The shouting and stamping of boots from the men leaving the tend that night still echoes in Wu Zhen's ears, the sound indicating how the news was getting spread far and wide. Each time the words inside the letter were getting spoken by someone, they twisted once more... Sharpening themselves into a weapon with only one reason, stab General Ying.
More and more men were beginning to lose their trust in her and deciding to side with Han instead, all because of one sigil on a sheet of paper.
After finishing one more meeting under the pretext of a dinner together, the three men stood at the same table for a few hours before finally parting.
The Golden light of the oil lamp falls on Han's features. His expression is calm, as if nothing in the world could disturb his certainly, not anymore... The plan is in motion and he knows he's got the upper hand.
For everyone else is is an unshakable rock to rely on, for Wu Zhen too... But tonight he looks almost too composed to him, as a lion seating back on his rock after finishing a good hunt. It look as if he was waiting years for this very moment, an old plan finally coming to life.
-You barely touched your food Zhen, is something wrong?- asks Han looking at Han and Shen getting up from their chairs -Uhm no... I'm just anxious, after the ambush in the forest and now the plan finally taking action... I kind of lost my appetite, things like that- he blurts out an excuse to his tormented mind, earning a deep stare from the guard.
-Don't worry too much, I calculated every possible outcome so rest assured, we'll win... And bring justice upon this army- Zhen smiles -Yes, I'm sure of it- he bows lightly and leaves the tent, Shen HuaiZhi following him into the cold evening.
The Camp is restless, it has been like that for the past few days, at every corner you can find some soldier talking about that letter and quoting Han's words.
-Did you hear? The Emperor himself seems to have ordered Cai's removal- says one -How can you be so sure?- ask another -There's a letter, I saw it with my own eyes... You can ask Colonel Han, he will show you for sure-
-Apparently General Cai was protection Miss Ying, covering her treason... They were accomplices, she was supposed to undergo trial but he went against an official order and betrayed the country- someone says along the way...
-Turns out that Han is the only one speaking the truth, not Miss Ying. To dare and go against 3 General at once, it means he has the court in his side, we've been fooled for so long...-
Each whisper presses on Wu Zhen's chest, the wind cutting at his face, yet it's not the cold air what's unsettling him. Finally, when the noise grew unbearable, he speaks softly only for him and Shen to hear -The Letter... Does it seem legit to you?-
-It's official, there's no doubt in that- replies the guard, colder than the air even
-I don't meant if it's from the palace or not but... Why would the emperor ask to frame her if they are in the right? Or when they said that she needs to be distrusted for the court to gain the upper hand... That seems odd-
-Some men believe that it is phrased that way because although Miss Ying was at fault she had too much baking to be taken down lightly, so a direct attack even if made of lies, was the best way to take her down from her throne- replies the guard
-Some men... But that's not what you believe is it? I know you're much more clever than this- replies Zhen but the other man stays silent -Nevermind, then what about what Han said about the forest... Does that make sense to you?-
Shen's expression doesn't shift, his dark eyes are as unreadable as ever -Which part of it?-
Wu Zhen hesitates but eventually gains courage to talk -He said... That I took the knife from my assassin, that I ran away as soon as I hurt him, making it seems as if I didn't saw that man's face at all... He said it was one of Ying's men- mutters the boy, almost to himself for the absurdity of it -But that's not true, it's impossible. I saw his face, you did too... So why did you report it being a man of General Ying?-
The guard shakes his head -I didn't report that- he replies and then silence falls between them for a while
Zhen snaps, unable to bear that heavy silence -Why... Why didn't you tell him he wasn't then? If there's a traitor between our ranks...- -He wasn't a traitor- cuts him off the Shen HuaiZhi.
-I don't understand any of this, why did you stay quiet? You didn't help Han at all in this-
-What good would it have done to put our name on that body? To claim him as ours?- Shen's gaze doesn't waver
-That's not an answer- the boy hisses, leaning forward, the fists tightening beside his body -Does Han suspect me? Was he testing me? Just because that letter confused me, doesn't mean I won't stand beside him and his ideals- the guard still doesn't reply -Your silence only makes this more difficult to understand, who were you protecting by not saying the truth? Yourself?- he asks angrily
A faint curl touches the corner of Shen's lips, it is neither a smile nor a smirk but something colder. A sharp canine, shining just like his hair, peeks through -You think too much boy. There are things that shouldn't be said, truths that shouldn't be acknowledged, declarations that can't reach certain ears... Least you want to put yourself in danger-
Zhen's stomach knots, the words sounds like an act of protection yet the sound is that of total mockery...
"In danger? Why would I be in danger? Who would try to harm me to begin with?" He begins to think but then another thought comes to him, that Shen might be testing me further... He and Han were working to see if he had any bit of doubt in his head
-Then tell me one thing- he forces the words out, strating to tremble -Why did you give me that knife but didn't say anything to Lord Han?-
-To help you- he replies, cryptically
-If you didn't give me that knife, what would have happened to me?- he gulps down while posing that question -You would have died, probably-
-One last question, which side where you on when you gave me that knife? Han's or Ying's?-
The Fire from nearby torches flickers across Shen's face, but that didn't warm up his expression one bit... Those eyes were still deep pools that refused to give up their depth -Whichever side keeps you alive-
That answer should be giving relief to the boy, yet it only made his spine shivers... New thoughts starting to form in his head, insinuating the seed of doubt, and before he will be able to realize it they will have already eaten him from inside.