Examination of the Emperor

Zhao Renshu was standing in the courtyard of the palace training ground just as dawn broke his face a mix of agony as he watched the royal guards sprint towards Emperor Zhao Mingze, speaking to him in his ear.

The Emperor's face grew hard. He stood up immediately and his eyes focused on Bai Xianyu.

"Bai Xianyu, LET US GO!"

Bai Xianyu followed the Emperor without the slightest hesitation into palace. Then they walked down long corridors until they reached a secured room guarded by finest fighting elite

A senior eunuch was kneeling inside, scared in real life.

"Our lord… We have tortured the manservant who attempted to poison Prince," the eunuch said with a shaky voice.

Emperor Zhao Mingze came. "And?"

"The Prince… was ordered by someone in the palace," said the eunuch, "he confessed it was all…"

The Emperor wrinkled his nose and said, "Who?"

The eunuch swallowed hard, "A concubine"

Bai Xianyu tensed immediately.

There were only a handful of concubines in this palace with enough clout to do something so obvious. If anyone outside dared to kill Zhao Renshu, it was a bigger sign than they could have imagined.

"what name is she called?" The Emperor said cold.

The eunuch leaned his head in as Yelling a whisper "Concubine Mei, My King"

The room went dead silent right away.

Bai Xianyu was not surprised...Concubine Mei was one of those women the alt above and politically important noble families always had. Her faux-naivete though surprised me, to be that much in your face and all.

Finally, Emperor Zhao Mingze said in a full-blown threatening voice. "Bring her to me. Now."

***

In the middle of the royal hall, Concubine Mei sat,in her face not one single blink of anxiety despite having been captured by guards.

"What does it mean, Your Majesty?" she prompted.

Emperor Zhao Mingze gazed expressionless at her. "You have my word, Concubine Mei. I told you about your servant who tried to poison my brother. What about you?

Concubine Mei kept smiling. "I don't know what you are talking about Your Majesty. I did not say any thing like that.

Bai Xianyu scowled at her. It was unlikely that someone who had just been accused of treason was calm as a grave, someone who had just been tortured by Khalid.

"But your servant has informed," The Emperor said blatantly.

Oh? She has proof that I ordered her? Or maybe someone else set her up? Gritting her teeth, Bai Xianyu did the courtesy of not playing dumb.

Emperor Zhao Mingze glided closer, his voice a whisper.

I don't forgive betrayals.

His hand rose in a moment, signaling for the guards.

**Oh, Concubine Mei, you will no longer be a part of your majestys' privet.

Concubine Mei's eyes widened. "Wait, Your Majesty…!"

She was ripped away before she could defend herself, by two guards.

Bai Xianyu sighed. Knowing that Concubine Mei had been removed, but the plot was far from over.

Its someone behind all this

And they were still targeting Zhao Renshu.

***

The next day, the tension at the palace thickened. And Zhao Mingze occupying his study his eyes sharp on the scrolls stacked all over table as he demanded answers from his deputy. His hands remained back to Bai Xianyu, standing opposite and silent. The ghosts of Concubine Mei stabbing Zhao Renshu kept reoccurring, since after that incident, there was never really any certainty for Zhao Renshu whether or not the threat against him had been eradicated.

"I still did not get you all?" it took the emperor some time before putting down the scroll. "What do you make of this?" Bai Xianyu sighed deeply and said "this danger is bigger than when a concubine tries to slip poison for Prince." Someone who would be so rash and mad to act on it this far suggests they have strong support behind

Zhao Mingze nodded, eyes narrowed. "Yeah I do. We need to figure out who the real mastermind is before they unfold the next phase.

Bai Xianyu paused briefly and then continued — "What if the threat is sourced inside of your own family?"

There was a pause during which no one spoke in the room. There was no immediate response from the Emperor, but there was something especially pondering in the look of his eyes.

And if so then our foe is nearer than we suppose.

***

The next day as Zhao Renshu scowled sour, Bai Xianyu stood before him with arms crossed.

"So you were Almost poisoned to death, now just standing staring out the fish pond as though someone lost a sandal?! ''Bai Xianyu" activated one facial muscle, her tone dark with sarcasm.

Zhao Renshu let out a long sigh. "What else can I do? My brother didn't even give me a chance to investigate. He just said, 'You should be more careful.' That's it."

Bai Xianyu sat beside him, watching him with an amused expression. "What were you expecting? That he'd send an entire army to guard you like a baby?"

"Not exactly," Zhao Renshu muttered, kicking a small pebble into the pond. "But I was hoping I could at least do something instead of just sitting here. I feel like a burden."

Bai Xianyu stifled a laugh. "That's right, You are a burden."

Zhao Renshu glared. "Hey!"

"What? It's a fact," said Bai Xianyu.

But before Zhao Renshu could respond, a eunuch ran toward them, his face filled with panic.

"Prince! His Majesty the Emperor summons you at once!"

"Huh? What is it this time?" Zhao Renshu muttered.

"I don't know, but we'd better go now to find out, rather than you standing here wondering with that short-sighted brain of yours," Bai Xianyu retorted.

Then they followed the eunuch, passing through the grand corridors of the palace. Every now and then, Zhao Renshu playfully teased Bai Xianyu as they walked together.

Bai Xianyu really wanted to knock Zhao Renshu on the head with a strong clenched fist, but she tried to restrain herself.