The morning sun filtered through the gauzy silk curtains, soft and golden, as Shen Luyan stepped into the corridor of the Red Pines Manor, her steps light yet deliberate. The faint scent of cedar and plum blossom clung to the spring air, mingling with the rustling hush of bamboo leaves swaying in the garden breeze. Everything was familiar. Everything had changed.
The manor, seat of the Shen family for six generations, stretched like a quiet kingdom unto itself. Stone pathways curved through walled courtyards, past ancient trees whose trunks were thick with wisdom and memory. Its elegance lay in restraint—dark wooden beams, clean eaves, paper-paneled doors, and red lacquer pillars that had been polished every year by loyal hands. Luyan had once wandered here freely, unknowing of the doom it would one day witness.
She passed the East Pavilion, where her younger cousins resided—sons of her uncles, who still occupied their rooms like clinging vines, all under the pretense of filial loyalty. In her past life, they had bowed when she entered, smiled when she spoke—and yet they were the first to turn their backs when the soldiers came. One of them, Shen Qing, had even dared to laugh while her father knelt at swordpoint.
Luyan's fingers clenched at her side as she walked past the white stone garden, where her mother used to sit and embroider under the pear tree. The tree still bloomed, petals falling like slow tears.
She turned down the western corridor, where the wind was strongest and always carried the scent of the training ground beyond. The layout of the manor had not changed. But she had.
At last, she reached the main hall, where a broad set of carved doors framed the entrance. A pair of guards bowed low as she approached. Jin Lan stepped ahead and pulled one of the doors open for her, her expression respectfully silent.
Inside, a man sat alone at the low table near the window, reviewing dispatches with a tired brow and calloused hands. General Shen Yuan. Her father.
He had aged less than she remembered—of course, he had. Five years before his execution, five years before the betrayal. He still looked strong. Still carried himself like the pillar of the East. But now, she could see the threads of grey beginning to show in his temples, the stiffness in the shoulder he once injured defending the Liang border.
He looked up, surprised to see her.
"Luyan?" he said, setting down his brush. "You're awake early."
She stepped forward, keeping her voice steady. "I couldn't sleep."
He gave a small, knowing smile. "Still troubled by the dreams?" He had always known she dreamt too vividly—he just never knew they were memories of a life already lived.
She sat beside him, and for a moment, she simply looked at him. Her father. Loyal, brave, and stubborn to a fault. He had refused to kneel until his dying breath—until they forced him down. Her heart ached with all the things she could not say. Not yet.
As the quiet moment passed between them, Shen Luyan's gaze shifted to the document on the table. Among the papers, one stood out—an official military report sealed with the unmistakable insignia of the Duke of Su. The sleek black wax gleamed in the light, and without hesitation, she reached for the scroll, breaking the seal.
Her eyes scanned the content, and the words on the page caught her attention immediately. It was a detailed account of the Duke's latest campaign—an overwhelming military victory, one that had secured a large swath of territory in the west. His strategy had been flawless, and his troops had returned as heroes.
Shen Luyan's fingers tightened around the paper, her mind wandering to a memory from years ago—when she first saw him.
The year had been marked by celebration. The war heroes were returning, and the streets of the capital were filled with vibrant parades. The entire city seemed alive with excitement as people gathered to honor the men who had fought to protect the empire. Shen Luyan had stood amongst them, her father by her side, watching the grand procession from the palace.
And then, he had appeared.
Duke Su, a man she had heard stories of but never seen in person. He rode at the front of the parade, his black armor gleaming in the sunlight. The quiet respect he commanded was palpable. His expression remained stoic, as though his entire existence was bound to the battlefield and not to the pleasures of the capital. His sharp gaze, cold and calculating, scanned the crowds, and for a brief moment, their eyes had met.
It had been an instant—a fleeting second—but the weight of it had stayed with her. There had been no words, no greeting, but something in the exchange had made her pulse quicken. It wasn't as if they had shared some secret understanding or recognition. No. He had simply been a figure larger than life, and she had been just another face in the crowd.
Shen Luyan's thoughts returned to the present as she continued reading the report. Duke Su was a man of many victories, a military genius with an unmatched reputation. His strategic mind had secured his place among the most influential generals in the empire, but beyond his tactical prowess, he was a man of mystery.
She couldn't help but wonder what kind of man he truly was behind the layers of cold calculation. She had no intention of involving herself with him, not now and not ever. But the fact remained: his rise in power was undeniable, and his influence would only continue to grow.
For now, she had no use for him. He was simply a player on the battlefield, just as she had once been. But she would keep an eye on him, as she did with everyone in the court.
She folded the report and set it down with deliberate care, her thoughts still lingering on the day she had seen him. It was a strange feeling to remember a moment so clearly when nothing of consequence had occurred. She shook her head, as if clearing the thought from her mind. There was no need to dwell on such trivial memories.
Shen Luyan's fingers hovered over the parchment for a moment longer before she set it down, her gaze drifting to the side. A portrait of Duke Su hung on the opposite wall—one that had been painted after his return from the campaign. The general stood tall, his black armor adorned with battle honors, his eyes as cold as the steel that had carved his path to victory. It was a striking image, capturing both his power and his mystery.
Her father's sharp eyes followed her gaze, and a knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "I see your attention has turned to the Duke of Su," he said, his voice calm but laced with a quiet amusement.
Luyan turned, slightly startled that her father had caught her studying the portrait. She hadn't realized how long she had been staring at it. "I was just... thinking," she murmured, a slight flush warming her cheeks.
Shen Yuan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You've always been a keen observer, my daughter. It's no surprise that you'd be drawn to his image. It's impossible to ignore a man who has changed the course of this empire."
Luyan tilted her head slightly. "The report about his victory—how important was it, truly?"
Her father's expression shifted to something more serious, and he walked over to the portrait, his hand resting lightly on the frame as if reflecting on the weight of his words. "Very important, Luyan. More than you might realize. That war... the rebellion in the western provinces threatened to tear apart the entire Empire. If it hadn't been for Duke Su's strategic brilliance, the whole region could have fallen into chaos. The borders would have been left vulnerable, and our people—"
He paused, his voice tightening with the memory of the conflict. "The stakes were high. It wasn't just a military campaign; it was a battle for the very survival of the empire. And Duke Su? He led his men into the heart of the rebellion with unmatched precision. He crushed their resistance before they could gain momentum. It was a victory that ensured the stability of the entire realm."
Luyan listened intently, absorbing the gravity in her father's words. She had known the general was a formidable leader, but hearing her father speak so reverently about him brought an entirely new understanding of his importance to the empire. She hadn't fully grasped the scale of the war and its repercussions.
"Do you believe that his victory has truly secured peace, Father?" Luyan asked, her voice soft but edged with doubt.
Her father turned to her, his gaze unwavering. "In the short term, yes. The rebellion has been quelled, and the western provinces have returned to order. But you must remember, Luyan, that the peace we fight for is always fragile. Duke Su's victory doesn't erase the turmoil beneath the surface. The empire is full of ambition, both in the court and in the generals' camps. Those who seek to wield power, to control the throne, will not rest. The real battle has only just begun."
Luyan nodded slowly, her mind racing with the implications. Duke Su had gained immense influence with his military success, and the court would surely take notice. She couldn't help but wonder where his loyalties truly lay. Was he a man of ambition, or was he simply fulfilling his duty to the empire? And more importantly, what role would he play in the future of the realm?
Her father's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Duke Su is a man of action, not words. His victories speak for him, but you'll find that the true test of his character is yet to come. He may be a hero in the eyes of the people, but in the game of politics, no one is ever quite as simple as they appear."
Luyan met her father's eyes, the weight of his words settling heavily in her chest. "Then we must be prepared," she said quietly, her resolve hardening. "Prepared for whatever comes next."
Her father gave a single nod, his expression serious. "Always. The Shens have always stood ready. And now, more than ever, you must be ready to play your part."