Chapter 11: Lantern Wishes
The vibrant glow of crimson and gold lanterns illuminated every corner of Hill Academy, casting long, shifting shadows across the courtyard stone. It was a day of profound grandeur for the Arghon Empire, a massive national holiday that had transformed the capital into a sprawling sea of light. Since early morning, the academy gates had been thrown open, allowing students to pack their trunks and eagerly bid farewell to their classmates for the long weekend.
But for Dan Weicheng and Wang Tae Hua, the final hours of their academic freedom were spent in the dirt.
Master Pu's two-week punishment for their dining hall brawl had grown increasingly insufferable. Neither of them had the energy left to bicker, their mutual exhaustion finally forcing a tense, silent truce for the sake of everyone's sanity. Yet, even with the clock ticking down to the absolute closure of the campus before lunch, Tae Hua couldn't resist making child-like efforts to slow their progress—deliberately dragging his broom or sweeping dust back over areas I had already cleared.
I frowned deeply, giving him a sharp side-glance as he leaned lazily against a wooden pillar. The grounds were still a complete mess, and we had barely an hour left before the facility officially locked its doors.
"You two need to speed up if you expect me to let you leave today," Master Pu chided smoothly, crossing his arms as he watched us from the shade of the pavilion steps.
Spurred by the threat of being trapped at the academy for the holiday, we pushed through the remaining work in a furious, thirty-minute blur. After surrendering the master courtyard keys to our teacher, Tae Hua and I immediately split up without a word, marching back to our respective dorms to gather our belongings.
Outside the main gates, the capital was already in full festival attire. Tomorrow marked the Empress's 45th birthday, and the entire empire was preparing to celebrate by waiting for the legendary midnight fireworks display.
Master Pu stood near the academy threshold, watching Tae Hua step into an elegant, heavily guarded royal carriage that immediately rattled off toward the palace. Turning back, the old teacher spotted Laohu and me waiting patiently by the stone archway, our travel packs slung over our shoulders.
Before we could take a step down the path, Master Pu was intercepted by the old Minister of Education, Minister Xu. The minister smoothly slipped a heavy, gilded envelope into Master Pu's hands. Its face bore the unmistakable, intricate crimson design of the Imperial Wax Seal.
"The Empress has cordially invited all academic masters to attend her banquet tonight at the Jade Hall," Minister Xu stated, his posture rigid. "She explicitly noted that she expects our presence. You are welcome to bring your family and charges, Master Pu."
Master Pu opened his mouth to politely decline, but the old minister cut him off with a knowing look. "She will not accept a rejection from the academy."
Bidding the minister farewell, Master Pu walked back over to us, holding the heavy invitation between his fingers.
When we finally reached our small house in the lower districts, Mu Lin was already buzzing around the kitchen, preparing a small feast to celebrate the long weekend. Four beautifully crafted paper lanterns sat neatly on the courtyard table, waiting for the evening countdown.
Master Pu called us into the main room, setting the imperial envelope onto the low table. "The Empress has requested our presence at the palace tonight to join the inner circle celebration."
I immediately arched my eyebrows, a cold wave of distaste washing over me. Beside me, Laohu and Mu Lin exchanged a brief, uneasy side-glance.
"I want to have a peaceful weekend, Master," I said flatly, making no effort to hide my lack of interest.
"Me too," Laohu agreed, crossing his arms. Mu Lin nodded rapidly in tandem, perfectly content to stay home.
Master Pu sighed, looking at three of us with a gravity that silenced the room. "The Empress is easily pleased if you stroke her vanity, but she is a catastrophic enemy to make. At this specific stage of our plan, Weicheng, we desperately need to build connections and secure trust inside those walls."
I froze halfway out of my seat, my eyes locking onto the polished wood of the table as I contemplated the brutal reality of our options. The inner palace would undoubtedly be a den of vipers tonight—filled with masked noblemen, highly filtered greetings, and treacherous political discourse. I could handle the politicians. But my absolute worst fear was standing face-to-face with the Queen of the North.
My temperance had grown long over years of discipline, but looking at the very people who had engineered the slaughter of my tribe was a different beast entirely. If given a single clear opportunity, I might lose control and kill her right there on the palace floor—or spend the entire evening suffocating under the weight of my own untamed hatred.
By 5:00 PM, the carriage brought us to the main northern entrance of the Imperial Palace. Guided firmly by Master Pu, we presented the golden invitation to the stone-faced palace guards. The master herald drew a deep breath, loudly announcing our names to the sprawling open court as the heavy iron-studded gates swung open.
The sight inside was breathtakingly grand. Thousands of massive red lanterns floated or hung across the painted eaves, complemented by thick, flowing swaths of red silk draped elegantly along the marble balustrades. A rich, woven carpet rolled out across the stones, tracing a flawless line up the grand steps toward the magnificent Dragon Throne. Surrounding the courtyard, low tables and plush, silk-embroidered pillows were arranged with flawless aesthetic precision, creating an elite amphitheater under the fading sky.
Many of the prominent noble families were already seated when Prime Minister Cha walked over to greet Master Pu. Cha Eun Jo followed closely behind his father, stepping out of line to tap Laohu and me on the shoulders in a warm, quiet greeting. Within minutes, the Prime Minister was pulled away by a flock of senior ministers, leaving Eun Jo to join our academy circle at the far, lower edge of the court, while Mu Lin quietly excused herself to report to the Imperial Infirmary to assist with any evening emergencies.
"You look surprisingly sophisticated outside of our ragged campus uniforms, Eun Jo," I noted dryly, adjusting the collar of my formal scholar robes.
Eun Jo let out a genuine laugh, but before he could reply, a heavy pair of hands dropped onto our shoulders. Han Chou Xi stumbled into our circle, his royal silk robes shimmering under the lantern light as he eagerly converged with us at the secluded edge of the pavilion.
"The South Grand Prince arrives," we chorused in a low, teasing unison.
Chou Xi immediately grimaced, waving his hands frantically. "Please, don't start with the titles here. Tell me, what are you all planning to do for the rest of the long weekend?"
"Sleep," Laohu stated bluntly, his arms locking across his chest.
"The dreadful affairs of state are already piled on my desk back home," Eun Jo sighed, rolling his eyes. "My father treats a holiday like a localized exile into government paperwork."
The three of them turned their eyes to me, waiting.
"The brothel," I said deadpan.
The boys instantly burst into a collective, booming laugh, clearly assuming I was making a crude joke to break the tension. But as the seconds ticked by and my expression remained completely flat and serious, their laughter slowly faltered, their eyes widening in sudden realization.
"Wait... are you actually serious, Weicheng?" Chou Xi stammered, his cheeks flushing.
"Ah," I breathed, realizing how terribly that had sounded to a group of teenage boys. "No, it's not for pleasure. I need to speak with a specific informant there. I caused a significant scene at that establishment just before the entrance exams, and I have loose ends to tie up."
"Ohhhhh," they muttered in a synchronous wave of relief.
I shook my head at their sheer ridiculousness, turning away as the thunderous echo of the first ceremonial gong reverberated across the palace walls. The sun was dipping below the horizon now, and the attendants were rapidly lighting the oil lamps across the courtyard. Bidding the boys a brief farewell, I made my way back toward our assigned table, watching the dais near the throne illuminate with brilliant, golden fireboards.
Laohu murmured a low warning as he slipped into the seat beside me. The master herald struck the great gong twice more, demanding the crowd stand to welcome the arrival of the Imperial Family.
Moving in a rigid, synchronized line, the three princes of Arghon arrived, taking their designated seats at the lower royal tables directly across from the throne.
First Prince Suk Jin
Second Prince Nu Lee
Third Prince Tae Hua
Staring at them from across the expanse, it was blindingly obvious that they had been born to different mothers. The First Prince possessed a naturally gentle, radiant aura; he wore exceptionally light-colored silk robes that enhanced his approachable demeanor, a pleasant smile permanently gracing his features.
The Second Prince, Nu Lee, was built like a fortress. His prominent, massive physical stature completely eclipsed his brothers, his sharp eyebrows arched into a permanent, aggressive scowl as if the world had deeply offended him. His dark hair was woven into an incredibly intricate, flawless royal braid.
As for the Third Prince... Tae Hua shared a terrifying amount of physical traits with his cousin, Ji Wok, save for his eyes. Tae Hua's eyes were the absolute darkest pools of obsidian I had ever encountered—a bottomless abyss capable of locking a person into total oblivion with a single stare. True to his reputation outside campus, he wore heavy, midnight-black silk robes that seemed to swallow the light of the surrounding lanterns.
Another pair of gongs thundered through the air, and the entire court prostrated themselves as the Emperor and Empress finally took their seats upon the high throne. The Empress's magnificent, towering headdress—a masterwork of gold and jade representing absolute imperial power—glinted fiercely under the firelight. While the Arghon monarchs rarely wore their heavy coronation crowns due to their immense weight, today was an exception of absolute state vanity. Her exquisite beauty radiated across the court as she adjusted her heavy sleeves, signaling the official commencement of the night.
But the moment the court returned to their seats, the outer gates groaned open for the arrival of the foreign sovereign families.
My breath caught in my throat. Beside me, Laohu and Mu Lin instantly reached out, their hands clamping firmly over mine, applying a crushing pressure to stop the violent, sudden trembling in my fingers.
"Greetings from the Northern Kingdom!" the herald bellowed, his voice echoing off the marble. "Presenting King Feng Su Cao and the Royal Family!"
My heart battered violently against my ribs, the sound deafening in my own ears. The Northern King stepped onto the crimson carpet, walking with an easy, highly calculated grace. As he swept his gaze across the assembled guests, his eyes briefly brushed past our lower table. I sharply arched my eyebrow, keeping my face a mask of stone as I deliberately shifted my gaze to the figures walking directly behind him.
"Presenting Queen Yun Ni Xua and their only daughter, Princess Feng Chin Xiao!"
The second her boots pressed into the silk carpet, the temperature in my blood seemed to drop to absolute zero. She wore a grand, sweeping cape of pristine ivory fur, her elaborate silver headdress resembling the cold, unforgiving ice of the northern peaks. My breath hitched, a suffocating weight crushing my lungs as her sweeping, smiling eyes passed right over me. I fiercely clamped my eyes shut, my knuckles turning white beneath my cousins' grip.
"Do not attempt a single thing right now, Weicheng," Master Pu whispered from the head of the table, his voice low, steady, and utterly unyielding.
I exhaled slowly, forcing the toxic, heated air from my lungs before opening my eyes again.
Following the Queen was Princess Feng Chin Xiao, dressed in a breathtaking, light blue flowery silk gown that seemed to catch and radiate the exact glow of the floating lanterns. She had undeniably grown into a striking young woman, walking with a slow, agonizingly poised cadence that commanded the attention of every nobleman in the court.
As the Northern Family bypassed the lower rows toward the high tables reserved for the ministers and royals, Prince Nu Lee smoothly stepped forward, extending an elegant hand to assist the princess to her seat. A collective whisper instantly rippled through the nearby courtiers as the Princess completely ignored his gesture, walking right past him without a single glance.
I let out a cold, internal chuckle, watching the wicked, self-satisfied smirk dance on her lips until she reached Tae Hua's sector. The Third Prince was entirely occupied, laughing quietly with Yun Ji Wok and Qiu Run. The three of them paused briefly as the Princess offered a formal greeting, but they dismissed her presence with a cold, aristocratic nod before turning right back to their own conversation.
A visible flash of humiliation crossed the Princess's face before she quickly masked it with a tight, plastic smile, taking her seat beside her father.
"I bet Tae Hua and his inner circle absolutely despise her," Laohu murmured quietly, leaning in. "I heard rumors around the capital that they grew up together in the palace, and she was always an insufferable brat."
As the grand musical performances officially commenced to entertain the Empress, the suffocating atmosphere became too much to bear. Wrenching my hands free from my cousins' grip, I quietly slipped away from our table, desperate for a breath of cold air and a drink.
I navigated the sprawling, crowded pathways until I reached the long banquet tables lining the western wall. I reached for a crystal chalice, intending to pour myself a simple cup of fresh water to clear my throat. But as my eyes landed on the rows of heavy, dark earthen wine jugs, a sudden, dark impulse overrode my senses.
How easily their small, fake smiles break pieces of my soul inside of me, I thought, the internal scream of my murdered tribe echoing violently in my skull. I could see the flames of the northern snows, hear the weeping of the innocent souls who died to protect an empire that labeled my Master a traitor. Water wasn't going to fix this. Water couldn't numb the raging fire consuming my nerves after staring at Queen Yun.
I bypassed the cups entirely, grabbing a full, unsealed bottle of heavy northern liquor. Shaking my head to drown out the noise, I raised the rim to my lips, prepared to drink it straight down—when a firm, slender hand suddenly clamped around the neck of the bottle, wrenching it out of my grasp.
My eyes narrowed into slits. Turning my head slightly, the polished silk reflection of the person standing behind me made me halt. Rather than turning around to face him, I reached out my left hand to seize a secondary jug, but his fingers flashed forward, intercepting that one too.
"You cannot afford to get publicly drunk here, Candidate Dan," a smooth, authoritative voice murmured. "Not at an occasion of this magnitude."
A dark, mocking smile cut across my face as I finally turned my heels to face him.
His royal blue robes were immaculate, his piercing hazel eyes serving as a constant, bitter reminder of the Yun Clan's elite bloodline. Everything about his features screamed aristocracy. I let out a sharp, dismissive smirk, turning on my heel to leave without granting him the satisfaction of a response.
"You should think twice before you execute any reckless decisions tonight," Ji Wok called out, his voice dropping to a serious, warning register.
I let out a heavy, irritated sigh, continuing to walk away. But before I could take three steps, his hand shot out, wrapping tightly around my forearm. With a sudden, surprising burst of physical strength, he violently spun me around, his fingers clamping hard onto both of my upper arms to lock me in place. He stared deeply into my eyes, his hazel irises searching my face for a fracture.
But as he looked into my entirely unruffled, icy glare, his grip suddenly faltered. His fingers loosened, slipping off my robes as if the fabric itself had turned to fire.
"Stop talking to me, Yun Ji Wok," I said, my voice dropping to a hard, guttural cadence that carried the full weight of my hatred.
Ji Wok stepped back, his face going slightly pale, his hands dropping to his sides as if he had been physically burned by my words. He stared at me, a sudden, profoundly complex emotion fracturing his usual stoic composure.
"I... I am deeply sorry," he whispered, his voice uncharacteristically strained.
Before I could even process the bizarre apology, he turned sharply, his blue robes billowing as he rapidly retreated into the thick of the royal crowd, his silhouette completely swallowed by the sea of guests. I stood frozen by the banquet table, utterly confused. An apology from a Yun wouldn't heal my past. It wouldn't bring back a single life.
Grabbing a lone glass of dark wine, I slowly walked back toward the open court.
The central clearing was buzzing when I returned. The herald's voice boomed across the marble steps, shifting the entire timeline of the event. "Please, let us welcome the Princess of the North, Princess Feng Chin Xiao, for her grand birthday presentation to Her Imperial Majesty!"
Mu Lin immediately reached out, grabbing my sleeve and pulling me down into my seat. My balance slipped slightly, my backside hitting the silk pillow with an ungraceful thud. I shot Mu Lin a highly dissatisfied glare, but she merely offered a quick, whispered apology, her eyes entirely glued to the grand staircase where Princess Chin Xiao had just emerged.
To my surprise, the flowery blue gown was gone. The princess had changed into a sleek, tightly bound set of northern ceremonial armor robes, her towering silver headdress replaced by a functional, heavy silver hairpin. Those pins were unmistakable—painstakingly hand-crafted by the blacksmiths of the northern markets. I had seen them thousands of times during my childhood.
I frowned, my eyes tracking her movements. What exactly was she trying to present?
Mu Lin leaned closer, her voice a barely audible murmur against my ear. "Her posture looks entirely exquisite from a distance, Weicheng, but her facial tissue is dangerously pale. Her peripheral blood flow is completely erratic—look at the darkness beneath her eyes, she is likely suffering from a severe sleeping disorder. And her lower lips are cracked and dry, completely unsuited for this weather."
I glanced at my cousin, a wry smile touching my lips despite the tension. Even in the middle of an imperial palace surrounded by tyrants, her medical instincts were running at full capacity.
A pair of royal guards stepped into the courtyard, hoisting a set of heavy wooden archery targets. The Princess stepped forward, gracefully accepting a magnificent, gilded ceremonial bow and a quiver of golden-tipped arrows from her attendants. The bow was solid gold-leaf, beautifully lightweight, and while its specific mechanics were complex, drawing it would be effortless compared to an actual weapon of war. It was purely an engine for performance.
Chin Xiao assumed a classic northern stance, her left foot sliding forward as she locked her sight onto the first target. She released.
The golden arrow zipped through the air, embedding itself near the center bale. Moving with a fluid, calculated elegance, she began to move across the stones, launching a succession of arrows as she swayed through a traditional vanguard war dance. She sprinted toward the stairs, leaping into a flawless, mid-air backflip before landing precisely on the first tier of the marble steps, loosening her final arrow with a sharp snap of the string.
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause as the final arrow struck true. But as she lowered the golden frame, I shook my head dryly. I had spotted it clearly—her left hand was trembling violently from the lingering muscle strain, and she quickly hid the weapon behind her back to mask the weakness.
"You're still vastly superior, Weicheng," Mu Lin whispered proudly into my shoulder.
"Weicheng's functional accuracy is infinitely higher," Laohu agreed in a low grunt. "Of course, standard bows are toys compared to the Cursed Bow."
Princess Chin Xiao took a deep, elegant bow before the throne, her voice echoing gracefully. "May my humble display serve as a token of long life for the Empress's forty-fifth year."
As the attendants rushed forward to retrieve her gear, Mu Lin was quietly signaled by a senior physician to enter the inner corridors to inspect the princess's fingers for minor string lacerations. Simultaneously, Prince Nu Lee smoothly excused himself from the royal table, rapidly following the princess's retinue into the palace interior.
The grand banquet continued as other influential ministers and noble houses stepped forward to present their lavish gifts. Across the far side of the court, I could see Master Pu deep in conversation with General Niu, the formidable father of our classmate Qiu Run.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over our table. I looked up to see First Prince Suk Jin approaching us, his signature, brilliant smile radiating warmth as he held a small silver cup. Laohu and I immediately stood, offering a formal, respectful bow.
"Are you enjoying the festivities, candidates?" the First Prince asked with a light laugh, his demeanor entirely lacking the arrogance of his lineage.
Before we could answer, Tae Hua materialized directly beside his older brother, his dark, bottomless eyes locking onto mine as his eyebrows arched in an intensely provoking expression.
"Ah, Tae Hua, perfect timing," Prince Suk Jin gushed happily, gesturing between us. "I wanted to formally introduce you to Master Pu's nephews, Weicheng and Laohu. I trust he isn't causing you too much trouble within the academy walls, Weicheng?"
I let out a laugh so incredibly fake I thought my jaw might unhinge.
"Tae Hua," Suk Jin continued, turning to his younger brother with a bright smile. "Weicheng completely topped the entrance examinations without a single day of formal preparation, and he currently holds the highest ace record for archery in the freshman class. I sincerely hope you take the opportunity to learn from his discipline."
Tae Hua let out a low, highly annoyed grunt, his eyes flashing with irritation as he offered a completely dismissive shrug. "Right. Whatever," he muttered under his breath, turning on his heel and walking away without another word.
Prince Suk Jin sighed, offering us an apologetic, embarrassed smile. "Please forgive his manners. He has always been... difficult." Before he could say more, a royal herald called his title from the high table, forcing the First Prince to bid us farewell and return to the Emperor's side.
Once the heavy dinner concluded, the entire assembly began moving toward the grand marble riverside pavilion to prepare for the midnight countdown and the release of the prayer lanterns. The Emperor gently took the Empress's hand, leading the massive procession of nobles through the illuminated gardens. Hundreds of floating lilies drifted lazily along the dark water, their petals catching the soft light of the lanterns lining the bank.
The Northern Royal Family and the senior ministers secured the absolute front row along the stone balustrade. Desperate to keep our distance, our small group settled at the far western edge of the bank.
Glancing across the water, my eyes briefly locked onto Yun Ji Wok, who was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Tae Hua and Qiu Run. His hazel eyes were already fixed on me, but I broke the contact instantly, shifting my gaze to Tae Hua. The Third Prince was staring right at me, a highly irritating, knowing smirk plastered across his lips. I simply grimaced and tore my eyes away entirely.
The crowd began to chant, the voices of a thousand nobles echoing across the river in a massive, synchronized rhythm.
"Ten!"
"Nine!"
"Eight!"
A sudden, jarring sensation of being intensely watched made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. My eyes immediately swept the front row, tracking the sensation until they landed directly onto the King of the North.
The moment our eyes locked across the space, the King froze. A look of sheer, profound shock washed over his regal features, his face completely stunning as he stared at me. Sensing the dangerous weight of the recognition, he abruptly tore his gaze away, his breathing visibly catching as he reached down to tightly grasp the hand of Princess Chin Xiao, who offered her father a bright, oblivious smile.
My own smile faded into nothingness. The world around me suddenly grew entirely mute, the thunderous voices of the court turning into a muffled, inaudible hum in my ears.
"Three!" "Two!" "One!"
BOOM!
The night sky violently exploded into a magnificent, deafening cascade of gold, emerald, and violet fire. The fireworks tore through the darkness, painting the river in shifting sheets of brilliant light—but my eyes were entirely hollow, lost in the crushing weight of the past.
A profound, icy numbness settled deep within my chest, followed by a raging tide of pure, unadulterated anguish. These people—the King, the Queen, the ministers—were the exact monsters who had signed the execution orders for my family. They were the ones who had fabricated a magnificent lie to preserve their own fragile imperial dignity while my people bled into the northern snows.
My hand traveled to my collar, my fingers clamping around my mother's jade necklace until the metal bit into my palm.
"Happy forty-fifth birthday, Empress Yun Li Xian!" the crowd roared in a singular, deafening voice. "Long live the Imperial Family of Arghon!"
Every courtier was handed a beautifully crafted paper lantern, the attendants urging everyone to write their deepest heart's desire onto the paper before lighting the small wax fuel blocks.
The suffocating joy of the crowd became entirely unbearable. Wrenching myself away from the riverside, I abandoned the celebration, walking rapidly through the dark stone corridors toward the outer courtyard. I was not well. Looking at their laughing faces, my mind was violently mapping out a dozen different ways to assassinate every single royal inside that palace. I could practically smell the blood overflowing across the marble, could hear their pathetic, helpless screams echoing off the high walls. My heart was racing, a chaotic, raging fire consuming my sanity.
I walked faster, desperate to breach the main gates and escape the imperial walls. But as I passed through the empty, cavernous central court, my boots slowed. A small wooden crate of abandoned prayer lanterns sat near the pillar.
I stopped, staring at them for a long, silent moment. Reaching down, I took a single, plain white lantern.
Standing entirely alone in the massive, vacant courtyard, I pulled a small flint from my training belt, striking it until the small wax block caught fire. The paper frame slowly expanded, filling with hot air as I held it between my hands, waiting for the tension to lift it into the sky.
A single, hot tear finally slipped down my cheek, catching the golden light of the flame.
I didn't have a charcoal brush. I hadn't written a single word upon the paper. I couldn't even formulate a normal human wish if I tried; my entire soul had been thoroughly hollowed out and occupied by a monstrous need for revenge.
I loosened my grip, letting the lantern slip from my fingers.
I guess my wishes will never reach the heavens, I thought bitterly, watching the small light drift silently into the vast, black sky. Because the only thing I wish for... is the absolute doom of this entire empire.
Nothing else in this lifetime would ever satisfy the hunger in my blood. Only the complete destruction of their lineages, the shattering of their thrones, and the violent overthrow of their power would ever grant me peace.
Turning my back on the floating light, I marched toward the heavy iron outer gates. As the cool air of the capital streets hit my face, my frantic heartbeat finally began to steady, and I drew a clean, deep breath of the midnight air.
The holiday had barely begun. And the war was drawing closer.