Qin Yuli's screams echoed faintly in the corridors of the prince's quarters, but Bai Shengli no longer paid them any mind. He had dragged her by the arm, unrelenting despite her cries, and thrown her into her pavilion like discarded trash.

"From now on, you will not take a single step out," he had ordered coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion. "And should you try, you will find the consequences far worse than what you've already suffered."

With that, he had left her there, ignoring the way she pounded on the locked doors, her pleas muffled by the thick wooden panels.

Now, he had more important matters to attend to.

The scent of tea filled the air as he ran his fingers along the rim of his untouched tea cup. This time, he wouldn't let himself drown in alcohol. If his rage had been wild and unrestrained earlier, it was now something far more dangerous—cold, calculating, and precise.

Qin Yuli's words echoed in his mind.

If she had lied, he would make sure she suffered for it. But if she had told the truth... If Shen Wei had truly been the one to orchestrate this, to ruin his chances of marrying Qin Yufei, then Bai Shengli would make him pay.

His fingers tightened around the cup before he placed it back down. Shen Wei, his shifu. His friend. The man he had once respected above his own father. The man who had guided him in the art of strategy, in the ways of the court, in the brutal truths of power.

And now, that same man had betrayed him.

For a woman, that wasn't even supposed to be his.

For his woman.

Bai Shengli exhaled sharply, his jaw clenching. He had seen the way Shen Wei looked at Qin Yufei during the festival. Silent, restrained, but filled with something dark and possessive. It had been subtle, nearly imperceptible, but Bai Shengli was no fool. He had spent years learning how to read people, how to see what they wished to hide.

He clearly wanted her. Yearned for her.

A slow smirk crept onto Bai Shengli's lips, though there was no warmth in it, only a shadow of something else. Shen Wei had moved against him, thinking he could manipulate the board in his favor.

Bai Shengli reached for his brush, dipping it into ink. His mind was already working, calculating every possible thing he could do. If Shen Wei had been playing a game, then Bai Shengli would show him what it meant to challenge him.

He began to write. His strokes were slow. If he wanted to bring Shen Wei down, he couldn't do it alone. He needed allies—people who despised the man as much as he did.

And the first name that came to mind was General Qin. Who could be better than him? He would for sure stain his hands for him.

Bai Shengli smirked slightly, the irony of the situation not lost on him. He had no liking for the man, nor did the general have any for him. Qin Yufei's father had always been an insufferable presence, a man whose pride and arrogance knew no bounds. But for once, they shared something in common: a hatred for Shen Wei.

He stole Qin Yufei from him. He humiliated her father, daring to step into the Qin Manor and take his daughter away. The general must still burn from that disgrace.

The brush glided across the paper as he carefully crafted his message.

General Qin,

There is a man who has wronged us both. Shen Wei. We now share more than marital ties, we share a common enemy. I believe that is enough reason for us to work together.

You still remember the shame of that day, do you not? When he walked into your home and took Qin Yufei as if she were already his? When he ignored your authority, as if you were nothing? The court has long whispered of your disgrace, of how a mere young instructor dared to challenge the great General Qin.

If you wish for retribution, I propose an alliance. I have my own grievances, and I believe we can help each other rid ourselves of this thorn in our sides.

Let us meet. I will be waiting.

His Highness the Crown Prince, Bai Shengli

As he finished, Bai Shengli leaned back in seat, examining his work. The general was a man who prided himself on his strength, on his reputation. The wound left by Shen Wei's actions would not have healed easily. If he still thirsted for vengeance, he would not refuse this offer.

Folding the letter neatly, Bai Shengli sealed it and called for his most trusted attendant.

"Deliver this to General Qin personally," he instructed, his voice firm. "And tell him it is a matter of great urgency."

The servant bowed deeply before hurrying away.

Bai Shengli exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping against the desk. Soon after, the doors of his study burst open without warning.

Bai Shengli's jaw clenched as his thoughts were interrupted. He barely turned his head, already irritated.

"I do not wish to see anyone right now," he said sharply, rubbing his temples. "Nor any time soon."

But the intruder did not stop.

The Crown Princess Jiang Mu stepped inside, her movements slow. Without hesitation, she closed the doors behind her, sealing them in together. Her presence was heavy, unwavering, and unlike Qin Yuli's fearful, desperate energy, Jiang Mu exuded something far more calculated.

Bai Shengli's irritation deepened.

"Are you deaf, Jiang Mu?" His tone was cutting. "I told you to leave."

Yet she didn't waver.

She walked toward him, her gaze steady—too steady. It unsettled him, though he refused to show it. What was she doing? She had never been one to seek him out like this, not without reason.

She finally stopped in front of his desk, sitting across from him as if they were equals. Her confidence was almost insulting. Bai Shengli's eyes narrowed.

Jiang Mu leaned forward slightly, her voice as smooth as silk.

"I heard about what happened with Qin Yuli."

Bai Shengli said nothing, but his fingers tapped against the desk, his patience running thin.

"I also know," Jiang Mu continued, a knowing glint in her eye, "that you want revenge."

He smirked coldly. "You think you know too much."

"I know enough," she corrected, tilting her head. "And I came to negotiate."

That caught his attention. Bai Shengli sat back in his seat, studying her more closely.

"Negotiate?"

Jiang Mu smiled—sharp, almost amused. "I can help you take Shen Wei down."

His eyes flickered with something dangerous. He did not trust easily, and certainly not when someone offered assistance so readily.

"And why," he drawled, "would you do that?"

Her smile did not falter. "Because I want something in return."

Bai Shengli's amusement faded. His gaze darkened, assessing her carefully. Jiang Mu was not someone to act without motive. She was clever, ruthless when needed, and most importantly—she never played a game she wasn't sure she could win. She for sure was like her father.

Leaning forward slightly, he rested his chin on his knuckles.

"And what, exactly, do you want?"

Jiang Mu's eyes gleamed as she whispered, "I want you to give me a child".

Bai Shengli's fingers drummed against the desk as he studied Jiang Mu with an unreadable expression.

A child?

Of all the things she could have asked for, this was the last he expected. His smirk faded, replaced by something colder.

"Explain yourself," he said, his voice laced with quiet suspicion.

Jiang Mu didn't hesitate. "Shen Wei is not just your enemy. He is mine as well." Her voice was steady, but beneath it lay something deeper—something personal. "Or have you forgotten the blood feud between my family and him?"

Bai Shengli remained silent, letting her continue.

"My father, the Prime Minister, hates him to the core. Years ago, Shen Wei destroyed my mother's entire family in a case that he personally handled." Her eyes darkened. "He executed them one by one—claimed it was for the sake of the empire, that they were traitors. It led my mother to take her own life. My father never forgot. And neither did I."

Still, he narrowed his eyes. "That does not explain why you need a child from me."

Jiang Mu smiled, but it was a smile laced with calculation. "Because vengeance is not enough. I need power." She leaned in slightly, her gaze unwavering. "A woman without status is nothing in court. But if I bear a son—your son—I will have a rightful place in the imperial family."

Bai Shengli let out a sharp laugh. "So you seek security?"

"I seek leverage."

There was no shame, no hesitation in her words. She was not pretending to be a lovesick woman, nor was she pleading for his favor. She was negotiating, offering him something in exchange for something she deemed of equal value.

"Think about it," Jiang Mu continued, her voice smooth as silk. "You need allies. My father, the Prime Minister, will support you fully if Shen Wei falls. And you know how valuable my father's power is." She tilted her head. "And I... will have my own path to power, through the child I bear."

Bai Shengli exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening around the armrest of his chair.

A child. A legitimate reason for Jiang Mu to hold influence. A way to solidify alliances. A guarantee that the Prime Minister would back him in his war against Shen Wei.

It was an offer that made sense.

And yet, something about it unsettled him.

He wasn't a man driven by emotions, but the idea of Jiang Mu using his bloodline as a tool for her own advancement stirred something bitter in him. She wanted to use him as much as he intended to use her.

But was that not how the court worked?

He exhaled sharply, closing his eyes for a brief second. Then, he smirked.

"You certainly know how to strike a deal, Jiang Mu."

She smiled, knowing he hadn't refused.

Jiang Mu stood up without another word. Her fingers reached for the silk sash around her waist, untying it with ease. The outer layer of her robe slid down her shoulders, pooling at her feet in a whisper of fabric.

Bai Shengli's breath grew heavier.

Even if she disgusted him, he would not refuse.

He could not refuse.

Jiang Mu's help, Jiang Zijing's help, was not something to turn down. The Prime Minister's influence in court was too great, and having him as an ally would only strengthen Bai Shengli's position.

Besides, this was inevitable.

Sooner or later, his father and the other ministers would demand an heir from him. If his alliance with Jiang Mu could ensure that he got what he wanted first, then so be it. He would not stop halfway.

If taking her meant securing his path to power, he would take her every day if needed.

His boots scraped against the wooden floor as he stood up.

Before Jiang Mu could react, he grabbed her by the waist and shoved her against his desk. A sharp gasp escaped her lips, but her expression remained composed, her gaze meeting his without fear.

Bai Shengli's fingers were already at the collar of her inner robe, yanking it down, baring more of her skin to the candlelight. He had no patience for tenderness, no desire for softness.

She wanted power.

He wanted revenge.

And tonight, they would seal their deal in the only way the imperial court understood—through plots and alliances, not through affection.

His hands trailed lower, his grip possessive, almost punishing.

"You better not regret this, Jiang Mu," he murmured against her ear, his voice dark.

Jiang Mu only smirked, tilting her head slightly. "You should worry about yourself, Your Highness."

The room was filled with nothing but the sound of their ragged breaths and the sharp rhythm of skin against skin. There were no whispers of pleasure, no sighs of satisfaction—only the raw, mechanical act of sealing their pact.

Neither of them spoke.

Neither of them needed to.

When it was over, Bai Shengli pulled away without a word, the heat of his breath still lingering in the air. He soon straightened his clothes. Jiang Mu did not linger either. She reached for her robe, dressing herself in silence, her movements as composed as ever.

Tying her sash, she finally broke the silence.

"I already arranged for my father to assign you a group of secret guards."

She smoothed the fabric of her sleeve, her voice even. "They are men trained in infiltration and assassination. They will be useful to you soon."

Bai Shengli glanced at her, his expression unreadable. He soon had a plan.

He turned away, pouring himself a cup of tea, though the taste no longer brought him comfort.

"I see," he murmured.

Jiang Mu watched him, eyes calculating. She wasn't foolish—she knew he was holding something back. But she also knew better than to pry.

Adjusting her hairpin, she finally stepped toward the door.

"I'll be waiting for the results, Your Highness,"

Bai Shengli exhaled, gripping the cup tightly.

His plan was already in motion.

Just as Jiang Mu reached for the door, Bai Shengli's voice, smooth yet edged with something ominous, stopped her.

"I am planning something," he said, swirling the cup of tea in his hand, though his eyes remained locked onto her. "Whatever happens, whatever people ask you—just go with the flow."

Jiang Mu turned slightly, studying him. She didn't ask for details. She knew better than to question a man like him when he was in this state—when he was grinning like that, his eyes dark and full of dangerous amusement.

She bowed her head in acknowledgment.

"Understood, Your Highness."

With that, she left.

The moment the doors shut behind her, Bai Shengli leaned back against his desk, tilting his head slightly as his grin widened.

Soon, Shen Wei would learn what it meant to crawl in the dirt. He would know what happens when someone thinks too highly of himself.

Bai Shengli took a slow sip of tea, savoring the bitterness on his tongue.

✤

Inside the quiet study of the Shen Manor, the soft notes of the zither filled the air. Shen Wei sat motionless, his sharp gaze fixed—not on the instrument, but on the delicate hands gliding over its strings.

A full day had passed.

And in that time, Qin Yufei had clearly practiced relentlessly.

Her fingertips trembled slightly, red and swollen from overuse, the thin skin on the verge of breaking. Yet, she played on, her posture straight, her breath steady—until the final note resonated into silence.

Shen Wei let the stillness stretch.

Then, at last, he shifted his gaze from her hands to her face.

A faint flush colored Qin Yufei's cheeks, her chest rising and falling with quiet pants. Whether it was exhaustion or the intensity of his stare, she did not know.

His lips barely moved as he spoke, his tone ever so measured.

"You've improved."

A simple statement, yet layered in meaning.

Her eyes lifted to meet his, surprise flickering through them. For a moment, she was unsure if she had imagined the praise. But then, a subtle curve touched her lips, her expression brightening ever so slightly.

Shen Wei noticed.

And though he remained unreadable, the corner of his mouth twitched—almost imperceptibly.

Qin Yufei wiped her damp palms against her sleeves, steadying her breath before lifting her chin slightly.

"You promised me a gift," she reminded, her voice soft but expectant.

Shen Wei arched a brow, amusement flickering in his dark eyes.

"The first time you've acted like a child," he mused, his voice laced with something almost teasing. "How unexpected."

Yufei pursed her lips, a hint of embarrassment flashing across her face, but she did not back down. She had practiced as he instructed, played until her fingers ached. She had earned it.

Shen Wei studied her for another breath before exhaling lightly.

"Fine."

He stood, his robes shifting as he moved toward the folding screen at the back of the study. Disappearing behind it for a moment, he returned with something large, wrapped carefully in silk.

Placing it on the table before her, he untied the cloth, revealing the polished wood beneath. The body of a zither crafted from deep ebony wood, smooth to the touch, its strings gleaming under the candlelight.

"You've improved," he said. "So naturally, you'll need something more fitting."

The delicate carvings along the sides intertwined like flowing poetry, and the inlaid abalone shells shimmered with iridescent hues, reflecting the sunlight filtering through the window. It was the most beautiful zither she had ever seen.

More beautiful than even Shen Wei's own.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she hovered over the instrument, afraid to touch something so exquisite. And then, as if drawn by an invisible force, her gaze snapped up to Shen Wei.

He was already watching her.

Not just watching—craving for all her reactions.

His dark eyes, always so composed and calculating, held something sharper, something intense. He had been waiting for this moment, unwilling to miss even the smallest flicker of emotion on her face.

Qin Yufei swallowed.

Her heart pounded, and for once, she did not know what to say.

She could not think about any word to utter, before they both heard noise coming from the garden. Following him closely outside, Qin Yufei gasped when she saw her father pointing his sword directly at Shen Wei.

"Shen Wei, how dare you!" he shouted, charging toward him.