The heavy doors of the throne room groaned open as King Lei Moyao stepped inside, his face shadowed in anxiety. The assassination attempt had left him apprehensive, and his eyes blazed with new paranoia.
He called upon Commander Xiéyàn to stand before him, his voice keen and demanding. "Tell me about the North. Rumors of oppression and discontent have reached me. What is the situation in your domain?"
Xiéyàn bowed with ease, his eyes gleaming with calculation. "Your Majesty, the North is in order. These rumors are the efforts of the rogue elements trying to destabilize the throne. I assure you, all is well."
But beneath his chivalrous exterior, Xiéyàn was scheming. The king's decree to boost military training was the ideal disguise. He was secretly hiring faithful warriors and spreading discontent, all in preparation to build his own power in secret.
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At the same time, in Prince Lei Yǔlín's quarters, Su Shu was pacing back and forth. She had recovered fully but was surrounded by guards at the prince's door.
The prince stepped inside, his golden eyes cold. "You're not leaving," he said.
She spat out her response, "Why do you have me here? What do you want from me?"
Yǔlín's tone softened. "I would like to know what you actually know about Commander Xiéyàn. My guess is the man has secrets he's not revealing."
Su Shu's resolve weakened. Could the prince who had the reputation for ruthlessness be an ally? "You're not an ally of Xiéyàn either," she said in a low voice.
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In another place, Commander Wuji was becoming mistrustful of the prince. He observed how Prince Lei Yǔlín was devoting more time behind closed doors and being mysterious. Wuji, however, was resolute and started questioning servants and guards in an attempt to find what was concealed — unwittingly moving closer to uncovering Su Shu.
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The episode concluded with a mysterious figure being handed a clandestine letter from Commander Xiéyàn. The letter stated:
**"The king does not suspect anything. The North is ours to take. Get ready for the second stage."**