Prologue
The full moon hung high above the imperial palace, casting silver light over its jade roofs and crimson pillars. In the heart of the Forbidden Pavilion, where the whispers of power and betrayal coiled like serpents in the dark, Prince Yu Han stood by the open window, his silk robes billowing in the cool night breeze.
His fingers curled around a jade pendant, a gift from his mother before she had succumbed to the treacheries of court life. He had learned young that the palace was a cage of golden bars, where the glitter of wealth masked the sharp edges of hidden daggers.
A rustle in the courtyard below drew his gaze downward. Shadows flitted between the columns, swift and silent. An assassin. The realization struck him just as the blade caught the moonlight—a flash of steel hurtling toward him.
Yu Han barely had time to react before a force knocked him backward. He landed hard against the polished wooden floor, breath stolen from his lungs. The weight of another body pressed over him, a warm hand covering his mouth to silence his gasp.
“Stay down, Your Highness,” a low voice murmured against his ear.
Yu Han’s heart pounded, but he recognized the man above him immediately—General Li Wei, the empire’s greatest warrior, his presence as imposing as the battlefield storms he commanded. The scent of steel and faint sandalwood clung to him, and in his eyes burned a quiet fury.
A strangled cry rang through the night. Below, the would-be assassin lay motionless, a throwing knife lodged in his throat. Li Wei had acted faster than Yu Han had even realized. The prince swallowed, struggling to regain his composure.
Li Wei slowly removed his hand and met Yu Han’s gaze. “You are not safe here.”
Yu Han exhaled shakily, his fingers still tight around the jade pendant. He had always known the court was treacherous, but tonight, the danger had drawn closer than ever.
And now, standing before him, was the man who had saved his life—his protector, his unexpected ally.
And, perhaps, something more.
A soft patter of footsteps echoed down the corridor. Before Yu Han could react, a small figure rushed into the room. “Brother!” The voice was breathless, filled with worry. “I heard the commotion. I was looking everywhere for you!”
Yu Han turned to see his younger sister, Princess Mei Lin, her dark eyes wide with concern. Dressed in a delicate silk robe embroidered with peonies, she looked almost ethereal under the moonlight. “Are you hurt?” she asked, stepping closer, her gaze flickering between him and Li Wei.
Li Wei straightened, inclining his head respectfully. “Your Highness, the prince is unharmed.”
Mei Lin’s lips pressed together as she studied her brother, then sighed in relief. “You frightened me,” she murmured, gripping his sleeve. “Father must hear of this.”
Yu Han hesitated, glancing toward the fallen assassin below. The weight of the night’s events settled heavily on his shoulders. “Not yet,” he said quietly. “There is more at play here than a single attempt on my life.”
Mei Lin’s expression darkened, but she nodded. “Then I will stay by your side until we uncover the truth.”
Li Wei’s gaze lingered on the siblings, his own expression unreadable. “Then we must all tread carefully,” he said, his voice low. “Because this is only the beginning.”
