In the Imperial Study, the high ministers of the Ministry of War stood with their heads bowed. The Seventh Prince, Xue Feiyan, and the Fourth Prince, Xue Zhuoran, stood on opposite sides. The Emperor, his face thunderous, was slumped in the throne, head resting on his hand.
"Has the court gone mute?" his voice echoed in the silent room. The ministers flinched, but none dared to speak.
With two rival nominees, the court froze. By logic they'd back Zuo Xunxiao; the Emperor's silence said otherwise. He clearly did not trust a former subordinate of Murong Yan in the northwest.
"Your Majesty, this old minister believes the Fourth Prince's candidate is more suitable." The Minister of War, Yu Weide, stepped forward and knelt.
Xue Feiyan shot Yu Weide a cool glance, then turned his gaze toward Guo Shangzhong, who stood beside the throne.
Guo Shangzhong kept his eyes down. But when he heard the Minister's words, a small, triumphant smile touched his lips, hidden in the shadows.
"Rise," the Emperor said, sitting up straight. "Explain yourself." Yu Weide was a veteran of the court, a man who had served loyally and honestly for decades.
Yu Weide got to his feet, glanced at Xue Zhuoran, and hesitated. "Commander Guo Ren has served in the palace for years and is fiercely loyal. He was the top scholar in the military examinations; his skill and strategic mind are without question. This old minister believes he is the proper choice for Sushen."
"I object, Your Majesty." The words came from his own deputy, Vice Minister Li Yan.
"On what grounds?" the Emperor asked, his interest fading.
Li Yan knelt. "Commander Guo Ren has no experience fighting the Yanyun. Knowledge from books is no substitute for battle. With their army at our borders, it is safer to send the experienced Zuo Xunxiao."
The Emperor's fingers tapped impatiently on the arm of his throne. He turned to his fourth son. "Zhuoran, your thoughts?"
Xue Zhuoran stepped forward. "Father, after the Yanyun fell into my ambush, they will not dare to stir up trouble so easily. This gives Guo Ren time to learn the frontier and the enemy's tactics. Even Murong Yan wasn't born knowing war."
"Hm. True enough. If these young commanders never see a battlefield, they will never learn." The Emperor grew thoughtful. "Guo Shangzhong."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Draft the edict. We appoint Commander Guo Ren as the Governor of Sushen, with full command of the city's forces."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Guo Shangzhong bowed and stepped aside. As he passed Yu Weide, his eyes flickered toward the old minister for a fraction of a second before he moved on.
A tiny gesture. But Xue Zhuoran saw it.
With the matter settled, the Emperor waved his ministers away. Xue Zhuoran walked out and followed the marble path toward the palace gates. Not far behind, Xue Feiyan stood leaning against a railing, watching his brother's retreating back.
"Your Highness." Vice Minister Li Yan appeared behind him.
Xue Feiyan clasped his hands behind his back. "We are not in Heluo. Address me as Seventh Prince."
"Yes." Li Yan bowed his head. "Today… was it a conspiracy between the Fourth Prince and Minister Yu?"
Xue Feiyan shook his head. "I underestimated our father's fear of the Murong family." He began to walk, Li Yan following.
"Is he afraid Zuo Xunxiao will ally with them?"
"If that happened, the Murongs would control the entire northern and western fronts. If that great wall were to turn against us, the dynasty would fall in an instant." Xue Feiyan stopped. "At your current rank, you cannot challenge Yu Weide. Think before you act."
"This subordinate understands." Li Yan paused. "But I don't understand why the Fourth Prince, who never involves himself in court politics, would oppose you."
Xue Feiyan frowned. "If I'm not mistaken, he did it to help our fifth brother. Guo Ren is Guo Shangzhong's son. It's the perfect chance for Liulan to solidify his alliance." He gave a cold sneer. "But I'm afraid his perfect plan is about to fall apart."
In the Fifth Prince's residence, Xue Liulan and Murong Jin sat in a lakeside pavilion. It was late autumn, the pond of lotuses withered.
"Someone should clear this out," Xue Liulan said, gesturing to the decaying leaves.
Murong Jin shot him a look. "'Let the withered lotus listen to the autumn rain.' It's a perfect scene. For someone who lives here, you have a shocking lack of taste."
"Heh. A surprise a general raised in the north would appreciate the scenery of the south," he said, taking a sip of tea. "I thought you only cared for the Hu Xuan dance of the frontier."
Murong Jin's hand paused. She looked up, her eyes sharp. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing. Just a thought," he said, his smile lazy, but his gaze held a keen edge.
She considered this, then turned her eyes to the pond. "So, you've been more thorough than I thought."
"The Seventh Prince has Night Blade. For my own safety, I must take precautions," he said, rising from his seat.
She rose to join him by the railing.
"The men you sent were easily spotted. Are you sure Captain He can protect you?" She laughed softly. "No, not him. If you know Night Blade, you've got a counterforce—don't you?"
"I don't," he answered simply. "My knowledge of them comes from Siyou."
"Oh?" Murong Jin arched an eyebrow. "Then what will you do if the Seventh Prince decides to act without restraint?"
"Take a step back," he said, a playful smile in his eyes.
"A step… back?" She stared. What kind of answer was that?
"Yes. If an assassin appeared now, you'd stand in front of me. To avoid getting in your way, I'd have to take a step back." He grinned.
"And you're so certain I'd protect you?" Murong Jin shot back. "You're a bit too confident, Xue Liulan."
He watched the light dance in her eyes and laughed. "You didn't ride back to Wuchuan just to take an arrow, did you? If not to bring back people to help me, why return at all?" He stepped forward, his arm sliding around her. "Besides, are you so sure I would really take that step back?"
What? She looked up at him, stunned.
The wind changed. No time to think. She shoved him back.
"Get back!" she snapped. The soft sword at her waist was in her hand, blocking a blade that sliced through the air. Xue Liulan, you and your damned crow's mouth.
The assassin, his first strike failed, used her second move as an opening. He spun, striking a pressure point on her elbow. Her sword clattered to the ground as she stumbled against the railing.
Without pausing, he reversed his grip, the tip of his sword aimed for her throat.
"Careful!" Xue Liulan moved like lightning, pulling her into his arms and shielding her with his body.
The expected pain never came. The sword stopped an inch from his back.
"So you didn't step back." The assassin sheathed his sword with a laugh. The voice was painfully familiar.
The numbness in Murong Jin's arm was fading. Held steady by Xue Liulan, she stared at the assassin. "I was wondering how someone could counter my family's secret sword forms. So, it was someone from the same school. Yi, is it amusing to defeat me?"
Yi pulled down his mask, grinning. "If I took pleasure in that, life would be terribly dull. But watching someone shield you with their life? That's very interesting." He poured himself tea, drank it, and raised the empty cup to her. "Good tea."
"The moment you leave the Vermilion Bird Camp, you cause trouble. Wait until I tell Zhen," she said, snatching the cup. "If you had hurt the Fifth Prince, you'd be in real trouble."
"I imagine he should be thanking me," Yi said, his eyes dancing as he looked at Xue Liulan.
"Your appearance certainly proved my point," Xue Liulan said, pulling Murong Jin closer and looking down at her.
Thinking of how he had thrown himself in front of her, a blush rose on Murong Jin's cheeks.
"That was the first point," Yi said, ignoring it completely.
"There's a second?"
"The second is that the Emperor has approved Guo Ren for Sushen." Yi's grin widened. "Fifth Prince, you've won."