The next day dawned far too quickly for her taste.

  Today was the day she would face Kang Yanxin in court. Well … that was an inaccurate description. Today was the day Kang Yanxin would face her in court. That was a better description. It also made her feel better.

  She got Manu ready for the day and sent him off with Lian before she got ready herself. It was not long before Eunuch Li came for her. It was a bit surprising. She thought she would be summoned to the court. This private trial was more private than he thought.

  Samaya was led to the Imperial Study, Ah-Liu following her obediently, though he had to stay outside when they reached the main doors, which opened up to the front hallway leading to the actual study.

  The lanterns burned low, their flickering flames casting wavering shadows upon the silk-draped walls of the Imperial study. The scent of burning incense clung to the air, mingling with the faint, metallic tang of ink and parchment. The hush that filled the room was heavy, the tension thick enough to smother. It seemed even the windows were closed and curtains drawn.

  Samaya walked with measured steps, the soft rustling of her robes the only sound as she was escorted by Eunuch Li to the center of the room. Her gaze remained steady, her face composed in a mask of indifference. If she allowed herself even a flicker of emotion, it would be seized upon like prey before circling hawks.

  Before her stood the highest-ranking officials in the land.

  Minister Kang stood like a pillar of iron, his sharp gaze fixed upon her, unyielding and brimming with a thirst for retribution. Beside him, the Prime Minister watched impassively, his face a study in unreadable calm. The State Preceptor tapped a single finger against his knee, a quiet rhythm of thoughtfulness, as though this was a mere exercise in strategy. Han Qin stood behind the Emperor, a wall of silent support. Their eyes met and he inclined his head ever so slightly. To their flanks, Minister Zhou and Minister Shen, both silent but clearly engaged, their gazes shifting between Samaya and the man seated beside Minister Kang.

  Kang Yanxin.

  Even in his weakened state, even swathed in layers of linen bandages, his presence sent a ripple through the room. His right arm lay motionless in a sling, the bones within no doubt fractured beyond easy repair. His fingers, wrapped tightly, bore the evidence of torment, and his face—bruised, swollen, and stitched—spoke of the nightmare he had endured. A deep gash ran from his collarbone to his shoulder, peeking out from beneath the bindings that held him together. His lower lip was split, and the bruises that marred his cheekbones were a stark contrast to his usual proud demeanor.

  And these were not counting the loss of his manhood and the injuries inside him. She was sure that split lip and red cheeks were just from physical abuse. Damn. Those men must have done a number on him. She was not surprised. Those criminals could be vicious, especially if they had lost their families to nobles. He looked more like a ghost of himself than a man, he almost looked broken, yet his eyes focused on Samaya with intense hatred and fury and… no little amount of fear.

  Samaya met his gaze unflinchingly. If this was truly a private meeting, she might have let a smirk show on her face.

  "The private trial shall begin," the Emperor's voice rang out. Though smooth and calm, it carried the weight of command, silencing the murmurs of the gathered officials.

  He was clad in his imperial gold, the embroidery on his robes catching the dim light. Even seated behind the desk, he exuded authority. His presence seemed to consume the whole room. She had gotten used to his large presence in the courtroom, but it seemed overwhelming in this small space.

  "Kang Yanxin," he said, his voice echoing slightly in the vast chamber. "Do you recognize this woman?"

  A moment of silence stretched.

  Then, Kang Yanxin inhaled sharply through gritted teeth before speaking. His voice was hoarse, as though torn from his throat.

  "Yes, Your Majesty. She is the one who tortured me."

  A murmur rippled through the room.

  Samaya let out a slow breath, then turned to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, may I ask the esteemed Young Master Kang a few questions?"

  The Emperor regarded her for a moment before nodding. "You may.” He turned to Kang Yanxin. “You must answer truthfully. Lie, and We will know. The consequences will not be pleasant.”

  “Your Majesty, this is outra-”

  “Minister Kang, when she accused your son, We allowed you to defend on his behalf. It is only fair that We grant her the same right.”

  Minister Kang exhaled through gritted teeth and settled back down.

  Samaya tilted her head slightly, then turned her gaze back to Kang Yanxin.

  "Did you see the face of the person who tortured you?"

  A pause.

  "...No."

  "Did you hear their voice?"

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Another hesitation.

  "...No."

  The murmur among the ministers grew louder. Even the State Preceptor’s fingers stopped tapping as he sat up slightly, intrigued and mildly amused.

  "Then how can you be so sure?" Samaya’s voice remained even, her tone almost gentle. "It could have been anyone - any man or any woman."

  Kang Yanxin’s jaw tightened. His good hand curled into the fabric of his robes. "It was not a man. I know a woman’s figure when I see one."

  I am sure you do, you fucker.

  Samaya arched a brow. "Regardless, that does not prove it was me." She crossed her arms. “You have nothing but your word, and even those are not certain.”

  Minister Kang straightened, his voice sharp. "And yet, there is the matter of the fragrance. The scent clinging to the torturer matched hers

  Samaya let out a short laugh. "If you plucked two random concubines from the harem, would they not smell similar to me?" She asked. “Like I said before, agarwood and floral scents are popular amongst noble ladies. While I am not a noble lady, I am a Consort of the Emperor. Much as it annoys me, it seems I must exude beauty and fragrance at all times. It is not my fault the harem has ridiculous rules.”

  Okay, she was getting off track here.

  She turned slightly, her gaze settling upon the Emperor. "This trial is nothing but a farce. I came to court seeking justice for Rin, and yet not only did I not get justice, but I also lost Rin in the process. And now I find myself accused of something I did not do, something that probably happened because his debauched past caught up with him. Is this how the Imperial Court operates? By shifting blame onto the most convenient target?"

  Minister Kang went red in the face with anger.

  “You insolent wench!” He growled. “Not only do you mutilate my son, you have the nerve to-”

  “Minister Kang,” the Emperor’s voice cut through the man’s building ramble. “Regardless of your accusation, at this moment, you speak to Our Virtuous Lady, a mother of the nation. Be very careful how you speak.”

  His voice was cold, brokering no argument.

  Minister Kang seemed to want to say something, but then Kang Yanxin spoke up.

  "Eyes."

  The single word cut through the air like a blade.

  Everyone turned to him.

  His breathing was shallow, and his body was visibly trembling from the effort of sitting upright, but his stare was unwavering.

  “What?” Samaya asked.

  “Her eyes.”

  Samaya tilted her head with a frown. “What on earth are you talking about?”

  "Her face was covered, but her eyes were not," he rasped, his eyes locked onto hers. "I remember how they looked in the firelight - like molten gold poured in honey."

  Silence.

  The men were now looking at her, clearly trying to meet her gaze and see her eyes.

  Samaya clenched her fists beneath her sleeves, resisting the urge to blink or cover her eyes. The fire from the lantern was not as intense as the fire in the cell that night, but she could not be sure that it would not reflect the same color in her eyes.

  She knew she was different. From her wavy hair to her dark skin to her hazel eyes. Her Indian features were not exactly common in this world. But she had not thought that her eyes of all things would be her giveaway. She had never had to worry about it on any of her missions before. Most of her missions were conducted in the dark, out of sight. And she hadn’t had to stand trial for those that were not. She had always covered her most distinctive features.

  She exhaled slowly, then let out a soft chuckle. "You cannot seriously think you can accuse me on the basis of eyes."

  Kang Yanxin’s fingers dug into the armrest of his chair. "No one has eyes like yours."

  “The Emperor has golden eyes. So does the Empress Dowager.”

  She tried to keep her voice steady, as if simply debunking the ridiculous theory. If she raised her voice or showed even a shred of emotion, she was done.

  Minister Kang seized upon his son’s words. “The Empress inherited the golden eyes from her grandmother, who was a Princess from the far Eastern nation of Baiyu. She is the only one of her cousins to have inherited it and passed it on to the Emperor. There is no noble lady in the Capital with such light eyes.”

  "We must compare," he declared, turning to the Emperor. "In firelight, let us observe her eyes, and then compare them to the noble ladies of the court."

  Samaya’s jaw tightened. "This is absurd."

  "It is justice," Minister Kang countered.

  She scoffed. "Justice? You call this justice? Then tell me, Minister Kang, how do you intend to prove that the eyes Kang Yanxin saw belonged to me? What if another woman has eyes similar to mine? Will you then accuse her as well? Are you saying that there are no women in the Capital with lighter eyes?”

  “No noble ladies, at least.”

  “And why are you sure it is a noble lady?”

  “The fragrance-”

  “Oh again with fragrance! How hard is it to find a fragrance? Heck, even the expensive prostitutes use fragrances similar to this.”

  “And how would you know that? Unless you were in cohorts with prostitutes to harm my son!”

  “Oh for god’s sake, I lived near a damn red light district before I came here, you absolute-”

  The two began to argue back and forth, the tension in the room thickening.

  Prime Minister remained silent, merely observing, while the State Preceptor watched with an amused glint in his gaze. Han Qin was as stoic as ever and the other two Ministers would only try to intervene at times, to no avail.

  The Emperor, for his part, appeared deep in thought, tapping a finger against the armrest of his chair.

  Just as their voices reached a heated pitch, there was a knock at the door.

  Eunuch Li stepped forward, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty," he intoned, "some maids have arrived requesting an urgent audience with you."

  Minister Kang rounded on the Eunuch.

  “Maids?” He almost screeched. “Where do mere maids get the audacity to seek an audience with the Emperor during a private trial?”

  Eunuch Li spoke directly to the Emperor. “The maids say that they have something to add to this trial. They insist that it is urgent.”

  The Emperor’s gaze flickered with interest. "Let them in."

  The heavy doors creaked open, and the maids who had visited her the day before entered, their heads bowed deeply in deference. Their faces were pale, their expressions tight with fear.

  Samaya recognized the look in their eyes.

  Determination.

  Something was about to shift.

  Author's Note: Sorry for the late update! Event organization and management is HELL, I tell you. Thank you guys so much for always being so patient with me. I am not really sure I was able to convey the tension and hatred between Kang Yanxin and Samaya but I tried my best!

  If you want to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon! You can read upto two months ahead over there!