Chapter 9 : The Mask Falls

Chapter 9: The Mask Falls

It started with whispers.

As always.

At first, there was harmless chatter in the corridors. Then quiet murmurs beneath silk fans in the court gardens. Soon, the noise became loud enough that even the palace walls could not contain it.

> "Lady Mei Lian is not who she claims to be."

> "An assassin hidden among us."

> "How else could she survive such attacks unscathed?"

The rumors spread like wildfire, fueled by an unseen hand, deliberate and orchestrated.

And everyone knew whose hand that was.

**The Empress.**

Mei Lian sat alone in her chambers, her reflection staring back at her in the polished bronze mirror. The crimson silk robe she wore felt heavier than ever, as if it carried the weight of every whisper and every doubt.

Her maid rushed in, flustered and pale.

"Miss Mei… there are… posters."

Mei Lian's breath hitched. "Posters?"

The girl hesitated, terrified. "Accusations. Public ones. Posted across the city gates. They say… they say you are not noble. That you were once… a killer."

A chill spread through Mei Lian's veins.

The Empress hadn't just planted whispers.

She had thrown open the gates.

By mid-morning, the entire court was buzzing.

A public scandal was no longer whispered in secret corners; it was now a wildfire burning in plain sight.

The Council was summoned. Ministers filled the grand chamber, their faces stiff with anticipation. Every eye shifted between Prince Rui and Mei Lian.

Lady Jin stood near the front, hands folded delicately, her face showing perfect sympathy.

"My heart aches for poor Lady Mei," she murmured to those around her. "To be so misunderstood."

Mei Lian entered the chamber with deliberate calm, but inside, her chest burned.

Today was not a battle fought with blades.

Today was far deadlier.

It was a battle for reputation.

At the head of the hall sat the Empress herself, her expression neutral, hands resting elegantly on the lacquered table.

She spoke first, her voice soft but heavy.

"This council was called to address a grave concern about the character and history of Lady Mei Lian, who now stands closely tied to the royal household."

The words were careful—not yet an accusation. But the noose was tightening.

A minister stepped forward, bowing. "Your Majesty, it troubles us greatly that alarming claims circulate beyond these palace walls. The people are restless. They demand clarity."

Another minister added, "If Lady Mei Lian indeed has a… questionable past, it threatens not only the royal image but the stability of the Empire."

The Empress turned her gaze toward Mei Lian. "My lady, you may speak."

Mei Lian stepped forward.

Every eye was on her—hungry for blood.

She spoke, her voice steady. "Your Majesty. Honored ministers. I will not deny that my survival in the face of recent attacks was unusual for a noble lady."

A murmur swept through the room.

"But that is because my life has never been ordinary."

Another pause. She let the words sink in.

"I was born into nobility, yes—but after my mother's death, I was cast aside, abandoned to dangerous hands. For years, I lived under the control of men who trained me not as a lady, but as a weapon."

Her voice never wavered.

"I was used. Molded into something monstrous. But I escaped that life."

The court held its collective breath.

"I came to this palace seeking only peace, safety, and redemption. Not to climb power, not to deceive, but to survive."

Whispers erupted among the rows of ministers. Some were sympathetic; others were skeptical.

The Empress spoke, her tone sharp now. "And yet, my lady, you failed to disclose these... inconvenient truths to the Crown. You've lived in deception."

Mei Lian met her gaze directly.

"Because I knew I would not be judged for who I am, but for what I was forced to become."

The Empress's eyes narrowed.

Lady Jin stepped forward then, bowing with feigned grace.

"Your Majesty, we do not question Lady Mei's suffering. But how can we be sure she has truly shed those dangerous skills? The position beside the prince carries influence. Influence that could be exploited."

The bait was clear.

Question her loyalty. Paint her as a lurking threat.

Prince Rui's voice cut through the air like a blade.

"You will not question her loyalty again."

All heads turned.

He stepped forward, taking Mei Lian's hand in front of the entire court.

The whole hall gasped audibly.

The gesture was bold, intimate, and unapologetic.

"I know her history," he declared, voice steady and cold. "And I choose her fully aware of it."

The Empress's face darkened for a moment.

Rui continued, his voice growing louder.

"You speak of influence? Of danger? I see no greater danger than a court that would punish survival—that would condemn a woman for escaping cruelty instead of praising her strength."

His grip on Mei Lian's hand tightened.

"This is the woman I will stand beside."

The chamber trembled with gasps and murmurs.

The Empress spoke at last, her voice like ice.

"You speak as if you intend to elevate her beyond her station."

Silence fell.

Prince Rui did not flinch.

"Perhaps I do."

The words fell like thunder.

Lady Jin's face paled.

The ministers stiffened in shock.

The Empress's mask slipped for a heartbeat—pure fury flashing behind her eyes.

"Then you force my hand, nephew," she said softly, dangerously. "You test the boundaries of your birthright."

"My birthright is to lead," Rui replied calmly. "And I choose who stands beside me."

The audience was dismissed shortly after. But the battle was far from over.

As Mei Lian and Rui left the chamber, his hand still firmly in hers, she finally let out the breath she'd been holding.

"You've made yourself a target," she whispered.

"I was already one," he replied, voice low. "Now we face them openly."

She swallowed hard. "The Empress won't stop here."

"I know."

Their steps slowed as they reached the quiet courtyard, away from prying ears.

"Rui…" she breathed, voice soft and raw. "You risk everything for me."

He turned to face her fully, lifting her chin gently.

"I risk nothing that matters," he whispered. "You are worth all of it."

Her eyes burned. She fought back tears.

"I'm not worthy of this."

"Yes, you are." His voice trembled with intensity. "You fought your way out of hell and stood before a room full of predators without blinking. You are stronger than any of them."

A pause.

"You are stronger than me."

Her heart clenched.

And then—without hesitation—she closed the final distance between them.

Their lips met, not with the gentleness of previous stolen kisses, but with a fierceness fueled by defiance, pain, and desperate hope.

The rain began to fall softly around them, but neither moved.

In that moment, they weren't prince and court lady.

They were two souls who chose to fight the entire world—together.

But far above, behind silk curtains, the Empress watched from her private window.

Her voice was cold as she spoke to her hidden attendant.

> "If they will not break quietly…

> Then we'll burn everything they love."

The true war had begun.

To be continued.....

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