Meili looked out at the moonlit gardens from the walkway outside Prince Zhiyuan's bedchambers, her mind in turmoil. She could not determine who to trust with the sinister truth she found today about the prince's illness.

While the prince rested inside under her watch, Meili tried to decide her next course of action. She started when a gentle voice spoke behind her.

"The night air is chilly. You should come inside."

Meili turned to see a young maidservant walking towards her, not much older than herself. The woman smiled at Meili, though her eyes were tired from the day's demands.

"You must be the new attendant Her Excellency mentioned she sent to assist me. I am Lin, Prince Zhiyuan's personal maidservant."

Meili returned her smile carefully. "Meili. I apologize for not introducing myself sooner."

Lin shook her head. "There is no need. His Highness required your close care today. I am only relieved you were here for His Excellency, Eunuch Jiang and I were summoned away unexpectedly. The prince is fortunate you were sent to attend to him."

Meili gazed at Lin, pausing. Though the young maid seemed truly concerned for the prince, Meili could not be certain of her loyalties. She was warned to be wary of all in the palace, even those posing as friends.

"May I ask where His Highness's eunuch and yourself were called away to so abruptly today?" Meili asked, hoping to gain some information.

Lin sighed. "The Empress Dowager required our counsel on arrangements for the upcoming summer festival. We dared not refuse, though we wished to stay at the prince's side. How did His Highness fare today?"

Meili picked her words with care. "The prince collapsed while walking in the gardens. I assisted him back to his chambers. He is resting now, though still pale and weak."

Lin's eyes widened in dismay. "Collapsed? But his health has been steady these past weeks. I do not understand..." Her face creased into a frown, nervous confusion clouding her eyes.

Meili's heart accelerated. Lin seemed truly puzzled by the prince's sudden turn as if this episode did not match the usual progression of his strange illness. Her curiosity grew, though she remained careful.

"Forgive me, I am still unfamiliar with the details of His Highness's condition," Meili said. "Could you tell me more about his symptoms and how long he has been ailing like this?"

Lin shook her head hopelessly. "The prince's illness has been an enigma to all. For years he has suffered from a weakness of qi and spirit that continues to sap his vitality, though the imperial physicians cannot determine its cause. At times he rallies, but the slightest strain or exertion causes a relapse." Her frown deepened. "But until today, he has not collapsed in such a frightful manner for a few weeks. I do not understand what could have provoked this..."

Her words trailed off uneasily as she looked into the distance, lost in worried thought.

Meili studied Lin in silence, torn between mistrust and a growing wish to confide in her. Though the princess's strange illness seemed as much a mystery to Lin as to the physicians, Meili wondered if she knew more than she shared. She wanted allies to help her protect the prince, but training had taught her trust could be a luxury she could little afford in the palace.

She must watch and wait to determine if Lin could be counted as a friend or foe before sharing dangerous facts. For now, she would continue probing gently for more information about the prince's mysterious ailment, while staying ever-vigilant for clues to its sinister cause. The prince's life and fate rested on her alone. There was too much at stake for Meili to act rashly without knowing who might be trusted - and who must stay a suspected enemy.

Lin sighed, turning to Meili with a tired smile. "It has been a long day and will be another early rise tomorrow. You should go rest now. I will watch over His Highness tonight."

Meili bowed. "Thank you for your kindness, sister Lin. I wish you a peaceful night." Though reluctant to leave the prince, she knew she must keep the guise of an ordinary servant. She made her way to the quarters given to her, a small but comfortably furnished chamber.

As the night deepened around her, Meili lit an oil lamp and took out a sheaf of paper, an inkstone, and a brush. By the dim light, she began to write a letter to the Clan Grand Master explaining the day's troubling events.

Honored Grand Master,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. This servant has arrived at the imperial palace and met with the prince as planned. However, the situation here is graver than we expected.

The prince suffers from an illness that continues to drain his vitality over time in a way that defies explanation. His symptoms and the irregular nature of his relapses puzzle even those closest to him. I do not believe this to be an ailment of natural causes.

Today, the prince collapsed while walking, struck by a sudden fit of weakness. When I inspected him, I sensed within a sinister energy that does not belong - a dark presence slowly consuming him from the inside out like poison. I fear the prince has been inflicted by evil magic meant to weaken and destroy him.

The prince is in great danger, and I believe dark forces are at work to hasten his end. But the cause of such evil remains unknown to me. I will continue to watch in secret and probe gently for hints, but time is against us. The prince gets frailer with each passing day, and his life essence is fading.

Please advise this humble disciple on how to continue to purge this evil from the prince without arousing suspicion. Time is of the essence if he is to be saved and achieve the destiny foretold. I await your direction in this matter, Zōngshī.

Your dedicated disciple,

Meili

Meili re-read the letter by the dim light, hoping she expressed the urgency of the situation without alarming her revered Grand Master unduly. Yet if her suspicions proved true, the prince's life was hanging by a thread - and with it the future of the empire. She could only hope help would come quickly before darkness claimed him forever.

Sealing the letter, Meili blew out the lamp and tried in vain to quiet her rushing thoughts. Sleep eluded her as fears and questions without answers filled her mind. She wondered if the first light of dawn would bring a reply with direction to lift the shadow descending upon the unsuspecting prince and those oblivious to the doom that threatened them all.

***

Meili awoke with the first light of dawn, worry weighing upon her heart. She could wait no longer in sending her message to the Grand Master. But she must exercise the utmost care to avoid being seen coming or going from her clan's secret messaging post.

Rising and washing her face quickly, Meili hid her letter within her robes. She slipped out quietly from her quarters and made her way to the hidden post, her senses alert for any sounds of approach. The messaging post was hidden within a hollow tree at the edge of the palace gardens, a small aperture allowing the clan to send and receive secret letters. Meili slid her letter inside, hoping her warning would be heard and help would come for the ailing prince before it was too late.

Retracing her steps carefully, Meili arrived back at her quarters just as the palace began to stir awake. To her surprise, she spotted Lin pacing nervously outside the prince's bedchambers. Before she could speak, the stillness was broken by a loud wailing and sounds of a scuffle within.

The bedchamber doors flew open and out fell a stout eunuch onto the floor in a heap. Meili blinked in surprise, she guessed it was Prince Zhiyuan's eunuch, Jiang.

Jiang leapt to his feet, his face streaked with tears. "Your Highness, have mercy on this lowly servant! Do not leave this earth so soon and depart to the heavenly realm!" He flung himself through the doors and prostrated beside the prince's bed, weeping piteously.

Within the room, an irritated voice sounded. "Will you cease your ridiculous bawling at once! I have only just awakened, you foolish man."

The prince sat upright in bed, staring at the eunuch. Meili fought to hide her smile at the sight of Prince Zhiyuan very much alive and hale, though looking rather disheveled with remnants of sleep still upon him.

Jiang lifted his tear-stained face slowly. Seeing the prince awake and alert, he let out a wail of relief and grabbed Prince Zhiyuan's hands, kissing them passionately. "Your Highness, you have returned from the brink of death! This lowly servant will never leave your side again for fear of losing you."

Prince Zhiyuan glared as he jerked his hands away. "I wish I had left for the celestial kingdom only to get away from your obnoxious histrionics and suffocating presence. Do you have to keep bringing me so close to death every morning?"

Meili turned away to cover her smile as she tried in vain to contain her laugh. With his piercing wit today, the prince looked to be in exceptional shape and full of energy. Lin snorted behind her, trying to hide her own laugh.

Jiang constantly bowed, wiping away any signs of tears. "This servant, in humble prayer, asks pardon for disturbing Your Highness's sleep. I'll wait for your instructions on the day's tasks." He quickly made his way outside, feeling a little embarrassed, but not before giving Meili and Lin a frustrated look.

Prince Zhiyuan looked at Meili as he shook his head in anger. She was surprised to see the reluctant pleasure in his eyes. "Do I have to put up with daily stupidity like my alarm clock? To give myself more time to recover, I may dismiss him and keep you close instead, Guardian."

Meili's smile faded, uncertain of what to make of the prince's mercurial behavior today or his peculiar remark. She could only wonder at this unexpected turn, hoping it portended a rallying of strength and health, yet staying wary of how long it might last before the dark forces moved again to douse the light flickering within him. For a moment the prince before her seemed vibrant and full of life, his eyes keen and perceptive. Yet Meili knew well how swiftly the shadow that hung over him could descend once more.

Meili bowed to Prince Zhiyuan, keeping her expression neutral. "This servant lives to fulfill your commands, Your Highness."

The prince studied her for a long moment, his eyes opaque. Before he could speak again, Eunuch Jiang bustled back in looking much chastened.

"Your servants have prepared your bath and fresh robes, my prince. Will you take your morning meal now or after your toilette?"

Prince Zhiyuan waved a hand angrily. "Have the meal sent for now." His eyes slid back to Meili as Eunuch Jiang hurried off eagerly. "You will attend me while I bathe and dress. Lin can see to laying out my robes and getting my meal."

Meili blinked in surprise but bowed obediently. As Lin left to carry out the orders, Meili helped Prince Zhiyuan from his bed into an adjoining bath room.

He studied her with a frown as she helped him behind a screen where a bath had been drawn. "You seem rather peculiar for a body servant. My mother's judgment in choosing attendants left much to be desired of late."

Meili kept her eyes dropped as he disrobed and sank into the bath with a groan of pleasure. She turned away to lay out towels and fresh clothes, feeling his gaze boring into her back. An odd fluttering began in her belly under his scrutiny.