Midnight. Silence covered Jindu like a shroud. A group of shadows flickered through the streets, too fast to be seen, leaving only the stillness behind.
"Dry weather! Watch your candles!" The night watchman struck his clapper, shuffling forward.
This district housed the wealthy and powerful. He sighed, rubbing his cold hands. It was getting colder. He wondered if his wife had finished his winter coat.
A rush of wind. He looked up. A shadow blurred past him.
Terrified, he raised his lantern. Only darkness stretched before him.
"My eyes are playing tricks on me. Jindu is truly restless these days." He shook his head and walked on. "Dry weather! Watch your candles!"
Clack. Clack.
On the roof, a man waited until the sound of the clapper faded. He stood. Fourteen others rose silently from the darkness around him.
The leader removed his mask. Hanlu.
He looked at his brothers. They wore masks of dark iron, their eyes steady, their hands on their hilts.
He didn't speak. He looked at each of them, then turned his gaze to the compound ahead. It was brightly lit, the sound of music drifting on the wind. Silhouettes danced in the windows.
Hanlu raised his hand, pointing at the residence. He clenched his fist.
In unison, fifteen shadows leaped from the roof and plunged into the darkness.
Three cracks of the whip. The court knelt, waiting.
Xue Liulan walked slowly down the center aisle, stopping at the foot of the dais. He wore white mourning robes, a white jade crown binding his hair. His face was weary, but his eyes were sharp.
"Rise," he said.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
The officials stood. Xue Liulan scanned the ranks. "Why is Eunuch Guo not here today?"
The ministers exchanged glances. Finally, one stepped forward and knelt. "Your Highness, Eunuch Guo's residence was attacked last night. He is… indisposed."
"Was he injured?" Xue Liulan asked with concern.
"This…" The minister faltered. No one knew. All they knew was that assassins had broken in, killing everyone they saw, and then set fire to the compound. Guo Shangzhong's residence, and several neighboring houses, had burned.
"Have you found the culprits?" Xue Liulan asked coldly.
"No, Your Highness."
He waved the man away. "Is there anything else? If not, court is dismissed."
"Your Highness." Li Yan stepped forward and knelt.
"Speak, Minister Li."
"The coronation has always been handled by Eunuch Guo. Now that his household has suffered such a tragedy, perhaps Your Highness should appoint someone else, so he can focus on his family affairs."
Xue Liulan thought for a moment. "Let Minister Yu of Rites handle it."
"There is a second matter," Li Yan continued.
"Oh?"
Li Yan pulled a memorial from his sleeve. Little Dingzi took it and presented it to Xue Liulan.
Xue Liulan opened it. He read every word, then snapped it shut. Smack.
"Why is there still no result on the matter you reported?"
"Your Highness, these bandits are rampant. We have tried to catch them, but every trap fails."
"Fifteen officials murdered in half a month. Whole families wiped out. Jindu is awash in blood, and the Ministry of Justice is helpless?" He threw the memorial to the floor.
"This subject will do his utmost to bring them to justice." Li Yan kowtowed, hiding a faint smile.
The ministers were terrified. They had all received the death threats. The assassins claimed to be victims of tyranny, driven to rebellion. Now, everyone feared they would be next.
As the court dispersed, several officials chased after Li Yan.
"Minister Li! Wait!"
He turned. It was the Vice Minister of War and the Prefect of Jindu. "Gentlemen?"
"Do you have a plan to catch these assassins?"
"They are skilled masters. Even the palace guards can't stop them. How can my small ministry catch them quickly?" Li Yan sighed. "We can only set traps and wait."
"Wait? We can't wait!" One official turned pale. "If you don't hurry, we'll all be seeing the King of Hell!"
"Did you receive a letter too?" Li Yan asked, surprised.
"Yes." The official pulled a folded paper from his sleeve.
White paper, a hole in the center where a dart had pinned it to his wall. Inside, written in cinnabar: Corrupt officials, tyrannical rule. Death.
"Go home, gentlemen. I will do my best." Li Yan returned the letter and bowed.
"'Corrupt officials, tyrannical rule.' Well said." Xue Liulan laughed, holding the letter Li Yan had brought.
"That one sentence has scared half the court out of their wits." Murong Jin entered with tea. She placed a cup before Li Yan, who scrambled to stand.
"Sit," Xue Liulan said, waving a hand. "We must be careful. For now, my wife will have to serve you."
"It is not a hardship," she said, placing a cup before Xue Liulan. "Minister Li has worked hard. He deserves the courtesy of a scholar."
Xue Liulan smiled.
"Even so, to have the Crown Princess pour tea… I am unworthy." Li Yan laughed awkwardly. He no longer saw himself as a subordinate, but as a friend repaying a debt.
Xue Liulan and Murong Jin laughed with him.
While the men discussed their next move, Murong Jin idly flipped through the papers on the desk. Her hand paused on Li Yan's memorial. She picked it up and read it through.
At dusk, Li Yan left. Xue Liulan and Murong Jin walked back to the Ninghe Courtyard.
"Many of the names on that list aren't Guo Shangzhong's men," she said. "Why weaken your own side? This won't hurt him much."
"But they will eventually turn to him," he said, pushing aside a branch for her. "It's inevitable. Why not use this chance to make room for honest officials?"
"Will it work?" She frowned. "I mean the Fifteen."
His smile stiffened. "It's the best way. Besides, Guo Shangzhong saw them die with his own eyes. The bodies were at his gate. He has to believe it."
Her expression darkened. They walked in silence until the warm light of the Ninghe Courtyard came into view.
"Qi'er should be asleep." She opened the door carefully, then froze. She rushed to the cradle, snatching the baby into her arms.
Xue Liulan followed her in. Die Man stood by the empty cradle, smiling at the sleeping child.
Normally, Xia Zhi or Frost would be guarding him. Sometimes Yi. Today, it was only Ning Bi.
"Die Man?" Ning Bi gasped from behind Xue Liulan.
"I told you not to leave his side!" Xue Liulan snapped.
"I… I was warming his porridge," she stammered, holding up a bowl.
"Enough." Murong Jin cut him off. "What brings Lady Die Man here so late?"
Die Man glanced at her sideways, sneered, and walked up to Xue Liulan, pressing close. "He knows why I'm here."
Murong Jin looked at him, rocking the baby. "Qi'er is asleep. Can you take this outside?"
He said nothing. He stepped back, looking at Die Man.
She glared at the child in Murong Jin's arms. "Murong Jin. We will meet again."
"I won't see you out." Murong Jin's voice was low. That final look—pure venom and cold laughter—made her heart race.
Xue Liulan relaxed as Die Man left. He walked over and touched his son's forehead.
"It's fine." Murong Jin forced a smile.
"Stay with him these next few days. The Fifteen are gone, and you sent Yi back to Wuchuan. Be careful." He was worried. He couldn't predict what Die Man would do. This was not the woman he knew.
In the Zhaoyang Palace, the Emperor sat alone in the side hall, staring at the portraits.
"Liulan is Crown Prince," he whispered, tracing the cheek of the painted figure. "But the thing you asked of me… I still haven't done it."