The Trap Unfolds
"…Dangerous, you say?"
Though Jing Ke’s expression hardened at my sudden invitation to follow, she showed no sign of panic. She was still hiding her true identity from me. Whether she realized I had already guessed or not, she did her best to appear composed. Yet she could not control the instinctive reactions of her body. Her eyes trembled ever so slightly—an unconscious display of anxiety, wondering if the danger I spoke of was connected to her secret.
"Yes."
Instead of offering a lengthy explanation, I gave her time to think for herself. Though we had little time to spare, I waited in silence without urging or forcing her. The wait was not long. Despite her youth, Jing Ke possessed a sharp mind and the realism to objectively assess her situation. Once she understood that the danger I mentioned was directed at her, she quietly rose to her feet.
"I just need to follow you?"
I extended my hand toward her. The hand I offered was small—I was still a child myself, and the power I possessed was pitifully weak. Yet the hand that rested upon mine was even smaller and more fragile, stirring in me the thought that even someone like me had no choice but to help. It told me my choice had not been wrong. The warmth passing between our palms answered in her stead.
"That’s right."
I had no perfect solution to overcome this crisis, but I spoke with confidence. If I showed fear while speaking of danger, I would only amplify her anxiety rather than offer help. I gripped Jing Ke’s hand tightly and led her back the way we had come. We crossed into the western district and made the inn where she had been staying our temporary refuge. The commotion that would arise from her sudden disappearance could be dealt with later. Since Zhao had kept her alive even after attempting to kill her Qin-hostage father, they likely intended to use her as a hostage for now. Rescuing her from immediate danger alone would not give them grounds for open complaint—though they might seek petty revenge in secret, they would have to let the matter pass officially.
‘Though they will certainly take issue with the Crown Prince of Yan contacting someone from Qin.’
That, however, was a problem for after we escaped the present crisis. We moved while remaining on guard. Because the time between my arrival and our departure together was short, the streets were as quiet as when I had come. Perhaps escaping would prove easier than the weight on my shoulders suggested—especially if their motive was driven by ambition for glory. The more people involved, the higher the chance of success, but the reward would be divided accordingly. From what I had overheard, there were only three men behind me, and including the advance party, perhaps around ten in total. After all, subduing two powerless women was a simple task; they would not have increased their numbers and reduced their own shares. At least, I wanted to believe so.
‘I told Seok and Hyu to shout for me if they spotted anything suspicious.’
When I asked them to be especially vigilant today due to the uneasy atmosphere, neither raised any objections. Even if our paths crossed with the enemy by misfortune, the two of them acting as living alarms would allow us to avoid them. Yet my thinking had been too naive. They had already stationed men at the city gates in anticipation of Jing Ke’s escape. The moment I spotted them, my grip on her hand tightened involuntarily.
"Dan…"
"Ah, sorry."
I quickly loosened my hold and steadied my racing heart. ‘It’s fine. They may know about Jing Ke, but they don’t know me. If I take the lead and hide her, they won’t notice.’ Unless they were reckless enough to cause a scene while trying to capture her, they would not dare lay a hand on someone dressed in fine silk like me. ‘For now, we should fall back and regroup with Seok and Hyu. After that, I’ll use my status to clear a path.’ Even without declaring myself the Crown Prince of Yan outright, simply acting like the son of a noble house would likely make them back down.
But I had lingered in thought too long. My gaze met that of one of the men, who had noticed me staring. I assumed he would not recognize me, so there should be no problem—yet in the next instant, he pointed straight at me and shouted.
"There she is!"
The moment the cry rang out, I felt as though all the blood had been drained from my body. ‘These men… could they be after me as well?’ There was no time to be shocked. I spun around and ran, clutching Jing Ke’s hand so tightly that she could not possibly slip free. This time, she did not complain about the pain. The city guards showed some interest in the commotion, but when several of the men stepped forward, the guards quickly lost interest and returned to their posts. That alone made everything clear.
‘This isn’t the work of one or two people. Someone far higher up is involved—far more than I imagined.’
Someone who knew me and could exert influence over the city guards. Any high-ranking Zhao official could fit that description, but when I added a few more conditions, the list of suspects narrowed drastically. Among them, only one person possessed the greatest power, had a motive to trap me, and stood to gain from this incident.
‘Lord Changxin.’
As I had feared, I had been drawn into the political struggle—and in the very form I dreaded most.
§
Somewhere in the eastern district of Handan. Xi Shi, who had poured his utmost effort into this affair, had come in person to receive reports on how events were unfolding.
"So? You confirmed that the Crown Prince of Yan made contact with the Qin hostage?"
"Yes, my lord. Just as you predicted, he attempted to cross into the western district. Everything is proceeding exactly according to your plan, Lord Xi."
Even at the near-worshipful praise of his foresight, Xi Shi remained impassive as he issued his next order.
"Make sure they do not neglect drawing the common people into this. Events may naturally lead there, but we must prepare for every possibility."
"I will relay the order at once."
Once Lord Changxin’s retainer—who had been assigned to Xi Shi for this matter—departed, Xi Shi fell into thought alone.
‘So this is where my long connection with Lord Pingyuan ends…’
Xi Shi’s feelings toward Lord Pingyuan were not so simple as viewing him merely as his master’s political rival. They were more complicated than that. Originally, Xi Shi had been one of Lord Pingyuan’s retainers. Like Mao Sui, he had concealed his own abilities while assessing what kind of man Lord Pingyuan truly was. The result was this: whereas Mao Sui had revealed himself after being impressed by Lord Pingyuan’s noble bearing despite his royal status, Xi Shi had left of his own accord, disappointed. And the very thing that disappointed him was also Lord Pingyuan’s greatest weakness.
"Lord Pingyuan was born a noble young master. He possesses the talent to govern the world, yet he does not understand the power of the people."
Mao Sui might have been won over by Lord Pingyuan’s dignity, but Xi Shi had felt only disillusionment. There had been an incident in the past. When Lord Mengchang—first among the Four Lords of the Warring States to make a name for himself—escaped from Qin and passed through Zhao, the villagers mocked his short stature. Enraged, Lord Mengchang’s retainers reduced the village to ruins. Though there was no looting, those who had dared insult their master could no longer raise their voices. Lord Pingyuan, the most powerful man in Zhao, had turned a blind eye. To him, Lord Mengchang’s honor mattered more than the lives of the common people. No matter that Lord Mengchang was royalty of Qi, to place a foreign prince’s reputation above one’s own subjects… Xi Shi had seen that as Lord Pingyuan’s limit.
This matter was no different. Thanks to the preparations Ji Dan had made, cutting ties would be possible. Yet the people would come to believe that Lord Pingyuan had sided with the Qin princess—the very object of their hatred.
"The popular support Lord Pingyuan enjoys will vanish."
Three forces vied for control of the state: the king, the nobility, and the people. The king would surely choose Lord Changxin over the burdensome Lord Pingyuan. Once the people’s power was firmly in hand, Lord Changxin’s victory would be within reach.
"Merely cutting off the Crown Prince of Yan will not be enough to turn this tide, Lord Pingyuan."
Xi Shi predicted Lord Changxin’s triumph. Yet confidence bred arrogance, and complacency was irresponsible. Until the very moment everything was settled, Xi Shi intended to remain vigilant and give his all. Still, being human, a corner of his heart held satisfaction and relief at the success of his scheme. This time, neither Lord Pingyuan nor Ji Dan had been able to withstand his attack.
‘If things continue this way, victory is only a matter of time.’
But the world was not so accommodating. Nothing ever unfolded exactly as one wished. Xi Shi’s plot was about to crumble in a place he had never, not even slightly, anticipated. It was something he did not yet know.