Esmeria

“Ha... hahaha... HAHAHAHA!" Gilles erupted in laughter, unable to contain his glee. "The plan was long and arduous, but King Wu is finally dead!" He couldn't stop grinning as he reveled in the news. The years of scheming, the intricate web of deceit, and the countless hours spent manipulating events behind the scenes had all led to this moment. The once-imposing figure of King Wu was gone, leaving a power vacuum that Gilles had longed for. The joy in his voice was palpable, tinged with a sense of vindication and triumph.

"Annie, we shall proceed with the next phase of the plan tonight!" Gilles declared, his voice brimming with excitement.

Annie looked at him with a playful smile. "Whatever do you mean, Father?"

Gilles chuckled softly. "Don't play coy with me! You know exactly what I mean."

Annie's smile widened. "Alright, Father," she replied, her tone laced with a hint of mischief.

“But what about that accursed Peng Xian?” she asked, her tone suddenly serious.

"Leave him to me," Gilles replied confidently. His face twisted into a grin as he continued, "Hahaha... This is such an opportune moment for us! Hahahahaha!" His laughter echoed through the room, filled with a sinister delight he could no longer contain.

Turning her attention to Harun and Yasmin, Annie spoke with a commanding presence. "Harun, Yasmin, I trust you two can handle the simple task of eliminating a mere guard dog?" Her tone was sharp, laced with an unspoken threat, as if failure was not an option.

Harun, brimming with confidence, began to boast, "Who do you take us for—" But before he could finish, Yasmin interrupted, shooting him a sharp look to keep him in check.

"Leave it to us, Annie," Yasmin said, her voice steady and composed. She had noticed the change in Annie's demeanor since she consumed the recovery pill given by their Master.

Annie had become more erratic and cruel, and Yasmin didn't want to risk incurring her wrath. Her sole focus was on completing the mission and returning to Mustasim, her and Harun's hometown, where she hoped they could leave the life of assassins behind and live together in peace.

Annie sauntered over to Yasmin, her eyes glinting with a dangerous light. She began caressing Yasmin's face, her nails lightly grazing her skin, leaving a faint scratch.

"I hope you guys manage to get it right," Annie said with a sarcastic smirk. Her voice carried a suggestive undertone as she continued, "After all, if you can't handle such a simple task, who knows what might happen?"

Yasmin swallowed hard, feeling the tension in the air. "D-don't worry," she stammered, her voice trembling. "We'll complete the job, even if it costs us our lives."

Harun instinctively moved to intervene, wanting to stop Annie from threatening them, but Yasmin quickly held up a hand to stop him. Her gesture was subtle but clear, implying that she could handle the situation and didn’t want him to escalate things further.

“We will take care of the spoiled princess and her bodyguard tonight,” Annie declared with a cold, decisive tone. “The plan will commence at the hour of the pig.”

Yasmin, looking slightly puzzled, asked, “Pardon us, but we’re not familiar with Luo Yang’s timekeeping system.”

Annie let out an exasperated sigh. “Can you two be any more clueless? The hour of the pig is nine o'clock in the evening.”

“You’re dismissed,” she continued with a steely edge in her voice. “Don’t disappoint me.”

“Y-yes, we won’t let you down…” Yasmin stammered, while Harun clenched his teeth in frustration.

After leaving Gilles’ mansion, Harun’s frustration boiled over. He turned to Yasmin, unable to keep his feelings in check.

“Who does she think she is?! We’re her seniors!” Harun snapped, his anger palpable.

Yasmin’s gaze was steady as she replied, “Your attitude is going to get you killed one day. Can’t you see? Annie’s changed; she’s like a completely different person now.”

“More like she revealed her true colors!” Harun retorted.

“I think the pill is what changed Annie,” Yasmin said, her tone serious.

“Are you out of your mind? Are you really blaming the pill our master gave her out of kindness?” Harun exclaimed, his disbelief evident.

Yasmin sighed, shaking her head in frustration. “You’re really clueless, aren’t you? We’d better be careful, or we might end up like her in the future.”

“Well… if you say so…” Harun said, though he admired their master greatly. In the end, he chose to trust his childhood friend’s insight over his master’s intentions.

Peng Xian was getting ready in his guest room for the ceremonial wake for King Wu when the door suddenly burst open. The inner palace guards stormed in, their faces stern and determined.

"Grand Court Wizard Peng Xian, you are hereby under arrest for the poisoning and murder of King Wu!" the head guard declared loudly, his voice echoing through the room.

Peng Xian raised an eyebrow, maintaining his composure. "Oh my, what proof do you have that I poisoned King Wu?" he asked calmly.

"Men, search every corner of this room. Leave no stone unturned!" the head guard ordered, his voice sharp and authoritative.

"Yes, Sir!" the guards responded in unison. They began to ransack the room, leaving nothing untouched. Peng Xian's personal belongings, his carefully arranged research items—all were thrown into disarray. They even broke several delicate objects in their search.

Peng Xian stood silently, watching the chaos unfold. He clenched his fists, restraining himself from reacting. He knew that any resistance could worsen the situation, especially so soon after King Wu's death.

"Sir, we've found a suspicious item!" one of the guards announced, handing a poison-laden dagger to the head guard.

"Explain yourself, Peng Xian!" the head guard demanded, pointedly omitting Peng Xian's title to belittle him as much as possible.

Peng Xian remained calm. "I obtained this from the assailants who targeted my life," he replied, his voice steady.

Just as he finished speaking, another guard approached with a flask. "Sir, we also found suspicious liquids that we believe to be poison!"

The head guard's eyes narrowed. "There's enough evidence to prove you're the murderer of King Wu! Men, take Peng Xian to jail!" he ordered, not allowing Peng Xian any chance to defend himself.

"Yes, Sir!" The guards quickly tied Peng Xian's hands and began escorting him out.

Peng Xian sighed and shook his head. "Oh my, oh my, so this is all a ploy to get rid of me, huh?" he muttered under his breath, a hint of resignation in his voice.

After Peng Xian was imprisoned, Gilles appeared, humming a cheerful tune.

"I knew you were the one who sent those assailants, Gilles!" Peng Xian accused, his voice echoing through the cold, damp cell.

Gilles grinned, his joy unmistakable. "And what can you do about it? The whole of Luo Yang believes you're the murderer of King Wu," he replied, his tone dripping with satisfaction.

A sudden realization struck Peng Xian, as if a veil had been lifted from his eyes. "So that's it... That's what you're really after! Damn you, Gilles!" he shouted, his voice filled with anger and frustration.

"You wanted to assassinate the princess and replace her with a look-alike so you could control Luo Yang from the shadows!" Peng Xian accused, his voice trembling with fury.

Gilles chuckled darkly. "It's too late for you now. There's no one left to help you. Even Xiao Jie is away and won't be back anytime soon," he said, his tone cold and triumphant.

"Your only fate is to be executed once the princess ascends the throne! Ahahahaha!" Gilles taunted, his laughter echoing through the prison.

"Your plan will not succeed!" Peng Xian retorted, his voice firm despite the situation.

Gilles smirked, not breaking stride. "Enjoy your little vacation here before you meet your end, my thorn in the flesh!" he said, leaving the cell and continuing to hum his joyful tune.

Gilles was confident that Peng Xian would remain imprisoned. He knew that any attempt to break free would only result in more innocent lives being caught in the crossfire, causing chaos and weakening Luo Yang even further.

Peng Xian, left alone in the dim cell, sighed deeply. "My sworn brother, Xiao Jie, what would you do in these circumstances?" he mused, his thoughts turning to the princess. "Please be safe..."

News of King Wu's murder at the hands of Peng Xian spread quickly throughout Luo Yang, causing a deep divide among the citizens. Some believed Peng Xian was guilty, while others staunchly defended his innocence. This controversy led to widespread unrest, with clashes breaking out as each side tried to force the other into submission.

In just one day, Luo Yang's peace shattered, replaced by unrest and hatred. Cries for Peng Xian's immediate execution echoed through the streets, led by individuals secretly working under Gilles to sow chaos.

Liang Sheng, the merchant lord, struggled to quell the unrest in his district. Despite his best efforts, he could barely contain the chaos and was only able to focus on protecting his own area. Fearful of crossing Gilles, the Right Minister of Luo Yang, Liang Sheng was cautious not to make any enemies who might further destabilize his already precarious position.

Guards and soldiers were deployed to quell the unrest, but their numbers were insufficient, causing them to be spread thinly throughout the city. The thin deployment further fueled the chaos, as the strained forces struggled to maintain order amidst the escalating tensions.

Even most of the palace guards were deployed into the city, aiding the city guards and soldiers, which left the palace itself thinly guarded. This further strained the already stretched forces, leaving critical areas vulnerable and adding to the overall sense of instability.

Inside the palace, the atmosphere was tense. The few remaining guards stood at their posts, their eyes darting nervously as they tried to stay vigilant despite their reduced numbers. Servants moved hurriedly through the halls, whispering among themselves about the turmoil outside and the news of King Wu’s death.

Even the ceremonial hall, where King Wu’s wake was being held, was filled with uneasy whispers. The officials who had arrived early to attend the wake were afraid to venture out into the city, believing the palace to be their only safe haven. Their minds were more concerned with their own safety than with honoring the memory of King Wu.

Wu Zhao lay beside King Wu’s coffin, mourning over his passing, too overwhelmed to give any commands. The fact that she had not completed the ceremony of ascending the throne, and the absence of an edict formally passing the throne to her, only added to the concerns among the officials. They whispered among themselves, worried about the future of the kingdom and the legitimacy of Wu Zhao's rule.

In terms of bloodline, Wu Zhao was the only successor. However, in terms of capability, age, and wisdom, Gilles, Peng Xian, and Xiao Jie were also considered potential interim rulers.

With Peng Xian imprisoned for allegedly murdering King Wu and Xiao Jie being hot-tempered and lacking allies, Gilles emerged as the only ideal choice for interim ruler.

Officials not already in Gilles' camp were now debating whether to join his side. The sight of Wu Zhao, vulnerable and overwhelmed by grief, did little to inspire confidence among the officials.

“Why did King Wu not leave behind an edict on passing the throne to the princess?” they whispered among themselves, casting doubtful glances at Wu Zhao.

“She is just a little girl after all…”

The murmurs of the officials grew louder, their unease palpable. They huddled together in tense groups, their eyes frequently darting toward Wu Zhao, who lay beside King Wu’s coffin in mourning. Their doubts about her capability as a ruler were evident, with whispers of concern about the future of Luo Yang and the lack of clear succession plans.

Jian Yi remained steadfast by Wu Zhao's side, his eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly. He stood on high alert, ready to protect her without rest, his presence a silent assurance amidst the growing chaos.

As night fell, the candles lighting the ceremonial hall were extinguished, plunging the room into darkness…