The courtyard in Minister Cui Mingde’s residence was quiet, safe from the rustle of paper as he looked through the documents Shen Qingyue had presented to him.

There was a twitch in his expression as he looked at all the evidence against the Empress. He didn’t think they’d be able to find any proof, that was why he’d agreed to support them.

And now that literal evidence was in his hands, he was back in a tight corner. Thorn between giving his unwavering support and staying out of what was going to be a bloody power struggle.

Qingyue, ever observant, noticed the hesitation etched into his face. "Is anything unclear to you? Let me know and I’ll explain further."

Cui Mingde shook his head.

What was there not to understand?

The Empress was about to be accused with irrefutable proof of treason. For lack of better words, there was no way there would be a good outcome for both parties. Him included. Especially him.

"You’re going to bring up the case during the final trial tomorrow?" Cui Mingde asked, putting the papers back together.

"Yes," Qingyue answered, "with your help of course."

Cui Mingde gave the documents back to her with a nod. "This is more than enough. Can I ask your highness a question? I would hate to overstep my boundaries."

"Go ahead."

"What do you intend to achieve with this?"

Qingyue knew what he really wanted to ask. If she was merely asserting vengeance or the endgame was the throne. He wanted to be on the winning side of history.

"Justice," Qingyue answered smoothly. "Those who commit evil must pay for their crimes," she held his gaze, "don’t you think so?"

Cui Mingde gulped. "Yes, your highness. We shall proceed tomorrow as discussed."

Shen Qingyue gave him a single nod. "I’ll see you then."

Lieyin stood up at the same time with Qingyue, and it wasn’t until they were out of hearing distance did she whisper, "I don’t trust him."

"He knows better than to cross us," Qingyue replied, then put her hand on Lieyin’s shoulder. "Keep an eye on him. I believe Lihua is watching our every move, she might come for him."

Shen Lieyin nodded in understanding, then watched her sister walk away.

The sky was already darkening, it was only a couple hours before they’d have to face the trial. Lieyin idled around Cui Mingde’s residence, at alert for any intruders.

It wasn’t long before a group of masked men were at Cui Mingde’s door. Lieyin’s hand immediately went to the hilt of her sword.

She counted them.

There were four.

Easy.

She could take them all down with her eyes closed.

Lieyin waited till the went into the house before making her through the front door, unhurried, taking her precious time.

That familiar hum was already starting at the base of her neck, the anticipation of violence firing up her blood.

She itched for it, for the blood, for the pain, often getting drunk on the entire process of it.

There was a smile on her face when she struck the first masked figure, watching him splurting blood with a glint in her eyes before he fell to the floor with a thud. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The second attacked her from behind but she was quick on her feet, his sword swishing into thin air as she drove hers into chest.

"Should’ve sent people more skilled," she muttered under her breath as she pulled out the sword. "At least make it worth my while."

In the distance the maids were shouting, most taking cover as more masked men jumped into the courtyard.

Shen Lieyin looked around, more worried that they might get to Cui Mingde first instead of how much she was now outnumbered.

Someone shouted, "Intruders!"

Shen Lieyin turned to see the minister standing off to the side, fear written all over. She swore under her breath, "Men and being incompetent."

Lieyin raced to him, only managing to step in front of him before a sword came down towards them.

She twisted her wrist, redirecting the blade enough to break the angle, then drove her elbow forward into the attacker’s chest.

He staggered.

Her sword followed immediately after. Clean. Decisive.

He finally fell.

"Stay behind me," she said to Cui Mingde.

She lost count of the assassins as they circled them. Her grip on her sword tightened. It was going to be a long night.

They came all at once, their swords aimed high—reckless and furious.

The first aimed high, but Lieyin ducked, the blade slicing where her throat had been. She used her shoulder to strike his chest, throwing him off balance before slicing him clean.

Blood spattered over her face, turning her into a maddening force that couldn’t be stopped.

In truth she believed in Qingyue’s cause, she believed in justice. But above all—she believed in the sword.

Only a brief time had passed before she had the last man subdued, her boot pressing firmly into his chest.

"Who sent you?" she demanded.

There was no answer.

Of course not.

Lieyin drove her sword into him. She’d only asked out of formality. No one would dare to attack the one supporter they had other than the Empress herself.

Cui Mingde was frozen in fear when Lieyin turned to him. "It’s a good thing I was nearby. Have more guards around the house, this might not be the last of them." Although Lieyin doubted the Empress would waste so many men on the minister.

"Thank you, your highness," Cui Mindge bowed to her, "I should’ve been the one to protect you."

Lieyin’s face twisted in distaste. "Protect yourself first."

She left.

The exhaustion started to seep in as the adrenaline wore off, her shoulders sagging as she walked back to her chambers.

She just had to check on Yexue first, if she had caught the maid that was supposed to confirm the Empress had fed the Emperor poison

There was light chatter coming from the courtyard, but it immediately seized when Shen Lieyin walked in with blood all over her.

They all scampered to safety, in fear that they’d fall victim to her fury. But Lieyin paid no mind, all she wanted was to sleep like she usually did after a big fight.

Those useless men had sapped all her energy.

"Yexue..." she groaned, barely able to keep her eyes open as she pushed the door. "Were you successful?" she asked, entering the dimly lit room.

Lieyin didn’t see the little bundle under the covers in the middle of the bed. She just groaned in disappointment and fell into it.

Ru Yi, half asleep, thinking it was Yexue—wrapped herself around the warm body beside her.

-

-

The first search had been a waste of time, Yexue unable to find the herbalist in her residence. Even worse—The Empress’s maid who’d helped with the poison had vanished into the thin air.

She knew without doubt that the Empress was protecting them both. But how then was she supposed to prove that the Emperor was currently dying as a result of the poison.

Not that she was concerned about the old fool. She regarded him more as a stranger, and even less like a father.

Her door was slightly ajar when she got it, which immediately made her go on high alight.

The lights were off but her eyes adjusted to the dark as she closed the door after her. Two people were on her bed.

She immediately put on the lantern on her desk and matched to her bed.

A sound that was very similar to what a wounded animal would make, tore from her throat when she registered the people on her bed.

Shen Lieyin laid there, arms on her side and without a care in the world. Ru Yi—unfortunately, was wrapped around her body like a bear refusing to let go.

Shen Yexue saw red.

With every strength she could muster she pulled Lieyin out of bed. "What do you think you’re doing?"

Lieyin blinked severally before her brain caught on.

"Why are you lying in bed with a maid you’ve talked down on severally for being beneath you?" Yexue was raging, even more when Ru Yi’s eyes fluttered open as she looked at them, clueless about what was going on.

Lieyin stared at her. "Why are you in bed with me?"

Ru Yi rubbed her eyes, confused. "I didn’t know it was you. I just—"

"See what I said," Lieyin yelled with an accusing voice. "She’s trying to seduce us all."

"I was trying to sleep," Ru Yi argued, irritated and voice filled with sleep. "You were the one that got in bed after me."

"All of you...just stop!" Yexue couldn’t explain why she felt deeply betrayed. "It doesn’t even matter."

They’ve always accommodated each other since they were kids. But something about seeing Lieyin with Ru Yi that way, body melted into each other whether they’d done it consciously or not—

She shook her head.

Qingyue had instructed her to sneak Ru Yi back into the cell before the trial in the morning.

Blinded by anger, Yexue grabbed Ru Yi by the hair and dragged her up. "You’re going back where you belong."