Related Cases (2)
Related Novels (1)
Related Chapters (9)
The Unfinished Crime
Words: 3042 · Source Novel:: The Viper's Testament
The epilogue chapter flashes back to the immediate aftermath of the rebellion in 688 AD. We see Prince Li Zhen's final hours, writing the will and entrusting the jade key to his most loyal servant. He reveals the list is not a real demand but a complex psychological mechanism intended to either radicalize or enlighten the heir depending on their heart. A hidden tenth task is referenced, but never written down: "If the empire burns, kindle a new light." The chapter ends with the executioner's blade, and the servant escaping with a newborn. This contextualizes the entire preceding narrative.
The Altar of Heaven
Words: 3078 · Source Novel:: The Viper's Testament
Under the cover of a ritual ceremony, the group infiltrates the sacred altar. They discover that the jade key fits into a hidden niche, which opens a compartment containing a single letter from Prince Li Zhen to his infant son, expressing love and hope, not vengeance. The treasury is a metaphor—it is the network of kindness and loyalty his family has built. The scroll disintegrates into dust, its magic fading. Task nine is simply "live." Zhang Yi, moved, falsifies a report that the troublemakers died in a rockfall. The Mask Merchant realizes her mission is now to preserve stories, not gold.
The Forgiveness Ledger
Words: 3058 · Source Novel:: The Viper's Testament
Recovering from his wound, the assassin, now simply called by his birth name Li Xu, decides to reinterpret the remaining tasks. Task seven: "shatter the mirror." They interpret it as destroying the false narratives about the Li family. Cui An and Pei break into the Bureau of Historiography, replacing the official account of Prince Li Zhen's rebellion with a corrected version that emphasizes his desperation, not ambition. They use the very forgery skills meant for crime to restore truth. The scroll shimmers, accepting this non-violent reinterpretation. The Mask Merchant secures a copy for her archives.
The Cruel Officer
Words: 3042 · Source Novel:: The Viper's Testament
Target: Zhou Xing, a notorious secret police chief famed for his interrogations using cleverly named torture devices. Cui An, Pei, and the Mask Merchant plan an elaborate operation: they will stage a ghostly visitation using the dead Prince Li Zhen's vengeful spirit to frighten Zhou Xing into confession, then reveal his crimes publicly. Disguised as a monk, Cui An gets close, but the assassin finally corners him. They fight in a bell tower, with the assassin revealing himself as the actual hidden son of Li Zhen, who believes only by completing the list ruthlessly can he reclaim his birthright. Pei must choose sides.
The Dossier
Words: 3084 · Source Novel:: The Viper's Testament
The dossier contains a bombshell: Prince Li Zhen had a secret son by a concubine, who was smuggled out before the purge. That son was raised as a commoner, and the will is not just a treasure hunt—it is a test to see if the heir, or anyone claiming to be, can destabilize Wu Zetian's regime. The fourth task appears: forge a letter from the Crown Prince to the Tufan empire, requesting military aid. This is high treason on a massive scale. Cui An and Pei argue: is completing the list worth destroying the fragile peace? The Mask Merchant sends them a mocking note via pigeon: she has Pei's elderly mother.