The palace was colder than usual.
Rumors moved faster than fire, and this time, they carried a name: Shen Lian.
She hadn't signed any documents. Hadn't placed her name on any scroll.
Yet somehow, her name appeared among the official list of palace selection candidates.
The seal was genuine. The ink fresh.
By evening, her quarters received three separate visitors—each bearing hollow smiles, shallow greetings, and veiled questions.
"You've risen quickly," one said.
"The Empress must like you," another murmured.
The third didn't speak at all. She only stared at Shen Lian's hands, as if expecting blood to bloom there.
Shen Lian remained gracious. Serene. Until the last guest left.
Only then did she exhale.
On her windowsill, something had been placed.
A small lacquered box. Sealed with green ribbon. No markings.
She opened it slowly.
Inside lay a jade pendant—oval, milky white, worn smooth at the edges. She recognized it at once. It had once belonged to the Third Prince.
The one they all called a shadow prince. Too ill to fight, too clever to ignore.
A message without words:
I see you.
She stared out into the darkness.
Then closed the box.
So it begins.