Amidst The Bodies.

A'fen's sobs rang in Yi Cheng's ears as he walked out of her room. He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms, to whisper words of solace, to tell her that the horror was over, that she was safe in his embrace. But he knew she would shrink from his touch, as she had from the physician touch, from any man's touch, except her father's.

The only thing Yi Cheng could do for her now was to seek justice, to find the one who had ordered the attack, the one who had sent those brutes. He crossed the courtyard, where the imperial guards scoured every nook and cranny for any lingering foes. His own guard trailed behind him, his face stern and vigilant. They reached the spot where the bodies of A'Fen's assailants lay, covered with cloths.

The two imperial guards who stood beside the corpses bowed their heads as Yi Cheng approached, and one of them spoke. "Your Highness, these men had nothing on them. No marks, no sigils. Nothing to reveal who they were or who sent them," he said,

Yi Cheng nodded grimly. He had expected as much. The men who had ambushed his uncle had also masked their loyalties, and if these three were of their ilk, then they would have done the same. But Yi Cheng would not rest until he had the truth of their treachery. He gestured for the imperial guard to uncover the first body.

The guard pulled back the blood-drenched cloth, revealing the lifeless face of a man whose eyes were wide open, staring at nothing. "We found him deeper in the grove," the guard said. "He is the one Miss Liu's maid stabbed."

Yi Cheng looked at the silver hairpin that jutted from the man's neck, it was a thing of beauty, but now it had served a different purpose: a weapon of last resort. Xiao Mei had used it well, driving it into the man's jugular with all her might.

The guard lifted the cloth from the next body, revealing a slit throat. "This one was killed by the eunuch," he said.

Yi Cheng knelt beside the corpse, studying the thin red line that marked the fatal wound. It was almost invisible, a testament to the eunuch's skill and speed with his blade. Who was this mysterious eunuch, this shadowy figure who had saved A'Fen's life? Yi Cheng felt a surge of curiosity and gratitude. He had to find him.

The imperial guard had a hint of amusement on his face as he lifted the cloth that covered the third corpse. "This one also met his end by the eunuch's blade." he said, pointing at the dead man's bloody crotch, where his manhood had been cut off. A pitiful and ignoble death.

Yi Cheng felt a surge of disgust, but also a flicker of recognition. He had seen that face before, not long ago. He turned to his personal guard, who stood beside him with a grim expression. "Is this not the man we saw speaking with A'Xue's maid in the corridor?" he asked, his voice low and incredulous.

The guard stepped closer, his eyes narrowing on the man's face. He sounded equally stunned as he confirmed. "Yes, Your Highness, it is him."