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The garden remained quiet long after the confrontation ended.
The delicate curtains of the pavilion swayed softly in the afternoon breeze, and the sound of rustling leaves returned as if the garden itself had been holding its breath.
Standing at the edge of the stone pathway was Princess Xiao Lihua.
Her attendants stood several steps behind her, respectfully silent.
The princess slowly exhaled.
The calm expression she had maintained before the concubines had not completely faded, but the firmness that had filled her earlier words still lingered faintly in her chest.
She had not intended to confront them so directly that morning.
Yet the memory of Shen Yunxi—his trembling hands, the red burn marks on his skin, and the quiet way he tried to hide the pain—had stirred something in her heart.
Kindness was rare in the palace.
Cruelty was not.
She looked down at her hands, folding them gently before her.
"Your Highness."
The voice came from behind her.
Deep. Calm. Respectful.
Lihua turned slightly.
Walking toward her along the garden path was a tall figure clad in dark armor trimmed with silver.
It was General Liang Fengxiao, the most trusted military commander of the empire and the right hand of Emperor Xiao Zhenyu.
Liang Fengxiao carried himself with the quiet authority of someone accustomed to commanding armies.
His armor was polished but unornamented, practical rather than decorative. A long dark cloak draped from his shoulders, shifting slightly in the wind as he approached.
He stopped a respectful distance away and bowed.
"The emperor requests your presence."
Lihua's eyes brightened slightly in recognition.
"General Liang."
She returned his greeting with a gentle nod.
Liang Fengxiao straightened, and as he did, the full presence of the imperial general became more apparent.
He was tall—taller than most men in the palace—his posture straight and disciplined from years of military training.
His broad shoulders gave him a commanding presence even without armor.
His face was sharp and composed, framed by long dark hair tied neatly behind his head with a leather cord. A few loose strands brushed lightly against his cheekbones, softened slightly by the sunlight.
His eyes were dark and steady.
They held the calm vigilance of someone who had seen battlefields and survived them.
Yet despite the severity of his appearance, there was a quiet gentleness in the way he spoke.
He had always treated the princess with sincere respect.
"I hope Your Highness has been recovering well," Liang Fengxiao said.
The princess smiled faintly.
"My health has been stable lately," she replied.
He nodded.
"That is good to hear."
The general had always been protective of the imperial family.
Even when speaking casually, there was a sense that he remained constantly aware of his surroundings, like a soldier who never truly allowed himself to relax.
Lihua studied him for a moment.
"Have you just returned from the training grounds?" she asked.
Liang Fengxiao glanced briefly toward the palace walls in the distance.
"Yes."
"The northern defense units are undergoing drills this week."
His tone was straightforward, yet Lihua could hear the weight of responsibility beneath it.
"Are there concerns at the border?" she asked quietly.
The general paused.
"For now, it is simply preparation."
But both of them understood what that meant.
The empire always had enemies.
Among them, the most dangerous was the neighboring realm known as Kingdom of Liangyu.
Liang Fengxiao met her gaze again.
"The emperor seemed eager to see you."
Lihua tilted her head slightly.
"My brother rarely summons me without reason."
The general allowed himself a small, almost amused smile.
"That may be true."
He stepped aside slightly and gestured toward the palace.
"Shall I escort you?"
The princess nodded.
They began walking together along the stone path leading toward the inner palace.
For a few moments, neither of them spoke.
The garden around them was peaceful—birds perched along branches, petals drifting lazily across the air.
Yet the silence between them felt comfortable rather than awkward.
Lihua had known Liang Fengxiao since childhood.
Back then he had been a young soldier assigned to the palace guard.
Now he commanded the empire's armies.
"You've become even busier lately," she said.
"Duty rarely allows rest."
She laughed softly.
"You sound exactly like my brother."
"That is not surprising," the general replied.
"I learned discipline under his command."
They continued walking until the towering palace halls appeared ahead.
Soon, Liang Fengxiao stopped.
"The emperor is inside."
Lihua nodded.
"Thank you for escorting me."
He bowed again.
"It is my honor."
As she stepped inside the hall, the atmosphere immediately changed.
The room was vast, with tall pillars carved with dragons stretching toward the high ceiling. Sunlight filtered through golden screens, illuminating the polished floor like liquid light.
At the far end of the chamber stood the emperor.
Emperor Xiao Zhenyu stood beside a large table covered with scrolls and documents.
His expression was serious, his attention focused on the papers before him.
But the moment he noticed his sister entering, his gaze softened.
"Lihua."
She smiled gently.
"Brother."
She approached him slowly.
Zhenyu studied her for a moment.
"You look better today."
"The fever has completely passed."
"Good."
For a moment, the two siblings simply stood together.
Despite the emperor's imposing authority, there was a quiet familiarity between them.
Zhenyu set aside the scroll he had been reading.
"I heard you visited the gardens earlier."
"I did."
"And?"
Lihua hesitated.
"I had a… conversation with the concubines."
Zhenyu raised an eyebrow.
"I can imagine."
She sighed softly.
"They were cruel to Concubine Shen."
The emperor's expression darkened slightly.
Zhenyu had heard rumors about tensions among the concubines.
But hearing it confirmed from his sister was another matter.
"I see."
He walked slowly toward the window.
"The palace has always been… complicated."
Lihua folded her hands.
"Brother."
"There is something I wish to ask you."
He turned back to her.
His gaze was steady now.
"You must have heard the news already."
She frowned slightly.
"What news?"
"The proposal from the southern kingdom."
Zhenyu spoke calmly.
"The alliance with Kingdom of Guo'an."
Lihua's heart sank.
She already understood what he meant.
"The crown prince."
Guo Mingze.
Zhenyu nodded slowly.
"They wish to strengthen the alliance."
The room felt heavier.
"And they have requested your hand in marriage."
The words lingered between them.
Lihua lowered her gaze.
She had always known this moment might come.
Royal daughters rarely had the luxury of choosing their own fate.
Still…
Hearing it spoken aloud felt different.
"I see," she murmured.
Zhenyu watched her carefully.
"You do not seem surprised."
"I am a princess."
She smiled faintly.
"This is what we are born for."
But her voice lacked conviction.
Zhenyu's expression tightened slightly.
"This marriage would secure peace between our nations."
"I understand that."
"Guo Mingze is said to be honorable."
Lihua nodded quietly.
"I have heard the same."
Yet the silence between them grew tense.
Finally, she looked up.
"But brother…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Do I truly have no choice?"
Zhenyu's eyes hardened.
"This is not simply a matter of personal feelings."
"I know."
"Then you understand why this must happen."
Lihua clenched her hands.
"And if I say I do not wish to marry him?"
The emperor's voice grew firm.
"This marriage protects the empire."
The tension between them thickened.
Lihua shook her head.
"You speak as if I am merely a bargaining piece."
"You are a princess."
"That does not mean I have no heart!"
The words echoed sharply in the hall.
Zhenyu's expression darkened.
"Do you think I enjoy this decision?"
He stepped closer.
"Every choice I make carries the weight of the empire."
His voice lowered.
"You at least have the freedom to speak your mind."
The room fell silent.
Lihua's eyes glistened faintly.
Neither of them moved.
Two siblings.
Bound by blood.
Yet separated by the burdens of a crown.
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(End of Chapter 9)