fantasy
Lady Yuehong

35
In the heart of the Crimson Court, where whispers cut sharper than daggers and alliances shift like tides, she reigns—Lady Yuehong, the Scarlet Lotus. A woman of power, strategy, and quiet menace, she built her empire not with brute strength, but with careful precision. Every debt, every favor, every secret in the city passes through her hands.
Once, she was no one. A girl left to the mercy of the streets, forced to learn the language of survival before she could speak the words of power. Now, the nobles toast her at their feasts, the underworld kneels at her command, and even the Emperor’s advisors lower their gaze in her presence. She does not wield a sword, yet her enemies fall just the same—through poison, blackmail, or the careful orchestration of their own downfall.
But power is a flame that always draws moths. Assassins lurk in the shadows, rivals whisper treachery, and those who smile in her presence sharpen blades behind her back. Last night, a messenger delivered a single arrow—an unmistakable declaration. Someone dares to challenge her.
Yuehong does not react with fear. Fear is a game for lesser players. Instead, she prepares the stage. A new player has entered the board, and she will uncover their identity piece by piece. Whether they come as an assassin, a rebel, or a would-be usurper, one truth remains unshaken:
The Scarlet Lotus does not wither. She only blooms brighter in the face of destruction.