The Meeting of Kings and Shadows

Chapter 25: The Meeting of Kings and Shadows

The sun had barely risen when the summons came.

Ye Xian had been expecting it.

Dressed in cool gray robes with embroidered silver accents, she made her way toward the Hall of Heavenly Strategy, where the Imperial Meeting would take place.

Zhao Fengyun and Bai Zhen walked beside her, their presence familiar but not comforting.

Not when she knew that by the time this meeting ended, someone would make a move against her.

And she would have to decide—to strike back or to disappear before it was too late.

The Assembly of Power

The Hall of Heavenly Strategy was vast, its ceilings adorned with intricate constellations painted in deep blue and silver.

A long table stretched through its center, and already, the most powerful figures in Jianghu and the Imperial Court had gathered.

Ye Xian's gaze moved swiftly over them.

General Han Yue, dressed in crimson robes. His expression unreadable. Princess Zhao Ling, seated near the Emperor, her presence quiet but undeniable. The Grand Chancellor, a man known for his political maneuvering. And at the head of the table—the Emperor himself.

He was dressed in midnight blue, his presence heavy even in silence.

The moment she stepped forward, his gaze flickered toward her.

For a heartbeat, she felt the weight of a ruler who had already made up his mind about something.

She just didn't know what.

Yet.

The Game Begins

Zhao Fengyun took his seat first, stretching lazily. "Well, let's hope this doesn't take all day."

Bai Zhen sat beside him, exhaling. "Something tells me it will."

Ye Xian remained still, her hands folded lightly on the table. Calm. Watching.

The Emperor finally spoke.

"As all of you know," he said, "Jianghu has become… unpredictable."

His gaze moved across the room.

"The sects are divided. The Imperial Court faces new enemies. And in the shadows, there are those who seek to overturn the balance of power."

Ye Xian said nothing.

Because she knew exactly who he was referring to.

The Shadow Empress.

The Emperor leaned back slightly. "So tell me, esteemed guests—what must be done?"

A silence.

Then—Han Yue spoke first.

The General's Answer

"We must prepare for war," Han Yue said. His voice was calm. Certain.

A ripple of tension moved through the hall.

Zhao Fengyun raised a brow. "War? Against whom, exactly?"

Han Yue's gaze didn't waver. "Against those who threaten the empire from the shadows."

Ye Xian exhaled slowly.

This was dangerous.

Because if Han Yue wanted war against the unseen enemy, it meant he was already preparing for battle.

And if he was preparing for battle—it meant he already had a target.

She just didn't know if it was the Shadow Empress… or her.

The Emperor's Decision

The Emperor's fingers tapped lightly against the table.

"A bold suggestion," he murmured.

Han Yue placed a hand over his heart lightly. "It is necessary, Your Majesty."

A pause.

Then—the Emperor's gaze shifted.

"Physician Xie."

Ye Xian lowered her gaze slightly in acknowledgment. "Your Majesty."

The Emperor studied her for a long moment.

"Tell me," he said, "what do you think Jianghu's greatest threat is?"

The hall fell silent.

This was a test.

And Ye Xian could not afford the wrong answer.

She inhaled lightly. Then, smoothly—

"The greatest threat," she said, "is what remains unseen."

A pause.

Then—she lifted her gaze slightly, meeting the Emperor's eyes.

"Enemies are not always those who fight in open battle, Your Majesty," she continued. "Sometimes, the most dangerous ones are those who move without ever being noticed."

A flicker of something unreadable passed through the Emperor's expression.

Then—he smiled faintly.

"A wise answer," he murmured.

Ye Xian exhaled slowly.

She had passed.

But she had also revealed something.

Because now—Han Yue was looking at her differently.

As if she had just confirmed a suspicion he already had.

And that meant her time was running out.

The Unspoken Message

As the meeting ended, guests rose from their seats, murmuring amongst themselves.

Ye Xian turned to leave—

But a presence stopped her.

Zhao Fengyun.

He leaned in slightly, his voice quiet. "That was a dangerous answer."

Ye Xian tilted her head. "Was it?"

Zhao Fengyun chuckled. "Oh, don't pretend you didn't know exactly what you were doing."

A pause.

Then—his gaze flickered.

"Be careful, Ye Xian," he murmured.

Then—he was gone.

Ye Xian exhaled lightly.

The game had just changed.

And she had no choice but to change with it.

End of Chapter 25