A Love Written In The Stars

Mei's Pov

Finally, the night arrived. I watched as the Minister retired to his chambers alone, then made my move, scaling the walls silently. I had memorized every part of this estate—every hall, every corner, even the floorplans.

I carefully slipped through the dark, All the servants had retired for the night, leaving the sprawling estate eerily still.

My black clothes and masked face allowed me to melt into the darkness as I picked locks and entered each room, scouring Zhang's study yielded nothing but ledgers of other transactions.

After a while, I let out a frustrated sigh and slumped back. Where could those documents be hidden? I pressed my fingers against my temples, forcing myself to think. If someone didn't want anyone to find something, where would they put it? My eyes darted around the room, searching for any clue.

Then, a memory surfaced—my father once hid papers under a loose floorboard, a place no one would think to look. Dropping to my knees, I ran my hands over the wooden floor, pressing and tapping, searching for even the slightest give. But as the minutes dragged on, I found nothing. My fingers ached, my frustration intensifying with every failed attempt. The floor seemed solid, unyielding, and mocking.

Leaning against the wall, I couldn't stop thinking about Yú Jin. If I had acted sooner, made a proper plan, would things have been different? She had been so worried, and now I understood why. What do I do now? I can't leave without finding them, I lifted my head, trying to clear my mind.

As my gaze wandered, it landed on the ceiling. One of the boards looked slightly out of place, just a bit different from the others. I moved closer to examine it, then brought a chair over and stood on it to reach the board. With cautious hands, I pressed on the board, and just as suspected, it shifted under my touch.

I reached inside and my fingers brushed against something, I pulled it out, revealing a bundle of papers. Under the soft glow of the moonlight, I scanned them. My stomach churned as I read. The documents detailed all the information I came for. These were exactly what I needed—and more damning than I had imagined.

I smiled in satisfaction as I clutched the documents. Finally.

But my triumph was short-lived. Faint footsteps echoed outside the room. My heart lurched. Quickly, I tucked the papers into my tunic, climbed down from the chair, and slipped into the dark just as the glow of a lantern spilled through the doorway.

Two guards stepped in, their low voices breaking the silence as they made their rounds. I pressed myself against the wall, barely daring to breathe.

Would they notice the shifted board? Could they sense my presence? The faint rustle of their uniforms felt unbearably loud in the stillness, but I stayed frozen, hoping the darkness would keep me hidden.

The men stayed briefly, their voices fading as they moved on with their patrol. I remained rooted in place, straining to catch any hint of danger. Only after the place returned to utter silence, did I dare to relax slightly.

Just as I prepared to slip out, another figure entered the room swiftly, I held my breath sharply. Who could this be? Their face was hidden behind a mask, much like mine, and they began rummaging through papers and drawers as if searching for something specific.

Moonlight caught on the objects they studied, but they didn't linger on anything for long. A partner in crime? Or someone else with a vendetta against the Minister? I wondered but I couldn't afford to take the chance, I needed to leave—now.

If I stayed any longer, I'd risk getting caught. The window wasn't far, just a few careful steps away. As I shifted my weight to move, the floor betrayed me with a sharp creak.

The figure stopped instantly, their head snapping up. In one smooth motion, they drew a blade, the steel catching the faint light. My heart skipped a beat as I froze.

For a moment, the room was silent, the kind of silence that makes every second feel like an eternity. Then slowly, the figure lowered their weapon, sheathing it again. They seemed to decide it was nothing and returned to searching through the papers.

I exhaled in relief.

But in that moment, I heard the voices getting closer again. I panicked, I had to escape. The documents were too important to lose now. The intruder was still preoccupied, rifling through papers, unaware of my movements. Keeping low. I made my way toward the open window, my exit only a few steps away.

I broke into a run, determined to jump through. Once I reached it, I didn't hesitate I climbed onto the sill ready to jump, but before I could, a firm hand clamped down on my other ankle, I turned to see the masked figure holding me tight.

I twisted sharply, trying to free myself, my pulse hammering as I faced the masked figure. Their grip was unrelenting, and we struggled. their strength surprising me.

The voices outside grew louder, almost at the door. My urgency spiked. Gritting my teeth. I kicked out with all the force I could muster, driving my heel into their chest. The figure stumbled back, releasing me at last. Wasting no time. I vaulted through the window and hit the ground outside, rolling to absorb the impact.

Swiftly, I scaled the wall, gripping the top as my mysterious companion vaulted over it in one smooth motion. As I dropped down, I noticed the masked figure standing there, watching me intently.

Without a second thought, I sprinted across the rooftops, but they were right behind me, moving just as quickly. When a gap appeared between the roofs, I leapt in an instant. My feet barely caught the edge, but I kept my balance and kept running.

The intruder stayed on my heels, closing the gap again. I spun, kicking a loose tile from the roof. It struck their shin, causing them to stumble just long enough for me to gain a few steps. I kept running, my mind mapping the streets below.

Up ahead, a narrow alley split two buildings. Without slowing, I planted my foot and launched myself into the air. I dropped down, rolling as I hit the ground, landing smoothly like a cat.

The pursuer attempted the same leap, but their foot slipped on the tile I had knocked loose. I didn't wait to see if they caught themselves, I ran on.

Before I could process my next step, the pursuer suddenly appeared in front of me, catching me completely off guard. I instinctively stepped back, but their hand shot out, grabbing mine. With no time to think, I projected my Qi into my free hand and delivered a powerful strike. The force sent them stumbling back, but they recovered almost immediately, as if the blow had only startled them.

I stood in a defensive stance as my pursuer circled me. I wanted to run, but I couldn't predict their next move. My only choice was to wait, watching closely for an opening. Then, the figure lunged. I dodged their grasp, but they reached for my veil, trying to unmask me. In a flash, I drew a small dagger and slashed their palm. They recoiled, but my veil slipped off in the struggle, leaving my face exposed.

I quickly turned away before the figure could recover then I fled, running until I was sure no one was following. Exhausted but relieved, I finally reached the manor, still clutching the documents. Slipping inside unnoticed, I quietly made my way to my room.

I collapsed onto my bed as the strange events of the night replayed in my mind. Who was that masked intruder? What were they after in Zhang's manor? They had to be an enemy of the corrupt minister, but their methods were as mysterious as their identity. Judging by their build, they were either a man or a very tall woman. Either way, their strength and skill were undeniable.

I was lucky to have escaped unexposed.

The Palace

Yìzé quietly sneaked into crown prince Cheng's chambers. Once inside, he took off his mask and bowed. "Your highness, I have bad news to share."

Cheng looked up, startled. "You're hurt. What happened?"

Yìzé explained. "I ran into another intruder, a woman in black. I tried to catch her, but she outmatched me." He revealed the cut on his hand.

Cheng frowned deeply "This woman, what do you know about her?"

"Only brief flashes in the dark. When I tried to unmask her, she stabbed me with a dagger. That dagger... it is a bit similar to the one used by the person who saved your life outside the palace."

Yìzé locked eyes with Cheng, his expression serious. "I believe this could be the same mysterious benefactor."

Cheng mulled it over. If Mei had targeted the corrupt minister, her actions seemed righteous. But what fueled her mission? Was it something personal, or was she fighting for a greater cause? The questions multiplied, but the answers were still unclear.

"You've done well," Cheng said as he carefully cleaned and bandaged Yìzé's wound. "But be more cautious next time. Don't rush into a fight until you're certain of your opponent's level of combat."

"I won't let you down again," Yìzé replied.