Chapter Sixteen: The Witness

Sitting in the cool room, Dayin elegantly blew aside the floating tea leaves in her cup, nudging them with the lid, her eyes following the rim as she gazed forward. Kaiming stood before her, hands at her sides, occasionally sneaking glances her way. Each time their eyes met, she quickly looked away.

The room was silent. Ji sat beneath Dayin, flanked by two senior soldiers whose eyes swept across the faces of their superiors. Su was stopped outside the door, forbidden from entering.

“General, is there some purpose to your visit to the camp?” Ji broke the silence first.

“There is,” Dayin replied, still intent on her tea, as if everyone else in the room were invisible. “I came to see if you could spare me a few people.”

“People?” Ji raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“I want to pick out a few promising soldiers from the recruits’ camp.” Setting down her cup, Dayin smiled at him. “Surely the Lord of Arms would not deny me such a small favor?”

“Of course not.” Ji inclined his head. “It is their honor to be chosen by the General. Would you like me to escort you to the training grounds?”

“In fact, I already have a list in mind. The question is, will the Lord of Arms be willing to part with them?” Dayin’s lips curved in a half-smile.

“You have already chosen?”

Dayin picked up her cup again, feigning carelessness. “I think this female soldier would do nicely.”

Ji’s face twisted in astonishment, as though he had swallowed an egg. His eyes went wide. “Is the General making a joke? Since her arrival, this woman has been nothing but unruly—fights, drunkenness, causing trouble. I was just planning on disciplining her myself.”

Kaiming’s fists clenched until her knuckles whitened, her gaze fixed on her own toes. She had been right; Dayin had come for her. Ji’s words sounded like celestial music in her ears.

“My eyes are my own,” Dayin said, glancing at Kaiming’s clenched fists, the corner of her mouth curling in faint mockery. “She has potential.”

“Any soldier but her, General,” Ji said calmly.

Dayin looked surprised. “And why not, Lord of Arms?”

“Because,” Ji declared, dropping a bombshell, “she’s already been named as a palace attendant to the Emperor. I’m afraid I can’t oblige.”

Palace attendant? Kaiming wondered what kind of position that was.

“Putting such a notorious soldier in charge of protecting the Emperor?” Dayin asked, her eyes dancing with amusement. “You certainly have a unique perspective, Lord of Arms.”

Ji coughed, offering no reply.

Protecting the Emperor? Kaiming suddenly remembered what Su had said during their first drink together: “Only the elite chosen by the Lord of Arms have the chance to serve by the Emperor’s side…” Elite, indeed! So this palace attendant meant being one of the Emperor’s elite guards? She nearly laughed aloud; Ji was so desperate to keep her that he would invent any excuse.

But the ruse seemed to work. Dayin no longer pressed the issue. Rising from her chair, she said, “In that case, I won’t delay your training any longer. I’ll visit the other camps.”

“General, there are many fine soldiers here—”

“No need,” Dayin interrupted, discarding all courtesy. “I was only passing by today. I’ll call another time.”

As she passed Kaiming, Dayin paused, her sharp gaze slicing toward her. “What is your name?”

“Kaiming,” she replied hoarsely.

Dayin nodded, studying her again before asking abruptly, “Are you afraid of me?”

Kaiming froze, looking up at Dayin, then quickly dropping her eyes. “No, General.”

“Then why are you so flustered?” Dayin wouldn’t let her go, her beautiful face full of mockery. “Do I look like I eat people?”

“It’s just…” Kaiming fell to her knees in panic, her mind a tangled mess as she babbled, “The General’s presence is awe-inspiring, enough to make anyone tremble, I—I can’t help myself…”

Dayin burst out laughing. “So I’m that terrifying?”

“Yes…” Kaiming wiped sweat from her brow, her usually nimble mind numbed at this crucial moment, unable to muster a single clever response.

Suddenly Dayin stopped laughing, flicked her cloak, and strode away without a backward glance.

Kaiming exhaled, all strength fleeing her body as she slumped to the floor.

Ji escorted Dayin to the door, watching as her red horse galloped away, raising dust, his face expressionless.

“Kaiming.”

She snapped to attention as Ji turned, fixing her with a steady look.

“What did you do?”

“What did I do?” she repeated blankly.

“Why were you so afraid of General Dayin? Why did you lose your composure?” Ji pressed in on her, his face dark as soot. “The horse was hers. What does that mean?”

Kaiming’s lips trembled, unable to speak. Ji had been there that night—why was he questioning her now? What did he want to prove?

“What did you see?” Ji’s tone was uncharacteristically harsh, as though her answer might be her last.

“N-nothing…” she stammered.

“Tell me the truth!” Ji crouched down, gripping her arm tightly, eyes boring into hers. “Why did General Dayin single you out? What reason could she possibly have?”

Kaiming’s mouth opened soundlessly. Ji’s eyes narrowed as if a realization struck him. “That night—you saw her?”

A flicker of panic crossed Kaiming’s eyes. Ji caught it, his gaze turning even sharper. “You saw her kill someone?”

She could only utter disjointed syllables.

Ji quickly cut her off, his voice low. “Kaiming, if you saw something, General Dayin will never let you live.”

Terror seized her. “Lord, please—I don’t want to die…”

“There’s only one way.” Ji spoke each word clearly. “Become a palace attendant.”

Kaiming stared at him, bewildered. Was he showing her a way out? It was his right to select palace attendants. But why go to such lengths for her?

As if sensing her thoughts, he continued, “But you must do something for me.”

A fair exchange: you help me, I keep you alive.

Kaiming shuddered involuntarily. Under the blazing sun, she found herself before an elegant nobleman’s residence, where a refined young lord awaited their arrival, fan in hand.

She hesitated, looking to Ji. Was her task simply to meet this man—the one who haunted Xiaoqiao’s dreams, whose beauty stunned all who saw him? She had never imagined she would stand before him, close enough to scrutinize the face words could scarcely describe. Her heart surged with emotion.

She looked at him and, to her own mortification, blurted out, “What are you doing here?” The moment the words left her lips, she regretted them. Was this the time for such questions?

A flicker of surprise crossed Lord Dai’s handsome features before he answered gently, “This room has always been reserved for me. I spend more time here than at home, because I enjoy mingling with the company here. Any other questions?”

She was both astonished and puzzled by how much he revealed in response to her single query. “No, nothing more.”

He smiled faintly, then turned to Ji. “I know Dayin was here.”

“My lord, I brought her to you. Do you find my plan acceptable?” Ji’s words were cryptic; Kaiming understood none of it.

“I know what to do. Let’s try.” He signaled to Ji, who immediately withdrew and closed the door behind him, standing guard outside. Lord Dai gestured for Kaiming to sit.

Kaiming stepped back in confusion, dropping into a sandalwood chair. What could be so secretive?

“Did General Dayin come specifically to see you today?” Lord Dai asked directly. “What did she want?”

“She said she was selecting soldiers,” Kaiming replied cautiously, watching his expression.

He tapped his folded fan against his palm, then shifted the topic. “That night—how much did you see?”

Kaiming nearly jumped out of her chair. “I saw nothing! Nothing at all…”

“Do you even know which night I mean? Or what incident I’m referring to?” Lord Dai’s smile was gentle, but it made her heart itch with unease. “Why so nervous?”

“I told you, I saw nothing…”

“The more you try to hide, the more you reveal. Best to tell me honestly.” His soft smile seemed to caress her heart. “I mean you no harm, and I’ll do everything I can to protect you.”

Kaiming’s resistance crumbled; she slumped back into her chair. “It wasn’t much… Just three or four people killing two others, then someone else arrived and killed the murderers, and one survivor escaped with the newcomer.” She looked at him. “Do you follow what I’m saying?”

Lord Dai laughed. “Listening to you is like reading a ledger, but I can read between the lines.”

Kaiming found herself smiling, her nerves easing. “The one who escaped was a young man in blue, and Dayin saved him.”

“You’re certain it was Dayin?” The tapping of Lord Dai’s fan resumed.

“Her horse—who else in the palace has such a horse? Her cloak, her eyes—I’m absolutely certain!”

“That red steed came from the Southern Palace, a gift during the peace accords, now belonging to the Emperor. Because of her distinguished service, Dayin was granted the horse. No one else here has such a mount.” Lord Dai’s gaze lingered on her. “Will you testify for me?”

“Testify?”

“In front of the Emperor, say that Dayin killed the men from the Dai household that night.”

Kaiming was frozen in place. The dead were from the Dai family? Did that mean the two men in blue were on a secret mission? And why had Dayin rescued the man they pursued? Were Lord Dai and Dayin from opposing factions?

Dayin had come for her because she was a witness. Lord Dai wanted her to accuse Dayin as the killer. Suddenly, Kaiming realized the waters she had waded into were far murkier than she had imagined.

“Maybe I was mistaken. Isn’t the red horse from the Southern Palace? It could have been a Southern spy causing trouble…” She scrambled for any excuse she could find.

“I always keep a close watch on foreign spies’ movements. It was definitely not a Southern spy that night,” Lord Dai said coldly.

“But if only Dayin has that horse, why would she ride it to the scene and draw attention? Don’t you think that’s odd?” Inspiration struck her; it seemed a perfect argument. Lord Dai paused, lost in thought.

“She didn’t know about the pursuit that night, perhaps arrived in a hurry and had no time to change mounts. That horse can travel a thousand leagues.” He looked up at her, a gentle smile on his lips. “Are you afraid?”

Startled, she couldn’t answer.

“You don’t want to testify? Don’t want to save your own life?” His tone grew softer. “Do you know what Dayin does to those she catches?”

Kaiming turned pale. “I—I’ll help you, but…”

“As long as you agree, I will guarantee your safety.” Lord Dai was decisive.

She wanted to ask about the two people being pursued that night—who were they? Why would Dayin risk everything to save one of them? And why had Dayin hesitated to kill her, when she’d had the chance?

But Lord Dai cut her off, rising to his feet. “You don’t need to know too much. It may not be good for you.”

That was true. Kaiming muttered inwardly—he was right. But to go and accuse someone so blindly—what if she wronged an innocent? She thought of all the tragic cases she’d seen on television, of witnesses used and discarded.

Lord Dai opened the door, sunlight spilling into the room. He turned, his smile both alluring and enigmatic. “You may go now. But remember, come when called.”