The imperial palace had long fallen silent.
Most lanterns within the inner halls had already been extinguished, leaving only scattered lights glowing faintly through the vast corridors. Guards stood motionless at their posts while distant night winds brushed softly against the palace roofs.
Outside Xu Chen's chambers, a lone figure remained standing beneath the lantern light.
Han Wei.
For years, he had served as Xu Chen's personal attendant and shadow guard, though calling him merely a servant was far from accurate. Among the palace staff, everyone knew his position was different.
He was trusted.
Closer than most officials.
Closer than many princes raised beside Xu Chen.
And tonight—
His thoughts were in complete chaos.
Han Wei stood with crossed arms near the entrance, his expression unusually complicated as fragments of the evening replayed endlessly in his mind.
Lady Yue Ning had kicked the Crown Prince.
Actually kicked him.
And His Highness—
Smiled.
Han Wei looked up at the night sky silently, still unable to process it fully.
Since childhood, Xu Chen had always been distant from others.
Not cold out of cruelty.
Simply… unreachable.
Even as a child, he had possessed an unnatural calmness that made others instinctively cautious around him. While other princes laughed loudly, fought recklessly, or sought praise, Xu Chen had always remained composed beyond his years.
The Emperor himself rarely forced him into anything.
The Empress treated him gently, carefully.
Even high-ranking ministers unconsciously lowered their voices before him.
No one dared cross boundaries with Xu Chen.
Not because he was cruel—
But because his presence alone naturally created distance.
Yet Yue Ning…
Han Wei rubbed his forehead slowly.
"She really kicked him…"
And His Highness had looked pleased about it.
Han Wei let out a quiet sigh before leaning slightly against one of the pillars.
His thoughts drifted further back.
Years ago, before becoming Xu Chen's attendant, he had not belonged to the palace at all.
Back then, he had been the son of a military officer stationed at the northern border. His father had died during conflict when Han Wei was barely ten years old, leaving behind only debt and a disgraced family name after false accusations from corrupt officials.
His mother had fallen ill shortly afterward.
And within months—
Everything collapsed.
Years ago, before becoming Xu Chen's attendant, he had not belonged to the palace at all.
Back then, he had been the son of a military officer stationed at the northern border. His father had died during conflict when Han Wei was barely eight years old, leaving behind only debt and a disgraced family name after false accusations from corrupt officials.
His mother had fallen ill shortly afterward.
And within months—
Everything collapsed.
At eight years old, Han Wei had entered the capital alone, trying desperately to survive. He worked wherever possible, carrying goods, cleaning stables, even fighting in underground rings for money.
Until one winter night.
He still remembered it clearly.
Snow had covered nearly the entire capital, the streets freezing beneath harsh winds. Han Wei had just been beaten badly after interfering when several nobles harassed a starving child near the market.
He had lost badly.
Outnumbered.
Bleeding.
And completely exhausted.
The nobles had laughed while kicking him into the snow.
"A stray dog acting righteous."
"Know your place."
Han Wei had barely remained conscious.
Then—
The laughter suddenly stopped.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just… stopped.
Han Wei remembered lifting his head weakly through the snow.
A young boy stood there quietly beneath a lantern.
Black robes.
Calm eyes.
No expression whatsoever.
Xu Chen.
At that time, only ten years old.
The nobles immediately paled.
"Y-Your Highness…"
Xu Chen's gaze moved toward Han Wei briefly before returning to the nobles.
"What happened?"
No anger.
No pressure.
Yet the nobles immediately began trembling.
"N-Nothing, Your Highness—"
Xu Chen interrupted calmly.
"You hit him."
The noble youths froze.
Han Wei still remembered how terrifying the silence afterward felt.
Xu Chen had simply looked at them quietly for several seconds before speaking again.
"Apologize."
The nobles looked horrified.
But they obeyed immediately.
Not one dared refuse.
Afterward, Xu Chen had walked toward Han Wei, stopping before him in the snow.
"You fought them alone?"
Han Wei, bruised and stubborn, had still answered, "Someone had to."
Xu Chen looked at him for a moment.
Then unexpectedly—
He offered his hand.
"Get up."
Han Wei still remembered staring at that hand silently.
Because no one had reached out to him like that in a very long time.
Not with pity.
Not with superiority.
Just simply—
Helping him stand.
Later, Xu Chen learned about his situation and quietly arranged treatment for his mother. False accusations against his father were reinvestigated and eventually cleared.
And when Han Wei asked why—
Xu Chen's answer had been simple.
"You protected someone weaker than yourself even knowing you'd lose."
Han Wei had asked carefully, "Is that important?"
Xu Chen answered calmly, "Yes."
From that day onward, Han Wei followed him willingly.
Not because of status.
Not because of debt.
But because Xu Chen had been the first person to see value in him when everyone else saw nothing.
And over the years, Han Wei had witnessed countless things.
Officials trembling before Xu Chen.
Princes avoiding conflict with him.
Even the Emperor occasionally sighing helplessly at his son's calm stubbornness.
But never—
Never—
Had he seen anyone casually argue with Xu Chen, scold him, kick him out, and somehow leave him happier afterward.
Han Wei looked toward the closed chamber doors and muttered under his breath, "Lady Yue Ning really is terrifying…"
A quiet voice suddenly came from behind him.
"She is."
Han Wei nearly jumped.
He turned immediately.
Xu Chen stood there calmly, having apparently exited the chambers without making a single sound.
Han Wei coughed awkwardly. "Your Highness… this servant was only…"
Xu Chen looked at him quietly.
Han Wei instantly gave up explaining.
After years beside Xu Chen, he already knew something important.
Trying to lie was pointless.
Xu Chen stepped beside him beneath the lantern light, his gaze lifting slightly toward the night sky.
Han Wei hesitated before finally asking carefully, "Your Highness… are you truly not upset?"
Xu Chen looked faintly puzzled. "Why would I be?"
"She kicked you."
Xu Chen remained silent for a moment.
Then the faintest smile appeared again.
"She was playing."
Han Wei stared blankly.
Playing?
Only Yue Ning in the entire empire could probably define kicking the Crown Prince as "playing."
Xu Chen's gaze remained calm as he added quietly,
"She's always been like that."
Han Wei blinked again.
Always?
He still didn't understand what that meant.
But one thing became painfully clear tonight.
To the rest of the world—
Xu Chen was the untouchable Crown Prince.
But to Yue Ning—
He was simply Xu Chen.