chapter 2: The imperial decree

The Xu family residence was unusually quiet, despite the gathering of high-ranking officials and servants within its walls. A faint autumn breeze stirred the crimson lanterns hanging from the eaves, their silk tassels swaying gently as if whispering secrets of fate yet to unfold.

Inside the grand hall, General Xu sat at the head of the room, his expression unreadable as he faced the imperial envoy. Xu Nuan stood behind him, her hands clasped tightly together, her heart pounding in her chest.

Before them, dressed in ceremonial robes, the imperial envoy unrolled a golden scroll, the dragon insignia of the emperor gleaming under the candlelight. In a commanding voice, he read aloud:

"By the will of Heaven and decree of the Son of Heaven, His Imperial Majesty bestows this marriage between Crown Prince Li Feng and Lady Xu Nuan, daughter of General Xu, as a union of virtue and strength. May this bond fortify the empire and bring prosperity to the realm. Let none defy this decree."

The hall fell into a heavy silence.

Xu Nuan's fingers trembled slightly at her sides. She had heard rumors of political marriages before, but never had she imagined she would be caught in one. She dared not lift her gaze, though she could feel the weight of her father's unspoken thoughts pressing upon her.

General Xu finally rose, his movements deliberate, measured. He stepped forward, bowing before the decree. "This subject humbly accepts His Majesty's grace."

The envoy nodded, rolling the decree shut with finality. "The wedding preparations shall commence at once. May Lady Xu bring honor to the imperial family."

Xu Nuan lowered her gaze, her heart a storm of emotions. This was no longer just a marriage—this was duty, fate, and the will of the empire itself.

And soon, she would stand beside the most powerful man in the empire, not as an outsider, but as his future empress.

The flickering candlelight cast long shadows along the lacquered screens of the Xu residence's inner chambers. Outside, the wind carried the faint rustling of autumn leaves, a quiet contrast to the storm brewing within.

Madam Xu sat beside a low table, her silk robes pooling elegantly around her, though her usually gentle face was lined with worry. Across from her, General Xu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression unreadable as he stared at the imperial decree resting on the table between them.

"A marriage to the Crown Prince…" Madam Xu finally broke the silence, her voice steady but laced with concern. "This is not a simple honor. It is a chain, one we cannot refuse."

General Xu exhaled slowly, his battle-hardened face betraying little, though the weight of the emperor's decision pressed heavily upon him. "His Majesty is securing the throne," he said after a long pause. "By binding our family to the imperial bloodline, he ensures that my loyalty—and my sword—will remain with the Crown Prince, even after he ascends."

Madam Xu's lips pressed together. "And what of Nuan? She is but a girl, thrown into the heart of the palace struggles. Once she enters the Eastern Palace, she will no longer be just our daughter. She will be the future Empress."

General Xu's gaze darkened. "The emperor is wise. He would not have chosen this match solely for politics. The Crown Prince is no ordinary man—he is sharp, calculating. This is not just about power; this is about trust. The emperor ensures that Li Feng has a wife whose family will never betray him."

Madam Xu sighed, tracing the rim of her teacup. "And yet, the imperial court is no place for a girl raised in freedom. Nuan has never known deception, nor has she played the dangerous games of the palace. She will be surrounded by those who smile with daggers hidden behind silk sleeves."

General Xu remained silent for a moment, then said, "She will learn."

Madam Xu looked up sharply. "And if she cannot?"

His jaw tightened. "Then she will not survive."

A heavy stillness settled between them.

Madam Xu turned her gaze toward the half-open window, where the distant sound of rustling bamboo filled the quiet. "She should have had a choice," she whispered.

General Xu closed his eyes briefly, then moved to place a hand over hers—a rare show of tenderness from a man more accustomed to war than words. "I will do all I can to protect her, even from within the palace."

Madam Xu nodded, though her heart remained uneasy. "Then we must prepare her. If she is to be the Crown Prince's wife, she must not only be strong—she must be wise enough to survive."

Outside, the wind carried away the last whispers of autumn, ushering in the chilling embrace of winter—a season of endings, and of new beginnings.

Xu Nuan sat by the open window of her chamber, staring out at the moonlit courtyard. The gentle rustling of bamboo filled the quiet night, but her heart was anything but calm. 

The Crown Prince's wife.

She whispered the words in her mind, but they felt foreign, as if they belonged to someone else. She had always known her father's loyalty to the empire was unwavering, but she never thought it would cost her freedom.

The palace…

A world of silk and jade, of endless bowing and masked smiles. A place where a single misstep could mean ruin, where words were sharper than swords. She had grown up hearing stories of the harem's silent wars, of empresses who held power yet lived in golden cages.

Would that be her life?

Xu Nuan closed her eyes, the cool breeze brushing against her skin. There was no escaping the emperor's will. Whether she was ready or not, she would step into the palace, into the unknown.

And once inside, she would have to learn to survive.