The palace was no longer playing games.
Now—
it was watching carefully.
A Different Kind of Court
Li Xuan entered the hall as usual.
Relaxed.
Unbothered.
Unimportant.
But today—
someone new was present.
The Observer
Standing beside the Crown Prince—
a man Li Xuan had not seen before.
Calm.
Composed.
Eyes too sharp for a court official.
Introduced Without Warmth
"This is Advisor Chen," the Crown Prince said."He will be assisting with the investigation."
Li Xuan smiled faintly.
"Then I wish him luck. He'll need it."
But Advisor Chen Doesn't Smile
He only watches.
Carefully.
Quietly.
Like someone who already knows what he's looking for.
The First Question
"Your Highness," Chen said smoothly,"you often leave the palace at night."
Not an accusation.
Not yet.
Just a statement.
The Room Shifts
Small.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
Li Xuan Plays It Light
"I enjoy walking," he replied.
"At night?"
"It's quieter."
Too Calm
Chen tilted his head slightly.
"As is the southern district."
A pause.
Then—
"You were seen there recently."
A Direct Hit
Not guessed.
Not random.
Targeted.
But Li Xuan Doesn't Break
"I travel often," he said lazily."I don't keep records."
The Pressure Builds
"Of course," Chen replied.
"But it's interesting…"
A slight pause.
"…how often your movements align with certain incidents."
Silence Falls
The court didn't speak.
Didn't react.
But everyone was listening now.
The Crown Prince Watches
Not interrupting.
Not helping.
Just—
watching it unfold.
Li Xuan's Response
Slow.
Controlled.
Dangerous beneath the surface.
"Are you accusing me of something?"
Chen's Smile (Finally)
"Not yet."
That's WorseThe Game Becomes Real
"Just observing," Chen continued."For now."
Dismissed—But Not Cleared
The conversation moved on.
But the damage was done.
After Court
Li Xuan walked alone through the corridor.
No guards.
No expression.
But his thoughts—
sharp.
He Understands Now
"They've changed tactics," he murmured.
No more random traps.
No more guesses.
Now—
they were watching patterns.
A New Kind of Threat
Advisor Chen wasn't like the others.
He didn't rely on power.
He relied on precision.
Elsewhere… The Shadow Moves
From above—
Shen Lian had seen everything.
He had followed.
Watched.
Listened.
He Knows the Danger
"That man…" he murmured.
"…he sees too much."
Decision Without Hesitation
If Chen keeps investigating—
Li Xuan will be exposed.
Eventually.
So the Choice Is Simple
He has to interfere.
Night Falls Again
The palace quiets.
But the danger doesn't.
Chen Works Alone
Inside a private chamber—
scrolls spread across the table.
Records.
Movements.
Witness accounts.
Connections forming.
Too Close
"Fourth Prince…" Chen murmured softly.
"…you're not as careless as you pretend."
And Then—
A soft sound.
Jing.
The Lights Shift
The lantern flickers.
The air changes.
Shen Lian Appears
Not fully.
Not clearly.
Just—
a presence.
A shadow.
A warning.
Chen Freezes
Not out of fear.
Out of awareness.
The Message
A blade lands beside the table.
Clean.
Precise.
Close enough to kill.
But it doesn't.
A Warning, Not an Attack
Chen looks at it.
Then slowly—
looks up.
But No One Is There
Only the sound of bells fading.
Understanding Hits
"…So it's true," he said quietly.
End Scene
Across the city—
Shen Lian stood on a rooftop.
Still.
Silent.
Watching the palace.
"This is getting out of control," he murmured.
And for the first time—
his control wasn't perfect.