The blade that strikes fastest often cuts deepest, but the warrior who strikes without thought bleeds first. In the mont of crisis, stillness becos your shield, and wisdom your sword.
— Sage Master Chen Feng, Voice of the Four Winds
Dawn painted the courtyard in muted colors as Xiulan faced her assembled guards. The n avoided eye contact, their shoulders hunched with collective sha. Yesterday’s discovery of the grotesque scarecrow cast a dark shadow over their newly ford unit.
The mystery of how soone infiltrated their secured residence gnawed at everyone. Not a single guard reported unusual activity. No servant witnessed anything suspicious. The calculated precision of the attack achieved its goal—sowing seeds of doubt among her people before they could properly bond.
Sweat trickled down Xiulan’s back as she led the morning exercises. Without access to her ridians, the physical strain burned through her muscles. Still, she pushed forward. Building a strong foundation now would pay dividends later.
"Hold!" Instructor Han’s sharp command cut through the morning air. He stepped forward, scanning the assembled guards with a critical eye. "You four—stay behind." He pointed to select individuals from the group. The rest moved off to take care of their morning duties.
Xiulan accepted a cloth from i Chen, dabbing at her forehead. The young maid fidgeted beside her.
"Aren’t we finished, Miss?" i Chen glanced at the dispersing guards.
A smile tugged at Xiulan’s lips. "Now cos the interesting part—weapon training."
"Oh..." i Chen’s eyes widened as Han distributed wooden practice weapons among those who remained.
"Line up!" Han barked. "Everyone—including you two." He thrust practice spears toward Xiulan and i Chen.
Xiulan gripped the wooden practice spear, its weight unfamiliar yet oddly comforting. The morning sun cast long shadows across the training yard as Han positioned himself before the small group.
"The spear extends your reach, but a misplaced thrust leaves you vulnerable." Han demonstrated the starting stance. "Right foot forward, right hand at chest level."
Xiulan mirrored his position, adjusting her grip when Han shook his head. The wooden shaft pressed against her palm as she raised the tip to eye level. Beside her, i Chen struggled to maintain the proper stance, the practice weapon wavering in her grasp.
"Point between your opponent’s eyes." Han tapped Xiulan’s spear higher. "This guards your head while maintaining threat."
Sweat beaded on Xiulan’s forehead as she held the position. The spear was heavy—filled with lead? The muscles in her arms burned from the morning’s earlier exercises, but she refused to lower the weapon. Han walked through their small group, making minor corrections to stances and grips.
"Now, the short thrust." Han demonstrated the motion—sharp, controlled, deadly. "No foot movent. Left hand stays at your center."
Xiulan pushed forward with her right arm, keeping her feet planted. The spear tip shot out like a striking snake. Her left hand remained steady near her solar plexus, anchoring the movent. Ten tis she repeated the motion, each thrust more precise than the last.
"Long-range thrust next." Han extended his own spear in a fluid motion. "Left hand slides under your right arm. Full extension."
The group practiced in unison, wooden spears cutting through the morning air. With each repetition, Xiulan focused on maintaining her eye-level tip alignnt.
Next ca a combination drill.
"Short thrust, retract, long thrust, retract. Five cycles." Han punctuated each word with precise movents.
The wooden shaft grew slick with sweat as Xiulan executed the combination. Her muscles burned from the repetitive motion, but each thrust grew more controlled. Beside her, i Chen struggled to maintain her form, the spear wobbling with each retraction.
"Higher tip, i Chen." Han tapped her spear upward. "Never expose your face."
The four guards moved in unison through their drills, their practiced movents flowing smoother than Xiulan’s attempts. The morning sun climbed higher, and the shadows shortened.
"Angle slash." Han shifted his stance. "Left hand at the plexus, right hand raised."
Xiulan mimicked his position. The downward slash felt natural, at least.
"Good control." Han nodded at her form. "Now combine the slash with a long thrust."
She worked through the new combination. The wooden spear cut through the air in controlled arcs, each movent building on the last.
"Switch hands," Han ordered.
The familiar movents beca awkward as Xiulan reversed her grip. The spear felt unwieldy in her left hand, but she pressed on. Each repetition brought minor improvents, her body adapting to the reversed position.
Instructor Han lowered his practice spear and studied their forms with an appraising eye. "Regular practice will strengthen your foundations. The spear teaches discipline that transfers to all combat styles. That will be all for today."
Xiulan glanced at the four guards who remained behind. "Was their presence necessary for today’s lesson?"
"i Chen appears drained, and I believe you are hiding your own strain, Miss." Han adjusted his stance. "We’ll incorporate sparring sessions later, but today we focused on basics."
"I can barely lift my arms." i Chen admitted while slumping against her practice spear. Sweat darkened the collar of her training clothes.
"We should take it easy this evening." Xiulan rolled her shoulders, feeling the burn of overworked muscles.
Han nodded in approval. "Skip tonight’s session entirely. Rest will serve you better than pushing too hard, too soon."
"Thank you for the instruction." Xiulan bowed to Han and the guards before turning toward the bathhouse.
i Chen hurried alongside her. "Your hair needs attention again, Miss. The training completely—"
"Five hundred brush strokes maximum this ti." Xiulan wiped sweat from her brow.
"But Miss!" i Chen’s eyes widened in horror. "That’s not nearly enough to—"
"We’re eting Official Qin later. We can’t spend hours on my hair."
They rounded the corner and nearly collided with Auntie Lan.
The elderly maid’s stern gaze swept over their disheveled training clothes. "This is wholly unacceptable for soone of your station."
"We need to learn self-defense." Xiulan squared her shoulders. "Moving freely is essential for proper training."
Instead of the expected lecture about proper ladylike behavior, Auntie Lan’s expression softened. She smoothed her apron with practiced hands. "Acceptable outfits exist for ladies who wish to train—but these guard uniforms invite scandal and gossip."
"Every dress I’ve worn restricts leg movent." Xiulan tugged at her damp clothing.
Auntie Lan lifted her chin. "Clean yourselves up. We’ll visit the manor market together and select appropriate attire."
The promise of a solution propelled Xiulan and i Chen toward the bathhouse. Steam rose from the heated water as they scrubbed away the morning’s exertion.
"Auntie Lan rivals your mother in fearsoness." i Chen dunked a cloth in the water.
Xiulan released a slow breath and nodded. "I almost forgot who was in charge."
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"I’m just glad Miss isn’t so strict." i Chen splashed water playfully.
Xiulan grinned. "Wisdom and common sense can be the best authorities. Suppressing them for rank would be a bad idea."
The warm water soothed Xiulan’s aching muscles as i Chen worked thodically across her back. Steam curled around them, carrying the subtle scent of jasmine oil. Once she was clean, they moved to the table and i Chen started working with the comb.
It was nice, but she had too much excited energy to relax like the day before.
"Not too much." Xiulan lifted a hand. "Two hundred strokes maximum, and a simple braid."
"But Miss—"
"We have business to attend to, so not even the five hundred I promised earlier."
i Chen sighed dramatically but complied, working efficiently to style Xiulan’s hair into a practical braid. The familiar motions of getting dressed followed, each layer settling into place.
Auntie Lan waited in the courtyard garden, surrounded by the morning glory vines that climbed the latticed walls. Two guards fell into formation as they set out toward the market district. The familiar storefront of the dress shop ca into view, its carved wooden sign swaying gently in the breeze.
Xiulan frowned at the display window. The selection had seed limited during her last visit—mostly formal robes and ceremonial wear. In Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles, female characters had worn practical training clothes that combined elegance with mobility. She’d never seen such garnts in reality, but perhaps...
The shopkeeper rushed to greet them, promptly hanging a "Closed for Private Service" sign on the door. Before Xiulan could speak, Auntie Lan stepped forward.
"The private collection." Auntie Lan’s tone brooked no argunt. "Training wear suitable for a young lady of status."
The shopkeeper bobbed a series of quick bows and disappeared behind a screened doorway. Monts later, assistants erged carrying armfuls of clothing Xiulan had never seen displayed before. The fabrics ranged from sturdy cotton to lightweight silk.
But… she wasn’t sure how this would help? They were pretty enough, but they still had cloth that ran almost to the ankle. Earth-toned fabrics shimred with delicate gold trim—beautiful, yet seemingly impractical for training.
Xiulan started to ask when, without a word, Auntie Lan grasped the skirt of the nearest dress and pulled. The fabric split cleanly, revealing fitted trousers underneath.
"Oh..." Xiulan breathed out softly. The clever design was familiar.
"Look at this!" i Chen darted forward, running her fingers along the hidden seams. "The way these hems split will let us move freely during practice!"
"Indeed." Auntie Lan smoothed the panels back into place. "When standing still, they maintain proper appearance. No one need know about the trousers beneath."
A polite smile tugged at Xiulan’s lips. The whole concept of hiding trousers seed ridiculous. But, when in Ro …
"We’ll take all of them." Xiulan nodded to the seamstress.
"Of course, Miss Lin. I have your asurents on file—"
"Take i Chen’s asurents as well."
The seamstress froze. Auntie Lan’s eyebrows shot up. Even i Chen stared at Xiulan with wide eyes.
Xiulan’s gaze lingered on the seamstress. "Two dresses for i Chen as well," she ordered.
i Chen fidgeted nervously, but she submitted to having her asurents taken. The seamstress worked quickly, wrapping the asuring tape around the i’s waist and shoulders. Xiulan watched with a smug smile, enjoying the grumpy expression that ford on her maid’s face.
"Miss Xiulan, I have so business to discuss with the tailor," Auntie Lan said, her voice gentle yet firm. "You two can go on ahead."
Xiulan and i Chen bowed deeply. "Thank you for your help, Auntie Lan," Xiulan said.
Outside the shop, i Chen pouted, her cheeks puffed in mild frustration. "Miss Xiulan, I’m your maid, not a soldier!"
Xiulan chuckled, leading them toward the administrative building. "You’ve been doing all kinds of things lately, i Chen. Training the last two days should have prepared you."
i Chen looked away, her voice low. "I did expect it, which makes it all the more frustrating!"
Xiulan glanced at her. "I intend to keep you by my side wherever I go."
i Chen’s cheeks turned red in a full blush. "I’d like to stay with you too, Miss," she mumbled.
Xiulan smiled warmly. The guards followed closely behind them as they walked through the bustling market street. The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the sharp tang of herbs from nearby stalls.
They reached the administrative building and repeated the greeting ritual from the day before. A servant led them to the sa private room.
i Chen set down the box of records with a determined look, her fingers brushing over the worn edges.
Xiulan frowned as the docunts spread before her. She had pored over them the night before, hoping to uncover so hidden clue about the sandalwood revenues. But docunts that would seal the connection to Madam Zhang were missing. Hopefully Bo Qin would bring them today.
"Maybe we missed sothing," Xiulan muttered, her frustration simring beneath the surface.
i Chen nodded. "Perhaps another look will reveal more."
They settled into their seats, the silence punctuated only by the rustling of parchnt. Xiulan traced her finger along the columns of figures, searching for patterns or discrepancies. The minutes stretched into an hour, and still, no new insights erged.
The tea pot sat empty on the table, its contents long gone. Xiulan’s restlessness grew. She drumd her fingers on the table, her gaze flicking to the door.
A servant entered, bowing deeply. "Miss Lin, we have not yet located Official Qin. Your wait may be prolonged."
Xiulan’s eyes narrowed. "How much longer?"
The servant hesitated. "It is uncertain, Miss Lin. We are doing our utmost to find him."
He refilled the teapot with fresh leaves and hot water before retreating silently. Xiulan poured herself a cup, the fragrant steam rising to et her. She took a sip, but the tea did little to soothe.
Another hour passed. The tension in the room thickened like an invisible fog. i Chen glanced at Xiulan, worry etched across her features.
"Miss..." i Chen’s voice trembled slightly.
Xiulan looked up from the records, eting i Chen’s concerned gaze.
She released a long breath, the tension draining from her shoulders. "Haa... this isn’t great. Official Qin is missing?" She tapped her fingers against the polished table’s surface. "What do you think are the chances he just forgot today was his day off?"
"Officials don’t get days off in the middle of the week, Miss." i Chen folded her hands in her lap.
The implications settled like a cold weight in her stomach. "Pack up the docunts. We’ll head back to Mother’s courtyard—I still haven’t discussed Lan Yue’s letter with her."
i Chen nodded and gathered the scattered papers with practiced efficiency, sorting them into neat stacks before returning them to their box.
Before heading back, there actually was one thing she needed to do first. "Also, I need to speak with Jin Wei about organizing so equipnt for tomorrow’s Treasure Pavilion delivery." Xiulan stood, straightening her robes.
"Shall we stop at the pharmacy then, Miss?" i Chen secured the box under her arm.
"Yes." Xiulan strode toward the door.
A servant hurried past in the hallway. Xiulan raised her hand to halt him. "When Official Qin is found, have him send a note. We cannot wait any longer today."
The servant dropped into a deep bow. "Of course, Miss Lin. I will ensure your ssage reaches him imdiately upon his return."
Xiulan stepped into the afternoon sunlight, squinting against the glare reflecting off the administrative building’s white stone walls. Their two guards fell into formation—one ahead, one behind—as she and i Chen passed beneath the ornate gateway arch.
A dozen ard n materialized from the surrounding street, weapons glinting in the sun. Xiulan spun around to find more guards closing in from behind, cutting off any escape route. The circle tightened, boots scraping against cobblestones.
One man stepped foreward and Xiulan’s heart sank as she recognized his face—it was Luo Han. Madam Zhang’s spy.
"Halt!" He jabbed a finger toward i Chen. "That servant stands accused of stealing official docunts!"
"What?" The word burst from Xiulan’s lips. Blood pounded in her ears as she processed the accusation.
Her two personal guards gripped their weapon hilts, muscles tensed. "Miss?" Their questioning tone carried equal asures of loyalty and uncertainty.
Xiulan’s teeth dug into her lower lip as she assessed their situation. The odds looked grim—fourteen against two, even if her guards proved loyal. i Chen clutched the docunt box to her chest, trembling. Terror widened her eyes as she stared at Xiulan.
Xiulan grabbed i Chen’s arm and lifted her chin defiantly. "This is my personal attendant. If you intend to take her, you must take too!"
Luo Han smiled with malice. "Arrest Miss Lin Xiulan as well!"
Why couldn’t they have waited for just one more day?
Even with newly unlocked ridians, she’d be able to deal with a dozen guards. Or at least make them show respect!
The soldiers moved in and seized them.
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