Chapter 21. Rumours in the Hallways

The palace was an intricate maze of whispers—truths distorted, alliances forged in secrecy, and dangers that lurked behind even the most innocent of conversations.

Alina had always known this, but today, she was about to learn just how easily words could twist the image of a man.

She was walking through the eastern servants' quarters when she heard them.

Two attendants, standing near the doorway of the linen chambers, their hushed voices tinged with urgency.

"Did you hear?" one of them murmured. "About what happened to Minister Yuan's household?"

Alina stilled but kept her pace slow, careful to appear disinterested as she adjusted the basket in her hands.

"Of course. It was the prince, wasn't it?" the other woman whispered. "They say he ordered their entire household to be stripped of rank. Even the children."

Alina's stomach twisted.

"I heard worse," the first woman continued, lowering her voice. "I heard that Minister Yuan begged for his family's lives, but the prince didn't even flinch. They say he watched with cold eyes as the guards seized them."

Alina felt her fingers tighten against the woven handles of her basket.

"I always knew he was ruthless," the second servant muttered. "But to do that without hesitation…"

"Without mercy," the first added gravely.

Alina barely heard the rest. Her mind reeled, replaying the scene she had witnessed in the courtyard days ago—where Prince Sheen had issued his orders with an unshaken resolve.

Had she been wrong to question him that night? Had she only seen a glimpse of the man he truly was?

She thought of his words. You mistake power for cruelty, and mercy for weakness.

But what if it wasn't a mistake? What if he had merely been justifying himself?

A sudden sharp laugh from further down the corridor caught her attention. Another servant, an older man with a knowing look, joined the conversation.

"You two are too naive," he scoffed. "Minister Yuan was plotting with the Southern Faction to overthrow the court. If the prince had shown 'mercy,' we'd all be seeing a different emperor by next spring."

The two women fell silent, exchanging uneasy glances.

Alina's pulse quickened.

So, there was another side to the story after all.

But which was the truth? Was Prince Sheen a necessary force in a crumbling empire, or had power long eroded whatever humanity he once possessed?

She turned, walking away from the hushed voices and unanswered questions.

One thing was certain—

The more she learned about the prince, the less she understood.