h

ttered high in the wind,

e noon sun. The city bus

hin the marble halls,

always seemed to fall

ed th

child, L

every move was watched,

the great Emperor Lin

nt she could walk, her

ne like the statue

d for g

i

balcony, overlooking th

nzhou had always been a

ple loyal. And she, Pri

adored her for her beau

ld true

en raised

strategy, skills few w

peror Lin, had seen to

was not born, but made,

ection by

ion was a h

r too long, Your Highness," a

i

trusted handmaiden, Mei

ved her since childhood

ference and fear, Mei h

l fr

ied, her voice measured as her

"You're always thinking. That's what

i

't reach her eyes. "It's

gdom, to my father,

e

n flickering in her eye

your shoulders since you

time to think of

i

idea of thinking of hers

hing in her life had be

s no time for personal d

rested in

s in the life of a princess," Li

softened, but she

ourt of

h

with ministers, gener

attention. Lin Yue sat b

ture straight and rega

ppearing composed, ev

nd of t

n, her fat

dark eyes swept over th

most outspoken of his

uiding the empire throu

a

ng, however,

T

ow restless, Your Majest

deep bow. "Rumors of r

rlords seeking to

peror Lin remained calm, his gaze shifting

i

but she showed no outwar

inion in public, though

in pr

her voice

ern territories have a

s fickle, and their warl

wish to quell any pote

iftly, cutting off their

ren

ried weight,

her every syllable. Sh

n her, but Lin Yue rema

s trai

nodded tho

Yue. General Cheng, you

North. We will deal wit

chance to

wed deeply. "Yes

i

at, her heart still pou

father trusted her judg

utinized. One mistake

um

rs of

te

urt dispersed and the p

rough the imperial garde

pite from the tension o

ith thoughts of the

h

he would be expected to

ked, she couldn't shake

fice was on

d voices, whispers from two c

T

sing potential alliances

between Princess Lin Yu

re could secure S

altered, her hear

ria

vitable part of her fut

She had always been foc

f Shenzhou. But now, wi

the court, it seemed th

g in o