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I wait for a clear path to come, dancing the white light of the moon between my fingers as I leaned against the brick wall. Letting out a steady breath, I pull the rest of my braided hair underneath my black cloak and rose my scarf up to my nose with only my eyes showing, and peered around the corner where a group of four guards are patrolling the area.

When they turn a corner and gift me a clear path, I dart along the wall until I'm standing before Shūfēi Yiyi's palace. Only a guard stood by to make sure no one inside or out gets past the bolted lock on the gates of the entrance unless with a valid reason. When he peered in my direction, I pulled behind the wall — he didn't notice me and continued on with his patrolling. It must've been the dark clothing I chose to wear that he couldn't spot me. Wearing something too bright or a long dress would give away my position and hold me back from future activities, so I asked for help from Mo Lian Tan who I'll be meeting later on. He nor anyone else knew I was here.

Just me.

I find my way past the guard and climbed the side wall using the help of a tree grown over the gates and landed successfully on the other side within her palace.

It was quiet.

But not too quiet when her attendant left her quarters with a tray of eaten food and left off to the back. Because she was a prisoner in her own home, she lost the access of eunuchs and maids to care for her palace unless those who voluntarily stayed behind which left a few workers to mend the work that usually took thirty people and more to finish a day.

Therefore, no one will come tonight.

My steps followed behind the door and led into a well-decorated room of red and green and many flowy curtains hanging from the wall. I heard Shūfēi Yiyi used to dance a lot during her prime years. She was so good a eunuch was killed for staring too hard as an unmarried man should towards a woman who was. A Beautiful Dance of Death was the name bestowed upon her. A name that resonated perfectly for tonight's mission.

The floor beneath my feet creaked. I paused, my heart somehow beating out my chest.

Movement in the room before me was heard after a long pause. "I told you, Mei, that I wish to be left alone, you dingy girl don't ever listen. But since you are here, be sure to bring those herbs off the dresser."

The bowl weighted light in my hand.

Pushing past the curtains and traveling back, I find Shūfēi Yiyi behind the sheer curtains. Long, black hair down her back is pushed off her shoulders where her naked body comes into view and dips her toes into the filled tub of water before she sinks herself in the warm bath splashing the floor. She pushes her wet hair over the edge and rested her head along the tub's wall.

As if she knew someone was here or she heard my footsteps creaked closer, she sighs heavily. "Quicker is best." She commanded annoyingly. "Stupid girl," Under her breath, she whispered though she had no shame if the girl heard it or not, or if she was here to hear it.

Many exciting thoughts came to mind just knowing we were alone and she was left vulnerable at my hands. Maybe this confinement wasn't all that bad after all, or else I would've lost my chance to tug her wet hair back and drag her wet body out the tub onto the cold floor caught by the cool air. The fear in her eyes as I caught her off guard enlightened me and though I felt untouchable, her sharp nails dug into my bare hands and released my hold with a hiss. My skin folds beneath her nails.

Shūfēi Yiyi scrambled from me but because of her wet body, she slipped with each attempt to her feet and gave up. "W-who a-are you." Her teeth chattered, in search of something to cover her freezing body.

I have no means to keep my face covered as I want my face to be the last she sees and know.

Though not surprised by my face reveal, she still wasn't expecting my presence. Probably because she assumed I'd give up or I was too weak to go through with anything, but she doesn't know me that well. "Y-you," She breathed. "Guì-fēi Pearl. What can I say, I am at a disadvantage. Have you come to kill me at last?" Her tone almost patronizing, bored even. With her back against the wall, she hugged the thin cloth of her robe to her body. Tight around her exposed breast.

She flinched at the red curtain I tugged from the wall and threw at her. "Your son came to plead on your behalf, so as promised, I came to hear you plead."

"What have you done to my son?"

I shrugged. "Nothing...hopefully."

The red curtain brushing her leg came into view. "So what? You come to strangle me? With that?" Her chuckle poorly hid her worry when her real fear was news of her son's safety.

"You're going to hang yourself while I watch, but after you write a little note to make it more believable." I went over to a desk and found some paper and ink. She watches me gather her things and lay them at her hands, bending down to her level. "Maybe something along the lines as, 'While I took the time to repent my actions, I am filled with immense guilt and torment for murdering a precious heir of His Majesty, my Emperor. I can't think of my son without picturing the face of what could've been. I'm hunted by my actions that I can't face anymore.' And more or little but to the point."

"And if I don't?"

A darker look coven my eyes when my head tilted to face her. "Then I will strangle you myself and hang you, but there's no fun in that and frankly, I have somewhere to be later on." She's hesitant but relaxes her shoulders as she doesn't catch my bluff, so I cocked my head as if in thought. "Did I give Prince Son the right tea? I can't be sure as the thought isn't coming to mind, but hopefully, it's not too late seeing how only I have the antidote. And time sure runs out quickly."

She sparked at her son's name. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Perhaps...perhaps not. Write."

Her sharp eyes failed to seek my lie and took the paper in hand. The ink touches the sheet but she doesn't move her wrist to write out any of the characters. "I have no need to hurt your child, Guìfēi Pearl. It is no secret I don't like you, the woman who replaced my title after years, but it's nothing personal — I don't like everyone. That low maid was to keep track of you to protect myself and my son. And because I'm nosy." She stalled with intentions. "But — but you know who has more to gain? My bet is on her majesty's. After all, you are the first wife and your son would have had his benefits before the empress whose sole duty is to produce an heir to protect her country. But here, I'll write my note if it helps."

Pushing away her wet hair, she leaned over to write what's been told.

The thought did come to mind. Having been filled with my own thoughts, Empress Xiuying's involvement seemed most logical. After all, rumors of my child's safety emerged shortly after her arrival. Then she gives me her white-flag speech, yet she's competing me for Zian's attention a man she was bound to have. And she invited herself on my birthday, or Shūfēi Yiyi did, but her presence wasn't welcomed and she should've sensed it. She is now the Empress and has a duty to fulfill, and the only who stood in her way was me.

So yes, I am convinced Shūfēi Yiyi has been wrongfully framed though her gain out of my death has valid reasons too, but I don't care.

I want them all gone.

Every threat eradicated from my life so that I may live in peace.

With my silence dawning over her shoulders, Shūfēi Yiyi raised her gaze mid-way through writing — only a few characters written down before she slowed. "Will you not stop me?" She asked.

"No."

"I-I gave you intel and I clearly have no reason to partake in your death." Anxiously awaiting my command that I don't give, she hugged the robe tighter against her cold, wet body after placing down the pen. "Okay, okay. L-let's — " while standing cautiously to her feet with her hands held forward to pose no harm, " — let us remain calm and quietly converse our contentment. Let us...let us talk. After all, we are sisters. And it's c-cold."

"Can't you see I'm not here to chat with you? Don't come any closer."

She halted in her steps. And her nail marks began to sting.

Still fishing for another solution to wield herself out of death. "Plead? You wish to hear me plead, you said? I-I-I can do that," When down her knees, instead of staying put, Shūfēi Yiyi reached out her shaky hands and scattered along the floor until she found my feet and rest her forehead down. "Guìfēi Pearl, I plead for my life. Another chance for I have already confessed my sins to you — I am innocent. Please...please forgive me. Let me live to see my son, for my son, I wish to rest peacefully tonight and wake up to the sunrise. And dance happily until I am old and my death comes naturally."

Tears brimming her eyes, Shūfēi Yiyi lays down her pride to plead before me, but all I could do was laugh. Belly tight, throat full, jaw-aching, laughter. To the point I cried. This confuses Shūfēi Yiyi who has stopped crying and pulled away from my feet. But remained on her knees.

"Do you know what I've realized?"

A beat passed. "W-what?"

Despite pretending to care what I have to say for the sake of her life, I fall into her trap and bear myself out to her. Her head follows as I circled around her. "If I had become this way much earlier in life, I probably wouldn't have been in this predicament to begin with. It seems people listen to me, granted their respect when I become the villain they seek me as. A villain they created. But the truth is, I'm a sensitive woman. I have a sensitive heart and like being sensitive, but sensitivity doesn't work in this world. And no one tends to listen unless I play by their rules." The red curtain curls around my hand forming a fist, and I knew Shūfēi Yiyi could feel what's to come as the curtain brushes her ankles. Her chest visibly pumped with fear. "For what it is worth, at least your beauty will remain."

In this beating moment, she rushed to her feet and attempted for the door to outrun me. Her mouth opens, preparing her lungs for a loud scream for help or perhaps to call onto her attendant or the guard just outside her gates, before the rough  curtain fabric lugs around her slim neck and choked down any audible sounds.

The action forced her head to nestle my chest, not phased by her long, sharp nails ripping my skin, and down my neck, and at my face. But because I held away my face and pushed her to her stomach for better excess, she was unable to mark me anymore.

"H-h-hell," she gurgled, still fighting to live. "Hell will — will come for y — " tears burned down her cheek, "you! I'll hunt you...forever."

"I know."

I tightened my fist and leaned further back to quicken the job which felt like forever until her movements slowed, she stopped fighting, and her face pressed to the cool floor as her soul left her flesh.

Maybe there was something wrong with me?

I had taken my third kill yet I felt no regret for taking someone's soul against nature. There was no churn in my stomach, no sickness or discomfort to be found but only the numbness refusing to thaw, and deep red creases of pain from the curtains digging into my hands. And while she lies dead beneath me....

I wasn't satisfied.

A weight lifting my shoulders and one less problem to deal with, but not satisfaction.

Did I do the right thing?

Of course, I did. I'm not sure why I'm questioning myself when I've acted within reason. I shouldn't feel guilt for looking after myself and it's already too late to take back what I've done. There also wasn't any time for me to sit here and sort out my problems. I have somewhere to be and her attendant could check on Shūfēi Yiyi at anytime.

After standing to my feet, I finished making the scene look as if she had taken her own life and mimicked the rest of her unfinished letter. And like the night, I slipped away as if I was never there.

At my footsteps, Mo Lian Tan revealed himself from within the dark along the bushes. Dressed in his usual attire, he cocked his head. "You're late. What were you doing?" Taking in my attire, he asked.

Any emotions from before, fled out the window just being within his presence. "You know how hard it is to get rid of Yan Ran let alone Zhao Ji. That's why you are my best match for this mission." I told him. "You know your way around the city and within the forbidden city, my absence won't be suspected if not seen with my usual people, and you won't stop me from meeting GeiFei."

"Well, she is a woman I don't know, but from your story, who am I to stop you from justice? I love a vicious woman just as much as I love your kind heart."

"Kind?" I laughed.

"Maybe not with me, but you do have a very kind and loving heart. You'd do anything for your family and for the people you love even while they disappoint you in the end, you never fail to see the good in someone. And while I hate that about you I love it at the same time...and everything else." His shoulders brushed along mines while leading them through back ways to sneak out into the city. They stopped just behind a wall when a group of guards was passing by, and Mo Lian Tan looked to meet my gaze — he noticed the scratch marks along my neck but ignored it. "We could use this moment to run away together, you know? Be long gone before the world wakes up, where you can live the simple life you wish for in peace."

A smile formed to hide my frown. "I know." Was all I said.

Saying no more but a comforting silence, he peered around the wall and beckoned for me to keep up.

I have thought about it many times. To use this chance and get away from this wicked city for good and settled a life far north or west or wherever the sea takes me, but I could never leave my family behind in the care of Zian's. If he can't protect me, he surely won't extend the effort. Not to mention if there is any peace for me after I leave with Zian trying to reel me back.

After we successfully left the Forbidden City now mingled within the vibrant and cold city of Changqiu, I stuck close to Mo Lian Tan as he informed. But to also keep me warm while he guided me through the crowd and narrowed roads until a secluded building made itself visible — Clover Bar, read the windy sign above. An old man stumbled through the doors and around the corner puking out his guts with his shirt lifted around his fat tummy, complaining about the cool winds of snow and ice everywhere.

Mo Lian Tan blew into his cold hands. "Damn, it's so cold," still blowing with little success, "I can't wait to warm myself up with some delicious chicken soup. You would love some too for brutal weather as this."

"Actually," Tugging lightly on his arm to keep him from entering first, "I'd like to go in myself — alone...if that's okay? I feel bad to leave you out here in the cold, but I need to deal with her alone."

He gave me a look.

A look that supported my decision but wary my decision could be influenced by my hasty nature of being, well, hasty. But I assured him that I'd be alright and reminded him I could now protect myself. That I won't act out of fear, anger, or whatever.

"I would rather not freeze my ass out here, but I trust you. I have no reason but to trust you, But Peizhi," His body halted my steps from entering the bar as I did him. When I looked at him to see what he needed now, a chill scorns down my neck at his stern gaze beating me down. "Don't burden yourself. If there is a situation which you know you can't handle or get yourself out of, call me. This is my profession and my job is to protect you so you don't have to become the hero. Or the villain."

My gaze narrowed. "I know, I — I won't strain myself. I promise."

"And get the server to send me a warm bowl of chicken soup."

"I will."

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