Chapter Seventeen: The Festival of Fire and Fate

The festival, once a symbol of unity and cultural pride in Chang'an, had descended into chaos. Amidst the swirling colors and jubilant sounds, panic and confusion reigned. Yuanyuan stood on the dais, her figure a calm amidst the storm, as she witnessed the unraveling of the day's joy into a night of turmoil.

Liang An, with a warrior's instincts, stood protectively beside her, his eyes scanning the crowd for signs of the instigators. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, a silent vow to defend the empire and its queen at all costs.

In the crowd, Jianyu and his contingent of loyal guards moved swiftly, their trained eyes focused on apprehending Xiang, the orchestrator of the chaos. The master strategist's shadowy figure weaved through the panicked masses, his plan to incite rebellion against the throne unfolding with every shout and clash.