Chapter Text
Prolog
An attempt on the Princesses life
It is quiet in the Forbidden City as an assassin walks through the Palace hoping to get to Princess Ming-Yue's room so he may put an end to the Xiang line. He is silent and moves quickly so as to not be discovered before he is able to finish his job. He passes room after room hiding on the ceiling and in the shadows when he nears the Palace Guards. Eventually he finds the room he is looking for. He quickly slides open the door and steps inside. He looks around and sees Books lining the wall. A sewing station with a project of some sort still in it. The room is filled with Red Pink and Blue including the bed which is empty. The assassin frantically looks around for the Princesses and finds her sleeping in a chair by the open window. The light of the moon casting her into the shadows.
The assassin watches her for a few minutes, a firm grip on the blade he plans on using to kill her. Without a moment's hesitation he cuts into her from just above her navel to her bottom lip and through her left eyebrow as she Jerks awake. She is quick to call for help as she rides the newfound adrenaline from the injury. As the assassin takes another swipe at her she reaches for the heavy books she was reading and brings it down on his arm. The loud Crack startling them both the blade crashes to the tile floor. A guard rushes into the room and dispatches the assassin in quick succession.
"Princesses you are hurt." The guard states as he rushes to her side to catch her as she collapses. His eyes widen as he looks over the wound, blood seeping into the floor and his armor.
" It is just a flesh wound Tuè. I will heal in no time at all. A Doctor would be appreciated though." She responds with rasping breaths before losing consciousness.
" I NEED A DOCTOR IN HERE QUICKLY." Tuè yells checking the Princesses pulse and finding it slow but steady. The door slams open as more guards and a few of the Palace physicians enter the room. Lastly the Emperor and Empress join them still in their night robes.
" What happened Tuè?" The Emperor Hongzu demands a look of righteous fury on his face as he gazes upon his fallen daughter. Not even noticing the assassin dead on the floor a few paces away.
" Your Majesty a few minutes ago while I was doing my rounds I heard the Princesses call for help. I rushed to get here just in time to see the assassin trying to cut her again, she disarmed him and broke his wrist before I snuck up behind him and killed him. She was able to speak a few words before collapsing.
The Emperor and Empress had dark looks on their faces, tears streaming as they watched the Doctors inspect the wound on their daughter. " She's just a baby Hongzu not even eight years old yet. What did they do to my baby?" The Empress Yin Wei cries kneeling down to be closer to the Princesses. One of the Doctors shifts giving Hongzu a better look at the wound; it was large, deeper in some spots and would require many stitches which they were doing now that the area was clean.
"She will be okay right?" Hongzu asks putting his hand on his wife's shoulder as she starts to shake.'If not he will kill anyone who gets in the way of his search for answers. He still might actually.'
" Yes your Majesty, the blade did not cut through her eye. She will have significant scarring on her torso and a bit on her face, fortunately we got here just in time, she will heal. She is strong and you taught her well." Sang min the lead physician says as she continues sticking the wound.
Time passes and few guards remain in the room, the rest going back to their patrols. An hour later the Princess is back in stable condition as the Doctors and guards take her out of the room and into the hallway to get to the infirmary where she will rest for the next few days at least. "This is the third attempt on her life Hongzu, what should we do? We can't keep her here; she's not safe. She's still so young and does not have a chosen guard." Yin Wie questions her husband.
Hongzu watches the full moon for a few minutes before finally replying. " We will send her to Xiabeng. She will be able to protect her and teach her what she needs to know." He is solemn as he grabs his wife's hands and faces her. " My sister may have given up her title to marry her guard but she is still of royal blood and I would trust no one else with our daughter's safety and happiness."
" I do not like this, but I do agree Xiabeng is the safest option. I just hope Ming-Yue will be able to forgive us."
" So do I my love, so do I." Hongzu pulls her in close as they exit the room to call his sister in France.
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Sabine Dupain-Cheng neè Xiang gets ready for bed with her husband following another successful day at their Bakery. Suddenly the phone disturbs the peace of the warm evening "Tom would you get that for me dear?" She calls from the bathroom still brushing her teeth. She hears him shuffle about the room to her side of the bed where her phone rests on the charger.
"It is your brother." He answers the phone putting it on speaker and she rinses her mouth. "Your Majesty?" Tom questions sending her a look of concern.
"Hongzu what is happening it is three in the morning where you are." Sabine asks her older brother. She steady herself on her husband's side.
There are two shaky voices on the other end of the line. " An assassin made it into Ming-Yue's room tonight. She has been injured badly." Shock flows through the Dupain-Chengs. "She was able to defend herself till a guard came but was asleep when the attack happened." The pain in his voice clear as day. " Please Xiabeng my daughter is no longer safe in the Palace. This is the third attempt and it was almost successful."
" Do not even finish that sentence Hongzu how soon shall we expect her?" She glances at her husband knowing he would not stand idly by either.
" She will be on bed rest for a few weeks while her wounds start closing up, but we are hoping to get out as soon as possible. The Doctors say she will sleep for a few days to recover from the trauma. We will tell her then." In the background her sister in law's sobs could be heard.
" We will get the attic all set up for her. It is a lovely space with a small garden she will enjoy. " Tom says " There is a School and a Park nearby where martial arts classes are held. "
"Thank you Tom, Xiabeng. Thank you, I do not know what we would do without your help. It will be difficult to be without her but she will be safer this way. She loves to sew we will send her with her favorite machine."
"None of that I am still your sister, anyone who messes with my niece goes through me. Besides, Tom still keeps his sword upto standard. " Sabine smiles at her husband as he sits down on the bed.
" I know she will not be happy with our decision but she will be excited to meet you both. She has been begging us to have you visit for years. I think being able to make normal friends and learn from those outside of the Palace will benefit her as well. I only wish for her happiness."
" You remember the code we made up when we were kids? " Sabine asks as she gets an idea.
" The one that made our tutors mad because they could not figure it out? "
Sabine chuckles " Yes that one we will use that to communicate so no plans get leaked and you will still be able to speak with her when you want to. "
"Oh brilliant Xiabeng that is perfect. I will send you something tomorrow but for now I must check on Ming-Yue. I do not wish to leave her for too long till she heals up."
"Of course, give her our love and Yin Wei, she will be safe with us. I will do everything in my power to ensure it."
The response is weak but warm "Thank you Xiabeng, Tom, take care of my baby." Hongzu says goodbye to the couple and hangs up.
Sabine sits next to her husband soaking up his warmth. " Will you be able to sleep tonight?" She shakes her head no. "Do you want to start fixing up the attic?"
" Yeah I'm too wired now so we might as well do something to tire us out." They spend the rest of the night and most of the next day preparing the room for Ming-Yue.
When the coded letter from Hongzu arrives a few days later plans are starting to form and our story is set in motion. The story of how a Princess becomes a hero in more ways than can be imagined. A story of growth, of change, and of inner strength. The story of Ming-Yue now Marinette Dupain-Cheng.