Dawn in the palace186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74Rv9UUSjA
—a held breath before the storm.
The candleflames tremble in the corridors,186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfnGUxQUjE
as do I.
Chen Qing’er’s warning coils in my gut:186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM4n5RHpmT
"Does the Crown Prince truly trust you?"
A question that now blooms thorns186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ebSl94Ay7
in every glance he gives me,186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBf4NiaRxQ
every silence between words.
The Summons
Zhang Feng arrives like a shadow,186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qVNf1psyY
his voice devoid of inflection:186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDl5ew9gdQp
"His Highness requests you."
I follow, counting my heartbeats—186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPmhAwtJNP
each step a precipice.
The Audience
The Prince’s study smells of ink and iron.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAHO532FuO
He doesn’t look up from his documents186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXQafxxiKI
when he says:
"You spoke with Chen Qing’er last night."
A statement, not a question.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMphfRA15ut
The blade hidden in the scabbard of courtesy.
I keep my voice steady:186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4v8Pf3yMQ7
"Nothing of consequence passed between us."
His fingers pause on a parchment edge.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VxEADFGAV
"I hear you’ve grown… close to certain officials."
Another knife, poised at my throat.
I parry: "All for the sake of reform."
The Warning
He rises, silhouetted against the window,186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi4nF7w50W
backlit by a dawn he cannot yet see:
"Chen Qing’er is the true threat now."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0yqNARF4I
"Are you prepared to face her?"
The unspoken words hang heavier:186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZ0gxVYuwj
Are you prepared to betray me?
I give the expected answer.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrfH985HNU
He smiles—
—a flash of teeth in the gloom,186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYkt2XTtpA
more warning than approval.
"Remember: we play this game together."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwpQwZWicl
His fingers brush his dagger’s hilt.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCweE2j5ZIY
"Cross me, and you’ll wish Chen Qing’er had killed you first."
The Aftermath
Alone again, I press my palm to my chest—186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfLlLApo1V
feeling the thing that frightens me most:
Not the Prince’s threats.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB0jZRXoep
Not Chen Qing’er’s schemes.
But the traitorous whisper in my own pulse:186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ea5a4mQMY
What if I want to choose neither?
will be deducted 
and then Add to home screen.