The capital breathed peacefully, but the air was charged with an imperceptible change. Spring had arrived earlier than expected; cherry trees were blossoming, gardens flooded with sweet and fresh aromas, but for those who knew the secrets of the Empire, each fallen petal seemed like a whispered warning.
In the corridors of the Palace of the Seven Heavens, Suwei trained in silence. He was no longer just a consort; now he was the bearer of the imperial legacy, protector of the life growing within him. Each movement was measured, precise, as if every sword strike or turn of his body wove an invisible shield around his daughter yet to be born. Sweat beaded on his forehead and dampened the silk of his white tunic, but Suwei felt no fatigue. Only concentration and a determination that burned stronger than any battle fire.
From the palace balcony, Jin Long observed him, his gaze deep and serene.
