The wind did not cease.
It pressed against the windows of Lu Manor as though heaven itself demanded entry.
Inside the grand hall, no one dared move.
The royal envoy stood at the center, his robes rippling faintly beneath the strange spiritual pressure gathering outside. His gaze lingered on Lu Yinyin a moment longer before he slowly withdrew his hand from the trembling jade artifact.
He had confirmed it.
The fluctuation had come from her.
And yet—
His mission had not changed.
Turning toward Lord Lu, he spoke calmly, as though nothing unusual had occurred.
“The heavens may shift, but duty remains. I have not yet completed the Crown Prince’s decree.”
Only then did the guests remember.
The envoy had not come merely to attend a banquet.
He had come with purpose.
Lord Lu forced a stiff smile. “Of course, Sir Envoy. This humble official awaits the decree.”
Behind him, Lu Meirong straightened.
Her earlier humiliation had already been buried beneath practiced elegance. The darkened sky outside made her pale features appear fragile, almost ethereal.
Perfect.
The envoy raised his hand.
At once, imperial guards stepped forward. Between them, four massive chests carved from spirit sandalwood were carried into the hall. The scent of ancient wood filled the air as they set the chests down in unison.
Each was sealed with the golden insignia of the imperial dragon.
Gasps rippled through the guests.
Spirit herbs.
High-grade cultivation stones.
Rare silks from the southern isles.
Treasures beyond what a provincial manor would see in a decade.
The envoy’s voice rang clear.
“By order of His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Empire—”
He paused deliberately.
“—these are betrothal gifts.”
Silence fell.
Then—
Shock.
Every eye turned toward Lu Meirong.
Her cheeks flushed delicately.
This was the moment she had awaited since childhood.
The Crown Prince.
The most exalted young man beneath heaven.
The future ruler of the empire.
Her fiancé.
Years ago, when Lu Manor had still been rising in influence, an imperial astrologer had declared that Lu Meirong possessed a destiny compatible with the dragon throne. Soon after, the engagement had been arranged.
Though the Crown Prince had never visited personally, his status alone elevated her above countless noble ladies.
Now—
The betrothal gifts had arrived.
Lu Meirong stepped forward gracefully and knelt.
“This humble one receives His Highness’s grace with gratitude.”
Her voice trembled—just enough.
Applause broke out among guests eager to curry favor. Smiles spread like wildfire.
Xiao Qing lowered her head in relief.
Lord Lu’s smile widened for the first time that day.
And yet—
The envoy did not immediately present the decree scroll.
Instead, he glanced once more toward Lu Yinyin.
She stood quietly near the window.
Watching the sky.
As though none of this concerned her.
Strange girl.
At last, the envoy unrolled the golden scroll.
“The Crown Prince bestows these gifts upon Lu Manor’s Second Young Lady, Lu Meirong, as token of formal engagement. Upon the coming spring, the marriage date shall be announced within the capital.”
The hall erupted in congratulations.
Lu Meirong lowered her head modestly, though triumph flickered briefly within her eyes.
She had won.
No matter how strange Lu Yinyin behaved.
No matter what nonsense spiritual fluctuations had appeared.
Status decided everything.
And she—
Was destined to become Crown Princess.
Outside, thunder rolled.
Not natural thunder.
It sounded distant.
Heavy.
As though something vast had shifted its weight.
The envoy’s fingers tightened slightly around the scroll.
He felt it again.
That same foreign presence.
Not from the sky.
Not from the capital.
From here.
From this manor.
He looked toward Lu Yinyin one final time.
She was still gazing at the clouds.
“…Is he angry?” she murmured softly.
No one heard her.
Except—
The envoy.
His eyes sharpened. “What did you say?”
Lu Yinyin turned her head, expression calm.
“The one who sent you,” she said simply. “He doesn’t like this.”
Silence fell once more.
Lu Meirong’s smile froze.
“What nonsense are you speaking?!” she snapped before she could stop herself.
The envoy did not rebuke Lu Yinyin.
Instead, he studied her carefully.
“How would you know His Highness’s thoughts?”
Lu Yinyin blinked.
“I don’t.”
She looked genuinely puzzled.
“I just feel… something pulling.”
Pulling.
The word echoed strangely in the heavy air.
At that very moment—
Far away in the imperial capital—
Within a chamber carved from white jade—
The Crown Prince abruptly opened his eyes from meditation.
His heart pounded once.
Hard.
A flicker of crimson crossed his vision—
Gone in an instant.
His brows furrowed.
“…What was that?”
Back within Lu Manor—
A violent gust burst through the hall doors.
Lanterns shattered.
Candles extinguished.
Darkness swallowed the room.
For a split second—
In the blackness—
Several guests swore they saw red threads stretching across the ceiling.
Connecting.
Binding.
Then—
Light returned.
Everything appeared normal again.
Except—
The envoy’s face had lost its composure.
Because he finally understood.
The disturbance in the heavens.
The trembling jade.
The threads he glimpsed.
It had nothing to do with Lu Meirong.
Nothing to do with the betrothal.
It began—
The moment he looked at Lu Yinyin.
And somewhere beyond the clouds—
A war god watched.
A crown prince stirred.
And destiny—
Had quietly tightened its grip.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments