Zhao Qian's POV
I watch Mei's face drain of color as she reads the letter again.
I've killed them, she whispers. Hundreds of soldiers, riding into a trap because I
Stop. I grip her shoulders, forcing her to look at me. This isn't your fault.
I gave the strategy! I convinced you to
You gave sound military advice based on the information we had. My mind races, calculating possibilities. This trap was set days ago. Which means someone knew our troop positions before you ever attended a strategy session.
Her eyes widen. A spy.
Yes. And that spy wanted Mei to suggest exactly what she did, wanted her brilliant mind to lead soldiers to slaughter. This was designed to destroy you.
Minister Shen bursts in, his face urgent. Your Majesty, I may have a solution.
Speak.
The cavalry can't be recalled, but we have archer units stationed at the western ridge—here. He points to the map. If we mobilize them now, they can reach the high ground above the eastern passes by dawn. Provide covering fire when the cavalry engages.
I study the terrain. It could work. If the archers arrive in time.
How many archers? Mei asks, her voice steadier now.
Two hundred.
Against three thousand. She closes her eyes, thinking. The passes are narrow. Three thousand troops can't attack in formation—they'll be forced into a column. If archers hit them from above while cavalry attacks from the front...
We split their forces, I finish. Make them fight in two directions at once.
It's not perfect, Shen warns. We'll still take heavy casualties.
But it's not a slaughter. Mei straightens, her brilliant mind overcoming her fear. We can minimize the trap's damage.
I meet her eyes. She's terrified but thinking anyway. Exactly what I need.
Send the order, I tell Shen. Mobilize the archers immediately.
He bows and rushes out.
Mei sways slightly. I steady her, and she looks up at me with something like desperation.
If this fails
It won't.
But if it does, you need to distance yourself from me publicly. Tell the court I acted without authority, that
Absolutely not. The suggestion ignites fury in my chest. We're partners. I don't abandon partners when things get difficult
Qian, I'm not worth
You're worth everything. The words come out fiercer than intended. You saw this attack coming when my experienced generals didn't. Yes, the enemy set a trap. But without your warning, we wouldn't have had any forces positioned to respond at all. They'd have waltzed through completely unopposed.
She stares at me like I've said something incomprehensible.
You don't blame me?
I blame whoever set this trap to destroy you. I release her shoulders before I do something foolish like pull her closer. And I'm going to find them.
Captain Feng enters. Your Majesty, General Han requests
No. I don't need Han gloating about Mei's failure right now. Tell him I'm occupied.
He says it's urgent. About the Empress.
My blood chills. What about her?
He's... calling for her removal from all military discussions. Publicly. In the main hall. Half the court is there.
Mei's face goes white.
Of course. Han saw his opportunity and took it. While we scramble to save soldiers, he's destroying Mei's credibility.
I should go, Mei says quietly. Face them. Explain
No. They'll tear you apart. I head for the door. Stay here. I'll handle Han.
Qian
I look back. She's standing in the middle of the war room, small and scared but trying so hard to be brave.
Something in my chest cracks.
Trust me, I say. Please.
She nods.
I leave before I can change my mind and bring her with me. Because facing Han alone is dangerous, but facing him with her there would be worse. He'd humiliate her in front of the entire court.
And I'd kill him for it.
The main hall is packed. Officials, nobles, court ladies—everyone drawn by the scent of scandal.
General Han stands at the center, his voice booming.
—inexcusable! The Empress's meddling in military matters has led our soldiers into an ambush! Hundreds of lives endangered because the Emperor allowed a woman to play at strategy!
Murmurs of agreement ripple through the crowd.
I step into the hall. Silence falls instantly.
General Han, I say coldly. You seem very informed about an ambush that only just came to our attention. How interesting.
He pales slightly but recovers. Your Majesty, the messenger's report made it clear—
The messenger reported to me privately. In my war room. Which you were not present for. I descend the steps slowly, watching him sweat. So how, exactly, do you know the details?
I... servants talk, Your Majesty. Word spreads
Word spreads remarkably fast. Almost as if someone wanted the court to know about this failure before we'd even attempted to address it. I stop directly in front of him. Who told you, General?
I don't recall specifically
Try harder.
The hall is utterly silent.
Han's jaw works. Your Majesty, with respect, the source of my information is less important than the fact that the Empress's strategy has endangered
The Empress's strategy predicted an attack my generals missed entirely, I cut him off. Without her warning, we'd have had zero forces positioned to respond. Now we have a counter-strategy in motion that will minimize casualties.
Shock ripples through the crowd.
But the ambush— someone protests.
Was set by an enemy who somehow knew our troop positions before any strategy session occurred. I turn to address the full court. Which means we have a spy. Someone feeding information to our enemies. Someone who wanted the Empress to fail publicly.
I let that sink in.
So yes, our soldiers are in danger. But not because the Empress advised me. Because someone in this palace is committing treason. My voice drops dangerously. And I will find them.
Han's face is purple. Your Majesty, surely you don't suggest
I suggest nothing. I state facts. I meet his eyes. The Empress remains my advisor. Anyone who questions that questions my judgment. Anyone who attempts to undermine her will answer to me personally.
Your Majesty, Lady Wang calls out, emboldened by the crowd. The previous empresses also had unusual influence. And they all died. Perhaps there's a reason empresses shouldn't
The previous empresses died under mysterious circumstances that I'm now investigating. I sweep my gaze across the assembled court. Anyone with information about those deaths should come forward. Unless they have something to hide.
Dead silence.
I've just implied that someone in this room might be connected to the empresses' murders.
Let them chew on that.
Court is dismissed, I say. General Han—my office. Now.
In my private office, Han stands rigid while I circle him like a predator.
Who told you about the ambush? I ask quietly.
Your Majesty, I cannot reveal
Cannot or will not?
Sources must be protected
I slam my hand on the desk. Your Emperor is giving you a direct order. Who. Told. You.
Han's resistance crumbles. A... a servant. In the war room. I don't know their name.
Convenient.
Your Majesty, I swear I'm not the spy
But you're happy to use leaked information to destroy the Empress. I lean forward. Tell me, General—why do you hate her so much?
I don't hate her. I hate what she represents. His voice hardens. Women don't belong in war rooms. It's unnatural. Dangerous. Every empire that allowed women into power fell to weakness and
Spare me the philosophy. I'm so tired of men who think tradition is more important than competence. The Empress is brilliant. She sees what you miss. That threatens you.
She's a liability! Today proves
Today proves we have a traitor who set her up to fail. I meet his eyes. And until I know who that traitor is, everyone is suspect. Including you.
He goes rigid. Your Majesty, I would never
Wouldn't you? You helped me take this throne. Some might say you think you own it. I let the accusation hang. Maybe you're tired of an emperor who doesn't follow your advice anymore.
I am loyal! His voice cracks with desperation.
Then prove it. Find my spy. Bring me evidence. Or stay far away from the Empress before I decide your protests are too convenient.
I dismiss him and sink into my chair, exhausted.
Someone is playing a complex game. Set a trap for our soldiers. Leaked it to Han. Wanted Mei publicly destroyed.
But why? Just because she's a woman in power? Or something deeper?
A servant enters with a message. Your Majesty, urgent news from the eastern passes.
My heart stops. The battle?
Hasn't begun yet. But scouts report... The servant's voice wavers. The enemy force is withdrawing.
What?
Pulling back from the passes. Our cavalry arrived at dawn and found—nothing. No ambush. No enemy forces. Just empty terrain.
I stare at the messenger, my mind spinning.
The enemy was there. The letter said they'd been there for days.
So why retreat hours before our cavalry arrived?
Unless...
Unless the entire thing was a feint. A psychological attack designed to make Mei look incompetent, create panic, destroy her credibility.
Which means whoever is behind this isn't just trying to kill empresses.
They're trying to destabilize my entire government.
And they're using Mei as their weapon to do it.
has the intelligence, resources, and motive to manipulate both sides of a conflict? And what's their real endgame?