Disturbance

"We will now start the banquet!" an eunuch shrieked in his high-pitched voice after the emperor gave him the nod.

The chatter and noise died down immediately, the band of musicians stopped playing, and everyone looked up at the emperor. He cleared his throat with a grim expression before speaking in a serious tone.

"Our Jin Kingdom has successfully signed a truce with the Qi Empire a few days ago, thanks to the hard work of our officials." He paused to take a breath. "Envoys from the south, I hope you enjoy your stay here."

Three men dressed in long robes stood up and cupped their fists.

"Thank you, Emperor," one of them said. "It is our honour to be invited to such a banquet as this. We hope our presence will not diminish the festivity of this banquet."

The emperor nodded at them, then waved his hand. "Let the music continue," he announced.

Joyous and cheerful melody once again started, filling up the hall. The chatter and noise soon resumed.

Xiao Ruo who had been standing behind the princess lightly tapped her shoulder and leaned in to whisper. "You Highness, I left your coat in your chamber, would you permit me to go fetch it?"

Lili nodded. "You can go, but be quick."

Xiao Ruo quickly scurried off, leaving Lili to watch on with an amused expression. It wasn't often that Xiao Ruo spoke so formally, though she wouldn't do otherwise on an important day like today.

Just then, the Chancellor walked to the emperor and bowed deeply. "Greetings to the Emperor."

Lili looked at the Chancellor uneasily. For some reason, she had never felt very safe when she saw him. The Chancellor, the second most powerful man in the kingdom. There were currently two factions in court, and the Chancellor led one of them. He was rumoured to be corrupt and ruthless, though Lili could not say for herself how true the rumours were.

The emperor looked at the man standing before him, squinting his eyes as if trying to see through him. "What do you wish to say?"

The Chancellor smiled politely, however that could not hide the shrewdness in his eyes. "I wish the Emperor health and fortune, and many descendants to come. This official hopes that the emperor will continue to tolerate this official's bluntness and crude language. After all, I think for the benefit of the kingdom."

The emperor remained silent. The Chancellor patiently kept up his smile.

"Is that all you wish to say?"

"That is all."

"Alright, then return to your seat."

The Chancellor obeyed. No one saw the malicious glint in his eyes as he turned around, and no one heard what he whispered so his son as he sat down. But as Lili watched this man, she felt more and more uneasy.

After a while, the southern envoy who had spoken earlier stood up to greet the emperor. "We would like the emperor to have a taste of the wine from our Qi Empire. If the emperor likes it, we will send the rest to you as a gift."

The emperor nodded indifferently. "Pour the wine," he ordered the eunuch, who obeyed at once. After filling the cup, the eunuch placed it in front of the emperor, who swept it up briskly and downed it in an equally quick manner.

"Good wine," he commented, much to the relief of the envoys present. But just as they were about to sit back down, the emperor started to cough violently.

Lili looked up with concern. "Father, are you alright?"

The emperor held up his hand while still coughing into the other one. He opened his mouth again, wanting to speak, but all that came out was blood. The crowd gasped.

"Quick! Call the imperial physician!" The Crown Prince called out anxiously. "Hurry!" He urged the nearest eunuch.

At this point, the emperor's complexion had paled significantly. Just as Lili stood up, wanting to go to her father's side, numerous arrows flew towards the direction of the imperial family.

"Watch out!" her brother cried, rushing in front of her. Two arrows pierced through his chest, making him stagger backwards and crash into Lili. The princess froze, her gaze focused on the blood that dripped from her brother's chest.

The crowd was now in chaos. Screaming and crying could be heard as more arrows swished through the air.

"The guards! The guards! Where are the guards?" The people panicked, rushing around frantically and crawling under tables.

Xiao Cui pulled at Lili's arm. "Princess, we need to get out of here."

Lili had drowned out all the noise. "My brother," she whispered, hands shaking. "We have to find someone to save him."

"It's too dangerous," Xiao Cui said. "You need to escape from here first."

Dazed, the princess stayed in her sitting position. With no other choice, Xiao Cui dragged Lili from under her brother and pulled her out of the hall. By the time they reached the garden, Lily's mind had regained clarity.

"What about Xiao Ruo?" Lili asked, "She went to get my coat. We have to find her."

"There's no time," Xiao Cui said. "We have to go." She pulled the princess' arm, but she wouldn't budge.

Xiao Cui said anxiously, "They'll come after you soon, we need to go."

"But-"

A sharp object whizzed through the trees and lodged its way into the tree trunk beside them.

"Hurry! Run!" by now, Xiao Cui was on the verge of crying. This time Lili did as she was told, though her legs had lost all strength.

"Climb onto my back." Xiao Cui bent down. "Hurry!"

Lili clumsily held onto the other girl's neck, and Xiao Cui started towards the forest

"The princess went that way!" The assassins cried, going after her.

Xiao Cui hid behind a bush.

"Quick, swap clothes with me." Seeing as Lili wasn't listening, Xiao Cui ripped off her own dress, hurriedly pulled off the princess' dress and switched them. She then took out a small knife from her shoes and used it to cut off the princess' hair.

"What are you doing?" Lili asked, horrified.

Xiao Cui didn't give her an explanation. She put the knife in Lili's hands and said softly, "Use this to protect yourself."

"What are you going to do?" Lili said worriedly.

Xiao Cui shook her head. "Don't worry about me," she said. "Just run as far as you can. Run to somewhere they can't find you." After saying that, Xiao Cui stood up and went out of the bush. Go! She urged with her eyes. Go!

Tears streamed down Lili's face as she scrambled away from the bush. Sticks scratched her face and tore at her dress, but she paid them no attention. She kept running and running, and soon she became out of breath. But she still ran. The fear from having the arrow just miss her still lingered in her mind. She had no time to think about anything else.