Under the emperor’s demand, commoners and nobles attended the trial of the Fox. This invite welcomed them into the palace, not the patch of death outside, as the execution intended to be conducted inside the border walls. The symbolism appeased the crowd; an assassin who entered the Lotus Palace would never leave.

Guards dragged Mingzhu to the courtyard by her chains, then tossed her onto the ground. The gown, originally pink and white, hung loosely on her, covered in red and tattered. Dried blood and bruises covered her from head to toe. Yet, no one offered sympathy and pity. The crowd rejoiced in her undoing, expressing their delight and disgust by yelling threats and verbal abuse. The words felt like puffs of dust to Mingzhu, who remained limp and submissive.

“Men of Shanhe! Women of Shanhe! Welcome to this historic day!” Cheng bellowed. “Today, Hong Huli, son of Hong Weishan and fifth emperor of Shanhe, brings you justice! The Fox has threatened Shanhe for months but no longer! Using his own wit and cunning, our emperor discovered the assassin and brings her forth for you to witness!”

The crowd cheered and demanded Mingzhu’s head. Their cries blended into one deafening scream. The only people who remained silent were Joaolong, Disung, Tai and the Linlong royalty. Mingzhu wished they cheered too, instead of watching the scene gravely. It made regret for her harsh words trickle inside her. Prepare yourself, she redirected her thoughts. Focus. This is your last mission.

“Greet your emperor, Fa Huian,” Cheng advised Mingzhu as the crowd hushed, anticipating death. “You dare act this way in front on the emperor? Speak!”

Mingzhu raised her head and tapped at her lips. Thick blood, still wet and bright in colour, caked them and her chin. When she opened her mouth, it revealed a mess; a tongue could not be seen among the blood and mangled flesh. The henchman last night did their dirty duty well.

A guard spoke in place of Mingzhu. “Excuse the prisoner, your majesty. She has been mute and bleeding since late last night. I believe she attempted suicide by swallowing her tongue. Please continue despite her silence.”

Lies. Mingzhu watched Huli and Xiaoli from the higher platform. They looked both beautiful and deadly when they smiled. Damn. How was she supposed to tell who ordered her tongue removal now if they shared a pleased reaction? Maybe, like true, uniting rulers, they worked together. What a horrible idea. Mingzhu pitied the people of Shanhe, who had no idea the monsters which controlled the kingdom. If only the true heir rose to save them.

“Fa Huian, you are hereby guilty of crimes against the kingdom of Shanhe. You had a proven relationship to the murderer of the past rulers, Lin Jiang, and hid your identify as the notorious assassin, the Fox. Emperor Hong Huli has decided your punishment will be death by beheading,” Cheng announced. “Bring her forth to proceed with the penalty.”

The soldiers obeyed but their actions remained slow and hesitant. While one grabbed the sword and others tightened their grip on Mingzhu’s chains, they looked to Disung. Unlike the commoners, they heard the rumours from the trial. They learnt they were to kill the notorious Ànshù’s lover and unborn child. There was no possibility he wouldn’t avenge her. All the guards felt their lives shorten dramatically under his hateful gaze. Little did they know, Mingzhu planned to do it, not her fake lover. If they wanted a monster, she could be one just like her father.

“Do you have any last words?” Huli asked in a condescending tone. He chuckled at her lack of response.

Cocky, bloody bastard. Wait until the true heir returns. Then, you will look like me and I hope I can see your face from the spirit realm. An endless, strangled sound escaped Mingzhu at the image of Huli cowering. At first the noise resembled a sob but after raising her head, the cackle of laughter was heard clearly. The fire in her belly roared and she felt the wildness of it flicker in her eyes. People around her trembled, scared by her.

“Did you think it was that easy to cut out my tongue?” She crooned.

Everyone stared in disbelief, reflecting the emperor’s shock.

“Zhao Cheng, what were Bai Juan’s last words? I lack the inspiration at this moment before my death and since you killed her, you could give me some insight. Did she beg you to end her life because she couldn’t stand being your wife? Or did she find out that you burnt down her home to force marriage upon her?” Mingzhu kept her eyes on Cheng. She watched him turn into a vessel lost in the ocean of emotions. Regret. Disbelief. Denial. Grief. Each came up and pounded against him, darkening his eyes. Just like that, Mingzhu knew the story about Juan’s death was a lie. Too bad she would have to ask Juan about it in the spirit realm while Cheng remained here. “Or maybe I should ask Ju Xiaoli and Hong Huli, since they share experience in murder. Alas, I think my best last words would be this: the true heir of Shanhe is alive and he will come to take his rightful place! People of Shanhe, hear my promise! A new dawn approaches!”

“Kill her!” Huli screeched.

Soldiers ran towards her and the people scattered. Mingzhu rose to her feet and sunk into a familiar fighting stance. She breathed in. Her body ached from last night’s brawl. The trembling of her hand never ceased.

“Watch out!” A feminine voice screamed, coming from the covered woman beside the Third Prince.

A guard raised his sword. The muscles in Mingzhu tightened and the tension they held since this morning snapped. She weaved by him, jabbed his wrists and forearms, then stole his sword. Heaving it up, she spun and smashed it against another soldier’s weapon. The clash of metal filled her ears. The soldiers blurred. The world spun. Focus, she reminded herself and blinked away the fog. She attempted a flipped handstand but as her face approached the ground, someone pulled at her chains. She tumbled and barely avoided breaking her neck.

With a low growl, she bolted towards the culprit holding her restraints. He tried to tug on the metal again but Mingzhu already had her weapon raised. She used the sword handle to whack him across the face. Immediately, he let go of the chains while she ignored the headache clawing inside her skull. She scrambled around and set her eyes of the three targets; Xiaoli, Huli and Cheng.

“Come with me!” A hand grabbed Mingzhu, yanking her off path.

“Let me go, boy!”

Disung held her arms up high to trap her in place. He gritted his teeth, pain and anger swirling in those warm eyes. “We have a plan to leave but we need to go now. Joaolong arranged a farmer’s cart to sneak us out.”

“But—”

“No buts! We leave. Otherwise, if you die-” Disung kicked a soldier away, “-then I cannot forgive myself. Come with me. Please.”

The greater battle than the execution was not crying. Mingzhu felt the tears from last night return, demanding to be spilt. Her chest contracted. Why was he doing this to her? Why was he making it harder? She swore to serve the mountain clan even if it meant sacrificing her life. All night, she prepared for death. Why now, moments before, did he offer a reason to live? When had she come to love him too much to let go? And for gods’ sakes, when did she turn into a crybaby?

“No. I must do this,” Mingzhu replied and looked backed to her targets.

“Mingzhu—”

He wouldn’t let her go and she couldn’t fight him. This was the last chance to repay her debts and she couldn’t lose it. Do it, a voice said to her. Tell him and be a monster of death.

“I ruined your family! I was the reason you left the mountain clan! It—”

Blackness swarmed Mingzhu’s vision. The early morning migraine won with a sudden stab and began stealing her senses.

Among her confusion, the palace suddenly went silent. Everyone froze and looked towards the south. A man stood alone on the pathway, leaning against a pillar and ate a clementine carelessly. Black clothing tightly covered his muscular body and the only bright colour came from the primarily-orange sewn mask on the top half of his face. It curved oddly around his features, masking his true appearance and forming into a pointed nose and ears.

“Did I arrive too late to see my death?” The Fox asked and clicked his tongue, judging the execution harshly.