Xue Liulan's smile returned. "So, Seventh Brother, what do you think? To injure a prince of the blood… it's a serious crime."
"A small wound like this is nothing," Xue Feiyan said, his gaze falling to Die Man, who was still huddled in Xue Liulan's arms. "But I must advise you, Fifth Brother, be careful. To discover that a woman you've kept by your side for so long is a martial arts expert… isn't it chilling?"
"A tiger that has no intent to harm, will not be harmed. In a moment of panic, who knows what a weak woman is capable of." He looked down. "Isn't that right, A'Man?"
She looked up, her bright eyes like jewels, and whispered, "Yes. This servant was so frightened."
Xue Liulan's smile widened as he looked back at his brother.
Xue Feiyan turned away. "You must be lonely in here all day. Why don't I leave Lady Die Man with you?"
Xue Liulan just rubbed his nose. "Then it would be rude of me to refuse."
Xue Feiyan said no more, gave a slight bow, and left. The heavy prison door clanged shut, and the cell was quiet again.
Xue Liulan released his hold on her. He walked to the pallet and sat, his eyes narrowed. "What happened?"
Die Man's frightened demeanor vanished. She straightened her robes. "I was resting at the Yichun Courtyard when his men came for me."
"And the injury?"
"He brought out Po Jun to confront me. I panicked and tried to kill Po Jun to silence him. But Xue Feiyan was faster. He blocked my attack, and I wounded him by mistake." She sat beside him, a hint of apology in her eyes. "I'm sorry. I've caused you great trouble."
His brow relaxed. "It's not as serious as all that." He stood. "Xia Zhi."
The shadow guard dropped from the rafters and bowed.
"Go to Murong Jin. Tell her Die Man is with me now, and to proceed with the matter I entrusted to her as soon as possible."
Xia Zhi looked at him, her words unspoken. Go tell the princess you're shacking up with another woman in your prison cell? My lord, are you sure she won't just let you rot in here?
"What is it?" he asked, amused. "Just go. Murong Jin is not that petty."
He spoke with a soft tenderness, and in the shadows, Die Man's eyes tightened, her hands clenching in her sleeves.
In the Fifth Prince's residence, Murong Jin studied the map of the Imperial Palace Yi had brought her. The palace looked simple, but it was full of hidden mechanisms.
The Emperor's personal bedchambers were in a separate compound east of the main hall, separated by a large garden. It was the true heart of the palace—a fortress within a fortress, surrounded by high walls and a moat that fed into the city's river. If the palace were ever attacked, he could lock it down and be perfectly safe.
"The man who designed this truly thought of everything," she said with a small laugh. "I'm surprised you can get in and out so easily."
"With this map, of course." Yi tossed a peanut into the air and caught it in his mouth. "But even with the map, getting in silently won't be easy."
"Why?"
"Look here." He pointed to the garden. "This forest is arranged according to the principles of the five elements and the eight trigrams. It's a battle formation, designed to seal the bedchambers off from the outside world. It's not so easily broken."
She nodded, memorizing the layout, then held the map to a candle flame until it was ash.
"Your Highness." Little Dingzi ran in, carrying a stack of papers.
Yi was already gone. Murong Jin took the papers. The calligraphy was sharp and proud, just like its author, every stroke filled with an arrogant power.
"Beautiful handwriting," she said. "Put them on the table."
He did, then knelt. "Your Highness, this servant begs a favor."
She already knew. "Don't worry. When I'm finished, they will be returned. Little Zhuozi won't get in trouble because of you."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" He kowtowed, relieved, and left.
Murong Jin sat at the desk, meticulously copying specific characters from the pages onto a yellow talisman, rearranging them in a new order.
She worked with intense concentration. Yi watched from the side.
"What is that?" he finally asked when she was done.
She thought for a moment. "A form of witchcraft, I suppose."
His eyebrow shot up. Before he could speak, a faint sound came from the door. Xia Zhi appeared on the threshold.
She's fast, Yi thought.
"Your Highness," Xia Zhi said with a salute.
Murong Jin tucked the talisman into her sleeve. "It's been a while. What is it?"
"My master sent me. He said Lady Die Man is with him now, and asks that you proceed with the matter he entrusted to you. Oh, and the woman who gave you the message, Shuangjiang? She is one of us." Xia Zhi smiled, but she was nervous.
Murong Jin's expression changed, but only for an instant. "I see. You may go back and tell Xue Liulan to take care of himself."
Ah? Xia Zhi was both relieved and worried. Relieved that the princess hadn't flown into a rage. Worried for what awaited her master when he finally returned home.
Murong Jin changed into black night gear, tied up her hair, and strapped a simple shortsword to her side.
"He's not even out of prison, and he's already shacking up with his old flame. And you're still going?" Yi asked, his arms crossed. He could see the smile on her face was just a mask.
This is dangerous. She can't be distracted.
She tied her cuffs. "Xue Feiyan's move was just to drive a wedge between us. To make me angry. I can be angry, of course. But that's a private matter, to be settled when our doors are closed."
Yi nodded, a new respect in his eyes. "Then I wish the General a victorious return."
The night was her best cover. No moon, no stars. The wind was picking up. It would rain soon.
She hid in the shadows by the main audience hall, waiting. According to Yi's report, the patrols here passed every two quarters of an hour.
She waited. A patrol marched past. She pressed herself against the wall.
After they were gone, she leaped, and in a few quick bounds, landed behind a large rockery in the Imperial Garden. She took a breath, and a cold dread washed over her.
The patrol had come after only one quarter of an hour, not two. Had Yi's intelligence been wrong? Or was this a temporary change?
It was too late now.
Ahead of her was the forest formation. She knelt, scanning the ground, and then stepped inside.
She moved carefully. She knew that in this light, one wrong step would be her last.
She let out a long breath as she reached the inner wall. The formation had been complex, but no match for the true strategies of Wuchuan. Now, she just had to get over this wall.
The inner courtyard seemed simpler. Only four guards at the gate. But she heard no patrols. Strange.
She leaped, landing on top of the wall, and rolled into the shadow of a tree.
But as she landed, she heard a faint, sharp snap.
She looked down. Her ankle was tangled in a web of impossibly thin, nearly invisible silk threads. And all along those threads, tiny bells began to chime.