The golden halls of the Eastern Palace shone under the afternoon sun, but inside the court, shadows moved.
Xie Lan stood quietly in the far corner of the Hall of Imperial Judgment. His gray robes were plain, but his presence could no longer be ignored. He looked calm, almost bored, but his mind was sharp.
Today, the Emperor would hold court. Ministers, princes, and generals filled the chamber, their faces polite, but their hearts full of secrets.
"His Majesty arrives!"
Trumpets blared. Everyone bowed.
The Emperor entered slowly, carried on a carved golden chair, robes like a river of fire. His eyes, cold and unreadable, swept across the hall.
Xie Lan kept his head low.
> [Villain System Notification: The Emperor has entered the board. Game Phase: Sovereign's Hand begins.
The Emperor sat. "Let the court begin."
First, reports came from the borders — rebels in the north, bandits in the east. Generals shouted. Ministers argued. The Emperor listened in silence.
But then…
"The Seventh Prince, Xie Lan, wishes to present a petition," announced Eunuch Lian.
A ripple of surprise passed through the room. Xie Lan rarely spoke at court. Most had forgotten he existed.
Xie Lan stepped forward and knelt. "Your Majesty, I request permission to investigate missing tribute shipments from the south. The Crown Prince's overseer, Lord Wen, has failed to deliver three months' worth of jade and spirit herbs."
Gasps. The Crown Prince stiffened.
"You dare accuse my men?" he said, stepping forward.
Xie Lan's voice was calm. "I do not accuse. I request to verify."
The Emperor raised an eyebrow. "And what proof do you offer?"
Xie Lan opened his sleeve and pulled out a folded letter. "A written report from the southern prefect, sealed two days ago."
The Emperor read it. The hall went silent.
"Very well," he said at last. "You will go south and investigate. If you lie… you will answer with your life."
> [Villain Points +20] [Quest Unlocked: Southern Shadows — Find the truth behind the tribute thefts.]
Xie Lan bowed again. "I serve the Empire, Your Majesty."
The Crown Prince's jaw tightened.
Later, in the long red corridor behind the court, Xie Yan stopped Xie Lan.
"You think you've won?" he asked.
Xie Lan looked him in the eye. "I haven't even started playing yet."
He turned and walked away, leaving the Crown Prince standing under a painting of dragons at war.
---
That night...
In the Hall of Shadows, hidden deep inside the palace, cloaked figures gathered.
"He moved first," whispered one. "He dared to speak against the Crown Prince."
"Then we must act. Before he gathers more support."
A message was sent. South. Ahead of Xie Lan's journey.
It carried two words:
"End him."
---
The southern skies were bright, but Xie Lan felt the weight of danger with every step. He had traveled for five days, riding through forests, misty hills, and forgotten villages. Now, he stood at the gates of Yongping Prefecture — one of the wealthiest tribute towns in the Eastern Empire.
Behind him, a small group of guards waited silently. They were handpicked by Eunuch Lian. Not loyal to the Crown Prince, but not loyal to him either.
> [System Alert: Territory Change Detected — You are now in a Hidden Court-controlled zone. Caution advised.]
Xie Lan read the sign posted at the town gate. "Welcome to Yongping. Prosperity through loyalty."
He smiled coldly. "Let's see what loyalty looks like when the ledgers are opened."
---
Inside the prefect's manor, Lord Wen sat sweating. He was a plump man with a round face and eyes that twitched when nervous.
"The Seventh Prince is here?"
"Yes, Lord," said the steward. "He requests an audit of your records."
Lord Wen forced a smile. "Of course. We have nothing to hide."
But in his private quarters, he burned papers quickly, ink-stained records, hidden names, fake orders. The Crown Prince had promised protection. But protection didn't mean immunity.
> [Optional Quest Triggered: Recover Destroyed Records — Reward: 5 Villain Points, +1 to Investigation Skill.]
That night, Xie Lan entered the study. The ledgers had been arranged neatly, too neatly.
He flipped one open.
"Three shipments of jade listed. But only one left the mines."
He turned to the steward. "Where is the mine master's seal?"
The steward stuttered. "It must've been… misfiled, Your Highness."
Xie Lan's eyes turned cold. "Then we'll visit the mine ourselves."
The next morning, they rode to the foothills, where the royal jade mine stood. But when they arrived, it was empty.
No workers. No carts. Just broken tools and ashes where documents had clearly been burned.
> [Warning: Active Cover-up in Progress. Hidden Court Operatives Detected Nearby.]
Xie Lan raised a hand. "Search the ruins. Find anything that wasn't turned to ash."
One guard returned with a charred board — a ledger cover, half-burned but showing the Crown Prince's insignia faintly.
"He didn't even try to hide his involvement," Xie Lan muttered.
A voice rang out from the trees.
"That's because he didn't need to. You won't leave here alive, little prince."
Assassins in black dropped from the trees. Silent. Deadly.
Xie Lan's hands moved fast. He pulled out a talisman scroll.
> [Skill Activated: Shadow Lotus Technique – Level 2]
He leapt into the fight like a dancer — fast, fluid, and brutal. The guards scrambled, blades clashing.
But the assassins were well-trained.
One nearly landed a cut across Xie Lan's cheek, but a silver pin shot from nowhere, striking the attacker in the neck.
A cloaked figure stood on a rock above.
"Seventh Prince," she said. "If you want to survive, follow me."
He narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
"No time. Move!"
Xie Lan followed.
---
They ducked through hidden tunnels under the mine. The woman pulled down her hood.
She was young maybe twenty. Sharp eyes. A scar on her left brow.
"I'm Mei Zhen. I work for someone who doesn't want to see the Empire fall into the wrong hands."
"And who decides what's right?"
She smiled. "You do. If you live long enough."
> [New Ally Acquired: Mei Zhen — Rogue Informant.]
> [Side Quest Unlocked: Gain Mei Zhen's Trust — Reward: Hidden Court Map.]
They emerged near a hidden river. Smoke rose behind them from the ambush site.
"Your journey south is over," Mei Zhen said. "But the real war has only just begun."
Xie Lan looked at the night sky, stars shining cold and sharp.
"No," he said softly. "It's just starting."