Dawn in the palace168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aOP4NZyJG
—a held breath before the storm.
The candleflames tremble in the corridors,168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLnAihGaZz
as do I.
Chen Qing’er’s warning coils in my gut:168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJDt41ysxr
"Does the Crown Prince truly trust you?"
A question that now blooms thorns168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrV9TYyBRj
in every glance he gives me,168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFys0dKOpm
every silence between words.
The Summons
Zhang Feng arrives like a shadow,168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfT6HnFAyfH
his voice devoid of inflection:168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3doFyGvbCx
"His Highness requests you."
I follow, counting my heartbeats—168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX0TCUMblp
each step a precipice.
The Audience
The Prince’s study smells of ink and iron.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBb5hyZcCJz
He doesn’t look up from his documents168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXGrqdPuGC
when he says:
"You spoke with Chen Qing’er last night."
A statement, not a question.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiYYsHvM6E
The blade hidden in the scabbard of courtesy.
I keep my voice steady:168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtTuX4gMpO
"Nothing of consequence passed between us."
His fingers pause on a parchment edge.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjKmpGeETV
"I hear you’ve grown… close to certain officials."
Another knife, poised at my throat.
I parry: "All for the sake of reform."
The Warning
He rises, silhouetted against the window,168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvT8NID6ii
backlit by a dawn he cannot yet see:
"Chen Qing’er is the true threat now."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGUXzyXGhy
"Are you prepared to face her?"
The unspoken words hang heavier:168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8rEvLV2qK
Are you prepared to betray me?
I give the expected answer.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNUXE2R3hT
He smiles—
—a flash of teeth in the gloom,168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q1R3Gh7yF
more warning than approval.
"Remember: we play this game together."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxI58jEhbHB
His fingers brush his dagger’s hilt.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFXmxoX1ba
"Cross me, and you’ll wish Chen Qing’er had killed you first."
The Aftermath
Alone again, I press my palm to my chest—168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEkR42gCEc
feeling the thing that frightens me most:
Not the Prince’s threats.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwIHnyEGnP
Not Chen Qing’er’s schemes.
But the traitorous whisper in my own pulse:168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4kdcAcxFC
What if I want to choose neither?
然後按「加至主畫面」