Chapter 5: The Palace Gathering

The morning air was crisp as Yue Xin rode in the horse-drawn cart toward the palace. The rhythmic clatter of hooves on the stone path echoed through the streets, and the wind teased the edges of her silk robes. The white snake remained coiled around her wrist, flicking its tongue curiously at the passing scenery.

“Player: observe environment. Note guards, courtiers, and other nobles,” the snake whispered.

Yue Xin nodded, her eyes scanning the road. Carriages carrying other noble children passed by, laughter and chatter spilling from open windows. Bright banners flapped from the palace walls, and in the distance, the marble gates gleamed in the morning sun. She felt a flutter of anticipation—this was her first time entering the heart of the kingdom in such an official capacity.

When the cart stopped at the grand entrance, attendants hurried forward to open the doors. Inside, the palace bustled with movement. Fathers and officials, including Yue Xin’s own father, had already assembled for the morning court sessions. Meanwhile, a separate pavilion had been prepared for the children of the nobles—a place to dine, play, and mingle while the adults handled state affairs.

Yue Xin stepped lightly onto the polished floors, the snake shifting comfortably around her wrist. Other noble children glanced curiously at her unusual companion, whispering softly, but no one dared interrupt. She was careful to bow politely to the attendants and older nobles before moving toward the pavilion.

Inside, a cluster of girls in flowing silks were chatting near the fruit table. Yue Xin caught snippets of their conversation.

“General Zhen Wu is terrifying,” one whispered. “Even the bravest soldiers tremble when he passes.”

“I heard he doesn’t even need to raise his sword,” another said. “Just a glance is enough.”

Yue Xin’s heart skipped. So that’s him… the one everyone fears. She adjusted her sleeves nervously as the snake flicked its tongue, sensing her tension.

At that moment, the doors of the pavilion opened, and Zhen Wu himself entered. His presence was impossible to ignore—tall, imposing, with dark, sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through the crowd. The children instinctively fell silent, some curtsying, some averting their gaze.

The white snake tightened slightly around Yue Xin’s wrist, as if sensing the danger and excitement in the room. Yue Xin lifted her head, heart pounding, and met his gaze. For a long moment, his sharp eyes locked onto hers, and she felt an unexpected thrill—fear mixed with fascination.

“Player: note emotional response. Maintain composure. Observation of target is critical,” the snake advised softly.

Yue Xin swallowed, straightened her posture, and bowed slightly. The other children whispered behind her, gossiping about the General’s reputation, but Yue Xin focused only on him—his poise, the subtle way he scanned the pavilion, and the aura of authority that surrounded him.

Zhen Wu’s eyes lingered for a heartbeat longer than necessary, and then he moved past her, drawing attention from the others. Yue Xin’s pulse raced. She didn’t know whether he had noticed her, or her unusual companion—but she knew one thing: her life in this world had just become far more dangerous… and far more intriguing.

The snake flicked its tongue and whispered, “Player, today you begin a new kind of observation. Every glance, every word, every movement matters.”

Yue Xin nodded, the white snake coiled tightly and comfortably around her wrist. She was ready.

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