Accomplices

"Did you uncover any further revelations last night?"

Walking towards the north-western quadrant of the palace, Elder Jun and Yi Chang ambled through a grand gate, its colossal wooden double doors standing as silent sentinels. Keeping his gaze forward, Yi Chang responded to Elder Jun's query, "The assassin I dispatched returned with intriguing information. That handmaiden, Bai Lu, it appears she merely serves as a go-between and carries out typical servant duties."

Walking in stride with Yi Chang, Elder Jun shifted his gaze away, contemplating the implications. This was far from an ideal development, suggesting that a multitude of individuals could potentially be involved. It would have been far simpler if they were dealing with a solitary culprit.

Upon passing through an expansive moon gate, they entered an enchantingly quaint courtyard. Although smaller than the others, it had a meticulously manicured aesthetic appeal. At its heart stood a mid-sized edifice, encircled by a lush garden and a petite pond, on the banks of which resided a charming open pavilion. The plaque above the sliding entrance to the building read 'Scholar's Annex', marking the threshold to the first section.

They crossed the threshold, traversing the building's wooden staircase which led them to the second floor of the central section. Upon reaching the top, they were greeted by a panoramic view of the garden from a vantage point above. The sun's rays danced on the surface of the streams and statues, conjuring tranquil reflections. Settling on a commodious cushion, Yi Chang watched as Elder Jun mimicked his movements, positioning himself on the opposite side.

Yi Chang had sought out this serene sanctuary for contemplation, to ruminate on the convoluted situation involving his son, Yi Tian, and the clandestine spies within the palace. As the family's principal strategist, Elder Jun was an invaluable companion in unraveling the enigma.

...

A profound stillness lingered in the air, the scent of fresh earth pervading the atmosphere, darkness engendering a consuming void. Soon, a spark pierced the obscurity, a flickering beacon casting a glow over the subterranean passage. A figure garbed in ebony robes, hunched in the tunnel, clutched this torch in his hand.

His countenance remained hidden behind a mask, yet the piercing brown eyes bore through the veil. The granular earth underfoot whispered soft crunches, accompanying his cautious tread down the winding tunnel, his footsteps intertwined with the audible dance of the torch's flames. Soon, the tunnel expanded, transforming into a corridor of substantial breadth.

As he traversed the clandestine passageway, his head oscillated vigilantly, surveying the surroundings. A barely perceptible whisper brushed his ears, alerting him to the presence of another being. Thrusting the torch into the earth, the light succumbed to the overpowering darkness, and once again, obscurity assumed its reign. With a swift leap, he melded with the shadows cloaking the ceiling, becoming indistinguishable from the darkness.

Time elapsed, and eventually another figure passed beneath him, oblivious of his presence. Yet, he lingered, surveying for further movement. Once he was confident of solitude, he descended noiselessly to the ground. This masked individual was the assassin dispatched by Yi Chang, burdened with the task of unraveling the cryptic mission mentioned in the missive from Li Tingguang.

In the veil of yesternight, the assassin became one with the shadows, his gaze fixed on Yi Tian as he handed over the wooden tube to Bai Lu, the humble servant girl. Post this clandestine exchange, Bai Lu retreated to her quarters, nestled in the western wing of Yi Tian's opulent residence. The assassin lingered, shrouded in the shadows, his patience an unwavering sentinel. After several hours had lapsed, the maiden finally emerged, weaving her path through the intricate labyrinth of corridors, trailing westwards, until she found herself under the vast expanse of the open sky.

Bordering the courtyard, the mighty fortress walls stood tall, a battalion of guards pacing its lengths in vigilant patrols. The maid, however, effortlessly slipped into the lush greenery of the garden, eventually reaching the base of the looming fortification. From his concealed vantage point, the assassin's keen eyes observed the guard on patrol halt his march, attention diverted to Bai Lu, who deftly tossed the tube at him, which he caught with practiced ease.

Judging the unfolding scenario, the assassin concluded that pursuing the guard would be of greater merit than the handmaiden. Thus, his focus shifted, and he spent the remainder of the night trailing the unsuspecting sentinel who, at the break of dawn, retreated to the barracks. Upon his journey, he encountered another figure, a man familiar to the assassin - Captain Zou.