One wrong turn led Yue into the hands of a knife-wielding stranger with far darker intentions. With her past beginning to resurface and danger lurking closer than ever, who can she truly trust when even her memories may be lies?
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Yue had only taken a short turn off the main market road when she realized too late—it was a dead-end.
The lively sounds of the afternoon crowd faded away, leaving only silence and her footsteps echoing off the narrow stone walls.
"Going somewhere, little miss?" a thief sneered, stepping out from behind a pile of crates.
The sun cast long shadows in the alley. Though his knife was dirty and dull, it still looked threatening.
"Hand over the package, and nobody gets hurt," he warned in a menacing tone.
"No.. I won't" Yue responded, trying to keep her voice steady.
The thief draws closer to her, drawing his knife to her neck.
Yue was frightened and dropped the package on the ground, the intricate wrappings still looking untouched and shiny in the light.
But the thief took one glance at the package then his gaze shifted to Yue.
Her skin seemed to shine in the sunlight, her lips were soft and trembling, and some hair had come loose from her ribbon. She looked delicate and out of place in the grimy alley.
The thief looked at her like a predator savoring the moment before the kill.
"Tsk," he grinned, licking his lips. "That package can wait."
He moved closer, his boots crunching on the gravel.
Yue felt her back hit the wall. The stone was hot, and her heart was racing. She clenched her fists and took a sharp breath to scream—
"Stay away from her!" shouted a voice.
Huang burst from around the corner, small and fast, with a short blade ready.
He jumped in between them, attacking first. The thief blocked and then quickly struck back, cutting Huang's side.
Blood sprayed into the dusty air. Huang stumbled, clutching his side, his legs buckling.
"Huang!" Yue gasped, horror in her heart.
The thief turned, blade lifted again—
Yue picked up Huang's knife, she holds the knife towards the thief. Her body was trembling in fear but her eyes showed no weakness.
Even though she had no training, she was not willing to give up without a fight.
The thief was not impressed, and lunged towards her.
Suddenly, a tall figure dropped between them like lightning in a storm.
It happened fast—one precise stroke.
The thief fell hard to the ground, choking, his knife clattering.
The man looked like a hero stepped out of legend—broad-shouldered, sword in hand, every inch of him forged in battle and sunlight.
His sword dripped crimson. His dark robes shifted in the breeze, and his expression was colder than steel.
"General Wan," Yue whispered, hardly believing it.
He looked at her, his expression softening slightly. "Yue, are you hurt?"
She shook her head, feeling relief wash over her.
"Then we're leaving," he said, his voice firm.
Without hesitation, he stooped down and picked up Huang with one arm as if he weighed nothing.
Blood stained the eunuch's clothes, but Wan's grip was steady, practiced—gentle, even.
Yue was frozen in place, her breaths coming quickly.
General Wan looked at her. "Yue, are you waiting for me to pick you up as well?"
His voice snapped her out of her daze.
She quickly picked up the package and began to walk with him, stealing one glance at the thief's body left behind in the alley.
The sun touched the thief's lifeless face, mixing dirt and blood with dust.
"Why were you out here alone?" Wan asked as they emerged into the street.
The market noise was distant but still there—children playing, sellers shouting, wheels clattering over stones.
"I wasn't alone," Yue said softly. "Huang was with me."
"That doesn't count," Wan replied.
"I didn't want to attract attention…"said Yue in a small voice
He stopped walking, casting her a sideways glance.
"You are attention."
Wan shifted Huang in his arms for a better grip
Almost instinctively, he reached out and touched Yue's shoulder—firm and reassuring.
"Forget it. We will talk more at the estate"
In that moment, despite the bustling crowd and bright sun, Yue finally felt she could breathe again.
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Back at General Wan's Estate, a physician worked quickly, applying salve and binding Huang's wound with white gauze.
Nearby, Wan paced back and forth, looking worried and tense.
Yue sat quietly, hands folded, until the worst had passed.
"Huang, take the package back to the palace," she said gently.
"Give it to Consort Shu and let her know that I'm safe."
"My lady…"
"I'll stay here. General Wan… he'll keep me safe."
Huang gave her a long look, then nodded.
After he left, silence settled like snow.
Wan turned, checking her over from head to toe to make sure there were no hidden injuries.
And then—flick!—his finger snapped against her forehead.
"Ow!"
Yue covered her head and glared up at him, annoyed.
"You're still doing that? You can't even ask nicely first?"
Wan raised an eyebrow. "You were nearly assaulted, and you expect niceness?"
"But I wasn't. You came just in time," she muttered, dragging her words out like a child who knew she was in trouble but refused to admit it.
She tugged on the corner of his sleeve, peeking up at him with wide eyes.
"You're so fierce with everyone else, but you never say no when I ask for help…"
"General Wan, are you sure you don't just like saving me?"
He exhaled slowly, as if he had no defenses left.
"You act spoiled every time I let my guard down," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"One of these days, I won't be around to rescue you."
"But this time you were," she said sweetly, her voice soft with gratitude and just a touch of innocent mischief.
Wan reached out and ruffled her hair—not gently, not roughly, just enough to remind her she was still the little girl who used to sneak sweets from the kitchens and cry to him when she got caught.
"Next time," he said, "you're taking a guard. I don't care if you have to dress him as a maid."
Yue laughed, the sound light and bright under the quiet night sky.
Moments later, the doctor had left, and the estate was quiet, with only distant birds chirping as they returned to their nests.
"I wasn't supposed to be at the market," Yue said, breaking the silence.
Wan raised an eyebrow. "Then why were you there?"
"I came to see you," she explained simply, turning to look at him.
"But I got distracted..."
Wan's expression softened and smirked. "I expect nothing less."
Her smile faded. "I remembered something."
Wan straightened slightly.
"In my dream... or maybe it was a memory... I saw a symbol: a dragon on a mountain surrounded by clouds. It was on the man who attacked me."
Wan paused for a moment, his face calm. "A dragon on a mountain... with clouds?" he repeated.
Yue nodded. "Do you know it?"
He hesitated, speaking softly. "It was the sigil of the Kingdom of Yun. 'Cloud atop the mountain, dragon within'—they called it the Throne of Mist. A small kingdom to the north, conquered by the previous emperor about a decade ago."
Yue's eyes darkened. "So it is real."
Wan said nothing.
"I must have been from there," she murmured.
"Maybe my family lived near the border and were killed when the Yun Kingdom fell. I was the only one left until your family took me in."
Wan moved slowly to sit beside her. "It's good that you remember."
She looked up, speaking softly.
"Is it?"
Wan's expression tightened.
"Your family might have been nobles or border folk. War is cruel, Yue. It takes without asking."
"Sometimes, it is easier to dive deep into the past."
"But I don't want to forget. I want to know who I was."
He gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Then do it slowly, one step at a time, but live for what's ahead."
Yue studied him for a moment, then smiled slightly.
Wan leaned back with a sigh. "So... is it true?"
She blinked. "What?"
"You're a concubine now," he said, trying to sound casual.
Yue chuckled softly. "I see news travelled fast"
"So it's true," Wan said, not meeting her eyes.
"It is," she confirmed. "And... there's more. Consort Shu had a son."
"Yes, I am aware, I think the whole empire knows that" said Wan coldly.
"They named him Sheng. He has her eyes.... She's very happy."
A silence hung between them until Yue tilted her head, playful again.
"You know she still asks about you. I think she is hoping you will congratulate her."
"I see…I'll send a wooden sword for the prince." Wan said in a playful tone
Yue laughed.
But then a bell tolled in the distance—deep and solemn. The sound rang once, then twice.
Her eyes widened.
"Sundown!" she stood abruptly. "The palace gates will close!"
Wan rose instantly. "You have go. I'll escort you to the palace gates"
By the time she reached the side entrance of the palace, the sky had already bled into hues of deep red and dusky gold.
The guards at the outer post gave her a sympathetic look.
"The inner gates were shut a quarter-hour ago, my lady."
Yue bit her lip. "No exceptions?"
"The Emperor ordered strict curfew today. Not even a bird can fly over those walls without his notice."
Yue turned slowly, heart sinking.