Contents
Chapter Eighteen: Some Other Girl I would Never Want to Be
Overview
Sima Yi reduces Li Shimin’s punishment, leaving Zetian to spend the night alone in his cell. As Zetian reflects on Wende, Li Shimin’s deceased partner, an assassin—Xing Tian—breaks in to strangle her in revenge for Colonel Yang. Yizhi arrives in disguise and drives Xing Tian off, exposing security vulnerabilities and shifting alliances.
Summary
After sunset, Sima Yi escorts Zetian back to Li Shimin’s bunker, snaps that training resumes tomorrow, and locks her in alone. He has managed to reduce Li Shimin’s solitary confinement from three days to one, citing “special circumstances.” The empty cell unsettles Zetian despite her relief at not sharing it with Li Shimin.
Trying to distract herself, Zetian cleans off her makeup and examines toiletries left by Wende, the former partner who initially activated the Vermilion Bird with Li Shimin but died in their first real battle. She speaks into the silence, half-joking about ghosts, revealing her unease and isolation.
A sudden pounding at the door escalates into a forced entry. A hooded man—Xing Tian, pilot of the Headless Warrior—bags Zetian’s head, pins her, and throttles her, hissing that it is “for Colonel Yang.” Zetian struggles, nearly blacking out as she fights to breathe.
Yizhi storms in mid-assault, shouting for Xing Tian to stop. In the brief clash that follows, Xing Tian flees, leaving Zetian shaken and Yizhi bruised, dressed in blue-gray robes and a student strategist’s hat. The rescue exposes a grave security breach and reintroduces Yizhi into Zetian’s orbit at a moment of lethal vulnerability.
Who Appears
- ZetianProtagonist; isolated in Li Shimin’s cell, reflects on Wende, survives Xing Tian’s strangling attempt, then is saved by Yizhi.
- YizhiArrives disguised as a student strategist; intervenes and drives off Xing Tian, rescuing Zetian.
- Xing TianHeadless Warrior pilot; breaks in, bags and strangles Zetian, seeking revenge for Colonel Yang, then flees.
- Sima YiHandler; scolds the pair, reduces Li Shimin’s penalty to one day, escorts Zetian back to the bunker.
- Li ShiminZetian’s pilot partner; absent, in reduced solitary confinement following the cafeteria incident.
- WendeLi Shimin’s late former partner; activated the Vermilion Bird and died in their first battle; haunts Zetian’s thoughts.
- Colonel YangDeceased officer; his death motivates Xing Tian’s revenge attack on Zetian.