Dawn in the palace469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyVoR3FAEK
—a held breath before the storm.
The candleflames tremble in the corridors,469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3x3971tMGv
as do I.
Chen Qing’er’s warning coils in my gut:469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPG4Djjzvz
"Does the Crown Prince truly trust you?"
A question that now blooms thorns469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7esuPAGYp
in every glance he gives me,469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwa5D1aRXm
every silence between words.
The Summons
Zhang Feng arrives like a shadow,469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBBJvX9ZkV
his voice devoid of inflection:469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHhdR1vngw
"His Highness requests you."
I follow, counting my heartbeats—469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcl8SM8kAit
each step a precipice.
The Audience
The Prince’s study smells of ink and iron.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98ovz5VkEx
He doesn’t look up from his documents469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTRpSY1Y7S
when he says:
"You spoke with Chen Qing’er last night."
A statement, not a question.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW4yhh4JtH
The blade hidden in the scabbard of courtesy.
I keep my voice steady:469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFKGOGeITM
"Nothing of consequence passed between us."
His fingers pause on a parchment edge.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAZvzTm78i
"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,469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7DLPQuJD6
backlit by a dawn he cannot yet see:
"Chen Qing’er is the true threat now."469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsuNEnrTfN
"Are you prepared to face her?"
The unspoken words hang heavier:469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgOYaR2p18
Are you prepared to betray me?
I give the expected answer.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYgQVZAAC3
He smiles—
—a flash of teeth in the gloom,469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPSQHUMZDq
more warning than approval.
"Remember: we play this game together."469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuZE2L8GTK
His fingers brush his dagger’s hilt.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlaOO7DdCM
"Cross me, and you’ll wish Chen Qing’er had killed you first."
The Aftermath
Alone again, I press my palm to my chest—469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyguTI5uvB
feeling the thing that frightens me most:
Not the Prince’s threats.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGtAiBuaVV
Not Chen Qing’er’s schemes.
But the traitorous whisper in my own pulse:469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdxoFea4L7
What if I want to choose neither?
and then Add to home screen.