Lin listened to Dr. Sofia Rikkin as she patiently explained, for the third time, that Lin needed to enter the Animus of her own free will. Lin stood with her arms crossed, silent, her gaze fixed on Sofia.

"I know what happened last time was... traumatic," Sofia said. Her wide blue eyes held a kind, but distant expression. There was compassion, but it was hollow, lacking true empathy.

"You don't know anything," Lin retorted.

Traumatic was a gross understatement—a sterile, clinical term for the horrors Lin had witnessed. Her ancestor, Shao Jun, a concubine-turned-Assassin, had been forced to endure unimaginable torment centuries ago, and Lin had relived every moment of it in the Animus.

Shao Jun had been just five years old when she witnessed the Zhengde Emperor, Zhu Houzhao, order the execution of Liu Jin, a eunuch who had conspired against him. Liu Jin, the leader of the infamous Eight Tigers, had been betrayed by his own allies. For his treason, the emperor had sentenced him to the most agonizing punishment imaginable—Death by a Thousand Cuts.

In reality, over three thousand cuts had been inflicted on Liu Jin during the three-day execution. He mercifully succumbed on the second day, after only a few hundred cuts. Onlookers could buy pieces of his flesh for a mere qian, to eat with rice wine.

The horrific images had haunted Lin for days, the memory of Liu Jin's execution interwoven with her own screams and spasms in the Animus Room, Sofia's concerned face hovering above her. Even now, as Lin stared at her, nausea rose within her.

"I hope you understand," Sofia continued, "we don't always know what you'll experience. It's as much a mystery to us as it is to you."

"How comforting," Lin said dryly.

"The reports show you're progressing well," Sofia said with warmth that felt forced. "I'd like you to try again. After the last session, we've searched through every available source, and I believe we've found a memory that's important—but not as… horrifying."

Lin remained silent. Her captors—because that's how she saw them—now knew more about Shao Jun than she ever had. The last thing she wanted was to relive the life of a child concubine to one of China's most notorious emperors.

No, that wasn't entirely true.

More than anything, Lin wanted to keep her sanity. And she knew, deep down, that they would force her back into the Animus, no matter how horrifying the memories were.

Sofia might pretend she was giving Lin a choice, but they both knew the truth. This wasn't a request. It was an order.

The only choice Lin had left was how to submit—to go willingly or resist.

After a long pause, she finally spoke.

"I'll do it."


Summer was approaching Beijing, but it was not yet time for the court to move to the summer palace. In the dim light of flickering lanterns, dozens of women, none older than thirty, lay in fitful sleep, the oppressive heat making it hard to rest. The vast room, the largest of nine in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, stretched 1,400 square yards, its ornately carved wooden ceiling hidden in the darkness.

Yet, the faint glimmer of gold-leafed dragons and the gleam of locked, ornate doorknobs still caught the light. Twelve-year-old Shao Jun quietly opened the massive door and moved silently across the cool, black marble floor. This palace, the grandest of the three in the Forbidden City's inner court, was home to the Zhengde Emperor, his empress, and his most favored concubines. Shao Jun herself had been born here, though her mother, a concubine, had not survived the ordeal.

If any place could be called home, it was this one, with its exquisite carved ceilings, large, comfortable beds, and the constant murmur of women learning the fine arts of their station: dancing, playing instruments, embroidery, and mastering how to walk, move, and laugh in a way that pleased the court.

Shao Jun had learned these arts as well, but her uncanny talent for graceful dance and extraordinary acrobatics had caught the eye of the young Zhengde Emperor. He had quickly put her skills to use, both to spy on his enemies and to entertain his friends with playful tricks.

As Shao Jun made her way down the opulent corridors, her steps echoing against the ancient walls. She had just seen someone new—someone unfamiliar, yet striking in their appearance. As she rounded the corner, her eyes fell upon a figure standing at the far end of the hall. The woman was tall and imposing, with long scarlet hair flowing from beneath a green beret adorned with a golden star. She stood in a graceful martial stance, the embodiment of discipline and strength.

Shao Jun slowed her pace as she approached, her instincts telling her that this woman was not to be taken lightly. Though Shao had never seen her before, the aura of power radiating from her was unmistakable. The woman's sharp gaze met Shao's, and for a moment, they stared at each other in silence.

The woman's gaze softened, and a lazy smile crept across her face. "Well, well, well," she drawled, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. "If it isn't a new face. Are you lost, little one?"

Shao Jun was taken aback by her casual tone. This woman, with her imposing stature and piercing gaze, seemed anything but laid-back. Yet, there was a certain charm to her nonchalance.

"I'm not lost," Shao Jun replied, her voice firm. "I'm here to see the emperor."

"Oh, are you now?" The woman raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "And what might your name be, little missy?"

"Shao Jun," Shao Jun replied, her voice barely a whisper.

"Shao Jun, huh?" The woman mused. "A lovely name for a lovely girl. I'm Meiling, the gatekeeper of this mansion."

"I've heard of you," Shao Jun said, her voice filled with respect. "They say you're a formidable warrior."

Meiling chuckled. "Well, I wouldn't say that. I'm just a humble gatekeeper, doing my job."

"A humble gatekeeper?" Shao Jun repeated, her eyes filled with doubt. "I don't think so."

Meiling shrugged. "Maybe you're right. But for now, you'll have to wait. The emperor is busy."

"I understand," Shao Jun replied, her voice disappointed.

"Don't worry," Meiling said, patting Shao Jun on the shoulder. "You'll see him soon enough. In the meantime, why don't you come in and have some tea?"

Shao Jun hesitated. She wasn't sure if she could trust this woman. But Meiling's invitation was so unexpected and so unlike anything she had experienced before.

Singled out for her tumbling and put to work by Zhengde as early as she had been—three years old—Shao Jun had always been the object of hostility, veiled and otherwise, from her fellow concubines. She'd risen swiftly, despite a comparatively low-class birth, whereas many of the hundreds Zhengde kept in the three harem buildings had only seen the Son of Heaven from a distance.

Meiling raised an eyebrow as Shao Jun explained her situation. "So, you're a little... troupe member, huh? I've heard the emperor likes his entertainment." She chuckled, a hint of amusement in her voice. "I suppose you're used to being the center of attention."

Shao Jun nodded, her expression a mix of pride and sadness. "I've always been... different," she said.

"Different?" Meiling repeated, her eyes narrowing. "How so?"

Due to her extensive experience as the emperor's favored spy, Jun was acutely attuned to the deceptive facades that could be worn by the court and other concubines. Initially, she approached her new surroundings with guarded caution, her tongue firmly held.

As Shao Jun stood before Meiling, she couldn't help but sense a certain undercurrent beneath the woman's casual demeanor. Meiling's expression was a canvas of subtle shifts, a mask that seemed almost effortless. In the court, everyone wore a facade, but Shao Jun had learned to pierce through the deception.

She studied Meiling closely, her mind racing with possibilities. Was this woman truly just a gatekeeper, or was there a deeper purpose behind her presence? Shao Jun's instincts, honed by years of survival in the palace, whispered to her that there was more to Meiling than met the eye.

"I've learned to trust few people," Shao Jun finally said, her voice measured. "Especially those who seem too... nonchalant." Her eyes narrowed slightly, gauging Meiling's reaction.

Meiling chuckled softly, her smile widening just enough to reveal a hint of amusement. "Wise for someone so young," she said, tilting her head in acknowledgment. "But in a place like this, who can afford to let their guard down?"

Meiling's directness took aback Shao Jun. She had expected a more playful or evasive response. Instead, Meiling seemed to be confirming Shao Jun's suspicions.

"I apologize," Shao Jun stammered, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean to—"

Before she could finish, Meiling interrupted her with a wave of her hand. "No need to apologize, little one," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "It's refreshing to see someone who isn't afraid to speak their mind."

Shao Jun was relieved that Meiling had not taken her words too personally. However, she could not shake the feeling that she had just crossed a line.

As they walked, Meiling turned to Shao Jun. "I remember seeing you perform at the Bao Fang," she said, her voice filled with a hint of nostalgia. "You were quite the little dancer."

Shao Jun was surprised. She had not expected Meiling to know about her past. "How did you know?" she asked.

Meiling smiled. "I've been around the palace for a long time," she replied. "I see everything."

The chamber was named Leopard's Chamber, a nod to its original purpose of housing exotic animals. Zhengde had ordered its construction outside the Forbidden City, a place intended for acrobatic and dance performances. While it served as an excellent location for eavesdropping, Jun kept that detail to herself.

Jun's expression remained unyielding. The most influential eunuchs in court had been infamous as the Eight Tigers. Now, there were only seven. Jun had been compelled to witness their leader, Liu Jin, suffer through a horrific demise.

"I remember the powerful muscles of the big cats," Jun continued, her voice filled with a mix of fear and excitement. "Their coats, a stunning blend of gold and black, were almost as intimidating as their roars. The court was terrified of them, but for me, it was exhilarating to perform right above their cages."

"And last night?" Meiling asked, her voice laced with a knowing tone. She already knew the details of Zhengde's latest indulgence.

"You did say you were there," Shao Jun replied, a hint of defiance in her voice.

"But I want you to tell me," Meiling insisted, playfully punching Shao Jun's arm.

"All right," Shao Jun sighed. "He had the market set up again last night, and this time he pretended to be a commoner from outside Nanjing. Ma Yongcheng was a mushroom farmer, and Wei Bin sold silk."

The idea of these powerful men pretending to be ordinary farmers and merchants while Zhengde played the humble customer amused the emperor greatly. However, it did not amuse those members of the court forced to perform such roles, especially the Eight Tigers.

"What about Gao Feng?" Meiling asked.

"He sold snails," Shao Jun replied.

Meiling couldn't contain her laughter, her body shaking with mirth. Jun grinned, unable to resist joining in.

She had to admit, watching these proud men endure such humiliation was a sight to behold. "And you?" Meiling asked, her laughter finally subsiding.

"Me?" Jun replied, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I helped cook noodles."

"Tell me more," Meiling sighed happily, leaning back against a cushion.

Shao Jun hesitated, unsure if she should share her secrets with this enigmatic woman. But something about Meiling drew her in, a sense of trust that she couldn't quite explain.

"Zhengde has expressed his curiosity about the ongoing battles in the north," Jun began, her voice low. "He's even considering a secret visit."

Meiling's eyes snapped open. "Really?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement. "And what does he plan to do there?"

"He's planning to disguise himself as a commoner and gather information about the Mongol forces," Jun replied. "He wants me to accompany him and listen for any signs of danger."

Meiling nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face. "That's quite risky," she said. "The Mongols are fierce warriors."

"I know," Jun replied. "But Zhengde is determined."

Meiling sighed. "Well, I suppose if anyone can survive such a dangerous adventure, it's you," she said. "You're a survivor, Shao Jun."

Like the cat Zhengde sometimes called her, she always seemed to land on her feet, her resilience and adaptability allowing her to navigate even the most perilous situations with grace.

"There were plots brewing among the Eight Tigers, and cunning deception was rampant among the concubines," Jun explained. "I have a friend here, and I couldn't bear the thought of abandoning Zhang to such a dangerous environment."

Meiling nodded in understanding. "But you had no choice, did you?" she asked.

Jun shook her head. "Not this time," she replied, her voice filled with a mix of resignation and determination. "If the Son of Heaven wanted me to go, I had to."

Meiling placed a hand on Shao Jun's shoulder, her grip firm and reassuring. A fierce protectiveness rose within her, a feeling she had rarely experienced before.

"This I vow, Shao Jun," Meiling said, her voice filled with a newfound determination. "If you need me, I will come. No matter what, no matter where—I will come for you, and keep you safe. No threat, no Imperial order, nothing will keep me from you if ever you need me. Ever."

Shao Jun was taken aback by Meiling's declaration. She had never expected the enigmatic gatekeeper to form such a strong bond with her.

"Thank you," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "I'm grateful to have you as a friend."

Meiling smiled. "And I'm grateful to have you as a friend," she replied. "Now go. The emperor is waiting."

As Shao Jun turned to leave, she glanced back at Meiling. For the first time, she felt a sense of hope. With Meiling watching her back, she knew she would be okay.