CHAPTER 25: The Emperor's shadow
905 Words
The storm did not stop all night.
Snow battered the imperial hunting camp endlessly while soldiers doubled security around every royal tent after the assassination attempt.
Torches burned across the mountains like scattered stars beneath darkness.
Yet despite the increased protection—
unease still spread through the camp heavily.
Because everyone understood one thing now.
The assassins did not come merely to cause chaos.
They came with a purpose.
And that purpose remained unfinished.
Inside her tent, Shen Yue sat beside dim lantern light quietly analyzing everything again.
The hidden assassin.
The military crossbows.
The imperial guard boots.
Every detail pointed toward something deeply troubling.
Someone within the Emperor’s own forces helped organize the attack.
But the question remained—
did the Emperor know?
Or was someone moving behind his back?
Her fingers tapped softly against the table.
Then slowly—
another thought emerged.
What if both possibilities were true?
What if certain people within the imperial court understood the Emperor’s fear of Chu Wenzhe…
and acted accordingly without needing direct orders?
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
The maid nearby looked nervous.
“Fourth Miss… should we sleep?”
Shen Yue almost smiled faintly.
Sleep?
Inside a hunting camp filled with hidden killers?
Unlikely.
Suddenly—
voices sounded outside the tent.
Then a guard announced respectfully:
“Fourth Miss Shen, His Highness the Crown Prince requests your presence.”
Interesting.
Shen Yue immediately became alert.
At this hour?
The maid looked frightened instantly.
“Fourth Miss…”
Shen Yue stood calmly.
“It’s fine.”
Though internally—
she knew nothing about tonight was fine anymore.
Outside, cold wind swept violently through the camp as imperial guards escorted her toward the Crown Prince’s tent.
The deeper she entered the royal section—
the tighter security became.
Clearly Xu Yan expected further danger tonight.
When she finally entered the tent—
warmth and soft incense greeted her immediately.
Xu Yan sat beside a chessboard beneath lantern light, dressed in dark robes with his long black hair partially loose around his shoulders.
Less formal than usual.
Yet somehow—
more dangerous.
The Crown Prince looked up calmly.
“You came.”
Shen Yue bowed slightly.
“Your Highness summoned this subject.”
Xu Yan gestured toward the opposite seat.
“Sit.”
Simple command.
Impossible to refuse.
Shen Yue sat carefully across from him.
Between them—
a black-and-white chessboard remained halfway through a game.
Interesting.
Xu Yan placed another chess piece calmly.
“Do you play?”
Shen Yue glanced toward the board briefly.
“A little.”
Xu Yan smiled faintly.
“You’re lying.”
Direct.
Unexpected.
Shen Yue looked at him calmly.
“Your Highness seems unusually certain.”
Xu Yan’s fingers rested lightly against a black chess piece.
“The way you observed the battlefield earlier…”
His gaze sharpened slightly.
“You think several moves ahead naturally.”
A pause.
“That kind of person understands chess.”
Interesting observation.
Very observant man.
Xu Yan suddenly leaned back slightly.
“Tell me honestly.”
His voice softened.
“Do you suspect the Emperor?”
Silence.
The storm outside roared violently against the tent walls.
Shen Yue’s heartbeat remained steady.
Dangerous question.
Perhaps the most dangerous question asked so far.
Because answering incorrectly could mean death.
Xu Yan watched her carefully.
Waiting.
Testing.
Always testing.
Finally—
Shen Yue answered carefully.
“This subject suspects fear.”
Xu Yan’s eyes narrowed faintly.
Interesting answer.
She continued softly:
“Fear makes powerful people dangerous.”
Neither confirming nor denying.
Smart.
Very smart.
Xu Yan almost smiled again.
Then suddenly—
he moved a chess piece across the board calmly.
“Check.”
Shen Yue lowered her eyes toward the board.
Interesting.
The position resembled political warfare itself.
Black pieces cornering white slowly.
Pressure from every direction.
Xu Yan studied her expression quietly.
Then softly—
“My father fears Chu Wenzhe.”
Direct now.
No more pretending.
Shen Yue remained silent.
Xu Yan continued calmly:
“The ministers fear him.”
“The military worships him.”
“The people admire him.”
His fingers tapped lightly against the chessboard.
“So tell me…”
His gaze lifted toward her slowly.
“How long before fear turns into execution?”
The atmosphere inside the tent became suffocating.
Because the Crown Prince was no longer speaking hypothetically.
He was predicting the future.
Shen Yue finally understood something important tonight.
Xu Yan did not merely observe the conflict between the Emperor and Chu Wenzhe.
He anticipated it completely.
Perhaps even prepared for it already.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Then suddenly—
before she could answer—
a loud commotion erupted outside.
Guards shouted sharply.
Steel clashed.
Xu Yan stood instantly.
The next moment—
the tent curtain burst open violently.
A bloodied imperial guard stumbled inside.
“Your Highness!”
The soldier collapsed heavily to one knee.
“Lord Valin’s camp is under attack!”
Instant silence.
Then—
Xu Yan’s expression turned ice cold.
Not surprised.
Furious.
Shen Yue immediately stood too.
Another assassination attempt.
So soon?
The guard continued breathlessly:
“Several soldiers inside the camp turned against Lord Valin suddenly—”
Internal betrayal again.
Xu Yan grabbed his sword immediately.
“Move.”
Outside—
the storm howled like madness across the hunting grounds.
And somewhere within the snowy darkness—
someone was trying very hard to kill the Lord of Valin before dawn arrived.
- Writer
