Chapter 24: An Eye for an Eye

The night breeze carried a chill, and the rear courtyard of the marquis' estate lay in eerie silence, broken only by the faint flicker of candlelight casting jagged shadows on the ground.

Su Mingli stood calmly under the corridor, idly twirling the stolen secret documents in her hand. Her gaze was icy, sharp enough to cut through steel.

"Speak," Xiao Jingxuan said coolly, his sword still pressed against the intruder's throat. "Who sent you?"

The black-clad figure trembled, sweat dripping down his forehead. After a tense silence, he gritted his teeth. "I… was ordered by the Crown Prince."

Su Mingli's eyes darkened at the admission, though a faint, icy smile curled her lips.

Xiao Jingxuan snorted and withdrew his sword, his tone mocking. "Your master sent you to steal these documents, yet you walked straight into our trap. It seems he failed to mention this was a game you couldn't win."

The intruder stiffened, his head snapping up in shock.

Su Mingli took a step forward, her fingers brushing the sealed edge of the documents. "Did you truly believe it mere coincidence that you found these so easily? How naïve."

The man's face paled. "You… planned this from the start?"

"Exactly," Su Mingli cut him off coldly. "You thought yourselves the hunters? No. We laid the snare, and you blindly walked into it."

The intruder's breath hitched, his robes soaked with sweat. He realized now—he had not come to fulfill a mission, but to die.

"Take him away," Xiao Jingxuan ordered dismissively. Shadow guards materialized, sealing the man's acupoints and dragging him into the darkness.

Once the courtyard emptied, Su Mingli let out a soft sigh. "It seems the Crown Prince is… disappointingly predictable."

Xiao Jingxuan arched a brow, amused. "Your candor about His Highness is refreshing."

"Truth often is," she replied lightly.

"But consider this," Xiao Jingxuan said, his tone turning serious. "By sending spies, the Crown Prince has marked you as a threat. You may have won this round, but he will not relent."

Su Mingli's eyes glinted. "Good. Neither will I."

Xiao Jingxuan studied her composed smile, struck anew by her cunning. This woman was far more dangerous—and intriguing—than he'd first assumed.

"What will you do?" he asked.

She met his gaze, her voice soft yet razor-edged. "An eye for an eye."

Eastern Palace, Dawn

Crown Prince Xiao Chengyu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression stormy.

"Missing?" he repeated coldly.

The shadow guard kneeling before him kept his head bowed, voice trembling. "The agent sent to the marquis' estate never returned last night. It's likely… Su Mingli captured him."

Xiao Chengyu's jaw tightened, then he let out a derisive laugh. "So she has teeth after all."

He had dismissed her as a mere nuisance, yet she had outmaneuvered his schemes.

"Your Highness, shall we… retaliate?" the guard ventured cautiously.

Xiao Chengyu's eyes narrowed. "If she wants a war, I'll oblige."

His fingers drummed slowly on the desk, plans crystallizing in his mind.

"Send word," he snapped coldly. "Turn the marquis' household into chaos."

Dingguo Marquis' Estate, Morning

The next day, Su Mingli stepped out of her chamber to a cacophony of panicked voices.

She frowned, following the noise to the front courtyard, where several stewards knelt before the Marquess' wife, their faces pale with fear.

"Madam, disaster! Twenty thousand taels are missing from the treasury!"

The Marquess' wife turned ashen. "What?"

"The funds were meant for medicinal supplies, but the ledger discrepancies were discovered this morning—" the head steward stammered, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Useless!" The Marquess' wife slammed a hand on the table, glaring at the trembling head steward. "You oversee the accounts! Explain this!"

"I swear, Madam, I stole nothing!" The steward kowtowed desperately. "The silver was intact last night—it vanished without a trace!"

Tension crackled in the air as servants exchanged uneasy glances.

Su Mingli's eyes narrowed. This was no accident—it was a strike aimed at her.

Her gaze swept the room until she noticed Su Wanrou standing not far away, a faint, calculated smile playing on her lips.

So this is the Crown Prince's countermove, Su Mingli mused, cold amusement rising within her. He thinks such petty tricks can bind me?

She stepped forward, her voice calm yet piercing. "Madam, since the silver was present last night, perhaps we should investigate who accessed the treasury recently."

The steward blinked, then hurriedly replied, "A warehouse servant entered yesterday evening…"

Su Mingli smiled. "Bring him here."

Within the hour, the servant confessed under pressure.

"It—it was the Second Young Lady's order!" he wailed, prostrating himself on the floor.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Second Young Lady Su Wanrou?

Su Mingli turned to her stepsister, her smile serene. Su Wanrou's face drained of color. "Lies! How dare you slander me?!"

"Oh?" Su Mingli murmured, stepping closer. "Did you not visit the treasury yesterday, dear sister?"

Su Wanrou recoiled. "Y-You have no proof!"

"Proof?" Su Mingli tilted her head, her tone sweetly venomous. "Shall we compare the ledger entries with your recent… expenditures?"

Su Wanrou froze, panic flashing in her eyes as whispers of suspicion swirled around her.

The Marquess' wife's face darkened with rage.

Su Mingli observed the scene, satisfaction curling her lips.

This game, too, was hers to win.