Wei Lian's POV
The Moon Festival exploded across the palace in a blaze of lanterns and music.
Perfect chaos. Perfect cover.
I adjusted my dark cloak, checking the lock picks hidden in my sleeve. Su Jin had borrowed them from a guard she was friendly with. She didn't know what I needed them for just that I'd asked.
My lady, you're going out again? Su Jin's voice was worried. After what happened to Lady Chen
I'll be careful. I promise. I squeezed her hand. If I'm not back by dawn, go to General Lin Zhao. Tell him everything.
Everything?
Everything.
Her eyes widened, but she nodded.
I slipped into the festival crowds. Thousands of palace residents filled the courtyards servants, guards, concubines, all celebrating. Lanterns floated overhead like fallen stars. Musicians played. Dancers whirled.
No one noticed one more figure in dark robes.
I reached the meeting point, a small garden behind the Imperial kitchens. Shen Mei was already waiting, dressed similarly.
Ready? she whispered.
As I'll ever be.
Hua Rong's quarters are in the western palace. Her secret study is behind a false wall in her sleeping chamber. Shen Mei's expression was grim. We'll have maybe twenty minutes while she's at the festival banquet. After that, she usually returns to 'rest.'
Twenty minutes to break in, find evidence, and escape.
Welcome to the insane plan. She smiled without humor. Follow me. And whatever happens if we're caught, you don't know me. Understand?
No. If we're caught, we go down together.
Something shifted in her eyes. Respect, maybe. Or recognition of a fellow survivor.
We moved through the shadows, avoiding main paths. Shen Mei knew every blind spot, every guard rotation. Five years of preparation showed.
The western palace loomed ahead elegant, expensive, deadly.
Two guards at the main entrance, Shen Mei breathed. But there's a servant entrance on the east side. It should be empty during the festival.
Should be.
We crept around the building. The servant entrance stood unguarded, door slightly ajar.
Too easy.
It's a trap, I whispered.
Or Hua Rong is arrogant enough to think no one would dare break in. Shen Mei tested the door. We don't have time for second thoughts.
She was right. Three days deadline. Lady Chen dead. The clock ticking.
We slipped inside.
The corridors were empty, lit only by a few scattered candles. Our footsteps were silent on expensive carpet. Every shadow felt like a threat.
Hua Rong's sleeping chamber was at the end of the hall. Shen Mei picked the lock with practiced ease too practiced. I filed that question away for later.
Inside, the room was elegant perfection. Silk hangings, jade ornaments, the scent of expensive incense.
The false wall is behind that tapestry. Shen Mei moved quickly. Help me.
We pulled aside a heavy silk hanging, revealing blank wall. But Shen Mei pressed specific points in sequence some kind of hidden mechanism.
A section of wall swung inward, revealing a small room.
My breath caught.
Documents everywhere. Scrolls, letters, ledgers. Years of carefully recorded treason.
Gods, Shen Mei whispered. She kept everything.
We split up, reading frantically. I grabbed the nearest scroll and unrolled it.
My blood turned to ice.
It was a letter dated eighteen months ago, my first timeline. Written in Hua Rong's elegant hand:
The Wei girl has been successfully framed. Her execution is scheduled. The Emperor suspects nothing. Phase one complete.
My execution. Planned. Documented.
I grabbed another scroll. Battle plans for the rebel attack. Lists of corrupted officials. Financial records showing massive payments to Prime Minister Zhao.
And something else. Something that made my hands shake.
A family tree. Hua Rong's family tree.
Going back seventy years to
The previous dynasty, Shen Mei said, reading over my shoulder. Hua Rong is descended from the imperial family your grandfather overthrew.
Not my grandfather, I corrected. The Emperor's grandfather.
Same difference. She's been planning revenge since before we were born. Shen Mei grabbed documents frantically. We need copies. Evidence to show the Emperor.
I pulled out paper and ink, hands shaking as I copied the most damning evidence. Letters proving Zhao Feng's involvement. Records of poison purchases. Plans for the Crown Prince's murder.
Fifteen minutes gone.
Almost done, Shen Mei muttered, copying faster.
Footsteps in the corridor outside.
We both froze.
unnecessary to check. The festival A guard's voice.
Imperial Consort's orders. Verify all rooms are secure. Another voice. Female. Cold.
Hua Rong.
She was back early.
Hide! Shen Mei shoved documents at me. Take these and run!
Not without you
One of us has to get the evidence out! Go!
The door to the main chamber opened.
I made a split-second decision. Grabbed the documents, shoved them inside my robes, and dove behind a cabinet in the secret room.
Shen Mei stayed in the main chamber, deliberately making noise.
Who's there? Hua Rong's voice, sharp as glass.
Forgive me, Imperial Consort. Shen Mei's voice was suddenly servile, scared. I was justI thought I saw
A servant in my private chambers. How... interesting. Hua Rong's footsteps came closer. What's your name?
Mei, Imperial Consort. I work in the kitchens. I got lost returning from the festival
Lost. In the western palace. In my locked rooms. Hua Rong laughed softly. Do you think I'm stupid, girl?
Through the gap in the cabinet, I saw Shen Mei back toward the door. Saw Hua Rong block her escape.
Saw the knife in Hua Rong's hand.
You're the one who's been interfering, Hua Rong said. Helping that Wei concubine. Feeding her information. I've been trying to identify you for weeks.
I don't know what you
Lying is beneath you. Hua Rong's smile was poison. The question isare you working alone, or is someone else here?
Her eyes swept the room. Landed on the slightly ajar tapestry.
My heart stopped.
Guards! Hua Rong called. Search every corner of this chamber. Someone's hiding here.
Four guards burst in. Started systematically checking every space.
They'd find me in seconds.
Shen Mei saw the same thing. Her eyes met mine through the gapone second of communication.
Then she grabbed a vase and threw it at Hua Rong's head.
Chaos erupted. Guards grabbed Shen Mei. She fought like a demon, screaming, thrashing, drawing every eye in the room.
Giving me exactly three seconds.
I slipped from the cabinet, through the secret door, rolled under the bed in the main chamber while everyone was focused on Shen Mei's struggle.
Bind her! Hua Rong commanded. Take her to the dungeons. And search everything. If she has an accomplice
I work alone! Shen Mei shouted, still fighting. Always alone! No one else
A guard hit her. She went limp.
They dragged her out, Hua Rong following, calling for more guards to search.
The moment the room emptied, I rolled out and ran.
Down the corridor. Out the servant entrance. Into the festival crowds, documents pressed against my chest, heart hammering so hard I thought it would explode.
I'd escaped.
But Shen Mei was captured.
Back in my quarters, I collapsed on the floor, gasping. Su Jin rushed over.
My lady! What happened? You're shaking
Get General Lin Zhao. Now. Tell him the Emperor's sister has been captured by Imperial Consort Hua Rong.
The Emperor's sister? But she's
Alive. And in the dungeons. He'll understand. Go!
She ran.
I spread the stolen documents on my floor with trembling hands. We'd gotten enough. Proof of everything the conspiracies, the murders, the treason.
But Shen Mei was in Hua Rong's hands.
And Hua Rong didn't leave witnesses alive.
I had maybe hours before she either killed Shen Mei or tortured the truth out of her. Hours to convince the Emperor, present the evidence, and launch a rescue.
A knock at my door. I shoved the documents under my mattress and opened it.
The Emperor stood there, eyes blazing. General Lin Zhao behind him.
Your maid said my sister is alive and captured. His voice was barely controlled rage. Explain. Now.
I pulled him inside, shut the door, and dragged out the documents.
I have proof of everything we told you. Hua Rong's treason. Zhao Feng's conspiracy. All of it. I spread the papers. But she captured Shen Mei during our infiltration. We have to move now, or
Or she kills my sister. Again. The Emperor's hands clenched. Where is she holding her?
The western palace dungeons. Private cells Hua Rong controls.
Then we end this. Tonight. He turned to Lin Zhao. Gather your most trusted men. Full armor. We're arresting Imperial Consort Hua Rong for high treason.
Your Majesty, if you're wrong
I'm not wrong. The Emperor looked at the documents, then at me. Wei Lian has never been wrong. Not once.
Lin Zhao nodded and left to gather forces.
The Emperor studied me in the sudden silence. You and my sister risked everything to get this evidence. Why?
Because someone had to. Because you deserved the truth. I met his eyes. And because Hua Rong has taken too many lives. It ends tonight.
Yes. It does. He touched my shoulder briefly. Thank you. For saving my sister. For trying to save me.
Save your thanks until we get her out alive.
Thirty minutes later, we marched on the western palace with twenty armed guards.
The doors burst open. Hua Rong stood in her main chamber, composed, beautiful, smiling.
Your Majesty. What an unexpected visit.
You're under arrest for high treason, conspiracy to murder, and crimes against the empire. The Emperor's voice was ice. Where is my sister?
Your sister is dead, Your Majesty. You executed her yourself three years ago.
She's alive. You captured her tonight. Where. Is. She.
Hua Rong's smile widened. In the dungeons. Or rather where she used to be.
My stomach dropped.
What did you do? the Emperor whispered.
What I should have done to both interfering women from the start. Hua Rong's eyes glittered. I gave her the same poison I used on my useless son. She has maybe ten minutes left. Unless you have that miraculous concubine's antidote ready?
The Emperor grabbed her throat. What poison? Tell me NOW!
Why would I? You're going to execute me anyway. She laughed, choking. At least this way, I win something.
I was already running.
Down to the dungeons. Following guards. Finding the cell.
Shen Mei lay on the stone floor, convulsing, foam at her mouth.
The same poison. The same death I'd watched kill the Crown Prince in my first timeline.
White Jade root! I screamed. And Pearl essence! Get them NOW!
Guards scrambled. I dropped beside Shen Mei, holding her head.
Stay with me. Don't you dare die. Not again. We just got you back
Her eyes found mine. Tried to smile. Couldn't.
The antidote arrived. I forced it down her throat like I'd done for the Crown Prince.
Please work. Please please please
Her convulsions slowed. Stopped. Breathing steadied.
She gasped, coughing, alive.
Did we... win? she wheezed.
We won.
The Emperor appeared in the doorway, fury and relief warring on his face. He dropped beside his sister, pulling her into his arms.
I thought I'd lost you again.
Can't... get rid of me... that easily, she gasped.
Above us, guards dragged a screaming Hua Rong toward the dungeons. Her composure had finally shattered.
This isn't over! she shrieked. The rebellion is already in motion! You're too late! The empire will still burn!
The Emperor looked at me over his sister's head.
Then we stop the rebellion, I said quietly. We know it's coming. That's our advantage.
How much time do we have?
I calculated quickly. In my original timeline, the rebel attack came eighteen months after I entered the palace. I'd been back four months.
Fourteen months, Your Majesty. Maybe less, since we changed so much.
Then we have work to do. He stood, still holding Shen Mei. Starting with interrogating every name in those documents you stole.
As guards led Hua Rong away, still screaming threats, I felt a weight lift.
We'd won this battle. Exposed the conspiracy. Saved Shen Mei.
But Hua Rong's final words echoed in my mind: The rebellion is already in motion.
We'd cut off the head, but the body was still moving.
And somewhere out there, Prime Minister Zhao Feng was preparing his next move.