A Seat Among Wolves

Chapter 20: A Seat Among Wolves

The tension in the banquet hall had shifted.

The moment Ye Xian had taken that first sip of Imperial Spring Tea, she had proven something.

She wasn't afraid.

But now, the Emperor knew that too.

And that made her even more dangerous.

She set the cup down with slow precision, her fingers light against the porcelain. Across the room, the Emperor watched her, his expression unreadable.

Dressed in deep blue robes embroidered with silver, he sat at the highest seat—not gilded, not extravagant, but heavy with power.

The rest of the hall stirred back to life, voices rising once more. But Ye Xian knew the game had only just begun.

A Test Passed—But Not Forgotten

Bai Zhen leaned slightly toward her, his voice low. "You handled that well."

Ye Xian didn't glance at him. "I always do."

Across from them, Zhao Fengyun exhaled softly, resting his chin against his palm. "It seems our Physician Xie has made quite the impression."

Ye Xian flicked her gaze toward him. "Is that what you call it?"

Zhao Fengyun smirked. "I call it surviving. Which, in this court, is the same thing."

A soft chime rang through the hall, signaling the next course of the meal.

Servants moved swiftly, placing lacquered trays in front of each guest. Steamed fish, delicate lotus root, slow-simmered broth. Every dish was chosen carefully—not just for taste, but for meaning.

But Ye Xian wasn't interested in the food.

She was interested in who was watching her.

And at that moment, she felt it—a gaze heavier than the Emperor's.

From the far side of the hall, among the Imperial Court officials, a pair of dark eyes studied her.

Ye Xian exhaled softly. So. It had finally begun.

A Dangerous Invitation

She recognized him instantly.

Dressed in midnight-black robes lined with deep red, seated close to the military officials—General Han Yue.

The Iron Commander.

A man with enough power to rival even the Emperor's most trusted advisors.

His presence here meant only one thing.

The Imperial Army was now watching her too.

Slowly, deliberately, Han Yue lifted his cup.

A silent acknowledgment.

An invitation.

Ye Xian's fingers brushed the rim of her own cup, considering.

To respond meant to accept whatever conversation would come next.

To ignore meant to slight a man who had executed Shen Liwei's father.

A pause.

Then—she lifted her cup slightly, returning the gesture.

Han Yue's expression didn't change.

But Ye Xian had just taken another step deeper into the game.

A Name That Cuts Deep

The conversation around the hall continued, but now, Ye Xian could feel the weight of her silent exchange with Han Yue.

Zhao Fengyun noticed.

"Interesting," he murmured, watching the interaction with amusement. "Our dear Physician Xie seems to have caught the attention of the Iron Commander."

Bai Zhen frowned slightly, his usual mirth dimming. "That's not necessarily a good thing."

Ye Xian finally spoke. "No. It isn't."

Han Yue was a man who moved with purpose. He didn't waste gestures. If he had acknowledged her, it meant he had already decided she was worth noticing.

The question was—why?

Her fingers traced the rim of her cup, thoughtful.

And then—the Emperor spoke again.

"General Han Yue."

The quiet murmur of the banquet fell silent again.

Han Yue placed his cup down, his voice calm. "Your Majesty."

The Emperor's gaze flickered toward Ye Xian. "I hear you have been searching for a certain name."

Ye Xian's pulse slowed.

She kept her expression neutral. Waiting. Listening.

Han Yue exhaled softly. "Indeed."

A pause.

Then—he spoke the name himself.

"Lan Huai."

The Past Will Not Stay Buried

The name cut through the hall like a blade.

Ye Xian felt Zhao Fengyun's posture shift ever so slightly. Bai Zhen's fingers curled against the table.

Across the room, even Princess Zhao Ling tensed.

And Ye Xian—she remained perfectly still.

Because this was a new battlefield.

Han Yue continued, his voice steady. "It has been years since her death, but certain… unanswered questions remain."

His gaze flickered to Ye Xian, but only briefly.

The true target of his words was Zhao Fengyun.

Ye Xian inhaled slowly. So. That was it.

This wasn't about her.

Not yet.

This was about who had killed Shen Liwei's first love.

And Zhao Fengyun's name was already tangled in the answer.

The Smiling Demon did not blink.

He reached for his tea, lifting it gracefully before taking a slow sip.

Then—he smiled.

"If you are looking for ghosts, General Han Yue," he said lightly, "I suggest you search the graveyards, not the banquet hall."

A chuckle spread through the court. But the tension had not lifted.

Because everyone knew—

This question would not be forgotten.

The Warning Beneath the Surface

The banquet continued.

But the mood had shifted.

Han Yue had planted a seed, and soon, it would grow.

Ye Xian remained silent as the conversations resumed, but her thoughts were sharp, calculating.

Lan Huai.

Dead for years. The one woman Shen Liwei had sworn to protect—but failed.

And now, someone was dragging her name back into the light.

Zhao Fengyun had deflected the question. But for how long?

And more importantly—who else was waiting for the truth?

She exhaled softly, reaching for her tea.

The moment she touched the cup, her fingers stilled.

Something was off.

The surface was still warm. The scent the same.

But there—beneath the fragrance, something subtle.

A bitterness that should not be there.

Ye Xian slowly set the cup down, her pulse steady.

And then—she smiled.

So. Someone had finally made their first move.

End of Chapter 20