The sun shone high above the Celestial Lotus Palace, bathing the gardens in a warm, soft golden light. The breeze carried the scent of newly opened flowers, of jasmine and lotus, mingling with the perfume of the embroidered silk that adorned the little princess. For the first time, Xiaolian would be presented in the Garden of Nine Petals, a sacred place reserved only for the heirs of the Empire. Each petal, each fountain, each path was imbued with centuries of history and the energies that had sustained the throne for generations.
Suwei and Jin Long walked barefoot through the fine sand, as tradition dictated, their feet brushing the sacred earth while carefully holding their daughter between them. Each step was a ritual, each glance an oath. The Priestesses of Dawn, dressed in white and gold robes, guided them solemnly, their hands raised in blessing.
