THE VEILED GENERAL

The Northern Banquet

The imperial court had never been so quiet.

Not even during executions.

Not even during war councils.

The silence inside the Hall of Golden Harmony was different.

Every official was watching the woman standing beneath the imperial throne.

Han Liyue did not kneel.

She stood straight in her black-and-white military robes, one hand resting near the sword at her waist.

Across from her sat Emperor Zhao Li.

His golden robes shimmered beneath the candlelight, the five-clawed dragon embroidered across his chest appearing almost alive.

He looked calm.

Almost bored.

But Shuishui, standing among the imperial concubines at the edge of the hall, noticed his fingers tapping once against the armrest.

Only once.

Then they stopped.

"General Han," Zhao Li said, "your father is a prisoner of Zhao."

Liyue's expression didn't change.

"My father is a commander of Beiyuan."

"He was captured while fighting against Zhao."

"And yet he disappeared from your prison."

A murmur passed through the court.

Zhao Li's eyes narrowed.

"Choose your words carefully."

Liyue bowed slightly.

"I am choosing them carefully."

Someone behind Shuishui whispered,

"She's reckless."

Another whispered,

"She's suicidal."

Shuishui almost smiled.

She liked her.

Perhaps because Liyue spoke to emperors the same way Shuishui spoke to annoying servants.

Without fear.

Zhao Li leaned back.

"You have come into my palace and accused my officials of treason."

"No."

Liyue's gaze remained steady.

"I came here because I don't know who betrayed my father."

The hall fell silent again.

That answer seemed to surprise everyone.

Liyue continued.

"If Zhao soldiers helped him escape, then I want to know why."

"If someone inside Zhao wanted him dead, I want to know why."

"If my own kingdom is involved, I want to know why."

Her voice softened.

"But I will not accuse anyone without proof."

Yin, standing beside the imperial throne, looked at her with quiet approval.

Shuishui noticed.

So did Xiwu.

Xiwu's fingers tightened around her fan.

She had spent the entire morning hearing about Prince Yin speaking privately with the Northern delegation.

She hadn't liked it.

Not even slightly.

The emperor eventually dismissed the court.

But he did not dismiss Liyue.

Instead, he ordered a private banquet.

For some reason, Shuishui was invited.

She couldn't understand why.

She almost refused.

Then Zhen'er reminded her that refusing an imperial invitation was generally considered a terrible idea.

So Shuishui went.

She wore a pale green hanfu embroidered with white plum blossoms.

Her hair was gathered high with a silver hairpin, leaving two soft strands framing her face.

She entered the banquet hall quietly.

Yin was already there.

He was seated beside Wei Jun.

Wei Jun immediately noticed her.

He raised his cup.

"Lady Kang."

Shuishui bowed.

"Marquis Wei."

"Come sit here."

Yin looked at him.

"That's my seat."

Wei Jun looked completely innocent.

"Then sit somewhere else."

"I was sitting there."

"And now I'm sitting there."

Yin stared at him.

"You are impossible."

"Thank you."

Shuishui laughed.

She sat opposite them.

Liyue entered a moment later.

She had changed out of her military coat.

Now she wore a dark crimson robe with silver embroidery.

She looked uncomfortable.

She glanced around the luxurious hall.

"I hate banquets."

Wei Jun smiled.

"Finally, someone sensible."

Liyue looked at him.

"Who are you?"

"Marquis Wei Jun."

"Ah."

"What?"

"I've heard you're annoying."

Wei Jun looked delighted.

"From whom?"

"Everyone."

Yin nearly choked on his tea.

Shuishui covered her smile with her sleeve.

Wei Jun pointed accusingly at Yin.

"You've been telling people things."

"I didn't need to."

Liyue sat down.

"He's right."

Wei Jun looked betrayed.

"This is bullying."

Dinner began.

For the first time in several days, there were no military maps on the table.

No bloodied soldiers.

No reports.

No discussions about missing documents.

Only food.

Roasted duck glazed with honey.

Steamed fish.

Lotus-root soup.

Cold noodles with sesame sauce.

Peaches preserved in syrup.

And dozens of small dishes Shuishui couldn't name.

She reached for a dumpling.

Yin quietly moved the plate closer to her.

She looked at him.

"Thank you."

"You were staring at them."

"I was deciding."

"You were staring."

"That's different."

He smiled.

Across the table, Liyue watched them.

Then looked at Wei Jun.

"Are they always like this?"

"Unfortunately."

Yin frowned.

"Stop answering questions nobody asked you."

Wei Jun laughed.

Liyue smiled.

Even Shuishui noticed how naturally Yin relaxed around them.

He wasn't the prince who stood coldly beside the emperor.

He wasn't the man everyone whispered about.

He was simply Yin.

A man surrounded by people who knew him before titles became chains.

After dinner, the emperor ordered music.

A group of dancers entered.

The hall filled with the sound of bells.

Shuishui watched quietly.

She had always loved music.

When she was younger, Kang Wei's household had rarely been peaceful enough for it.

The memory made something ache inside her.

She pushed it away.

Not tonight.

Tonight she wanted to enjoy herself.

A servant came around carrying cups of wine.

He offered one to Shuishui.

She reached for it.

Yin suddenly took the cup from his hand.

"She doesn't drink."

Shuishui blinked.

"I can drink."

"You dislike wine."

"I dislike strong wine."

"This is strong wine."

She looked at the cup.

Then at him.

"You remembered?"

Yin shrugged.

"I remember things."

Something about those words made her chest tighten.

She looked away.

"Thank you."

He placed the cup aside and replaced it with tea.

Xiwu watched the entire exchange.

Her expression became colder.

Chuntao leaned toward her.

"Don't."

Xiwu whispered,

"Don't what?"

"Make this into something it isn't."

Xiwu looked at her.

"You don't understand."

Chuntao's eyes lowered.

"I understand more than you think."

Xiwu studied her friend.

There was sadness in Chuntao's face.

For some reason, Xiwu didn't ask why.

Later, Shuishui left the banquet hall.

The night air was cold.

She walked into the garden alone.

Lanterns still hung from the trees from the previous festival.

Most had gone dark.

Only a few remained glowing softly.

She sat beside the pond.

The water reflected the moon.

"Escaping?"

She didn't turn.

"How long have you been following me?"

Yin sat beside her.

"I wasn't following you."

"You appeared suspiciously quickly."

"I was looking for you."

"That's worse."

He smiled.

For a while, they simply watched the water.

Then Yin said quietly,

"You seemed happy tonight."

"I was."

"Good."

She looked at him.

"Why?"

He shrugged.

"Because you deserve to be."

The words were simple.

But they stayed with her.

Shuishui looked down.

"You say strange things."

"I've been told."

"You know..."

She hesitated.

"What?"

"People think we're involved."

Yin's expression remained calm.

"I know."

"Doesn't it bother you?"

"No."

She looked at him.

"Why?"

He turned toward her.

"Because I know the truth."

"And what's the truth?"

He smiled faintly.

"That you're my friend."

Something inside her fell strangely quiet.

She smiled.

"Good."

Then a voice interrupted them.

"Your Highness!"

A servant ran toward them.

Yin stood immediately.

"What happened?"

The servant bowed.

"The emperor requests you return to the banquet."

"Why?"

"The Northern envoy has received a message."

Liyue was waiting nearby.

Her face was pale.

Yin's expression changed.

"What message?"

The servant looked at Liyue.

"It concerns General Han."

They returned to the banquet hall.

The atmosphere had completely changed.

The musicians had stopped.

The dancers were gone.

Emperor Zhao Li sat rigidly on his throne.

Beside him stood a Northern messenger.

Liyue approached.

"What happened?"

The messenger bowed.

"A message arrived from Beiyuan."

"From whom?"

The messenger looked toward the emperor.

"King Zeng."

Liyue's face tightened.

"What does it say?"

The messenger handed her a sealed letter.

She broke it.

Read it.

Her eyes moved across the page.

Then stopped.

Yin stepped closer.

"Liyue?"

She didn't answer.

He took one look at her face.

"What?"

She handed him the letter.

Yin read it.

His expression slowly hardened.

Shuishui watched from several steps away.

She couldn't see the words.

But she could see Yin's hand tighten around the paper.

"What happened?" she asked.

He looked at her.

For a moment, he didn't answer.

Then he said quietly,

"General Han has been officially declared missing by Beiyuan."

Shuishui frowned.

"But we know he's here."

"No."

Yin's gaze moved toward the Northern messenger.

"They don't."

Silence.

Liyue stepped forward.

"My brother ordered every Northern unit to stop searching for him."

Yin looked at her.

"Why?"

She shook her head.

"He didn't explain."

"And you trust that?"

"No."

Her voice broke slightly.

She immediately looked away.

It was the first c***k Shuishui had seen in her confidence.

Liyue had spent the entire day standing like a blade.

Now she looked like a daughter who had suddenly been told that her father might never come home.

Shuishui walked toward her.

"General."

Liyue looked at her.

Shuishui didn't know what to say.

So she didn't offer empty comfort.

She simply took Liyue's hand.

Liyue stared at their joined hands.

Her eyes became wet.

She quickly blinked.

"Thank you."

Shuishui nodded.

"You're welcome."

Across the hall, Yin watched them.

Something softened in his expression.

Then—

A sound came from outside.

Three sharp bells.

Everyone froze.

A palace guard rushed inside.

"Your Majesty!"

Zhao Li stood.

"What?"

"The eastern gate has been breached."

The emperor's face changed.

"How?"

"We don't know."

"Who entered?"

The guard swallowed.

"No one."

"Then how was it breached?"

The guard looked terrified.

"The gate was opened from inside."

Silence.

Again.

Someone inside.

But this time, no one was laughing.

Yin's eyes moved across the banquet hall.

Every official.

Every servant.

Every guard.

Every noble.

Everyone suddenly looked suspicious.

And Shuishui realized something that frightened her more than any battlefield.

The danger wasn't somewhere beyond the palace walls.

It was already inside them.

Then, from the far end of the hall, a servant screamed.

Everyone turned.

A man had collapsed beside the musicians.

Blood stained the front of his robe.

Liyue immediately drew her sword.

Yin moved in front of Shuishui without thinking.

The hall erupted into chaos.

Servants fled.

Guards shouted.

Tables overturned.

Someone extinguished half the candles.

And in the darkness—

Shuishui heard a voice whisper directly beside her ear.

"Don't trust anyone."

She spun around.

Nobody was there.

Only the lanterns.

The overturned tables.

The terrified crowd.

And the body lying motionless beneath the golden palace lights.