[The Vow of Silence]
In the quiet of the Secluded Courtyard, Gu Xingyu finally leaned into Qing Fei's embrace. "Mo...ther," she whispered, the word feeling like a stone finally lifted from her chest.
But the moment of warmth was brief. Xingyu pulled back, her eyes sharp and focused. "Do not tell Father yet," she warned. "I must find the truth about that night twenty years ago myself. If I was stolen by rebels, why wasn't I used as a hostage? And why did I end up in another world?"
Xingyu's voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "I have a recurring dream... a man throwing a baby into the vortex of the Yao-Gate. He ran with a strange, uneven gait—one shoulder higher than the other, his weight shifting awkwardly with every step."
Qing Fei froze, her breath hitching in her throat. The description seemed to stir a terrifying memory.
[Targeting Wan Luo]
"I suspect Wan Luo," Xingyu continued, her voice calm but firm. "Think back, Mother. Father would have guarded you heavily. How could rebels slip in so easily? And Wan Luo held me—why didn't she scream for help until after I was gone?"
Qing Fei turned pale. "It can't be... she has been by my side for twenty years..." She stood up, desperate to confront her. "I have to ask her!"
Xingyu grabbed her arm. "No! That would only alert her. She has Father's ear and controls the inner palace. If you move now, she will strike first. You must endure this, for me."
[The Emperor's Doubt]
In his study, Hades You Nian stared at a tattered portrait of a young Qing Fei. The resemblance to Xingyu was undeniable. If she is indeed my daughter, who sent her through the Rift? Who among my own people betrayed me? He snapped a jade pen in his hand, his eyes burning with a mix of longing and cold suspicion.
[The Poisoned Seed]
Outside in the night pavilion, Wan Luo sat alone, her mind racing. Poison was too risky. She needed a way to make the girl disappear quietly.
"What are you planning?" A deep, guttural voice broke the silence.
It was Gala, her brother.
Wan Luo masked her fear with a gentle smile. "Oh, Brother... I was just wondering. If the Saintess is indeed the Emperor's daughter, where will her loyalties lie? She was the Saintess of the Yao-Capital first. If war breaks out, will she stand with the Underworld... or with the Five Yao?"
Gala's beast-like eyes flickered. He remembered how Xingyu had shielded the Five Yao with her life in the sanctuary. She chose them over her own safety, he thought. Wan Luo's words were like a needle of doubt, piercing his loyalty to the crown.
Wan Luo watched him walk away, a cold smirk touching her lips. Let Brother handle the killing. He will do it to protect the tribe.