The first decree came before sunrise.
By noon, the palace was already shaking.
Zhen Luo sat on the high seat in the temporary investigation hall, expression calm, fingers resting lightly on the armrest. Ministers stood in two neat rows, backs straight, throats dry.
The Emperor watched from behind a curtain.
The Queen watched from a shadowed balcony.
And everyone else watched their careers crumble.
"Minister Qiao," Zhen Luo said calmly, flipping through a scroll, "you have been receiving private funds from Lady Li's household for three years."
Minister Qiao collapsed to his knees. "Your Highness, I—"
"Execute," Zhen Luo said lightly.
The hall went silent.
Blood stained the marble.
Li Shuran's face drained of color.
She had never imagined the Crown Prince could be this cold.
Han Jian watched from behind a pillar, eyes half-lidded, amused.
"So he chose terror," he murmured.
Feng Huai stood beside him, whispering, "He's not killing randomly. Every name is precise."
Han Jian smiled. "Of course. He hates messy work."
Elsewhere, Bai Zehan and Luo Xian walked through the palace gardens, pretending to be two bored nobles discussing poetry.
In reality, they were counting spies.
"One on the left, two on the roof, three pretending to be gardeners," Bai Zehan whispered.
Luo Xian nodded. "She's starting with us."
Bai Zehan clicked his tongue. "I told you stealing Queen secrets would make us popular."
Luo Xian gave him a look. "You enjoy being chased."
"By you? Yes. By assassins? Less."
Back in the hall, Li Shuran stepped forward, hands trembling.
"Your Highness," she said softly, forcing a smile, "this level of execution will frighten the people."
Zhen Luo looked at her.
Really looked at her.
"You wanted peace," he said quietly. "This is peace."
Her smile cracked.
The Emperor's voice echoed from behind the curtain. "Continue."
The Queen's nails dug into her palm.
That night, Han Jian stood on the palace roof, wind tugging at his cloak.
Zhen Luo joined him silently.
"You're going too far," Han Jian said lightly.
Zhen Luo stared at the city lights. "They tried to kill you."
Han Jian tilted his head. "And you think I care?"
Zhen Luo's gaze sharpened. "I do."
Han Jian laughed softly. "That's your weakness, Your Highness."
Zhen Luo looked at him. "Then stay alive so it doesn't become fatal."
Meanwhile, in a quiet corridor, Bai Zehan tripped.
On purpose.
The assassin hidden in the shadows lunged.
Luo Xian's hand flashed.
The man dropped without a sound.
Bai Zehan blinked. "You're terrifying when you're calm."
Luo Xian wiped his blade. "You're terrifying when you're loud."
They stared at each other, then burst into quiet laughter.
In the Queen's chambers, Li Shuran knelt.
"He's changing," she whispered. "He's not the prince you controlled."
The Queen smiled coldly. "Good."
Li Shuran froze. "Good…?"
"A prince who burns everything," the Queen said softly, "is easy to push into madness."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Let him burn. Then we will label him a tyrant."
Far away, Zhen Luo signed another name.
Han Jian leaned over his shoulder.
"You're becoming famous," Han Jian said.
"Infamous," Zhen Luo corrected.
Han Jian smiled. "Same thing."
The Crown Prince paused, then said quietly, "Stay near me."
Han Jian met his gaze.
"Always," he said lightly.
The palace trembled.
The Prince burned.
The Queen smiled.
And the pawns started to realize—
The chessboard was on fire.