Under the bright moon, shadows stretched long across the stone paths of the Sixth Prince's residence.
Guards rushed down the steps, hurrying for their lives. On their backs lay an unconscious man. Looking closer, his back was covered in harsh whip marks that had torn most of the skin off. If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, anyone would have thought he was already dead.
The guards moved quickly, fearing for their own necks. If this man died before reaching the physician, they would be executed.
The moon shone brightly, leaving sharp shadows wherever they passed.
---
Inside the outer courtyard, Prince Xie lay on a soft couch, staring up at the ceiling.
He hummed an unfamiliar tune, dressed in a loose light blue robe that made him look almost peaceful. Handsome. Idle.
In his hand, dangling loosely at his side, was a dark whip. Its thorns were still wet with blood.
All around him, maids kept their heads down as they cleaned the bloodstains from the floor. No one spoke. No one looked at the prince. They moved quickly, wanting to be anywhere else.
Xu Zhi, the prince's personal attendant, walked in with a scroll. He stepped completely unfazed over a still‑wet stain, as if this were all normal.
He bowed gently to the prince.
"Your Highness. Her Highness would like to invite you to the palace tomorrow."
Prince Xie's humming stopped. His face twisted into irritation.
"Tell Her Highness I am not attending any blind dates she has set up tomorrow." He waved his hand lazily. "If she has so much time, she might as well go to the temple with the Empress Dowager to read scriptures for my safety."
Then he resumed humming.
Xu Zhi sighed, bowed again, and retreated into the halls.
---
Midway through his journey, Xu Zhi happened to meet two figures walking under the candlelight. From the reflection, he recognized Prince Ren and Prince Yu. He greeted them. They nodded slightly and continued forward.
After turning a few more corridors, they entered the prince's outer chamber.
At the entrance, servants rushed out with copper basins of what looked like blood. Prince Ren's frown deepened. Prince Yu's expression remained guarded.
They walked forward and found their brother sprawled across the couch—still elegant, still unhurried. The whip was gone now, taken by the maids during the cleaning.
Prince Ren, dressed in light purple brocade, stepped closer. Prince Yu, in dark green, followed behind him.
"Brother," Prince Ren said with a frown. "I thought we agreed—no more killing."
"It's no big deal. He's still alive." Prince Xie didn't even look up. "It's not like I would have wanted to kill him. I still need information."
Prince Ren glanced at his brother, who spoke as if he had just stated a fact about the weather. He wanted to say something, but he knew this brother of his was not careless—just not burdened by conscience.
"Why did you call us here?" Prince Yu asked from the side, glancing at his third brother. No matter how many times they met, he couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable in his presence.
Prince Xie smiled.
Then he stood. His loose hair swayed in the wind. He made a "please" gesture, stepped forward, and led his two brothers to a pavilion open to the night air. They took their seats. Tea was poured.
"I heard that the General was called into the study today," Prince Yu said.
Prince Ren turned to his sixth brother. "Why are you looking at me? I didn't do anything." He raised his hands in surrender with a smirk, then slowly lowered them. "Though knowing him, he should be keeping an eye on that Young Master Shen right now."
Prince Yu frowned. "Father isn't foolish enough to act rashly. We need the Shen family on our side."
Prince Xie smirked. "You seem to underestimate that Young Master Shen."
Prince Yu's brow furrowed. "Don't you?"
Prince Xie laughed—like he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. Prince Yu's frown deepened.
Prince Xie tilted his head and drank the warm tea in one go.
"Just keep your eyes open."
He turned to Prince Ren.
"Did you find anything at the tea shop?"
Prince Ren nodded. He reached into his sleeve and pulled out an old scroll. "This is all they could find."
Prince Xie read through it lazily. His expression shifted slightly.
"Only two princes survived?"
Prince Ren nodded. "Yes. Currently, Dalishu has only two princes known to the public. His Majesty Qui Qian, the emperor. Then his brother, Chu Qian." He paused. "Rumors say he is on a military expedition. But this year, he will attend the celebration as an envoy."
He hesitated.
"However... his whereabouts have been unknown for some time."
Prince Xie's eyebrows rose in surprise. Even Prince Yu turned to him, eyes narrowing.
"Indeed," Prince Yu said. "That is an interesting situation."
Prince Xie placed his elbow on the table and leaned to the left lazily. His eyes moved to the moon.
Prince Yu frowned again. "Should we still proceed with the plan?"
Prince Xie shook his head slowly.
"Let's wait and see before acting."
Prince Ren nodded. Prince Yu wanted to say more, but he knew his brothers were right. He nodded reluctantly.
Prince Ren grabbed Prince Yu's arm. They both bowed to their brother, then Prince Ren pulled him out.
---
The pavilion fell silent.
Prince Xie sat alone in the quiet of his thoughts.
Qui Qian... Chu Qian...
He tasted the names as he spoke them. Yawned stood. Walked back into his inner chamber without looking back.
Outside, the moon watched. Somewhere in the dark, a servant's blood was still being scrubbed from the stones.