"Princess, are you okay?"
The voice was low but filled with worry.
Xiao Zhi blinked, coughing up water as she pushed wet hair from her face. Her vision cleared, and there he was, a tall man in dark armor and broad shoulders. His eyes, sharp like steel, studied her with a mixture of concern and restraint.
Her heart skipped a beat. Wait… Who is this handsome fellow?
"I-I'm fine," she stammered, sliding backward on the wet stone, her sleeves leaving little puddles behind. "I just… slipped. Totally normal drowning accident. Happens all the time. Don't worry."
The man frowned. "You're trembling. Princess, are you sure?" He leaned slightly closer, as though ready to steady her if she collapsed again.
She squinted at him suspiciously. "…Who are you?"
His expression stiffened. "You don't recognize me?" His hand hovered near her temple, checking it gently. "Did you hit your head in the water?"
"No, no," she said quickly, waving her hands. "Just… dizzy. The water got in my head and scrambled things. Let's say I… temporarily forgot who you are."
He hesitated, then straightened. "I am Shen Han."
Xiao Zhi froze. That name. She knew it. Childhood friend of Lian Zhi. General. Loyal protector..and lover. He is the main lead!
"Oh! Right! Yes, Shen Han. Of course. My...boyfriend!"
Shen Han blinked. His jaw tightened, his gaze flickering for just a second. "Boyfriend?"
Her face flamed. "I-I mean, you are a boy, and my friend. Boyfriend, right?"
He studied her, clearly confused, but let it pass.
"Anyway!" She clapped her hands together, ignoring her soaked sleeves. "You have to help me. You can't let them marry me off. If I go, Mama will…" Her throat tightened. "She'll die."
Shen Han's chest tightened at her trembling voice. He didn't understand half of what she was saying, but he could sense her fear was real. "Princess, what do you mean die? What danger are you speaking of?"
She groaned. "Ugh! You don't get it because you didn't read the—" She bit her tongue. "Forget that. Listen! In three days, the envoy from Tughril will arrive. My father plans to send me away, and when that happens… my mother will try to stop it. She'll be killed. If we don't act now, I'll lose her forever."
Shen Han's eyes darkened. "Killed? Your mother?"
"Yes!" Her voice cracked. "She'll stand in front of the envoy, and he'll—he'll…" Her words tangled with memory. Blood. Screams. Her mother falling.
Shen Han grasped her shoulders firmly, steadying her. "Princess, I know about the marriage order. That is why I came tonight, to check on you. But what you are describing…" He shook his head, "How do you know this will happen? Is this some conspiracy from the Tughril court?"
She shook her head. "It's not a conspiracy. I just… know."
He was silent for a long moment, then his hands gripped her shoulders firmly. "Even if I don't understand, I believe your fear is real. I swear, I won't let your mother die. Nor will I allow you to be forced into this marriage."
Xiao Zhi let out a relieved sigh. For the first time since she'd woken up here, someone was on her side.
"Good," she whispered, relief rushing through her. "Then we need a plan. Step by step. Strategically."
His brow quirked. "Step by step?"
"Yes!" She clapped her hands together, ignoring the fact that they were still damp. "We need a plan even a modern person could execute. One with layers. Traps. Counter-traps."
Shen Han looked as though she were speaking another language, but he didn't interrupt. Instead, he helped her to her feet, steadying her as she shivered. "First step," he said firmly, "is getting you out of these wet clothes. If you fall sick, there will be no planning at all."
Before she could protest, he guided her toward her chamber.
"Take the princess and bring her fresh garments," Shen Han ordered the maids in front of the chamber.
The maids obeyed quickly, bustling Xiao Zhi away.
***
When the door opened again, Xiao Zhi emerged in dry robes, hair still damp but neatly pinned. She spotted Shen Han pacing outside like a restless tiger.
"Shen Han!" She grabbed his sleeve and dragged him inside, waving the maids away. "We have to talk."
"Three days," she blurted. "That's all we have."
Shen Han held up his hands. "Princess, calm down."
"I can't calm down! In three days, I'll be dragged off to some barbaric land, and my mother will…" Her voice cracked. "She'll be killed."
His jaw tightened. "Princess… I truly don't understand. But if what you say is true, tell me everything."
"Fine." She drew a shaky breath. "Before I'm sent off, my mother will confront the envoy. She'll beg him. She'll fight him if she has to. And he'll… he'll kill her."
Shen Han's eyes narrowed. "If what you say is true, then this envoy is dangerous. We must not let him come anywhere near your mother."
Relief flooded her chest. Finally, an ally.
"Good. Then step one is simple. We make sure the envoy never comes near Mother. We get rid of him first."
Shen Han stiffened. "Kill an envoy?" His voice dropped. "Princess, that is not simple. If Tughril learns that their envoy was slain here, they will declare war. Our people will pay with their blood."
Xiao Zhi winced. "Right. Okay, you're right. No open killing." She chewed her lip. "But then… what else can we do? I can't think of another way to stop the marriage."
Shen Han paused a bit, his eyes lost in thought."Unless…" At last, he spoke slowly. "…Unless he is not killed in Hua land. Unless his death looks like the work of… bandits. Robbers. An accident outside our borders."
Xiao Zhi's eyes widened. Her pulse spiked. "Oh. Oh! That's brilliant!"
For the first time that night, Shen Han almost smiled.
But in his heart, he felt unease. She was speaking of murder and fate as if they were already written. He didn't understand half her words, but he understood her desperation. And for her, he would walk into fire itself.
Xiao Zhi leaned forward, determination blazing in her eyes. "Then it's decided. We change the story. We kill the envoy before he ever steps into this palace."
The chamber fell quiet. Xiao Zhi and Shen Han looked at each other in determination.
Outside, the night grew darker. And somewhere far beyond the palace walls, the envoy's journey had already begun.
"Now, how do we hire robbers?"