The chamber was quiet once more.
The faint scent of blood had been mostly cleared away.
The guards worked efficiently—removing the corpse, wiping the floor, restoring order as if nothing had happened.
As if the death from moments ago had never existed.
Li Xuan stood near the window, his back straight, his expression calm.
The cold indifference from before had already disappeared.
In its place—
A gentle, slightly weakened demeanor returned.
The Fourth Prince.
"Your Highness, the matter has been handled."
A guard stepped forward and bowed.
"We will report this and continue the investigation."
Li Xuan gave a soft nod, his posture subtly unsteady.
"…Thank you for your efforts."
His voice was mild.
Polite.
Exactly as the original prince would have spoken.
The guards exchanged brief glances.
That strange feeling from earlier…
Still lingered.
But they said nothing.
"As you command, Your Highness."
Soon, they withdrew.
The chamber fell silent again.
"Your Highness!"
A familiar voice called out urgently from outside.
The door opened hurriedly.
A young girl rushed in, her breathing uneven, her face filled with worry.
This was Xiao Lan.
Li Xuan's personal maid.
She was dressed in simple palace attire, her movements light and refined. Her features were delicate, her skin fair, her eyes clear and expressive.
Not breathtaking—
But undeniably above average in beauty, especially among palace maids.
"Your Highness, I heard there was trouble—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Her gaze swept across the room.
Clean.
Orderly.
Yet…
The faint trace of something wrong still lingered.
Her eyes quickly returned to Li Xuan.
Relief flooded her expression.
"You're safe…"
Li Xuan looked at her calmly.
Gentle.
Unthreatening.
"I'm fine."
Xiao Lan stepped closer, still anxious.
"But I heard there was an assassination attempt—"
"It's already been dealt with."
Li Xuan interrupted softly.
His tone was reassuring.
Warm.
Exactly like before.
Yet—
For a brief moment—
Xiao Lan felt something… off.
She lowered her head quickly.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Then her expression shifted again.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"You don't look well…"
Li Xuan didn't respond immediately.
Xiao Lan's eyes widened.
"…Poison?"
She didn't hesitate.
Turning immediately, she hurried toward the door.
"I'll summon the royal physician at once!"
Her footsteps quickly faded.
Li Xuan watched her leave.
The warmth in his eyes disappeared instantly.
"…Too fast to react."
Was it genuine concern ?
Or trained behavior?
He didn't know.
So—
He would assume the worst
Time passed.
Soon, an elderly man entered, led by Xiao Lan.
The royal physician.
"This old servant greets Your Highness."
"No need."
Li Xuan sat down slowly, maintaining a slightly weakened posture.
The physician approached and began examining him carefully.
Pulse.
Breathing.
Internal energy.
Moments later—
His expression changed.
"Indeed… poison."
Xiao Lan's face turned pale.
"Physician, is His Highness in danger?"
The old man shook his head slowly.
"The poison was potent… yet it has already been forcefully suppressed."
His gaze turned toward Li Xuan, filled with surprise.
"Your Highness endured it and circulated Qi to resist it…"
"Such resilience is rare."
Xiao Lan looked at Li Xuan in shock.
"You… did that yourself?"
Li Xuan gave a faint, modest smile.
"I simply didn't want to die."
The physician nodded approvingly.
"Still, traces remain. This old servant will administer treatment."
After administering medicine and guiding his Qi—
The physician finally stepped back.
"The danger has passed. With rest, Your Highness will recover."
"Do not exert yourself."
Li Xuan inclined his head slightly.
"Understood."
The physician soon left.
Silence returned.
Xiao Lan remained behind.
She carefully prepared the medicine.
Her movements were practiced.
Gentle.
Attentive.
"Your Highness, please take this."
Li Xuan accepted it.
But his gaze lingered on her.
Observing.
Measuring.
Suspicious.
Every detail mattered.
Every reaction.
Every word.
No one in this palace was innocent.
Including her.
"You may rest after this."
His tone was calm.
But distant.
Xiao Lan paused slightly.
"…Yes, Your Highness."
She lowered her head.
But her fingers tightened slightly.
Something was wrong.
The Fourth Prince had always been warm.
Kind.
Considerate.
But now—
There was a gap.
A distance.
As if she were no longer trusted.
'…Did I do something wrong?'
She murmured inwardly.
But she said nothing.
Only stepped back quietly.
Meanwhile…
Deep within the palace.
A grand chamber.
The Emperor sat silently upon his throne.
"Poisoned?"
His voice was calm.
But heavy.
A guard knelt below.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"The Fourth Prince was targeted. The perpetrator has been executed."
Silence followed.
The Emperor's fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.
"…Investigate."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"No one acts within my palace…"
"…without consequences."
The air grew cold.
Unseen forces began to stir.