Chapter 12
Edward Quan ·
When the patrol turned away, I stepped onto the discarded debris, climbed the tree, and followed a branch toward the window.
Clinging to its edge, I looked inside.
Two guards pinned the Grand Secretary down. The Noble Consort frantically searched the desk.
Cabinets and chests were overturned, papers scattered everywhere.
### Part 15
In a moment when the guards loosened their hold, the Grand Secretary seized the imperial-yellow scroll beneath the emperor’s inkstone and thrust it into his robe.
“You will not take His Majesty’s final decree!”
Several guards rushed him. In the struggle, the scroll slipped from his chest and rolled across the floor.
Straight toward the window.
One thought flashed through me.
Take it.
I reached through the gap, stretching desperately. My fingertips caught the corner. I gripped it and pulled with all my strength.
The scroll fell into my arms.
I had the true succession decree.
“Someone’s at the rear window! The decree is gone! After them!”
Holding it, I jumped from the tree and fell into the debris. A branch tore a long cut in my arm. Blood immediately soaked my sleeve.
Ignoring the pain, I staggered to the abandoned room, lifted the slab, and slipped into the tunnel.
Shouts and pursuit drew closer behind me.
Clutching the decree, I crawled frantically, one conviction burning in me.
Heng, Mother has it. Wait for me.
“She’s still nearby! Search carefully! Look for mechanisms and tunnels! The decree must not leave!”
I couldn’t stop.
Capture meant death. She would destroy the true decree.
Then all Heng would receive was a forged order to kill himself.
After an unknown time, a faint light appeared at the exit.
With my last strength, I pushed the slab and crawled into dense reeds beside the moat.
Covered in mud, my arm still bleeding, I held the yellow scroll to my chest and hid deep in the reeds.
The cold wind howled. My wound throbbed. I shook violently.
Following Heng’s earlier instructions, I took out the jade token and found a ruined Mountain God temple beyond the city.
Three slow knocks, two quick.
The door creaked open. A neatly dressed man in black peered out warily.
I handed over my half of the jade. His expression changed dramatically, and he bowed.
“My lady! What happened?”
“The emperor wrote a decree leaving the throne to Heng. The Noble Consort refuses to accept it and wants to change his will. I risked my life to steal the true decree.”
Gasping, I continued.
“If she can’t find it, she will forge one naming the Second Prince.”
“Then she’ll issue another, accusing Heng of rebellion and ordering his suicide.”
“He’s far away at the frontier. If the false decree arrives first…”
“He must have the real one.”
Carefully, I gave the imperial-yellow scroll to the man.
“This is His Majesty’s own writing, bearing the imperial seal. Send riders to the northern frontier immediately. Whatever it takes, they must reach the camp before the forged decree and place this in Heng’s hands!”
“Understood! I’ll choose the finest horses and send our four best riders tonight!”
“Wait.”
“Anything else, my lady?”
“Tell His Highness…”
My throat tightened painfully.
“Tell him his mother says: whatever happens, staying alive comes first.”
“I’ll remember.”
He went out to arrange it.
Alone in the temple, my wound still bleeding, exhaustion and pain struck together. Against the cold wall, I slowly slid to the floor.
I had escaped. The decree was on its way.
But Chuntao was still trapped.
Please, Chuntao. Stay safe.
I sat there a long time, until the man returned and helped me into a carriage. He took me to a secret estate outside the city.
The cut was deep. Even after a rough dressing, my fever wouldn’t break.
I tossed sleeplessly in bed, one thought repeating.
Would our riders reach the frontier before the false decree?
Every day, I asked, “Any news?”
“Not yet.”
“Not yet.”
“Not yet.”
Each day was torment. I feared Heng would receive the false order, believe it, and do something terrible.
### Part 16
Hiding at the country estate, every day felt like being roasted alive.
My high fever kept returning. The wound swelled and festered.