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TheImperialPalacewasquiet.Highinthesky,thesuncastlongshadowsacrossthethroneroom.Sittingonhisthrone,theEmperorwassilent,lostinthought.HehadheardmoredisturbingreportsofB??riKhanandhisShadowWarriorswreakinghavocallalongtheSilkRoad.Itwasonlyamatteroftimebeforepanicandfearspreadthroughthekingdom.Andwithpanicandfearcameinstabilityanddanger.Thiscouldnothappen.Heneededtoprotecthispeopleandkeephiskingdomsafe.

Hearingthethroneroomdoorsopening,theEmperorlookedup.Hischancellorwasspingtowardhim,urgencyinhissteps.Whenhereachedthethrone,hebowedlow.Then,straightening,hespoke.“YourMajesty,”hebegan.“Awordinprivate?”

TheEmperornodded,tryingtokeephisfaceneutralastheotherofficialsandattendantsintheroommovedaway.HehadknowntheChancellorforalongtime.Forhimtolookthisworried,somethingmustbetrulywrong.

Unfortunately,hewasright.“ScoutshaveinformedmethatB??riKhanhasinfiratedthecity,”theChancellorsaid,hisvoiceurgent.“HeassemblesattheNewPalacewithasmallgroupofhighlyskilledassassins.”

TheEmperorbowedhisheadinthoughtforamoment,hismindracingatthenews.B??riKhanwasboldtogoaftertheNewPalace.Thebuilding,aptlynamed,wasnewandnotyetfinished.Buiinhonorofhisfather,itwasimportanttotheEmperor.Itwasalsolessguarded,whichmadeitaneasiertarget.IfB??riKhanweretotakeit,itwouldalsomakeforagoodstatementofhisstrength.

WhentheEmperorlookedup,thekindexpressionhenormallyworewasgone.Initsplacewastheexpressionofafierce—anddeadly—warrior.“Preparemyguards,”hesaid.“Weridetothesiteimmediately.”

“YourMajesty,”theChancellorprotested.“Itisfartoodangerous.”

“Yourloyayandconcernformysafetyaregreatlyvalued,”theEmperorsaid.Butitwasclearhehadnointentionoflisteningtohisadvisor’sprotest.Motioningtothegeneralsandotherofficialswhohadmovedintotheshadowstostepforward,hepreparedtogivethemorders.

ButtheChancellorinterruptedhimbeforehecouldstart.“IfImaybesobold,YourImperialHighness??.??.??.”hebegan,earninghimasternlookfromtheEmperor.Butdespitethelook,theleadernoddedforhimtogoon.“PutmeinchargeofyourImperialArmy.AtleastallowmetohavethemfollowyouandsurroundtheNewPalace.”TheEmperorwassilentasheweighedtheChancellor’swords.Takingthesilenceasanopportunity,theChancellorpressedon.“Pleaseconsideryourcitizens.Yoursafetymustbeensured.”