Chapter 1
The wind was calm that night… deceptively so.
Nothing sparkled in the sky—no moon, not even a single star. As if the heavens had shut their eyes to the earth.
Behind the blue silk curtains, a girl in a thin white robe stood quietly, gazing from the high palace balcony. Her hands burned with cold.
She wasn't crying.
She was simply breathing... as if even breathing had become something she had to remember to do.
"Who would've thought death could begin with the beat of a heart?"
Down below, the sound of war drums echoed, announcing the army's return from the western front.
"Prince Li Wan, the Fourth Prince, has returned victorious from the Battle of Tianlu!" the guard's voice rang out.
Servants and guards knelt in orderly rows as the gates opened.
But she didn't move.
Only her eyes flickered. And she whispered, inaudible to anyone:
"If only you hadn't returned... If only we had never met."
One year earlier.
Rain fell lightly over the capital. People rushed beneath paper umbrellas, whispering about the coming imperial wedding.
> "The Fourth Prince is marrying the Minister of Rites' daughter!"
"I heard she's extraordinarily beautiful…"
In the corner of the street, a girl followed a wooden cart loaded with embroidered boxes.
No one noticed her, though her face looked like a broken piece of the moon.
She was Lin Xuan, the younger daughter of the Lin family—sent to the palace as a companion to her elder sister Lin Yi, chosen to marry Prince Li Wan.
But behind Lin Xuan's quiet face... something else lay hidden.
At the outer palace gates, the Lin family carriage arrived. Servants and guards stood in strict formation.
Lin Yi stepped out first, lifting her chin. Her silk robe brushed the ground with confidence.
Then came Lin Xuan… her steps quiet, her heart pounding so loud it rang in her ears.
She looked up at the grand gates, where the prince's banner waved… and behind it, he stood.
Li Wan.
Dressed in black robes embroidered with silver. Eyes unreadable, cold.
Lin Yi stepped forward and bowed gracefully.
Lin Xuan stood still—her eyes locked on his.
He glanced at her once and said flatly,
> "Is this a servant… or a shadow?"
She murmured softly,
> "I am Lin Xuan… the younger sister."
He stared at her for a moment longer. Then turned his back.
> "Keep her in the eastern wing," he told the guard.
Days passed. Lin Xuan began to see the palace for what it truly was—a place of masks and hidden knives.
One night, screams shattered the silence.
Lin Yi's body was found in the garden pond. Eyes wide open. Gown torn.
The investigation was swift.
They accused Lin Xuan of jealousy and murder.
All evidence pointed to her.
But the Fourth Prince… testified before the court.
> "She was with me that night. She never left the chamber."
He saved her from execution—yet never looked at her again.
Months passed.
She was no longer just a companion.
She became silent… yet her eyes saw everything.
One day, the prince summoned her to his chamber.
She entered quietly.
His gaze fixed on her.
> "You are nothing like your sister," he said.
She remained silent.
He stepped closer and whispered,
> "If I had met you first… would I have changed my fate?"
She didn't answer.
But her heart… trembled.
And now, on the night of his return from war, she stood on the balcony… remembering it all.
She whispered once more:
> "If only you hadn't returned… If only we had never met."
She turned away—
In her hand, a silk scroll marked with the imperial seal… of treason.
End of Chapter One
那晚风很静...静得令人心生警惕.
天空中没有月亮,连一颗星星也没有.仿佛苍穹闭上了眼睛,不再俯视人间.
在蓝色丝帘后,一个身穿白色薄纱的少女静静地站在高高的宫殿阳台上.她的双手因寒冷而发烫.
她没有哭泣.
她只是呼吸...仿佛连呼吸也成了一件需要努力去记住的事.
"谁会想到,死亡竟始于心动的那一刻?"
下方,战鼓声隆隆作响,宣告着西境战事的凯旋归来.
"皇子李晏,第四皇子,凯旋归朝,平定天麓之战!"侍卫高声喊道.
宫门缓缓开启,仆人们整齐地跪列两旁.
但她没有动.
她的眼眸轻轻一颤,低声呢喃:
"你若未归,我若未见,是否一切皆不会发生..."
---
一年前.
细雨轻洒皇城,行人匆匆,手中撑着油纸伞,街头巷尾尽是议论.
"听说,四皇子要娶礼部尚书的千金!"
"她貌美如仙啊..."
街角,一名少女默默跟在一辆载满绣箱的木车后.
她的容颜宛若残月,却无人注意.
她名叫林萱,林家幺女,被送入宫中陪嫁于姐姐林宜——未来的王妃.
但她静静的目光之下,藏着不为人知的情绪.
---
在宫门前,林家马车缓缓停下,宫中侍卫列队以迎.
林宜率先下车,抬首傲然,丝绸长裙拖地而行.
林萱随后下车,步履轻缓,心跳如雷.
她望向皇子旗帜飘扬的宫门——他就站在那里.
李晏.
一袭黑袍,银线刺绣,双眸如冰,毫无情感.
林宜上前行礼,温婉低头.
林萱却静立不动,眼神与他交汇.
他冷冷扫了一眼,道:
"这是仆人?还是影子?"
她低声答道:
"我是林萱,小妹."
他盯着她几息,转身吩咐:
"将她安置于东苑."
---
日子缓缓流逝,林萱逐渐看清这皇宫的真实面目——华丽背后的阴影重重.
某夜,尖叫声惊破寂静.
林宜的尸体被发现于后花园池中,双眼圆睁,衣衫破碎.
审问之下,所有证据都指向林萱——妒忌,杀人.
就在她将被处斩之时,李晏出面作证.
他说:
"当夜她在我处,从未离开."
她逃过一劫,却从此再未得他一眼相视.
---
时光流转.
她不再是陪嫁小妹,沉默之中成了看清一切的眼.
某日,四皇子召她入殿.
她悄然步入,他的眼神紧紧锁定她.
他说:
"你与她,截然不同."
她沉默无言.
他靠近,低语:
"若当初先遇见你...是否命运会不同?"
她没有回答.
但她的心,在颤抖.
如今,夜色重归,他凯旋归来.
她立于高处,凝望一切.轻声再道:
"你若未归...我若未见..."
她转身离开.
手中,紧握着一轴绣着叛国密印的锦卷...
第一章完