Minister of Finance

[ Third Person ]

Weicheng went out earlier than everyone. She was called by the Empress' right-hand-maid to enter the Magnolia hall.

Her sleepy eyes and hurried steps are mixed with anxiousness. Today is another day for the reassignment of the class. Since the Princess will probably join the search. This day will probably be set for the Empress' order to delimit the tax imposed and for the officials to clear their names by promoting their state of allegiance to the kingdom.

Anyone who will be proven working against the Kingdom and the whole kingdom will be removed. Their actions and words should be inviolable to just and fair employment status before the purge happens or they will all be submitted for prosecution.

This time, the officials and noblemen are walking on thin ice.

As she walked down the hall, she saw several officials and ministers entering the Palace by the Empress' command. The attendants led her to the wide part of the Palace where it was divided by the huge pond. They walked on a well-maintained oak bridge, with several ornaments tied around its railings. The first hall is the Longevity Hall, where the King resides. Its garden is filled with orchids and lavenders.

They just passed by through it as they reached the other side, where the Magnolia Hall is.

The attendants called her name, as the empress answered to let her in.

Weicheng has been expecting this since the arrival and announcement yesterday. Since she was subjected under Her Majesty before she left the capital, she knew that the Empress will surely use her for her advantage. She never knew that it should be this early.

When the hall opened, she was directed inside, this is the private residence of the Empress. And employing calling her here, it must clearly state their relationship.

[Weicheng's POV ]

"I would like to send my greetings to Her Majesty" I bowed as I saw her seated in the chair where she is sipping her tea. I smell citrus, it is probably lemon or orange tea. I shook my head to avoid my grimace.

But, I was dumbfounded to see Bai Ku Ji also sitting at the same table. I hid my worries as I realized he was part of the plan too. He must be a spy of the empress too. I was so glad that I did not back down before at the Shabby inn or he would spill out things against me.

She motioned for me to sit on the opposite chair. Her calm aura tells me something is about to happen. I waited for her to finish her tea as she put her glass carefully. Her eyes met mine.

"I was waiting for this day." She said "The Yun crest is in your hand now" she started as Bai Ku Ji's eyes went on me in confusion.

I was connecting her words until she smiled and looked at my classmate.

"I trust you in this. If you happen to exceed my expectations. I will forever be indebted to you and grant your wishes. Bai Ku Ji has been a strategist, he will give you all the instructions and you just need to execute it right away."

I don't know if this is a good thing or it will lead all to the sinkhole. I never even wanted to associate myself with their dark agenda, but I cannot stop here.

"Tell me your worries, Your Majesty, " I bowed. And she smiled a little as she put down the scroll.

I gently took it in front of me and looked at it. It was a list of all the ministers. Some of the names were crossed. Including Chancellor Ba, who has the biggest contribution in the Northern Kingdom. These were the officials I saw gathering behind the Kingdom. So they were oppositions?

I narrowed my eyes upon looking at it.

"I will give you 3 days to find out their motives. If they are working behind the North Kingdom." She gazed at me before she proudly said "Then, you can annihilate their whole household."

I crunched my hands under the table and almost suffocated myself. The empress and queen are cold-blooded sisters. I saw the empress still waiting for my response as I breathed and smiled slowly.

"I will do as you say, Your Majesty"

"The Yun crest will allow you to enter and leave the gates of the palace. I will send all my assassins with you. Look for the record books in their homes and hand them to me after three days. By the time you took each of their records. I will decide for the next action."

Bai Ku Ji and I stood up and bowed our heads to go leave the hall. As this to conclude the transaction.

My mind wandered as we were walking, remembering that the empress told us to quit our trainings to the department to avoid conflict. The Empress ordered us to join the 8 students who will lead the search so we can have leisure time doing our secret tasks.

"I never thought you were under Her Highness' command," I said in a low voice, still walking.

"My family lives in a rural area near the capital, we were indebted to the Empress as she took me in as her scholar. Our village has rooted for me. Since I was the only one who can learn. They all rooted for me to enter the academy, so at least one of our villagers can have a government position."

"So you'll be the first-ever?"

He just hums. I would like to understand his intention, but knowing the Empress and the Queen he probably would just be a pawn in their game. I won't let them infiltrate innocent people.

===

When the sunset and the night arrived our room was filled with laughter as Laohu tried telling stories about how he fell from the tree while trying to catch a slug in the woods. Of course with a little alteration since it happened at the Weiyou tribe.

We were engrossed at how animated Laohu tells the stories when I felt something strange crossing the hallway outside.

My eyes suddenly saw the shadow reflects on the side door, a signal from the assassins sent by the Empress. I tried to look for ways how to exit when Laohu held my arm and told me to tell stories too.

I looked at them waiting and sat again, I was about to start talking when the shadow stayed and was tempting to slash the side door. I immediately stood up before he could even create chaos. My roommates looked at me confused.

"What happened?" Eun Jo asked me and looked around.

"Ah!" I suddenly shouted to catch their attention. They're all smart, one movement, and all of my plans will fail. Their eyes are tangled with me watching my every move.

"I need to go to the restroom, my stomach aches. I'm having diarrhea" I said, holding my stomach as if in pain.

Laohu stood up too, and held my arms "Let's call Mu Lin?"

"no no! I'll just go to the bathroom" I pushed his hand and took my went on when Chou Xi took his cape by the front door and gave it to me before leaving. I refused it and thanked him as I left them all hanging with just a lantern in my hand.

I was being watched for the whole time I was inside the room. The empress is a tough one.

I was called by the assassins outside the palace gates when the guards saw me running. I gestured them to go out first and to avoid any guards and wait for my signal so we could go to the Ministers residence.

"Why are you here?"

When I saw them running away, I faced the guards who are only inches away from me. I can see how he gritted his teeth.

"I am asking you. Why are you here?" He's holding his sword handle, ready to strike if I utter the wrong word.

I was still in my casual attire so, naturally, he'll question my whereabouts, especially I'm on the open court. I took the crest and all of them bowed their courtesy as a sign of respect. I just passed by them and removed my outer robe.

From the clean robe, I was wearing the tight black robe inside for the mission tonight. After I put on a black veil and took my blood sword. Master Pu took the sword of Grandmaster Cui after he died. So I will be using my old blood sword. I fear that if I use a bow it'll lead to my identity being revealed right away.

I ran off to the bathroom area first and jumped on the other side of the walls.

I saw the ministers are starting their meeting already. According to Bai Ku Ji's calculations, the minister's will finish after an hour and a half. So we have plenty of time, rummaging their homes. He said that we start off with the 2 ministers and we can follow up on Chancellor Ba's by tomorrow.

======

[ Third Person ]

The kingdom succumbed to the dark and cold evening. While the students are done with their meals, they decided to leisure themselves.

At the Northern outskirts, Dan Weicheng and several men wearing black jumped from each household until they reached the mansion of the Minister of Finance. People in the North Market were closing their stalls and stores and starting to light their lanterns. The cold night swept in as the early winter is fast approaching.

Dan Weicheng with the assassins went on as they found a way to get through the mansion. The Minister of Finance has a 12-year-old son, his wife must be the one who exited at the Main Hall, wearing a satin robe.

Dan Weicheng held her hand up to stop them from taking an action. The assassins halted.

"I will go alone," she said, which gained disfavor from the assassins

"No, we can't let you go there, alone." Bai Ku Ji said in disapproval

She lowered her veil and whispered, "We cannot go there all, we'll be easily discovered once they noticed."

"The Minister's chamber is where he's keeping all the Finance-related matters. It is highly guarded now." he insisted

She's trying to calculate Ku Ji's reason and just agreed "Alright, we can go together" Ku Ji's face suddenly changed in a more pleasing manner as he led the way. Since he strategized this act, he knew where and how they can enter the hall.

Weicheng followed his lead until they were near the gates. Ku Ji stopped her and took something inside his robe. "Do not breathe"

He swayed his arms as he splashes a blue powder in front of the guards. A moment later, the guards were all unconscious as he smiled at her. Weicheng's eyes were shocked.

"What was that?" she asked, wheezing while trying to follow him inside.

"Just sleeping powder from our village," He said as they reached the inner court.

"Oh, so you're village has something that can be useful" Weicheng taunted

"Why are the kids at the capital think so highly of themselves?"

"Right" Weicheng answered, not wanting to say the word that will tell her she's also a country bumpkin. She just received a glaring from Ku Ji as she smiled behind her veil.

Several guards noticed them as they lashed out at them.

Weicheng dodged the first sword as she took her blood sword, she looked at it and smiled "long time no see"

She heard Ku Ji took his armor as Ku ji asked him where's her armor "I can't use it here" she shouted

Ku Ji dodges the two as he jumped and turn to attack, "You're also good with swords?" Ku ji's voice gushed over. Weicheng shook her head and continued.

"Remember the rules" Weicheng shouted in a deep and lowered voice not answering Ku Ji's question. The rule of the academy is to never kill anyone with your own sword and armor.

"I know," he dodged all the blows as they try to target their limbs and not their vital areas. When the guards were all unconscious, they entered the garden.

"What else can you do?" Ku Ji still not getting over the fact that Weicheng is also good with swordsmanship

"I just use the sword for cutting trees and herbs. My Uncle and cousin needed our help at the forest"

Ku Ji pushed her aside when they were attacked again with a new set of guards. They took their arms out again and run, but before they could reach them, one by one the guards started lying on the ground. Weicheng immediately roamed her eyes and looked around. She saw a red assassin with a golden face mask on his face. He was on the roof and jumped to the other side when he saw that Weicheng is looking at him. She was supposed to follow when Ku Ji shouted for her to come.

Ku Ji looked at the guards and check their pulse. He shook his head. They were all killed by a needle. "The needles were all thrown in the same exact positions. The vital part of the neck." She checked their eyes and mouth.

Weicheng took one of the needles and smelled the tip. Ku Ji sulking in the corner looking at the guards.

"These were needles from a sleeve arrow," Weicheng said. She practiced range weapons so much, she's familiar with them at first sight. She tried recognizing the smell. Curare. Curare only becomes active by direct wound contamination by a poison dart or arrow or by injection.

"They were poisoned" she said. She took the arm of Ku Ji so they could go inside "We're running out of time"

Ku Ji and Weicheng looked inside as the chamber is filled with a lot of books on the shelves. She even went to the drawers in the vanity. inside the bathroom when she heard Bai Ku Ji calling her. "Here it is!"

But their happiness was short-lived. They heard the guards outside has been awakened and are starting to rummage through the front door.

"Weicheng" he said one last time. But, before Weicheng could go to where he is. Her eyes fell to the paper she saw in a drawer.

"What- What is this?" She whispered under her breath, she took the paper and put it on her sleeves before he can see it.

Ku Ji took her arm and dragged her out of the room and jumped on the other side. Her mind is still in haywire as they reached where the other assassins were located.

"We were about to follow you inside," One of the assassins said

Ku Ji breathed as if tired and smiled, holding out the book.

"Here it is"

Weicheng forced a smiled as their task has been completed today. She held on to the paper inside her sleeve as they head back to meet the empress.

"Is this supposed to be surrendered or by keeping this it will help her in the process?" she thought while her hand is still on her sleeve.