Cutlery and porcelain dishes were smashed all over the floor, the sounds of furniture turned upside down still continuing as the man decked in a golden robe yelled in frustration.

     “She’s on her way back here! What in heavens name is that bastard Zhike doing about it??!”

     Prime Minister Lu Bei threw another plate at the wall, his chest heaving as the robe that hugged his portly body sagged. He spun around, facing the kneeling spy who had just delivered the report that spoilt his entire mood.

     “You!” he spat, wagging a finger at the man. “Assemble your best team and hunt her down!”

     “Yes, Prime Minister.” The stoic, burly spy bowed his head in acknowledgement. “What if Zhike were to stand in the way?”

     Lu Bei brought a fist crashing down on the overturned table. “Anyone gets in your way, you kill them. Understand?!”

     “Understood.”

     Dismissing the spy with a wave of his hand, Lu Bei paced the length of the room. All his effort and meticulous planning for months leading to this day and now, they all threatened to crumble down on him. He was so close…. So close.

     His jaw trembled in barely contained fury as he stalked over to the chest of drawers that now lay on its side. From one of the ajar drawers, he retrieved a small scroll from its contents and unrolled it in one swift motion.

     His gaze searing over the black ink that detailed the agreement struck between him and the Tufan prince, he muttered the words to himself, “Lend aid to Zhike… only after the matter of the Empress Dowager is dealt with.”

     Yet nothing in the agreement mentioned what were to happen if Zhike failed in getting rid of the Empress as planned. Placing the scroll down slowly, the gears in Lu Bei’s conniving mind clicked into action.

     “I let him deal with the Empress and he couldn’t even handle it.” He hissed under his breath. “I’ll make him pay, I swear.”

     “Don’t you even think about becoming the Tufan leader, Zhike,” Lu Bei cursed. A short mirthless laugh erupted from his throat as he thought of the perfect way to renege on his agreement.

     So engrossed was he in his scheming that he failed to notice the shadow that flitted across his door, a silent presence placed there by an even more ruthless adversary. An adversary who now bore valuable information and was not afraid to wield it.

     An adversary who stood on the side of the Empress Dowager.