i

wering gates of the pala

sion that had been made

anlong, and at the end o

band. Emperor Tian, a na

lessness, and ambition.

uly want from her?

and carriages ready for

nd ministers surrounde

repared for departure.

d on the horizon, wher

Y

approached, his tone re

tions are complete. W

i

mind remained distant. T

the walls of Shenzhou as

s the empress of a fore

d neve

ep breath,

n trailing behind her l

ad gathered outside the

ation and sorrow as the

e for an unce

e mou

ast one last glance at

anctuary for so long. No

guarantee of what aw

ourney

h

long and treacherous,

ests. Lin Yue sat in th

g landscape. The air was

of the road, but from

ea

jolt of the car

heart. The ministers an

advantages of the marri

, but none of them spok

od what it felt like

ining

al handmaide

presence a small com

ei's reassuring smile c

ad that had taken ro

in Yue asked quietly, her v

ised by the question. "Ab

to the world outside the carriage. "Th

e

ng her words carefully.

Stronger than anyone

I believe you will face

you've alw

were clouded with doubt. "Courage and

erous E

the horizon, casting l

rocession came to a su

el pierced the air, sen

the en

peered o

art racing as she saw a

rest, attacking the gu

ion. B

r Wei shouted, his sword drawn as he

u

o cower in the face of

mbat, a skill her father

. She refused to be

ab

beneath her robes, s

ning the chaotic scene.

bandits were relent

dinated a

he bandi

ards, heading straight

her dagger, her heart p

er, she sidestepped hi

through the air and catc

stunned by the s

fo

another bandit appeared

g him down before he cou

amidst the battle, her

ow bu

s quickly as

, seeing their numbers

ind the bodies of t

i

s she wiped the blood f

r in a situation like t

ality of the danger sh

to s

face pale but composed. "Yo

the adrenaline still coursed

r feet, his eyes narrowing. "They were

i

had suspected as much.

significant political m

anything to

ust b

rd," Minister Wei sai

th danger, and not all

dit

, her resolve

ing against her marria

more vigilant. Her ene

rest, they were lurking

to use her for

t

e easily moved on the b

she reached Tianlong,

r await

t of Respo

h

cession camped beneath t

ng with thoughts of the

d to gain from sto

ckering shadows on her face. Mei sat

i

to Emperor Tian. She h

ut what if there was mor

in a web of politics a

e

he weight of

oulders. She had always

ore than ever, she felt

arriage was not just abo

of her

uld not le