y had

h

th anticipation as prep

began. Lin Yue stood b

of regal beauty. Her ha

folds of her golden gown

from the courtly ritual

ted

ent sleepl

h

hts considering the impl

moment, she felt the c

here was no escaping i

possibility; it

taking," Mei said, steppin

i

er lips forming a tight

will not guide me th

e

th concern. She had wat

to a strong and capable

princess was carrying.

overwhelming, but you a

yourself in this union.

re

ted her handmaid

new better than to beli

the ruthless world of p

ong to her; it would be

met, a man whose motiv

st

," Lin Yue said

ust about me. It's about

even if it means giv

eror's D

h

with dignitaries, cou

atmosphere was thick wi

formal declaration of

anlong. Lin Yue stood b

the eyes of the court

pe

, his voice booming acr

a great and historic

om of Tianlong will jo

trengthen our people

ions to

assembled courtiers, but Lin Yue remaine

T

ur two great empires,"

marriage of my daughter

Tian of

ds fell

ue's ears. It was now of

rried to Emperor Tian, a

a

upted into appl

ive doors of the hall. S

. Would he be the charmi

ould he be the cold, ca

ar

ter from

h

ouncement had been ma

nd herself in her priv

he evening, leaving L

ugh

n the door bro

Minister Wei, stepped i

s, sealed with the

bow, "a personal letter has ar

i

eat. She had heard so mu

the first direct communi

scroll from Minister We

the cold

i. You may leave," she

n

at the scroll for wha

the seal. Her eyes scann

h word care

ess L

tion that I look forwar

y, your intellect, and y

e is not just a formali

inds and two great emp

ther Shenzhou nor Tianl

we do, I trust that you will

ror

i

around the scroll as sh

formal, yet there was

spoke of partnership a

ling that this marriag

s a man of ambition, an

n could des

ded the

sk, her mind racing. She

rough with this marriag

ep down, a flicker

o

r own in the shadow of

med by the very de

tions fo

a

the time for Lin Yue to

a whirlwind of activit

meet her future husban

ds, advisors, and serva

final days as a pr

an

e palace, Lin Yue fel

oulders. Soon, she woul

, to step into a world

her father, but by a

on full of worry. "Your High

sadness in her eyes betrayed her true feel

e

wering her voice. "I've

ian is a man who demand

t tolerate

ue's

rue, then he will learn

broken by any man, no

ration. "You're right, Princess. You

ver the horizon, Lin Yu

t lay ahead. She had bee

trength and wisdom. And

knew that she would ne

survive what