Li Mei ran from the stone dungeon and entered the palace courtyard. The sun was high in the sky. She breathed in the air of the city to use her golden finger. She searched for the specific scent of saltpeter and charcoal and sulfur. These are the ingredients of black powder. The Empress Dowager had hidden these explosives under the city to destroy the palace.
Mei concentrated on her sense of smell. She detected the scent of wet earth and lavender. Then she detected a sharp and biting smell. It was the smell of a lit fuse. The scent came from the direction of the Imperial Library.
"Guards, follow me to the library," Mei shouted.
The palace guards followed her quickly. They were part of the new force Prince Zhao had built during his kingdom building. Mei ran into the basement of the library. The smell of sulfur was very strong in this small space. She found a large wooden crate. A thin hemp cord was burning near the side of the crate. This was the fuse. Mei grabbed a bucket of water from the corner. She poured the water on the cord. The fire went out and the smoke became a white mist. She felt a sense of relief but she knew there were more crates.
In the desert, Prince Zhao faced the Guardian of the Moon. The Guardian moved with great speed. He swung his jade spear at Zhao. Zhao blocked the spear with his silver sword. The impact made a loud sound like two stones hitting each other. Zhao felt the gold power in his body. It was a supernatural force that came from the silver moon.
"You fight with the strength of a king," the Guardian said. "But do you have the heart of a protector?"
The Guardian touched the stone sarcophagus in the center of the room. The room filled with a bright silver light. This light was the essence of the First Wolf. It was the background of the entire power system of the silver curse. Zhao felt the light enter his chest. It did not feel cold like the desert spores. It felt warm and stable. This was the jade blessing. It helped him control the beast inside his soul. His eyes turned from gold to a clear and brilliant silver color. He was now an invincible warrior who could remain human.
"I accept the burden," Zhao said. "I will protect the Tang from the shadows."
The Guardian lowered his spear and stepped back into the shadows. The silver light in the room began to fade. Zhao saw a small jade key on top of the sarcophagus. This key was the solution to the final mystery of the palace. He picked up the key and felt its weight.
Back in Chang'an, Mei found the second cache of explosives. it was under the bridge of the Golden Water River. She used her rationality to guide the guards. They moved the powder away from the water.
"We must find the last one," Mei said. "The Empress said the fire would purify the city. The biggest cache must be under the throne room."