The morning air over Lu Bai's residence was unnaturally still. The warmth of the sun felt heavy, as if it too carried the burden of uncertainty that now loomed in the hearts of those within the capital.
Lu Bai paced slowly through the stone corridors of his home, his brow creased in worry. Mo Shan Shan's sudden disappearance had caught him off guard. Despite the clues in their last conversation—the emotional release, the reawakened memories—he hadn't expected her to vanish into the unknown. His instincts told him something bigger was at play. And if his instincts were correct, it wouldn't be long before the royal court sensed it too.
Unable to rest, Lu Bai wrapped his cloak over his shoulders and headed straight to Li Wei's residence. Within moments, the two princes were seated in Li Wei's private study, the doors tightly shut behind them.
"She left without a word," Lu Bai said, his voice low but tense. "I sent word to my outer guards—none of them saw where she went. It's been a full day."
Li Wei's face shifted from mild concern to controlled urgency. Without hesitation, he walked to the small panel behind his bookshelf and sent a coded message through his spy network. He turned back to Lu Bai. "We'll know soon enough."
Hours passed, tension growing thick between them. Just as dusk began to settle, a cloaked figure slipped into the estate—one of Li Wei's trusted shadows. He knelt respectfully before the two princes and offered a sealed scroll.
Li Wei opened it, scanning the contents. Then his eyes lifted slowly to meet Lu Bai's. "She's been taken to the North."
Lu Bai stood, fists tightening by his side.
"That's her hometown," the spy added cautiously. "The rebel-held region. And that's not all, my prince. Our informants say the King is aware of this."
Lu Bai's expression darkened, and his chest tightened. This was what he feared. The connection between Mo Shan Shan and the rebel city was now exposed. The web of history, bloodlines, and suppressed truth had finally reached the throne.
At that very moment in the royal palace, the King sat in his chamber flanked by his lead guard and his closest eunuch. His fingers traced the rim of a delicate cup of tea, though he had no intention of drinking it.
"You understand what this means, don't you?" he said coldly.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the eunuch replied.
"The girl—Mo Shan Shan, the one we discussed—is now back in the North," the King continued. "Tell me this isn't the first sign of an uprising."
The lead guard shifted uncomfortably. "There's no direct proof of that yet, but her return may stir old loyalties."
The King's eyes narrowed. "We executed her father for rebellion. Her mother died in hiding. And now she returns? With ties to my own sons?"
He slammed the teacup down on the tray, the porcelain cracking. "Send word. Begin surveillance. I want to know what every prince is doing. And start with Lu Bai."
The eunuch hesitated, then leaned in slightly. "Your Majesty… it may be Prince Lu Bai who's orchestrating this. He's long shielded the girl, and he has ties to her past through his mother."
The King's face turned to stone. "Then we'll strip away the illusion of loyalty. Order house arrest. Place guards around his home. I want him watched. No one in. No one out."
Back at Li Wei's estate, Lu Bai paced once again. "It's already begun. The king will act now. He knows my past with her. I've been too close."
Li Wei rested a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Then let me go. If the king looks to punish anyone, it'll be you first. He won't suspect me—yet."
Lu Bai hesitated. "You'll be at risk if the rebellion escalates."
"I've always been at risk," Li Wei replied with a half-smile. "This is my choice."
Without further discussion, Li Wei prepared his journey to the North. Just as his horse galloped through the outer gates of the capital, imperial guards marched toward Lu Bai's residence.
Within the hour, Lu Bai found his home surrounded.
One of the guards stood at his doorstep and announced firmly, "By the order of His Majesty, Prince Lu Bai is hereby placed under house arrest. No one is permitted to enter or leave the premises until further notice."
Lu Bai stood calmly at the entrance, hiding the storm that brewed behind his eyes.
So it begins, he thought.