In the dimly lit library, the air was heavy with tension as Xiao Wei and Xing Chen faced each other, their eyes locked in a silent battle of wills. The shelves of ancient books seemed to bear witness to the brewing storm between them.

Xiao Wei's voice was sharp as she broke the silence. "You want to know about the Crimson Lotus Tavern, don't you?"

Xing Chen's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took a deep breath and finally nodded, his expression guarded. "Yes, I do. And you've been refusing to tell me anything about it."

Xiao Wei's eyes flashed with defiance. "You wouldn't understand, Your Majesty. The Crimson Lotus Tavern is a place of secrets and intrigue, and it's not something you should be involved in."

Xing Chen's frustration bubbled to the surface, his voice rising. "I should be involved in anything that concerns the safety of this dynasty! You owe me an explanation, Xiao Wei."

Xiao Wei's fists clenched at her sides as she shot back, "And you owe me trust, Your Majesty! But all I've seen from you is suspicion and anger."

The verbal clash continued, each word a dagger cutting deeper into their strained relationship. They had come a long way from the days of camaraderie and mutual respect, and now they stood on opposite sides of a widening chasm.

Frustrated, Xiao Wei pulls a book off the shelf and hurls it at Xing Chen. However, the book completely misses its mark as it flies past him and trails behind. Xing Chen looks at her with disbelief.

"Honestly, you two act too much like a couple; kindly lower your voice." The librarian spoke up with her honeydew voice, shushing the two arguers.

"She is my fiance." He emphasised his statements and made fun of the librarian. His comments cause Xiao Wei's heart to flutter since he has just finally come to terms with the reality that she is his fiancée. She turns her head toward him and blinks frantically as her eyes sparkle in the light. She chooses to leave the library since she is at a loss for words and leaves Xing Chen behind.

A guard rushes past her to Xing Chen, panting. "Your Majesty, this month there have been 20 murders!" He exclaimed, looking at the emperor with fear.

"Why did you not tell me before?" Xing Chen screamed, causing the guard to shiver and tremble as cold sweat melted down his skin.

"First master Xing asked me not to inform you as you were mourning your mother's death." He explained not being able to look the emperor in the eyes.

Xiao Wei, on the other hand, made her way to her chamber. Her feet echo through the hallways as they tap on the wooden floor. Sliding the door open, she is greeted by Sang Guo and Hua Xian. "Hua Xian?" She spoke up. Sang Guo looks at the two back and forth with her eyes wide.

"You have talked to each other before?" She questioned Hua Xian, to which Hua Xian nodded.

"Good work." Hua Xian complimented Xiao Wei. "You hurt yourself. in order to save me. You really care about your seniors." Sang Guo stood confused between the two. Xiao Wei decides to unfold the truth and explain it all to her. Hua Xian and Xiao Wei recalled the moments.

With her steps as light as a feather and without making a sound, Xiao Wei moved through the dimly lit passageways. She opens Hua Xian's room door with a slide. "Tang Hua Xian." She made a shout.

Hua Xian jerks her head in response to someone calling her by her birth name. "Tang." She mumbled. She receives a nod from Xiao Wei, confirming her Tang ancestry. Hua Xian got hold of her hands and took care of them. "Tell me, my child, how did you come here?" She questioned Xiao Wei and got an explanation of Xiao Wei's origins and history.

Xiao Wei concluded with a statement. "I need you to attack Yue Song Qi tonight." She whispered as she handed me a piece of paper with a letter on it. privileged instructions on how to carry out the work. After finishing her reading, Hua Xian hurried to Song Qi's room, carrying a bottle of wine. Hua Xian stabs her straight through the chest. She was given a straightforward duty, which she completed skillfully. On the other side, Xiao Wei appeared stunned and surprised. She pretended to be pursuing Hua Xian while becoming combative.

"Stab me." She spoke softly to her. Hua Xian shook her head helplessly. "Just do it; stab me from the side." She muttered furiously. Hua Xian complies with her request and flees. In order to make it more difficult to cure Song Qi, Xiao Wei does this in an effort to divert the focus of the crowd. She instructed the guards to go get a doctor.

While they were gone, Xiao Wei took advantage of the opportunity to set up her homemade explosive next to her and burn it with a match before running back to her previous location. The bomb detonated, injuring additional residents of the palace and drawing further attention away from Song Qi.

Sang Guo's jaw dropped in amazement at the clever plan that Xiao Wei had come up with. "What about Zheng?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Xiao Wei smiled mischievously. "He was merely a pawn in our game," she explained. "I was the one who actually committed the murder, and I burned the body of the victim to destroy any evidence. Zheng was just a convenient scapegoat, a red herring to distract the authorities while I carried out my plan."

Sang Guo's eyes widened in shock at the audacity of Xiao Wei's scheme. "But what if he's executed?" she asked, her voice trembling with concern.

Xiao Wei chuckled softly. "Oh, he won't be," she assured Sang Guo. "Zheng has information about the Crimson Lotus Tavern that we can't afford to let slip. As long as he keeps quiet about it, he'll be safe from execution. It's all just a part of the game we play."

As Xiao Wei spoke, she leaned in closer to Sang Guo, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "You see, my dear, in the world of espionage, sometimes we must make difficult choices. But in the end, it's all worth it for the greater good."

Sang Guo listened intently to Xiao Wei's words, her mind racing with questions and doubts. But as she looked into Xiao Wei's piercing eyes, she saw a glimmer of determination and conviction that made her trust in her friend's judgement. She nodded slowly, her lips pressed together in a thin line, and said, "I understand."

Sang Guo's eyes narrowed as she processed Xiao Wei's instructions. "So, let me get this straight," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "We're going to continue seducing Xing Tao, and meanwhile, you'll keep committing crimes to reduce the population? That sounds like a solid plan."

Xiao Wei nodded with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Yes, exactly. And don't forget, Sang Guo, we must be careful not to get caught. We can't have our plans foiled by a pesky little thing like the law."

Sang Guo rolled her eyes. "Of course not. Because that would be utterly foolish." She paused, thinking through their plan. "But what about Xing Chen? Won't he become suspicious when he finds out about the crimes?"

Xiao Wei shook her head. "Not necessarily. I'll make sure to leave behind a trail of clues that point to someone else. By the time he realises what's happening, it will be too late."

Sang Guo raised an eyebrow. "And what about the people who get hurt in the process? Are we really willing to sacrifice innocent lives just to further our goals?"

"When a storm is to arrive, it builds unpleasant weather as a warning, but when a war is to arrive, the warning arrives as a dangerous woman." Xiao Wei recites, her expression hardening. "In war, sacrifices must be made. We cannot afford to be weakened by sentimentality. The ends justify the means, Sang Guo. Remember that."

Sang Guo sighed, feeling a twinge of unease. She knew that Xiao Wei was right, but that didn't make it any easier to stomach. Still, she couldn't deny the thrill of excitement that came with being part of something bigger than herself. She nodded, resolute. "Alright. Let's do this."

Xiao Wei grinned, pleased. "Excellent. Now, go and fetch Xing Tao. We have a lot of work to do."

As Sang Guo left to carry out her task, Xiao Wei settled into the shadows, ready to begin her own mission. The game was on, and she was determined to emerge victorious.