The eastern gardens were supposed to be a quiet place. For Lin Rui, the trimmed hedges and stone paths were a rare break from the real chaos: the impending coup and the constant headache of how to choose the ending of this story.
"The Blue Peony doesn't grow well in Tughril," Lin Rui said softly, pointing to the flowers near the stone path. "The soil here is too harsh for them. These were brought from the southern provinces and need special care to survive. Without it, they would wither within a week."
It was a random fact, one of the many world-building details he had written into the "script" of this world.
Beside him, Lian Zhi was listening attentively. Her head was tilted slightly, her eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and respect. She didn't interrupt. She simply watched him, absorbing his words as if they were the most important secrets in the kingdom. For a moment, it felt almost normal.
Then, the air changed.
