Vienna, Hofburg Palace. In the gilded ballroom, crystal chandeliers refracted countless lights.
When Yuexi entered on Haoxuan's arm, the room quieted momentarily. She wore a custom silver-blue gown, the "Moonlight Radiance" necklace at her throat, like a princess from a classical painting. Haoxuan in his black tailored tuxedo stood beside her, a perfect match.
"Alice, my child." An elderly but spirited man approached with attendants. This was Yuexi's grandfather, head of the Habsburg family, revered as the "old king"—Leopold III.
Yuexi curtsied gracefully. "Grandfather."
Haoxuan bowed perfectly as taught. "Your Majesty."
The old king studied Haoxuan, his experienced eyes sharp as an eagle's. "Ye Haoxuan, heir to China's Ye family. I've heard of you, young man. Your business achievements are notable."
"Not worth mentioning before Your Majesty." Haoxuan replied with neither humility nor arrogance.
A hint of approval flashed in the old king's eyes. Turning to Yuexi, he lowered his voice. "Your choice is good, child. But," he added, "be careful tonight. We have intelligence that Dark Moon has infiltrated."
The ball commenced. Yuexi and Haoxuan glided onto the dance floor. Waltzing, their gazes intertwined.
"Nine o'clock, lady in crimson," Haoxuan whispered. "She's been watching us over ten minutes."
Yuexi nodded slightly. "Dark Moon's third-level observer, codename 'Red Sparrow.' She won't act directly, only gathers intelligence."
"Then who's the executor?"
"Could be anyone." Yuexi's eyes swept the room. "Waitstaff, musicians, even a 'noble.'"
As the dance ended, etiquette required Yuexi dance with different partners. While dancing with a distant cousin, he whispered, "Alice, be careful of your Chinese fiancé.
Royal investigations found the Ye Group had business dealings with Dark Moon."
Yuexi's heart jolted, but her expression remained unchanged. "Thank you for the warning, Cousin William. But I trust my judgment."
Yet doubt was planted. Returning to Haoxuan, her demeanor cooled slightly.
"What's wrong?" Haoxuan noticed immediately.
"Nothing." She shook her head, but hesitation flickered in her eyes.
Suddenly, all lights in the hall went out. In the darkness, women screamed.
"Yuexi!" Haoxuan immediately shielded her, reaching for the hidden alarm at his waist—prepared in advance.
In the dark, Yuexi felt someone brush past, then a lightness at her neck—the "Moonlight Radiance" necklace was snatched!
"My necklace!" she gasped.
Haoxuan was already pursuing, using exceptional night vision and memory of the hall's layout to chase a figure fleeing toward a side door.
The chase wound through Hofburg Palace's complex corridors. Haoxuan cornered the intruder on a secluded terrace—a nimble figure in black.
"Return the necklace." Haoxuan's voice was ice-cold.
The intruder laughed coldly, attacking suddenly. They fought fiercely on the narrow terrace, the sounds clear in the night wind. Haoxuan was surprised by the opponent's professional skills.
After several exchanges, Haoxuan found an opening, striking the intruder's neck precisely. The intruder grunted, collapsing as Haoxuan retrieved the necklace.
But examining it, Haoxuan's face changed—the gem was fake! The real "Moonlight Radiance" had been swapped earlier.
He rushed back to the ballroom. Lights had returned, but chaos remained. Yuexi stood pale beside the old king.
"The necklace is fake," Haoxuan whispered. "The real one was swapped earlier."
Yuexi paled further. "'Moonlight Radiance' isn't just jewelry. It holds a Habsburg secret—a medieval contract involving locations of multiple European royal treasures."
Just then, Cousin William approached, concerned. "Alice, are you alright? I saw Mr. Ye rush off earlier. What happened?"
Yuexi was about to answer when she noticed a subtle tattoo on William's wrist—the Dark Moon insignia!
She understood instantly but remained calm. "Nothing, just a petty theft during the chaos. It's recovered."
William's gaze lingered on Haoxuan. "That's good. But Alice, do you truly know your fiancé? I've heard his business in China isn't entirely... legal."
Doubt stirred in Yuexi. After the ball, back in their hotel suite, she finally asked, "Ye Haoxuan, did the Ye Group have dealings with Dark Moon?"
Haoxuan paused, understanding.
"Someone told you something?"
"Cousin William said royal investigations found Ye Group connections with Dark Moon." Yuexi met his eyes. "I need the truth."
Haoxuan silently retrieved a file from his luggage's hidden compartment. "Three years ago, a Ye subsidiary did partner with a company called 'Moonlight International.'
But three months later, I found that company suspicious, terminated all cooperation, and investigated those responsible."
He handed her the file. "My internal report. 'Moonlight International' was indeed a Dark Moon front, but cooperation was limited to legitimate import-export and brief.
Afterward, I formed an intelligence team to track Dark Moon."
Yuexi reviewed the detailed, meticulous file, her doubts easing.
"Sorry," she whispered. "I shouldn't have doubted you."
Haoxuan took her hand. "In this environment, suspicion is survival instinct. I don't blame you, Yuexi. But know, no matter what, I'm on your side."
Yuexi looked up, her eyes held a complex mix of emotions. "Cousin William... is Dark Moon. I saw the tattoo."
Haoxuan's expression sobered. "That explains how he approached you easily, tried to divide us. You must tell the old king."
"I will." Yuexi nodded. "But first, we must recover the real 'Moonlight Radiance.' If that contract falls into Dark Moon's hands, the consequences are unthinkable."
"Your plan?"
Yuexi went to the window, viewing Vienna's nightscape. "Dark Moon will try to leave Austria quickly after getting the necklace.
But they won't use regular channels—the Habsburgs have special customs privileges to intercept suspicious items."
"So they need inside help." Haoxuan understood. "William can provide that."
Yuexi turned, determination in her eyes.
"Then we set a trap, make William expose himself."