The birth of Xiaolian had filled the Empire with unprecedented radiance. The Palace walls seemed taller, the sky clearer, and the imperial gardens swayed gently under the morning breeze, as if even nature celebrated the newborn miracle. However, the purest light always casts deep shadows, and not everyone in the Palace viewed the arrival of the little heiress as a blessing.
In the White Jade Hall, the Imperial Council met for the first time since the princess's birth. The high ceilings reflected the light from jade and gold chandeliers, creating a play of light and shadow that seemed to mark the duality of the moment: hope shining at the center and uncertainty lurking in the corners. The heads of the Five Sacred Houses were present, each wrapped in silk robes and ornaments that revealed their power and position. Their gazes were calculating, their smiles measured, and some, barely perceptible, cold as winter frost.
