Chapter 16; The Fight

Suyuan, with hair pulled tightly back and sharp eyes that glinted with determination, hurled her needles at Ming Huan with precise accuracy. But Ming Huan, agile and quick on his feet, skillfully dodged each one with practiced ease. As Ming Huan moved closer towards Suyuan, his resolve unwavering, the dancers - intruders in this deadly game of skill and strategy - scrambled frantically out of his path. In the midst of the tension and chaos, Mei Xiang lay motionless, her still form a stark contrast to the frenetic energy that crackled in the air. It was at this moment that Ming Yuan considered revealing her true identity, but he hesitated, deciding against it due to the current predicament.

Ming Yuan, leaped into the fray, his movements quick and calculated as he joined the fight alongside him. Suyuan fought with a grace and precision that seemed almost supernatural, her attacks flowing seamlessly from one to the next like the swift current of an overflowing river. She wielded her zither like a weapon, strumming destructive waves of energy that surged towards their adversaries.

The princes, aware of the ferocity of her assault, dodged and weaved frantically to avoid the deadly onslaught. But evading Suyuan's relentless attacks proved to be a futile effort, as each strike seemed to find its mark with unerring accuracy.

Ming Huan drew his sword with a smooth, fluid motion. The silver blade gleamed in the dim light, its sharp edge catching the light as he held it with a calm, composed demeanor. He knew that true strength didn't always need to be flaunted loudly; sometimes, it could be felt in the quiet, poised moments just before action was taken. Ming Yuan, understanding his cousin's unspoken command, tossed Guāngmáng - a weapon of considerable skill and precision - to Ming Huan without hesitation. As Ming Huan gripped the hilt of Guāngmáng, a sense of purpose and determination settled over him. With a silent nod to Ming Yuan, he braced himself for the impending clash. Ming Huan brought the edges of the two swords together, creating a sharp, piercing sound that seemed to reverberate through the air. The cacophony of metal against metal appeared to nullify the destructive waves of energy emanating from Suyuan's zither, momentarily disrupting her assault.

Seizing the opportunity presented to him, Suyuan swiftly launched a projectile in Ming Huan's direction before redirecting her onslaught towards Ming Yuan with relentless determination. The sudden shift in tactics caught Ming Huan off guard, but he remained composed, his instincts sharp as he deftly dodged the incoming attack.

"Interesting," Ming Huan remarked coolly, his gaze fixed on Suyuan as he studied her weapon with a keen eye. As Ming Huan muttered the words

"Killing string" under his breath, a chill ran down his spine. The weapon in Suyuan's hands was one of the most lethal ever created - a thin, razor-sharp strand with a deadly edge. It was finer than a spider's web, yet possessed a cutting power greater than that of a sword or saber. This feared weapon could slice through anything in its path, effortlessly cleaving even the hardest of metals with precision and ease. In a split-second movement, the killing string grazed dangerously close to Ming Huan's neck, neatly slicing through a few strands of his curly hair that had strayed too close. He was fortunate to have narrowly escaped the deadly embrace of the weapon.

Ming Huan, with a quick and decisive moment, dashed towards the nearby food table and grabbed a bottle of plum wine. With a swift motion, he hurled the wine into the air, the sweet scent engulfing the room as it formed a faint outline around the lethal string. The aromatic haze provided Ming Huan with a crucial advantage, allowing him to track the path of the web-like weapon as it sliced through the air towards him. As the killing string closed in, Ming Huan's senses heightened, guided by the scent of the plum wine that lingered in the air. With a calculated maneuver, he evaded the lethal strand by a hair's breadth, his movements precise and controlled. Taking a cue from his cousin's quick thinking, Ming Yuan emulated Ming Huan's actions and used the metal objects within reach to create a cacophony of noise. The clanging and reverberations filled the room. Her attacks switched between the two at a streamless and inconsistent pace. Ming Yuan was quick and agile, dodging the incoming string with a graceful bend, his eyes focused and alert as he gathered the scattered needles with his spiritual energy with a swift movement of his hand. With a flick of his wrist, he shot the needles back at his opponent. Meanwhile, his opponent was a masterful musician, her fingers moving effortlessly across the strings of her instrument. She paused briefly as Ming Yuan's needles flew towards her, using her fan to deflect the attack with ease before resuming her melody without missing a beat. Ming Huan flipped through the air, landing on his hands with impressive agility just in time to narrowly avoid the sudden attack from the string that threatened to snatch his hair. The look of determination on his face only intensified as he and his opponent locked eyes, each one anticipating the other's moves with uncanny precision. In a synchronized moment, both Ming Huan and his opponent channeled their spiritual energy into the surrounding grapes and berries, transforming them into powerful projectiles that hurled towards her. As they advanced towards her, their swift pace and calculated movements disrupted her playing, forcing her to block and dodge the barrage of attacks with all of her skill and focus.

With their hands outstretched, Ming Yuan and Ming Huan were on the brink of capturing their elusive opponent when she suddenly flicked a three-pointed spear towards the emperor. In a split-second decision, Ming Yuan dispersed his internal force to halt the spear's progress, while Ming Huan swiftly flicked it back towards her. There was a sharp cry as the spear found its mark, but in the momentary distraction, their opponent vanished, leaving them bewildered.

As the others in the hall began to regain their senses as Ming Huan ignited a sensory talisman. Soft murmurs filled the room as the bewilderment settled with the events that unfolded, with eunuchs rushing to assist the emperor, empress, and their royal family in the aftermath of the sudden attack.

Ming Yuan and Ming Huan stood vigilant, their minds racing with thoughts and suspicions as they processed the unprecedented turn of events. The empress was barely affected as she remained remarkably composed, her calm demeanor in the face of danger striking Ming Yuan and Ming Huan as unusual. As they processed the recent events, each of them lost in their own thoughts, they couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the situation than met the eye.

On the rooftop, Suyuan winced in pain as she touched her wound, glancing around cautiously before disappearing in a flash of movement. Unbeknownst to her, a shadow followed closely behind, silently tracking her every move in the stillness of the night.

In the stillness residence, Ming Han was recovering rapidly thanks to the potent herbs that Wei Dan had procured from the black market. The quiet hum of activity surrounded Ming Han as he lay down resting, his body slowly healing from the injuries sustained in the recent skirmish and previous wounds. A flashback of Suyuan's impressive display of skill and strength played out in Ming Yuan's mind, a knowing smirk forming on his lips.

"Intriguing," he murmured to himself. "I want to know everything about that woman." "Yes, master," came the obedient response, setting the wheels in motion for further investigation.

Meanwhile, in the tranquil and opulent atmosphere of the Autumn residence, Liguan sat in her chambers, diligently embroidering as her thoughts drifted back to the recent assassination attempt. The memory of Ming Huan's remarkable prowess in the face of danger lingered in her mind.

"Your Highness, here are the medicines," YiangYiang said as she placed the tray carefully on the table.

"Oh, don't tell me you're thinking of His Highness Ming Huan," she teased, a playful glint in her eye as she saw her dazed expression.

"Stop it," she rebuked, her cheeks flushing slightly at the mention of him. YiangYiang admired the delicate embroidery her mistress was working on, the image of two lover birds entwined in a dance of affection.

"Whoa, so beautiful," she remarked, impressed by the skill and artistry on display.