The next day, Tang Daiyu woke up. She looked at Helian Taiqiang, still asleep in the chair. Feeling guilty, she took the blanket from the bed and gently spread it over him.

Making up her mind, she left his residence and made her way back to her own. Just as she was about to slide open the doors, she heard a disturbance behind her. Spinning around, she dodged the spy and took off running.

She led him around the palace in a great chase. In the end, she darted out of the palace and made her way down the steep slope towards Tongwencheng. The spy gained on her due to the unfamiliar terrain, but she still slipped into the city and was soon lost among the crowd.

In the market, she eyed the wares of a fan vendor. When she found an obsidian black, paper folding fan with ivory sticks, Tang Daiyu picked it up gently. Opening it up, she tested the edge of the paper for smoothness.

"Miss, this fan was made with the best materials. The paper has been stiffened and dyed, and the ivory smoothened and polished. It would suit you very well."

Deciding that it would suit her purposes, she asked the vendor, "How much for it?"

"Thirty taels of silver."

Luckily, she had her purse hanging on her person. Pulling out three, ten tael, silver ingots, Tang Daiyu handed them over to the vendor. He nodded quickly and thanked her profusely. Taking her new fan, she left the market and started to make her way back towards the palace.

"I can't believe everyone took all my words as truth. How could I face my family in the afterlife if I didn't learned some martial arts to be able to avenge them? Luckily, I was taught how to use objects to aid me."

From a wrap concealed on her arm, she pulled out a small sai. Gripping it and the fan tightly, she trekked the rest of the way up to the palace. Tang Daiyu stormed through the front gates like a madman. She marched towards the throne room where she knew the Emperor would be holding court. Despite the guards and eunuchs who tried to stop her, she still made her way inside.

She chucked her fan with fury. It spun around the throne room, threatening to hit someone. When it boomeranged back to her, she caught it, snapped it shut with a loud CLAP, and walked forward slowly.

"What is the meaning of this?" First Prince stood up quickly and demanded. "Are you threatening us?"

"I mean no disrespect to Great Xia. But when people use me as a pawn for their own schemes, that's when I take offense."

"Ms. Tang, you-!"

"Please," Helian Taiqiang began, trying to resolve the tense situation. "Not here."

Her eyes narrowed at First Prince. "Your Highness, I have taken retribution against those who have used me before. Do you really think I will let you get away with this? Months ago, I made a vow to myself. Today, I planning on keeping it."

Her sai slipped down into her palm. She flicked her wrist up, and sent it flying towards him. Using the sai as a distraction, she rushed forward, and flicked out her fan with a click. Swiping her hand out, she watched as First Prince dodged her sai which clanged against the marble pillar behind him and clanged to the ground. Tang Daiyu twisted and caught First Prince in a bind. Her fan's edge right against his neck.

"First Prince, did you really think I'd let myself be kidnapped? Haven't I already gone through enough during my short years? I haven't even reached my second zodiac yet, and I've been persecuted enough for a lifetime."

"Ms. Tang, I don't know what you're talking about?"

"If I wanted to be kidnapped, I would've had Helian Taiqiang let me go with Prince Yelang from Heping. But... if I had gone with my former father-in-law, I'd probably already be dead by now. So, I have no desire to be kidnapped by anyone. I already have been, never again."

"Ms. Tang, don't be accusing people falsely!"

"Accuse? All your brothers were in the room when you decided to kidnap me! They can decide whether to stick up for you, or stand with me. And don't forget... I was once the Empress of Heping and am also the rightful heir to Swift Breeze Sect."

Soon, the other princes of Great Xia turned on First Prince. They stood and bowed to Emperor Heichen.

"First Brother did indeed plot against Ms. Tang."

"He wanted to use her to bargain with Second Brother."

"He roped us into this."

"First Brother wanted the position of Crown Prince."

"Forgive us, Royal Father."

The Emperor eyed his sons coldly.

"Why is there plotting going on behind my back? And amongst my sons most of all?"

Other than Helian Taiqiang, the other princes shifted on their feet nervously.

"From today onward, I don't want any such scheming! Do you all understand?"

The princes all bowed hurriedly and stammered, "Y- yes, R- Royal Father!"

Tang Daiyu smirked and took a sip of wine. Who knew retribution could be so sweet.

Helian Taiqiang turned to look at her. His eyebrows furrowed as he realised that something about her had changed. She's not the scared, delicate woman she makes herself out to be. Within her, there is a strength, a perseverance. A promise.

She caught him looking at her, and raised her cup to him in a toast. Without bothering to cover her face, she knocked the rest of its contents back triumphantly. Then, she set the cup down and went to collect her sai. After slipping it back into her sleeve, she returned to her seat and sat down, setting her fan on the table.

"Ms. Tang, I apologise. Great Xia means no disrespect to you," Emperor Heichen said.

She tilted her head towards him and stood up. Bowing politely, she addressed him, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. My quarrels aren't with Great Xia. I just am against being used by other people. It's my wish to maintain a peaceful relationship with Great Xia."

Emperor Heichen nodded, pleased. She sat back down, and a maid quickly came over to refill her cup. But Tang Daiyu waved her away, not wanting to get too intoxicated there.

She felt her qi flare up, and closed her eyes. Beads of sweat coated her forehead. She grunted in pain.

Helian Taiqiang noticed her situation and leaned over, asking, "Ms. Tang, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she gritted out. "Don't worry about me."

The sooner I can leave Great Xia, the better.