall.
Li Xuan remained relaxed, though his eyes never stopped moving.
Then—
he noticed one of the musicians.
The man's fingers rested on the strings of a pipa.
Too steady.
Too disciplined.
Not a performer.
A soldier.
Outside—
A silver bell rang once.
Soft.
Almost lost beneath the music.
Li Xuan's gaze lifted toward the open windows.
He couldn't see anyone.
Only the moon.
But he understood.
Shen Lian was here.
The first attack came without warning.
A musician abandoned his instrument and drew a concealed blade.
Another overturned a serving table, throwing the hall into chaos.
Guests screamed.
Guards rushed forward.
Lanterns crashed onto the polished stone floor.
The celebration dissolved into panic.
Li Xuan moved instantly.
His hidden sword flashed free.
Steel met steel.
The first assassin fell before reaching the Emperor.
But three more surged forward.
Someone had planned this carefully.
High above the courtyard, Shen Lian leapt from the rooftop.
His white sleeves caught the wind like wings.
He landed between Li Xuan and an assassin whose blade was already descending.
The clash echoed through the hall.
For a heartbeat...
everything stopped.
The silver bells chimed.
Li Xuan looked at the figure before him.
"You came."
Shen Lian didn't look away from the attackers.
"I told you."
"I'm terrible at staying away."
The assassins regrouped.
Their leader stepped forward.
"You've both become inconvenient."
His eyes settled on Shen Lian.
"The Master sends his regards."
A flicker crossed Shen Lian's face.
"So he's finally moved."
The battle spread across the courtyard.
Li Xuan and Shen Lian fought side by side with an ease neither could explain.
No commands.
No hesitation.
Each instinctively covered the other's blind spots.
It was as though they had fought together for years.
Advisor Chen watched from the palace steps.
His eyes narrowed.
He recognized more than skill.
He recognized trust.
The kind that could not be faked.
"So," he whispered.
"It really is you."
The final assassin retreated with a shrill whistle.
Smoke bombs burst across the courtyard.
When the haze cleared, the attackers were gone.
Only overturned tables and scattered lanterns remained.
The festival had ended.
The palace guards flooded the courtyard.
Shen Lian stepped backward into the shadows.
He knew he had to disappear.
Li Xuan caught his wrist.
Not to stop him.
Only for a moment.
"You'll leave again."
"I have to."
"There are things we still haven't said."
Shen Lian met his eyes.
"I know."
The noise of approaching guards grew louder.
Li Xuan slowly released him.
"I'll find you."
A faint smile touched Shen Lian's lips.
"I know."
With one silent step, he vanished into the darkness beyond the palace wall.
The silver bells faded into the night.
Li Xuan stood alone beneath the lanterns, watching the place where Shen Lian had disappeared.
Behind him, Advisor Chen had seen everything.
Not every detail.
But enough.
Enough to know the Fourth Prince was no longer simply protecting a fugitive.
He was protecting someone he could not bear to lose.
And that knowledge would make the next move far more dangerous.