Chapter LXXV - The Woman in Black
Three days after Prince Rui's departure—
the first death occurred.
Not at the border.
Not on a battlefield.
Inside the capital.
—
The victim was a low-ranking palace clerk.
Unimportant.
Forgettable.
The kind of person nobody noticed until they died.
Yet when the Crown Prince's investigators searched his residence—
they discovered something alarming.
Burned documents.
Foreign currency.
And coded military routes.
The news reached Prince Rui's estate before noon.
Shen Li sat quietly in the western study while Steward Zhou finished delivering the report.
Silence followed.
Then Shen Li lowered the document slowly.
Enemy agents.
Inside the capital.
The situation had become worse than expected.
Much worse.
Then softly she asked:
"Was the information sent north?"
Steward Zhou nodded.
"Immediately."
Good.
Because Prince Rui needed warning.
The border war was no longer simply a military conflict.
Someone inside the empire was feeding information outward.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
—
That afternoon another letter arrived.
Prince Rui's handwriting.
The moment Shen Li recognized it, warmth spread through her chest automatically.
Dangerous habit.
Very dangerous habit.
She opened it immediately.
Princess Rui,
The food is terrible.
The weather is worse.
This prince discovered military life becomes significantly less enjoyable when Princess Rui is absent.
Additionally:
Please remain inside the estate after sunset.
This prince has a bad feeling.
— Rui
Shen Li smiled despite herself.
Even from hundreds of miles away—
Prince Rui remained Prince Rui.
Half military commander.
Half worried husband.
Then her smile faded slightly.
Because the final sentence felt different.
More serious.
Instinctive.
Almost like a warning.
Dangerous man.
Always sensing trouble.
—
Meanwhile—
far north at the military frontier—
Prince Rui stared coldly at intelligence reports.
The command tent had grown quieter lately.
Not because the officers relaxed.
Because everyone sensed their commander's mood worsening.
Enemy spies.
Internal betrayal.
And Shen Li remaining inside the capital.
Together—
the combination irritated him constantly.
One commander finally spoke carefully.
"Your Highness has read that report five times."
Prince Rui looked up.
Coldly.
The commander immediately wished to disappear.
Then Prince Rui answered:
"The report remains unacceptable all five times."
Fair.
Unfortunately.
Then another scout entered quickly.
Kneeling.
Breathless.
Urgent.
The entire tent sharpened instantly.
"What happened?"
The scout swallowed once.
Then:
"A female courier was captured crossing enemy lines."
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Prince Rui's expression remained unreadable.
"Continue."
"She carried messages intended for contacts in the capital."
Silence.
Then:
"She escaped before interrogation."
The command tent froze.
Escaped?
Impossible.
Unless...
Prince Rui's eyes darkened.
"Inside help."
The scout lowered his head.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Then the scout hesitated.
Only briefly.
Enough.
Prince Rui noticed.
Of course he noticed.
"What else?"
The scout answered quietly:
"Witnesses described the woman."
"Black clothing."
"A scar beneath her left eye."
Silence crashed through the tent.
Because Prince Rui recognized that description immediately.
Years ago.
One assassination mission.
One failed attempt against the imperial family.
One woman.
A ghost everyone believed dead.
Then very softly—
dangerously softly—
Prince Rui said:
"The Black Sparrow."
Several commanders visibly paled.
Because they recognized the name too.
An infamous assassin.
Spy.
Survivor.
A woman connected to three kingdoms and countless political murders.
And somehow—
she had returned.
—
Back in the capital—
night arrived quietly.
Too quietly.
The estate lanterns glowed warm beneath drifting snow.
Shen Li sat beside an open window reading correspondence when Qingyu entered.
The maid looked unsettled.
"Princess Consort."
Shen Li looked up.
"What happened?"
Qingyu lowered her voice.
"A woman was seen outside the estate walls."
Silence.
The room cooled instantly.
"What woman?"
Qingyu hesitated.
Then:
"Nobody knows."
"She disappeared before guards reached her."
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Shen Li stood slowly.
And moved toward the window.
Outside—
snow fell softly across the dark courtyard.
Beautiful.
Silent.
Harmless.
Yet something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Then suddenly—
movement.
Far beyond the outer walls.
Only for a second.
A shadow.
Watching.
Then gone.
Shen Li froze.
Because for one impossible moment—
she thought she saw a woman dressed entirely in black.
Standing motionless in the snow.
Watching Prince Rui's estate.
Watching her.
And then—
vanishing into darkness.
—
Hundreds of miles away—
Prince Rui woke abruptly.
Hand already reaching for a sword.
Breathing uneven.
The nightmare again.
Only worse this time.
Because in the dream—
he arrived home too late.
And Shen Li wasn't there.
The feeling lingered long after waking.
Cold.
Wrong.
Terrifying.
Then without hesitation—
Prince Rui stood.
Called for ink.
Paper.
And immediately began another letter.
Because somehow—
his instincts had never failed him before.
And tonight—
every instinct screamed the same warning.
Something was coming. ??????
And neither of them knew how close it already was.