The selection hall was full.
Not with laughter, or whispers—but with names. Names read aloud, slowly, from a golden scroll by the Dowager's chief attendant.
Each girl bowed as her title was called.
"Lady Ying of the Lu Clan."
"Miss Chen Yuyin, daughter of the Minister of Finance."
And then—
"Shen Lian, of the Shen household. Assigned position: Honorary Court Attendant."
The hall stirred.
That title was not for a candidate.
It was a designation given to those granted observation rights during selection—yet not truly part of it.
An outsider. And yet, always present.
Shen Lian bowed.
She had expected nothing less.
As the candidates dispersed, she remained seated by the side wall.
The Dowager glanced at her once. The Empress didn't look at her at all.
But the Crown Prince, standing by the crimson pillar, watched her quietly. Not with approval. Not with doubt.
With interest.
That night, Zhou lit a candle in the Cold Palace and laid out a map on the stone table.
Three colored stones marked the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and the Empress.
A fourth—white and uncut—was placed between them.
"The game has begun," he said.
Shen Lian moved the white stone forward.
"Then let's redraw the board."