Chapter 18: Another Wave Begins
1137 Words
"I swear on my life—every word is true! Not a shred of falsehood!" The man knelt trembling on the floor, his voice quivering with fear. He looked like he’d just stared death in the face.
Qin Lan leaned on the chair for support, her gaze fixed coldly on him.
"But... you say Zuo Yanxi is a monster," she said slowly. "Forgive me, but that's hard to believe. It sounds more like an excuse for failing your mission."
"Your Majesty, I beg you! She really did slaughter my brothers!" the man cried, voice nearly breaking. "I saw it with my own eyes—she killed them all!"
A man like him—seasoned, cold-blooded, clearly not new to bloodshed—shaking like a leaf. That didn’t come from nothing. He wasn’t lying. She believed him. Why wouldn’t she? If fate had brought her to encounter Bai Li, it wasn’t impossible for her to cross paths with another demon.
But… to deal with a demon, she could no longer rely on human tactics.
If only Bai Li were still here…
"She’s vicious, Your Majesty!" the man continued. "Every strike was fatal—my whole crew, gone…"
"Stand up," Qin Lan said, brow furrowed in thought. Vicious woman… Zuo Yanxi… vicious…
Maybe… that was exactly what she needed.
"Where did she go?"
"I'm not sure," he replied, still shaken. "But from the direction she went, it looked like she was headed toward the Xiaozhou mountain passes."
Qin Lan rose from her seat and studied the man carefully.
"Your Majesty?"
"You martial types understand control of force, yes?" she asked abruptly.
"Yes… of course, but why—"
"Hit me."
"...Your Majesty?" He blinked, confused.
"Don’t kill me. But hit me hard enough that I’m bedridden for a month," she said, expression deadly serious.
"Why would you—"
"My father has already been stripped of power by the Emperor. I’m next. It’s only a matter of time. And now that Consort Chen is pregnant… I doubt I’ll have any standing left in the harem."
"You mean… His Majesty intends to depose you?"
Qin Lan let out a bitter laugh. "He’s been planning to for some time—just never found the right moment. Even if he doesn't officially depose me, I’ll be little more than a puppet queen."
"Then why not take care of Consort Chen—"
"No." Qin Lan cut him off. "It’s not the right time. First, I have to survive."
"But—"
"Enough questions," she said sharply. "If I’m injured now, His Majesty will have no choice but to delay any move against me. Even if he tries, the court would never support sending a gravely injured empress to the Cold Palace. While I recover… I’ll deal with Consort Chen myself."
Standing tall, she pointed to her ribcage. "They say cracked ribs take a long time to heal."
The man paused, then nodded solemnly. He centered his breath, focused on her abdomen—and struck.
Qin Lan staggered back several steps, pain exploding through her side. She clutched her ribs, biting down hard to keep from screaming. A beat later, blood surged up her throat and spilled from her lips.
"Perfect," she said, smiling through clenched teeth.
"Your Majesty!" The man rushed forward to help her, but she waved him off. She lowered herself onto the wooden chair, cold sweat pouring from her brow as she gritted her teeth against the pain.
"Now… go. Get out of here. Make sure no one sees you."
"Yes, right away!" He turned to leave, but she called out again.
"Wait."
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Tell my father… the Emperor will ambush him on the road home. He must be careful. Ride to Dongzhu… tell His Majesty—"
"Your father and you have both served Dongzhu faithfully. His Majesty will not leave him to die," the man said firmly, then vanished out the window.
Inside the room, Qin Lan was too weak to speak. But she was smiling—a cold, bitter smile. Gathering her breath, she let out a blood-curdling scream:
"Help—!"
"Your Majesty?! What happened?!"
Several handmaids burst through the door.
"Your Majesty!!!"
"She’s bleeding—"
"Get the royal physician—hurry!"
"She’s passed out!"
"...Zuo… Yanxi…" Qin Lan murmured faintly as she collapsed.
"Your Majesty!"
Meanwhile, in the Prince’s manor, Tu Long entered Lin Yizhi’s study with several guards in tow.
"My lord."
"Have you found the Princess?"
Tu Long’s expression darkened. "We tracked her all the way to a forested mountain path. We found an empty carriage… and the corpses of her guards and assassins."
"And the Princess? Shanyi?" Lin Yizhi asked urgently.
Tu Long shook his head. "No trace of either."
A deep frown etched itself into Lin Yizhi’s brow. He hadn’t expected Qin Lan to strike so quickly. One wave of assassins down, and already another appeared.
"My lord, there’s something strange about those bodies," Tu Long added. "Some bore no visible wounds, but their organs were crushed. Others had shattered meridians and were bleeding from every orifice."
Lin Yizhi raised a brow. He turned sharply to face Tu Long.
Could it have been her…?
Guilt twisted in his chest.
He had failed to protect her. And now her hands were stained with blood because of it…
"Give the guards a proper burial," he said at last. "Burn the assassins’ corpses."
Tu Long hesitated. Why did this feel like the Prince was covering up for the killer?
But Lin Yizhi’s voice was firm. "Just do as I say."
"...Yes, my lord."
News of the Empress’s injuries spread through the capital by morning, quickly reaching the Prince’s manor as well.
But Lin Yizhi was too preoccupied with Zuo Yanxi’s disappearance to care.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
"My lord," Pu Di stepped in. "The Empress has requested your presence at the palace."
Lin Yizhi sighed. The last thing he wanted now was a palace visit—but she was Empress, and he, her subject.
"Fetch a hundred-year-old ginseng root. You’re coming with me."
"Understood."
Lin Ran had thought this was another of Qin Lan’s little ploys. But when he saw her, he realized—this time, it was real.
The Empress had dismissed all attendants. Pale as paper, she stared at Lin Yizhi in silence. He glanced at Pu Di, who nodded and quietly exited, leaving them alone in the vast chamber.
"I admit it," Qin Lan said suddenly. Her voice was faint, but clear.
"I admit I was jealous of her."
Lin Yizhi turned to her, surprised.
"I envied her for being by your side. I envied that she captured the Emperor’s attention. I envied that you all protected her, loved her..." Her smile twisted with pain and bitterness.
"So I tried again, and again…"
- Writer
