[The Messenger of Night]
Under the flickering candlelight, You Qing stood by the window, a white pigeon perched on her palm. She attached a tiny cylinder to its leg—a secret method of communication she had shared with the Crown Prince during her time in the Yao Palace.
"Go," she whispered. "Do not fail."
The bird vanished into the night, carrying a message that would change the fate of two worlds: Gu Xingyu has returned. Meet me at Azure Pool at midnight.
[The Prince's Resolve]
In the Eastern Study, Crown Prince Si Moyan stared at the letter, his breath hitching. Xingyu... you never lived for yourself, even upon your return. Months ago, she had sacrificed her freedom to protect the Five Yao and his brother, Si Moheng. Now, she was back with a gravity that demanded his presence. "If you still choose to trust me, Xingyu," he murmured, "I will not let that trust fall to the ground."
[The True Identity]
The mist clung to the surface of the Azure Pool as the two met in a secluded pavilion.
"Your Highness," You Qing began, her voice calm but sharp as a blade. "Let me tell you a story. A girl was once told her birth brought calamity to her clan. She was cast into the Gate of Yao Source, abandoned to the abyss. But she survived. She returned as a Saintess, but her blood revealed another truth: she is the Imperial Daughter of the Underworld."
Moyan gasped. "Xingyu... are you saying...?"
"Gu Xingyu is the name of a Saintess," she said, her eyes burning with resolve. "But my true name is You Qing. I have seen the people of the Underworld struggling in darkness, branded as monsters simply for their blood. I ask you, Prince—what crime have they committed to be denied the sun?"
[The Imperial Pact]
She presented her terms with the cold precision of a ruler. "The Heart of Yao Spirit is in my hands. You need it to ascend the throne and prove your divine mandate. My condition is simple: when you become Emperor, grant the people of the Underworld a territory under the sun where they can live in peace."
Moyan was stunned. "To grant land to the 'Chaos-bringers'? The court will riot!"
But looking into her eyes, he saw not a rebel, but a protector of the common folk. He stood tall and gave his word. "If the Heart is in your hands, I promise. Upon my ascension, I will reveal the truth of the Underworld and grant them a land of their own."
[The Traitor's Shadow]
The atmosphere shifted as You Qing's expression darkened. "There is more. It concerns Feng Mian."
She revealed the terrifying truth: Feng Mian was a traitor to both worlds. He was the National Preceptor of Yao and one of the Four Generals of the Underworld, but he served only himself. He had secretly built the "Rift-Yao Legion" to slaughter villages and stir hatred, framing the Underworld to hide his own ambition of seizing absolute power.
"He has betrayed the Emperor of the Underworld and deceived the Realm Emperor of Yao," You Qing hissed. "He is the storm that will destroy us all."
Moyan's knuckles whitened as he gripped the railing. The realization that his most trusted advisor was a dual-traitor shook him to the core. "If this gets out, the government will collapse..."
"That is why I told only you," You Qing replied.
Moyan took a deep breath, his eyes cold with newfound determination. "I will investigate this in secret. If Feng Mian is indeed the cancer of both realms, I will personally tear down his mask and return the truth to the world."