"Catch the assassin!" The cry echoed through the quiet inner palace.
The Emperor, who had been reading in his bedchambers, shot to his feet. "Guo Shangzhong!"
The eunuch ran in and knelt. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
"What is that noise?"
"Your Majesty, a guard just reported that the warning bells on the outer wall were triggered. A common thief, most likely."
"Hmph. A thief?" The Emperor sneered. "A thief with the skill to get this far?" His voice was cold. "Go. I want him found. Dead or alive."
"Yes." Guo Shangzhong rose, relayed the order, and then stood at the door, his gaze fixed on the darkness.
After Murong Jin's questions, he had changed everything—the patrol routes, even the formation of the garden maze. And yet, she had still made it to the inner courtyard. She was no simple woman. But no matter how skilled, she had walked right into his trap.
After this, he thought, Xue Liulan will have no one to rely on but me. Then, never mind being second-in-command… even controlling the Emperor himself will not be difficult. A cold smile touched his lips.
Time dragged on. The night grew heavier, the air thick and oppressive.
The shouting from the wall had stopped. It's done. He smiled, watching the guards approach.
As they stepped into the torchlight, his gaze swept over them, then froze.
"Eunuch Guo," the lead guard saluted.
"Well? Where is the assassin?"
"Your Grace, there was no assassin. A cat seems to have triggered the trap." The guard stepped aside. Another soldier was holding a black cat, riddled with arrows, a pincushion of fletching.
Guo Shangzhong frowned. Before he could speak, the Emperor was at the door.
"You didn't catch him?"
"Your Majesty, it was a false alarm," Guo Shangzhong said, pointing at the dead cat.
The Emperor looked at the mangled creature in disgust. "Get that thing out of here," he snapped. "Since it was nothing, return to your posts."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Guo Shangzhong, you will accompany Us to Consort Tang's chambers tonight." The Emperor was already walking away.
Guo Shangzhong hesitated, a flash of hatred in his eyes, but he had no choice but to follow. Such a perfect opportunity, and she escaped.
As their figures vanished, Xue Liulan let out a breath and removed his hand from Murong Jin's mouth. They were hidden behind a large rockery; he had cut the tripwires on their way in.
"How did you get here?" she whispered, stunned.
He smiled. "I knew the bedchambers were full of traps. I couldn't let you come alone."
"You couldn't? Xue Liulan, to abandon a beautiful woman for a rescue mission… that's not like you," she teased.
He fought back a smile. "What good is a title if it can't compare to your life?"
She turned, startled, and met his gaze. In the dim light, she saw an earnestness she had never seen before.
"Besides," he whispered, his smile returning, "how did you get that cat?"
"That?" She felt a pang of guilt. "Let's just say Consort Tan will be in a very bad mood tomorrow."
"You stole her cat?"
"I was passing her courtyard, and it was on the roof. And, it gave the guards a target. Made our escape cleaner." He shrugged. His smile faded. The guards were changing. Now was their chance.
Murong Jin was already moving, a shadow flowing from the rockery, using the trees as cover, and melting into the darkness at the base of the bedchamber wall. A patrol passed, oblivious.
Xue Liulan followed.
The Emperor was gone, the bedchamber empty. They slipped inside, hiding behind a large screen.
The room was opulent. A bronze qilin censer an_d a massive, five-foot-tall blood-coral tree. It was so vibrant it looked alive.
Murong Jin moved to the coral tree, took the crimson pouch from her sleeve, pinned the yellow talisman to it, and dropped it deep into the porcelain urn that held the tree.
"Let's go," she whispered.
By the time they returned to the Fifth Prince's residence, a light rain was falling. Murong Jin changed out of her night gear. Xue Liulan was still sitting in the main room, watching the rain.
"It won't be stopping anytime soon," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you sure no one will notice you're gone from the prison?"
"They won't." He took her hand, pulling her onto his lap. "Hanlu's skill with disguises is second to none."
"Good." She relaxed. "If this works, Xue Feiyan will be implicated, and he won't be able to trouble you again."
He just smiled, resting his head on her shoulder. "When this is over, I'll take you back to Wuchuan."
"Hm?" She turned, surprised. "Why?"
"Don't you miss your father?"
"Of course," she said, then hesitated. "But I can go alone. You should stay in Jindu."
"Afraid our seventh brother will make a comeback?"
She nodded. "You and he are evenly matched. The slightest mistake could ruin everything."
He toyed with her hair. "If this plan succeeds, he'll be crippled for a long time. It won't be easy for him to recover."
"Not easy, but not impossible. It's better not to take the risk."
He sensed the shift in her tone. "What is it?"
"After this… Die Man's position will be dangerous. What are you going to do?"
His hand stilled. He looked away. But she would find out eventually. He remembered her words as he left the prison, her voice flat and final.
"Xue Liulan, since I have chosen you, I will follow you to the death."
He sighed. Die Man was already proving it. If she couldn't have him, she would destroy him, and they would rot in the darkness together.