A single scream shatters the peace of the Summer Palace, unraveling a night meant for quiet beauty into chaos and dread. Is it merely tragedy—or the first move in a much darker game?
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Throughout the Summer Palace, lanterns came to life, lighting up the gardens like fire. Shouts echoed.
Guards hurried along the paths, their voices full of urgency. The peaceful night was now like a broken porcelain vase.
"Someone's in trouble,"
Yue whispered, a cold dread settling in her stomach. Hong held Yue's sleeve.
"Please, my lady, come inside. It's not safe."
But Yue stayed at the railing, watching the lights gather at the lake's edge.
Lanterns moved along the paths, reflections on the water like ghostly limbs.
"Look there," she pointed at guards under the big willow tree.
The lantern light made long shadows, reaching out like claws.
A second cry came, softer but full of pain. The sound made Yue's hair stand on end.
"That's not an accident," she said quietly.
"Something bad has happened."
Yue had a clear view of the northern shore from their high terrace, now bright with lanterns.
Guards moved quickly, some entering the shallow water, others circling something hidden by the willow branches.
"We should go inside, my lady," Hong insisted, holding Yue's arm.
Yue hesitated, torn between caution and finding out what happened.
Then she stepped back from the railing.
"No. We need to see."
They left Pine Frost Wing and took a dim side path.
The walkway led under plum trees, heading to the inner courtyards. Shouts were louder, mixed with the sound of boots on stone.
As they walked, Yue and Hong passed palace maids under a pavilion, their voices low and worried.
"—searched everywhere—"
"—just turned away for a moment—"
"Consort Shu is beside herself—"
Yue slowed, heart racing. She pulled Hong close to listen.
"The prince is missing!" a maid whispered.
"Prince Li Sheng is gone from his cradle!"
Hong gasped. "Prince Sheng? But how could anyone—"
Yue squeezed Hong's hand.
"Quiet."
Further on, guards blocked the entrance to Jade Bamboo Court, their spears crossed like a barrier.
"By imperial decree," a captain shouted, "no one enters or leaves until the prince is found. Return to your quarters."
Yue pulled back into the shadows.
Nearby, an old servant murmured,
"If anything happens to the firstborn prince, heads will roll."
Yue's mind raced. Shu would be heartbroken.
"We need to get closer," Yue said.
Hong clutched her sleeve. "But the guards—"
"There must be other ways. Come."
They went around the central court, taking a narrow path near the kitchens.
The smell of steamed rice and herbs lingered in the air. The service corridors were empty.
Soon, they reached the back of Jade Bamboo Court. A lone guard watched the servant's entrance, his back turned to Yue and Hong as he listened to the shouting up front.
"Let me handle this," Yue whispered, straightening up and stepping into view.
The guard noticed her and lowered his spear across the path.
"Halt! No one enters by order of—"
"I am Noble Lady Yue," she announced steadily.
"I was sent by the Dowager Empress. She wants Consort Shu to be cared for by someone she trusts."
The guard quickly stood straight, clearly surprised by her words.
"The Dowager Empress gave you this order?"
"She is concerned about the prince," Yue explained, her tone calm yet firm.
"Would you choose to go against her wishes?"
The guard hesitated only briefly before stepping aside and bowing respectfully.
"Of course, my lady. Please proceed quickly."
Inside Shu's room, silence replaced the earlier chaos.
Shu sat on a cushion, her arms resting weakly on her lap, and her face looked pale. The cradle was empty, its silk cover moving slightly like a gentle breeze.
Huang kneeled beside the crying wet nurse, softly saying,
"No one blames you. We will find the prince."
Yue crossed the room, kneeling beside Shu, and gently took Shu's cold hands into hers.
With concern in her voice, Yue said, "I came as soon as I heard."
Shu slowly turned her tired eyes toward Yue; they were red and unfocused.
"He was sleeping... I just turned to warm his blanket for a moment. When I looked back... he was gone."
Yue spoke calmly and reassuringly. "Every guard in the palace is searching now. They'll find him."
Shu shook her head slightly. "I should never have let anyone else near him tonight. I felt like something was wrong."
Yue looked serious and asked,
"Did anyone visit you who wasn't expected or summoned?"
Shu paused, then nodded slowly.
"A servant brought lotus seed soup just before sunset, saying it was from the Imperial kitchens. I didn't drink it. I was too tired."
Yue glanced around, noticing the untouched bowl on a tray in the corner.
"It's still warm," Yue noted quietly, inspecting it.
The lotus scent was strong, but there was also something bitter.
Returning to Shu, Yue knelt again.
"We'll talk more once the Emperor arrives."
"Right now, you have to stay strong."
Shu's voice was shaky. "What if they don't find him, Yue? What if he's..."
Yue interrupted softly, placing her hand over Shu's.
"Don't say it. Don't let fear take hold. That's what they want."
Shu's lips trembled, and she leaned forward, resting her head on Yue's shoulder.
As Yue comforted her, she scanned the room, sensing something was wrong.
The air was thick with incense, an overpowering smell that covered everything else.
"Where is Ling?" Yue asked quietly.
Ling, the young maid who usually watched the garden entrance, was missing.
Huang quickly responded,
"She was here before sunset. I haven't seen her since. She said she would get clean linens, but that was hours ago."
Yue's heartbeat quickened. "Send someone to find her quietly," she instructed.
Suddenly, footsteps pounded outside the room. The guards immediately straightened, gripping their spears tightly.
Emperor Li Zhao entered the room with great force, like a storm/
As he stepped in, the room fell silent.
"What happened?" he asked.
Though his voice was calm, it had tension, like a bowstring pulled tight.
The captain of the guard knelt down before him.
"Your Majesty, the prince was found missing just after sunset. The nurse was away for a brief moment—"
"And no one saw anything?" Li Zhao's eyes scanned the room sharply.
There was no response. Shu bowed her head, and the nurse began to cry harder.
The Emperor commanded,
"Search the entire palace. Every corner, every pond, everywhere. My son must be found by dawn."
The guards quickly parted, and orders were given out rapidly. Li Zhao turned to his chief eunuch and said,
"Bring me the Empress's steward," the Emperor spoke coldly.
"Right away, Your Majesty," responded the eunuch.
When the steward arrived, the Emperor asked in a stern voice.
"The inner court is in chaos; where is the Empress?"
"In her room, Your Majesty, having her evening meal."
"Bring her here," he commanded.
The steward turned pale and began to sweat.
He bowed deeply, avoiding the Emperor's eyes, and quickly left, with his footsteps echoing in the corridor.
"I want every servant questioned. Every person who entered these chambers today will account for their movements. No one rests until my son is found."
Soon, the silence was broken once more.
A sharp cry came from the rear courtyard, full of disbelief.
No one spoke at first, then another voice, closer now, called out breathlessly:
"We found something!"
The sound of running footsteps approached. The doors swung open as a young eunuch stumbled in, bowing low with excitement.
His voice trembled.
"Your Majesty! The prince has been found!
"He was hidden in a basket by the laundry under fresh linens." He paused, then added,
"And we... found a maid's body near the lotus pond. It looks like she drowned."
Gasps spread through the room once more.
Huang covered his mouth, and the nurse cried out loud.
The guards exchanged worried glances.
Consort Shu seemed stunned. She began to shake and fell into Yue's arms as if fear had held her up, and now she couldn't stand.
Yue caught her and gently lowered her onto a cushion, whispering calming words as her heart pounded.
The nurse dropped to the floor, sobbing loudly. Her cries echoed around the room.
Li Zhao stood still at the center of it all. Although his face was calm, his eyes showed an inner turmoil.
His arm quivered slightly as he clenched his fists within his sleeves.
He took a moment to speak as if weighing a heavy thought.
Finally, in a soft, commanding voice, he said,
"Bring the prince to me. I need to see him myself."
The eunuch bowed and left a heavy silence in the room.
Yue held Shu closer and whispered, "He's safe now. He's coming back."
But in Yue's mind, the eunuch's last words stayed.
A maid's body. Drowned. By the lotus pond.
She looked back at Shu but saw that she was lost in emotion over her son's return.
Yue turned her gaze toward the curtains blocking the night outside.
"It was Ling, wasn't it?" she whispered. There was no answer.
A heavy feeling settled in her chest. Ling had been young and loyal, gentle in nature. She had no enemies, yet she was discarded like this without a second thought.
Someone had planned this carefully.
They threatened a child and killed a servant right under the Emperor's watch without a second thought.
They wanted more than just power.
They aimed to create fear.
Yue hugged Shu tightly and whispered,
"He's safe. It's over now."
But it wasn't really over.
That night, Yue returned to Pine Frost Wing. The air was heavy, and the silence felt deeper.
Hong helped her change into her nightrobe and went to get warm water. Yue stepped out onto the terrace.
At her door was a neatly folded piece of silk. Inside, she discovered a red lotus petal and a silver needle.
She stared at it long, trying to understand the meaning. Later, she blew out the lantern, and a quiet voice came through the thin walls:
"The Lotus will not see the end of the season."
Yue froze and searched around.
The terrace was empty; no one was there.
Only the gentle waves of the lake seemed to answer her.