Shadows of Crimson and Snow

In the Hall of Imperial Virtue, Crown Prince Li Chengyi knelt before his father's dragon throne. Morning light filtered through the carved screens, casting serpentine shadows across the polished floor. The Emperor, once powerful as a mountain, now seemed to sink into his golden robe like melting snow.

"Your Majesty," the Crown Prince's voice carried just the right note of concern, "these murders threaten the stability of our realm. And now I hear disturbing rumors about my dear sister's movements during the festival night."

The Emperor's rheumy eyes narrowed. "What rumors?"

"Several witnesses placed her near the temple before Magistrate Chen's death. And her opposition to his proposals regarding palace women..." Li Chengyi let the implication hang in the air like incense smoke.

Behind a nearby screen, Minister Zhang held his breath. The Crown Prince had positioned him there deliberately, knowing the old minister's whispers would spread through the court like autumn leaves in the wind.

"She always was too wild," the Emperor muttered. "Like her mother."

"Perhaps it's time to consider a strategic marriage," Li Chengyi suggested. "Minister Liu's eldest son has expressed interest. His family's military connections could help secure our northern borders."

The Emperor nodded slowly, age-spotted hands gripping his throne's dragon-carved armrests. "Send Minister Liu to me. We will discuss terms."

As the Crown Prince backed away with perfect ceremony, a shadow detached itself from behind a distant pillar. The palace spy Hong Mei moved silently through hidden passages, her feet carrying her toward the Crimson Phoenix Tower.

In her private chambers, Princess Xiaoyan was practicing calligraphy when Hong Mei's message arrived via a folded paper crane left on her windowsill. The princess's brush paused mid-stroke, a drop of black ink falling like a tear onto the pristine paper.

"So," she murmured to her twin guards, "our dear Crown Prince moves his pieces early."

Feng Xiao and Feng Yue exchanged glances. "The Liu family is known for cruelty," Feng Xiao said softly. "Their last three wives died under mysterious circumstances."

"How fortunate, then, that I have no intention of becoming the fourth." The princess rose, her crimson robe whispering across the floor. "Feng Yue, arrange a meeting with Dr. Wei. Feng Xiao, I need you to deliver a message to the Moon Lotus Tea House."

In his modest quarters near the imperial hospital, Wei Ruyi was examining records of past military campaigns when a knock interrupted his research. A scroll lay on his doorstep, sealed with crimson wax. Inside, he found a single line of perfectly formed characters: "The plum tree in the imperial garden blooms out of season."

Across the city, Zhou Jinlei was haggling with silk merchants when he spotted a familiar figure in the crowd. Ming Huahua moved through the market like a butterfly, her simple beauty drawing admiring glances. But Zhou Jinlei also noticed the dark-robed men following her at a distance, their boots marking them as palace guards loyal to the Crown Prince.

"Mistress Ming," he called out cheerfully, "perhaps you'd honor my humble stall with your presence? I have some excellent silk from Suzhou that would suit your complexion."

As she approached, he smoothly positioned himself between her and her shadows. "You shouldn't be out alone," he murmured while displaying a bolt of blue silk. "The streets are dangerous these days."

"The palace is more dangerous," she whispered back. "The Crown Prince... his attention becomes more pressing. And now there's talk of forcing the princess into marriage."

Zhou Jinlei's easy smile never wavered, but his free hand brushed the hidden sword at his side. "Perhaps it's time you took that position with the merchant guild I mentioned. Far from palace politics."

Before Ming Huahua could respond, a commotion erupted nearby. The crowd parted like a stream around a rock, revealing the White Ghost standing motionless in the street. His twin swords caught the sunlight as he stared at a wealthy merchant who had suddenly turned pale as death.

The merchant broke into a run, pushing through the crowd. The White Ghost followed like wind following leaves, his movements with liquid grace. When the guards finally reached the scene, they found the merchant collapsed in an alley, alive but trembling. Clutched in his hand was a white chrysanthemum and a scroll listing his crimes against poor farmers.

That evening, as shadows lengthened across Luoyang, Dr. Wei Ruyi stood before the ancient plum tree in the imperial garden. Its unseasonal blooms glowed ghost-white at dusk. Princess Xiaoyan appeared like a crimson spirit, her twin guards melting into the shadows.

"Tell me, doctor," she said without a preamble, "what have you learned about General Bai's massacre?"

"Official records are surprisingly incomplete," he replied carefully. "The general's compound burned. Bodies were found, but..." He hesitated.

"But?"

"The children's bodies were never clearly identified. And there's no record of what happened to the general's twin swords before they reappeared with the White Ghost."

The princess's veiled head tilted slightly. "Interesting. And have you looked into why Magistrate Chen visited the Crown Prince the night before his death?"

Wei Ruyi's eyes sharpened. "How did you—"

A distant flute melody interrupted them, hauntingly familiar. The princess' hands tightened beneath her sleeves "Be careful, doctor. My brother plays a deeper game than mere succession. The next move will be more deadly than the last."

As if summoned by her words, a palace servant rushed into the garden. "Your Highness! Minister Wu has been found dead in his study. A white chrysanthemum..."

The princess and the doctor exchanged glances. Above them, the plum blossoms trembled in a sudden breeze, their pale petals falling like snow in the gathering darkness.