It was our first kiss.

Outskirts of the Capital

The evening air was thick with tension as Feng Xiangling and Xu Liangchen rode through the imperial hunting grounds, their horses slowing to a steady trot. The battle in the forest still weighed on her mind—the masked assassins, their skilled leader, and the unsettling warning she had given before disappearing.

Feng Xiangling clenched her fists. The assassins hadn't been ordinary mercenaries. They had moved with the precision of warriors trained for something greater. Someone powerful was behind them.

Her father was waiting for her , his usually composed face etched with worry. As she dismounted, Prime Minister Feng Wehao strode toward her, his eyes scanning her for injuries.

"Xiánglíng," he breathed in relief. "You are unharmed?"

She nodded, though exhaustion was creeping into her limbs. "I'm fine, Father."