Chapter CI - Court of Knives
The imperial court had never felt so crowded.
Or so dangerous.
—
Before dawn, officials filled the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Ministers.
Generals.
Nobles.
Princes.
Every important figure in the empire had answered Prince An's summons.
Officially—
it was an emergency session concerning state security.
Unofficially—
everyone knew something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Rumors had already spread:
Consort Xu found alive.
Project Northern Wolf uncovered.
Prince Rui returned victorious.
Prince An vanished.
The capital felt like dry grass waiting for a spark.
—
The Emperor entered first.
Then the Crown Prince.
Then Prince Rui and Shen Li together.
The reaction was immediate.
Because for months the court had heard stories.
Now they saw reality.
The victorious war prince.
The woman who crossed a war zone to reach him.
The couple who had somehow survived every plot thrown at them.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
—
Whispers spread through the hall.
Until Prince Rui looked up once.
Only once.
The whispers died instantly.
Excellent survival instincts.
—
Then the great doors opened.
And Prince An entered.
—
Silence crashed through the court.
Absolute silence.
Because Prince An did not look like a fugitive.
He did not look desperate.
He did not look cornered.
Instead—
he looked calm.
Composed.
Almost amused.
Which somehow felt worse.
—
Prince An walked directly to the center of the hall.
Then bowed.
Perfectly.
Respectfully.
As though nothing had happened.
Then he smiled.
"Your Majesty."
The Emperor's face hardened.
"Where were you?"
Interesting question.
Prince An smiled faintly.
"Preparing."
The answer unsettled everyone.
Because it sounded honest.
—
The Crown Prince stepped forward immediately.
"Preparing what?"
Prince An's gaze shifted.
Then:
"The truth."
Silence.
Because suddenly—
everyone realized this wasn't going to be a defense.
Exactly as Prince Rui predicted.
This was an attack.
—
Then Prince An raised a hand.
Several attendants entered carrying sealed boxes.
Large.
Heavy.
Official.
The court erupted into whispers again.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Then Prince An calmly announced:
"For seven years, this prince remained silent."
Silence.
Then:
"Today, this prince will not."
The atmosphere sharpened.
Dangerously.
—
Prince Rui watched quietly.
The way a predator watches another predator.
No interruptions.
No reactions.
Just observation.
Which somehow made Prince An more cautious.
—
The first box opened.
Documents spilled across a table.
Military reports.
Financial records.
Imperial correspondence.
Then Prince An looked toward the assembled court.
And said:
"Project Northern Wolf existed."
Shock swept the hall.
Because nobody expected admission.
Not immediately.
Not publicly.
Then Prince An continued.
"It was real."
Another wave of whispers.
Then:
"And it was necessary."
Silence exploded.
Because suddenly—
the entire court understood.
Prince An wasn't denying the conspiracy.
He was justifying it.
—
The Emperor rose instantly.
"Necessary?"
Prince An met his gaze.
Calmly.
Fearlessly.
Then:
"Prince Rui was becoming too powerful."
The hall froze.
Not because the statement was true.
Because he dared say it aloud.
—
Then Prince An turned toward the nobles.
Toward the ministers.
Toward the court.
And delivered the argument he had prepared for years.
"A beloved prince."
"A victorious general."
"The loyalty of the army."
Silence.
Then:
"History teaches us what follows."
The implication hung heavily.
Usurpation.
Civil war.
Dynastic collapse.
—
Several officials looked uncomfortable.
Because the argument wasn't completely absurd.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Then Prince An added:
"Project Northern Wolf prevented disaster."
The room became colder.
Because some people were actually listening.
Actually considering it.
—
Then suddenly—
Shen Li laughed.
—
The sound echoed through the hall.
Unexpected.
Sharp.
Perfect.
Every eye turned toward her.
Including Prince An's.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Then Shen Li stepped forward.
Calmly.
Elegantly.
Dangerously.
"Then Prince An has failed to explain something."
Silence.
Prince An's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
Shen Li smiled.
Small.
Deadly.
Then:
"If Prince Rui was truly a threat..."
"Why is he still alive?"
The court froze.
Because it was the obvious question.
The devastating question.
The question nobody else asked.
—
Then she continued.
"Seven years."
"Countless resources."
"A hidden organization."
Silence.
Then:
"And yet Prince Rui remained loyal."
The hall became very quiet.
Because suddenly—
Prince An's argument looked weaker.
Much weaker.
—
Then Shen Li delivered the killing blow.
"The conspiracy failed because it misunderstood him."
Prince An's composure cracked slightly.
Only slightly.
Enough.
Then:
"You feared ambition."
Her gaze shifted toward Prince Rui.
Then back.
"But loyalty was never the problem."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Because every person in that hall knew the truth.
Prince Rui had opportunities.
Countless opportunities.
Yet he never rebelled.
Never seized power.
Never betrayed the throne.
—
Then Prince Rui finally spoke.
For the first time.
And somehow—
that was worse.
His voice remained calm.
Quiet.
Terrifying.
"Prince An."
The entire court stiffened.
Because the Winter General had entered the conversation.
At last.
Then:
"This prince has one question."
Prince An's smile disappeared.
Slowly.
Then Prince Rui asked:
"Who ordered my death?"
Silence crashed across the hall.
No whispers.
No movement.
Nothing.
Because after seven years—
the real question had finally been spoken aloud.
And for the first time all morning—
Prince An looked uncertain.
Just for a moment.
Enough.
Because somewhere behind his confidence—
behind his preparations—
behind his arguments—
there was fear.
And Prince Rui had just found it.