Panic settled in after Jin qing realized that Tian Xiang wasn't kidding. 

Why should she have thought otherwise? She didn't know, but the thought of Yu Qi and the two orphans being sentenced to death and executed when her plan specifically wanted those three to accompany her back to the Wei almost caused her to fall into despair. 

Jin qing stood there for a good while, staring at the closed doors as everything just processed through. 

What is she going to do now? She hadn't expected Tian Xiang to suddenly turn on her. It would have been foolish of her to not think of the possibility, but she had hoped that her contribution to her side of the deal would make him consider not doing that. 


Numbly, Jin qing walked back into her room, sat down, and immediately started planning. 

So the definition of 'in the enemy territory' is more real than ever. Guess I'm entirely on my own unless I somehow manage to gain some kind of outside support... but unfortunately, I have not talked to anyone in this palace other than the emperor and Qiang An. If only Qiang An isn't so fiercely loyal to Tian Xiang and his home country... it's worth giving him a try, but it'll be nothing short of a miracle if he does decide to comply and help me. 
It'll be slapping the name of 'traitor' onto his face... and I'd hate to even lie to someone so loyal like him and trick him to help me. 

Jin qing folded her hands and leaned against the table, closing her eyes and trying to calm herself. 

This wasn't the time to ponder over morals and what she shouldn't do to other people for personal gain... this was the time to do whatever it takes for her own self-interests. 

Tian Xiang can have them executed any time he wants. He knows I'll probably escape somehow anyway, so he'll want to execute them before I leave. How much does he underestimate- or overestimate me? 

If he underestimates me, he'll set the date later. If he overestimates me, he can have them executed tomorrow morning for all I know and proceed to rub it in my face. 

Somewhere in this week would be a good time... but how in the world am I supposed to prepare that quickly when I'm trapped in this room? Even if Qiang An miraculously decides to help me, how am I supposed to communicate with him? He's not usually stationed around here... I would usually be able to manage if it was just Gui Fei, but now even the emperor is against me. 

Jin qing couldn't help but slam her fist on the table, the sound louder than it really was in the silent room. She hated feeling helpless, she hated when her plans didn't go her way, but she hated someone betraying her even more. 

Standing to her feet, Jin qing broke off a thin piece of wood from the screen door, splintering it at one of the ends. She plans to gain an actual weapon for herself later, but it seems like she'll have to use something before then. 
Her room is surrounded by walls, but Jin qing wondered if she can somehow climb and sneak out while being dressed as a serving maid. She still had her outfit from the first day she was released when she visited Yu Qi, and she was beyond grateful that she still had it. All she needed to do was to wash and dry it before it was useable again. 

But what after?

In simplest terms, I'll just find where they are and get them out. But how am I supposed to do that without getting caught? 

Jin qing has no way of knowing where they are kept, and even she can't fight her way through so many people even if she had an actual weapon. 

The entire palace will no doubt be looking for me, and I won't have that long before someone realized I was gone and raised an alarm. 

If only Jin qing can become invisible and sneak around the palace- but she is but a mortal after all.


Something suddenly tore through the thin paper screen of the door she just broke and landed next to the candle stand- almost knocking it over and spilling the lit candles all over the floor. 

Thankfully, there weren't many candles on the stand in the first place, and Jin qing quickly stamped out the small fire. Once she was done, she looked around for the thing that has plummeted toward her in the first place. 

After some looking, she found a rock with a note tied to it. Her eyes followed the path that it might have taken, and was amused to find that it came from the east side of her room- the direction in which Qiang An would usually be stationed at. 

so many notes, so many notes...  what is up with people sending me notes these days?

Jin qing unfurled the paper and brushed away the slightly charred edges. On the note was a few simple sentences, but it made Jin qing smile. 

I think it was wrong for them to imprison Head Guard Yu Qi, Nian zhen, and little Wen. I don't know why they shut you in either. Tomorrow night. 

It made Jin qing guilty to read his second line, and couldn't get the thought out of her head on his reaction once he finds out who he is helping. 
Or maybe Qiang An isn't as loyal as I thought he would be? Or does he have some other motive? 

Jin qing patted her head, scolding herself mentally. 

Stop thinking so much! Not everyone has an ulterior motive- not everyone is a snake. there are people in this world of the living that you can trust... and he seems to be one of them. 

She assumed that Qiang An meant that he'll send another message to her tomorrow night. No matter how much he does, it would be impossible for him to organize everything without discussing something with her. 

But then again- he can't discuss anything with me. we can't just be throwing notes back and forth all the time- at most once or twice a day if we're lucky. I can probably try giving him suggestions and ideas, but he'll have to be the one carrying them out until the day we escape. 

It quickly dawned on her once again that she'll have to figure out something anyway and fast. It wouldn't hurt if she made a few more plans along the way, just in case something failed- never again would she want to be caught off guard again. 


A small smile spread across her face. 


Luckily for her, she has all day and all night to do it. 

<><><>

A man who is alright does not pace, but it was clear that Tian Xiang is not alright. 

He'd locked Wu Xin up, now what? She'll just escape somehow anyway, but the most he can do is just delay her as much as possible to give Sheng Feng the time to conquer the Wei and end the war. 

By that time, it would be far too late for the Xue Xian to do anything. All he needed to do was make sure that Sheng Feng didn't kill her when he comes back as he said he would. After all- the Xue Xian is known to be craftier than a fox, who knows if she was telling the truth about Gui Fei?

It did come as a reassurance that it seemed like she wasn't lying- after all, she wholeheartedly thought that he was going to let her go just like that. 

Tian Xiang laughed to himself,  complimenting himself on his victory- even though it was small. He felt guilty for lying, but it's what he needed to do for the better of his country. 

"Your majesty, why are you pacing?"

Tian Xiang stopped in his tracks and turned his head to the elderly woman who had been the backbone of today's actions. "Worried."

A thin smile spread on Gui Fei's lips. Even in her old age, her infamous youthful beauty was still evident in her features and the shine in her eyes never seemed to fade. "Why should you be?" She asked, tilting her head a little as she walked closer "Worried that Wu Xin might escape a little earlier than planned?"
She didn't need an answer. 
"Even if she did leave earlier, I think we would still have the upper hand over her."

"How?" Tian Xiang asked "Your son is on the verge of defeating the Wei once and for all. If she gets back, she'll jeopardize everything. The emperor of the Wei is useless without her, it's a miracle he's even held out for this long. As soon as she gets back, she'll simply fix everything. Even you have to admit that your son is no match for her in terms of strategy." 

Gu Fei let out a heavy sigh "I've hoped some sense would have been knocked into that boy even after all these years... but he can't be helped. But I'm not too worried. Where my son lacks patience, my step-daughter lacks humility-" she laughed "Though it would do good if my son lost a bit of pride, however, such a trait is good in a puppet."

"What do you mean?"

"You've said it yourself. The emperor of the Wei is useless without her, and how it's a miracle he's even held out for this long without her aid."

"I'm sure he has a good council that she undoubtedly helped pick, but I've already sent spies and assassins to deal with that."

"Yes... but as you've pointed out, she'll just patch up all the holes once she gets back..."

"So? How will we still have the upper hand?"

Gui Fei stopped right in front of Tian Xiang, her chin high in the air. "You're old enough to at least remember the list of people Wu Xin supposedly murdered, right?"

"Yes- though most of them weren't actually her. They were other assassins sent by you in her name to spread fear."

"Well, guess who was one person who was accidentally caught in the crossfire in one of the assassination attempts?" Gui fei asked "She's a part of the Wei Royal family," she hinted. 

"...The late empress."

"The mother of all five royal children of the Wei. No wonder the previous emperor never again took a wife... though it was said he did indulge in other women" she laughed "I'm sure the poor children still hold some grudges... I even heard from Huan Le they tried and look for Wu Xin A little while back. Little did they know! Little did they know she was in the court among them."

Tian Xiang turned his back on Gui Fei to roll his eyes a little. "Why would they look for someone who killed their mother? Even if it was to hire them. I think you're overestimating it."

"A child never forgets the day their parents die, and Wu Xin is the perfect example." Gui Fei answered "Who knows? Maybe the current emperor is so hell-bent on finding her so he can get his revenge later. But whatever it is..." she walked up to Tian Xiang and tugged on his arm so he had to look at her "I doubt they'll tolerate her if... heavens forbid... we tell the world who she is."

Rest in peace my updating schedule- 
school is starting soon, but don't worry: updates will still be coming (though inconsistent)