XiaoQi reacted before thought could catch up. She hurled herself forward, her hand seizing the maid's wrist. With a desperate tug, she dragged the girl aside, the spearhead slicing through empty air instead of flesh. The whoosh of steel tore the silence as it passed.
The guard stumbled with the failed strike. His knees buckled, the spear clattering against the stone path. He crumpled, his body convulsing violently. A strangled groan ripped from his throat as black foam bubbled on his lips. Sweat slicked his skin, soaking his collar and hair until he looked like a man half-drowned.
The maid shrieked, dropping to the ground with her arms over her head. Her eyes, wide and wet, darted between the fallen guard and the shadowed figure of Lian. "He tried to kill me," she whispered hoarsely, clutching at XiaoQi's sleeve. "He would have killed me."
XiaoQi crouched by the guard instead of pulling away. Her palms pressed against his chest, searching for rhythm. His pulse fluttered weakly beneath her touch, a bird with broken wings. "His heart still fights," she murmured, her brow furrowing.
"Leave him," the maid begged, her voice shaking. "Let him pay for what he almost did. Let him die."
"No," XiaoQi said, her voice low but steady, like iron beneath silk. "Not while I can still save him."
Her hands worked swiftly. From within her sash she drew a small pouch, shaking free fragments of dried herbs. Her movements were precise, urgent but not frantic, as though every motion carried the weight of years of practice. She poured water from her flask, mixing the powder into a paste, then forced it between the guard's lips.
The man gagged, coughing violently. His back arched, and for a moment it seemed as though the convulsions would break him apart. Then slowly, his breathing steadied. His chest rose and fell shallowly, but life lingered in him still.
XiaoQi's shoulders sagged with relief. She brushed the sweat from his brow with careful fingers, whispering almost to herself, "You will not die tonight."
A harsh laugh split the air.
Lian stepped forward, the hem of her robe whispering against the stones, her shadow stretching long in the lantern light. Her eyes gleamed with venom, sharp enough to cut.
"You waste yourself on trash," she hissed, her voice trembling with fury. "A dog who failed me, who turned his spear against you. You kneel there like some saint, bleeding compassion where none is deserved. Do you think this makes you noble, girl?"
XiaoQi lifted her head, meeting Lian's stare. Her voice, quiet yet unwavering, carried across the clearing. "It makes me human. That is something you have long forgotten."
The maid gasped softly, her trembling fingers gripping XiaoQi's arm.
Lian's lips curved into a smile, but there was no warmth in it. Only ice and cruelty. "Human? You mistake weakness for virtue. Mercy is a chain, and tonight it will drag you down with him."
Her perfume thickened the air, sweet and suffocating, as she took another step forward. Her gaze burned into XiaoQi, each word dropping like venom from her tongue. "You dare defy me again. Very well. If you cling to life so dearly, then I will show you how easily it slips away."
The clearing seemed to hold its breath, lanterns flickering as though the night itself recoiled from her fury.
Lian's smile twisted into something feral. "If compassion is your shield, then let us see how long it keeps you standing."
Her robe flared as she lunged, her jeweled hairpin flashing in her hand like a hidden blade. The maid screamed, stumbling back against the wall, her cry echoing across the courtyard.
XiaoQi jerked upright, barely avoiding the glint of metal as it sliced past her cheek. The hairpin cut the air with a hiss, leaving the faintest sting on her skin.
"Lian," XiaoQi snapped, her breath already ragged from the strain of saving the guard, "you have gone mad!"
"Mad?" Lian's voice cracked, sharp with fury. "No. I am only taking back what you tried to steal!"
The hairpin slashed again. XiaoQi raised her arm to block, the blow grazing her sleeve and tearing a line across her wrist. Pain stung hot, but she gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay steady. Her body still felt heavy, the remnants of poison clinging to her veins like shadows, slowing every movement.
She stumbled back a step, but her eyes never left Lian's.
The concubine struck wildly, fuelled by rage rather than skill. Her swings were uncoordinated, her footing clumsy and desperation made her dangerous. Each strike was meant to kill, not to wound.
XiaoQi's lungs burned as she ducked low, sweeping her leg across the stones. Lian yelped, her balance breaking, the hairpin scraping harmlessly against the ground as she fell hard on her side.
"You... you dare!" Lian spat, her eyes wide with disbelief as she scrambled back to her knees. Her once-polished grace was gone, her hair tumbling loose around her face, jewels clattering across the stones. She looked more like a cornered beast than a consort of the palace.
XiaoQi's chest heaved, her face pale from the exertion. "You think yourself powerful because of fear and poison," she said, her voice low but steady. "But fear is not strength. Poison is not power."
With a sharp cry, Lian lunged again, clawing at XiaoQi's throat with her bare hands. XiaoQi caught her wrists, the force of impact jolting through her weakened body. They grappled, bodies straining against each other like shadows dancing on the lantern-lit walls.
XiaoQi's strength faltered for a heartbeat, the lingering weakness pulling at her limbs. Lian's nails dug into her skin, leaving angry red marks. The maid gasped, too terrified to move, tears streaking her face as she watched the struggle.
But XiaoQi's will was iron. With a sudden twist, she wrenched Lian's arm and shoved her hard against the ground. The concubine's breath burst from her lungs in a sharp cry as her body hit the stone courtyard.
XiaoQi forced Lian down, her own arm trembling from the effort. Sweat clung to her brow, and her breath came in ragged bursts. Lian clawed and writhed beneath her, spitting venom in words and shrieks, her once-poised face twisted with madness.
Then the sound of hurried boots broke through the courtyard. Lanterns bobbed as a cluster of guards spilled into the clearing, steel flashing in the dark. At their head strode DongZe, his cloak sweeping behind him, his expression carved from stone.
"Stand down!" his voice thundered, the command carrying through the night like a strike of iron.
The maid, who had cowered against the wall, cried out in relief and fell to her knees, pressing her palms together in silent thanks. The poisoned guard lay motionless save for shallow groans, his sweat-soaked face glistening under the lanterns.
At the centre of it all, XiaoQi froze, her chest heaving, her hands still locking Lian to the ground.
Lian's eyes flicked to DongZe. In an instant her expression shifted from wild rage to trembling victim. Tears welled up and slid down her cheeks with practiced ease. "Your Highness," she sobbed, her voice breaking sweetly. "She attacked me. She went mad and tried to kill me. Look—" She lifted one arm, showing the shallow scratches left from their struggle, streaked red but far from mortal. "See what she has done."
XiaoQi's lips parted, but her throat felt tight from exhaustion. Her voice, though strained, carried a steady truth. "She came with a guard. She poisoned him. She ordered him to kill the maid. I stopped her before she could strike again."
The concubine shrieked, her tears vanishing in an instant. "Lies! She twists the truth. It was she who set a trap for me. She has long despised me and now seeks my ruin!"
The guards faltered, unsure whom to believe.
DongZe said nothing at first.
His gaze moved across the scene with measured intent. The guard lay convulsing on the floor. The maid, sleeve torn, still shook as tears traced down her cheeks. Red welts marred XiaoQi's wrist and throat. And then Lian—hair dishevelled, jewels scattered, clutching at a mask of innocence that splintered with each desperate breath.
His eyes lingered on XiaoQi the longest. Despite her pallor, despite the strain that bent her shoulders, there was no faltering in her gaze. Her hands trembled not from guilt but from exhaustion. She held herself upright with a dignity that silence could not erase.
"Release her," DongZe said quietly, his tone unreadable.
XiaoQi's arms stiffened. For a moment, she did not move, reluctant to let the viper loose. But slowly she withdrew, pulling back with wary grace. Lian scrambled to her feet at once, almost falling into DongZe as she reached for him.
"Your Highness, you must believe me," she cried, her voice dripping with desperation. "She has bewitched you, turned your heart against me. If you do not stop her, she will destroy us all."
She reached for him, but DongZe caught her arm before her fingers touched his sleeve. His grip was firm, unyielding. His voice cut sharp as steel. "Enough."
The courtyard fell silent. Even the patrolmen stood straighter at the weight in his tone.
The maid, though still trembling, lifted her head. Her voice was soft, but it rang clear. "Your Highness... Concubine Lian forced the guard. She held poison over him. Lady XiaoQi saved me."
The words hung in the night, fragile yet steady, and carried more truth than Lian's frantic protests.
DongZe's gaze hardened, his jaw set. He gave a single nod. "Seize Concubine Lian."
Gasps rippled through the patrol. Before Lian could recoil, guards closed around her. She fought wildly, her shrieks piercing the night. "You dare touch me! I am the Emperor's chosen! You will all regret this! I will see you burn for this treachery!"
Her voice broke as cold chains closed around her wrists. She thrashed, hair whipping around her face, her cries echoing off the stone walls.
DongZe did not spare her a second glance. He stepped past her as though she were already forgotten. His attention fixed on XiaoQi, who knelt by the poisoned guard, her hands stained with herbs and sweat, her shoulders sagging with exhaustion.
He reached down, his fingers brushing gently against her cheek. The cut from Lian's hairpin stung beneath his touch, but the warmth in his hand steadied her. His eyes, so sharp when he judged Lian, softened as they searched her face.
"You should not have been here," he murmured, low enough for her alone. "You were meant to rest. Yet even when weak, you choose to stand and protect."
Her lips trembled as though she wished to speak, but no words came. Her breath hitched instead, unsteady, caught between relief and the weight of everything she had endured.
DongZe's hand lingered a moment longer, then he slipped his arm beneath her, lifting her carefully into his embrace. She gasped softly, startled, but too drained to resist. His hold was strong, protective, as though he would never again let her fall.
Around them, the guards lowered their gazes, pretending not to see what passed between their Crown Prince and the woman in his arms.
The chains rattled long after Concubine Lian had been dragged away. Her screams echoed down the stone corridors, then faded into the distance until only the faint metallic clink of shackles lingered, like a ghost in the palace.
The throne room blazed with light though the sky outside was still dark. Rows of lanterns lined the pillars, their glow throwing long shadows across the polished tiles. Ministers and courtiers filled the hall in uneasy silence, their robes whispering against the floor as they shifted and bowed. The air was heavy, as if the entire palace held its breath.
At the top of the dais, the Emperor sat motionless. His dragon-embroidered robe seemed to shimmer with each flicker of the lanterns. His expression gave nothing away, but his eyes gleamed sharp as drawn steel.
The doors opened with a groan that carried through the chamber. DongZe entered, steady in his stride, though the weight of the night clung to his shoulders. His arm supported XiaoQi, who walked with effort, pale from the lingering traces of poison. She did not shrink behind him, but her breaths came shallow, and her hands curled tightly in her sleeves to hide their trembling.
Behind them came the maid who had confessed, her head bowed, and finally the guards dragging Lian forward, her wrists chained, her steps echoing against the tiles.
Gasps rippled through the court. Lian still tried to look composed, her hair pinned hastily, her robes smoothed. But fury burned in her eyes, and the chains clinked with every move she made. She dropped to her knees before the Emperor with a clatter of iron.
"Your Majesty," she cried, her voice breaking with forced grief. "I have been wronged. The Crown Prince seeks to disgrace me, and that girl has poisoned his mind against me. I beg you to open your eyes and deliver justice."
The Emperor's face did not change. His silence stretched, heavy and suffocating, until finally his voice cut through the air. "Justice will be given. The truth will be spoken. Crown Prince, you will explain."
DongZe stepped forward, his bow low and controlled. His tone held no hesitation. "Father, Concubine Lian plotted against the lady under my protection. She poisoned one of the palace guards and used him as her pawn, forcing him to raise his hand against the maid who exposed her crimes. When her schemes began to unravel, she turned her weapon upon XiaoQi herself. I found them mid-struggle. She left us no choice but to bind her."
The Emperor's eyes shifted to the maid, who trembled under the weight of his gaze. Her voice wavered but held. "It is true, Your Majesty. Concubine Lian threatened the guard with poison. She commanded him to silence me. Lady XiaoQi saved me at great cost to her strength."
Murmurs spread among the ministers, hushed but quick. Some leaned toward one another, whispering, others shook their heads in disbelief. The Emperor silenced them with a glance, his gaze moving to the guards who had witnessed the end of the confrontation. One after another, they confirmed DongZe's account.
At last, his attention returned to Lian. He studied her long enough for the air itself to feel frozen.
Lian's composure faltered. She threw herself forward, chains rattling against the tiles, and her voice rose shrill and desperate. "They lie! All of them! They weave their stories to destroy me. You know my devotion. I have served you with loyalty, with care. I would never betray the palace!"
The Emperor did not so much as blink. His reply came soft but thunderous in its finality. "Enough."
The single word rolled through the hall like a crack of lightning. The ministers bowed their heads, the guards stiffened, even DongZe lowered his gaze for a moment.
Slowly, the Emperor rose. The sweep of his robe sounded like waves crashing against stone. Each step he took down from the dais rang loud in the silence until he stood before Lian. His eyes bore into her, cold and merciless.
"You," he said, his voice low and grave, each word dropping like a stone into deep water, "have stained this palace with poison and deceit. You raised your hand not only against your sisters in the harem but against one whom my son swore to protect. You sought chaos under my roof. This cannot be forgiven."
Lian's mouth opened, but no sound came. Her body shook violently, caught between fury and fear.
The Emperor turned to the guards. "Remove her. She will be confined in the Cold Palace until judgment is declared."
The guards hauled her up. The chains dragged against the floor, shrieking in protest as she fought to resist. Her cries filled the hall, wild and venomous. "You fools! You will regret this! Every one of you! I will not be buried like a broken toy! Do you hear me?"
Her voice carried even as the doors shut behind her, until finally silence swallowed the chamber once more.
The Emperor's gaze shifted at last to XiaoQi. His features softened by a fraction, though the weight of command remained. "You have suffered greatly tonight. But you stood firm." His eyes flicked to DongZe, then back to her. "Rest now. The storm is not yet past, but you have weathered this night with courage."
DongZe bent his head, his hand tightening protectively around XiaoQi's arm. His voice was steady, low but resolute. "I will guard her with my life. No hand shall reach her again."
The Emperor's eyes lingered on him, searching, measuring. Finally, he turned back toward the dais, his robe trailing like the sweep of shadow across the floor.
"See that you do not fail," he said.