Silence settled over the grand hall .Every noble, official, and servant had turned their eyes toward the cloaked figure at the entrance. Even the musicians had stopped playing, their hands frozen above their instruments. The only sound that remained was the distant crackling of lantern flames.
Shen Haoyu remained seated, his grip tightening slightly around the stem of his wine cup. The stranger hadn't moved, yet their presence sent an unsettling ripple through the air. It wasn't fear—no, it was something else. An unshakable feeling that whatever was about to happen would change everything.
At the center of it all sat his father, the Son of Heaven, ruler of the most powerful empire in the land. The Emperor's robes of gold and black shimmered under the lantern light, his expression unreadable as he regarded the uninvited guest.
Then, finally, he spoke, his deep voice cutting through the silence like a blade.
"Who dares to interrupt this banquet unannounced "
The figure stepped forward, their movements slow but purposeful. The heavy silk of the nobles' robes rustled as some shifted uncomfortably, their curiosity battling their unease. The golden lanterns cast faint shadows beneath the stranger's hood, but their face remained hidden.
" I bring a message ", the stranger said, voice calm yet firm.
A wave of whispers spread through the crowd. A mere messenger? Then why had the air shifted as if fate itself had entered the room?
Shen Haoyu felt his spine straighten. He had spent his entire life in a world of politics, deception, and ambition. He knew when something was more than it appeared. And this… this was something else entirely.
His father, ever the strategist, did not react immediately. Instead, he let the tension hang, forcing the stranger to feel the weight of his authority. Finally, he leaned back against his throne, fingers resting lightly on the armrest.
" From whom? "
The stranger lifted their head slightly, just enough for Haoyu to catch a glimpse of their lips—set in a determined line.
" From those who remembers the prophecy".
A chill ran through the hall. The murmurs died instantly, replaced by an eerie, suffocating stillness.
The prophecy.
No one dared to speak of it.
It was an old legend, one whispered in secret, one that had been buried beneath layers of history and fear. It spoke of a lost heir, a child born of royal blood yet hidden from the throne. A ruler destined to return when the empire needed them most.
Shen Haoyu's breath felt heavier in his chest. He had heard the stories before, but that's all they had been—stories. Fables told by those who still clung to foolish hope.
His father's expression darkened. "Guards"the Emperor commanded, his tone like steel. " Seize them".
At once,soldiers stepped forward, hands gripping the hilts of their swords. The sound of their boots against the marble floor echoed ominously.
But before they could reach the messenger, the stranger threw back their hood.
A collective gasp swept through the hall.
And Shen Haoyu found himself unable to look away.
Beneath the hood was not the face of a weary traveler or a desperate rebel.
It was the face of a ghost from the past.
The stranger was young, their features striking yet unfamiliar. Dark hair, slightly disheveled, framed a face that carried both defiance and something else—something raw, something almost tragic. Their eyes, sharp and piercing, locked onto the Emperor's with a quiet intensity.
They were not afraid.
But what stunned Haoyu the most was something far more dangerous than their boldness.
It was the undeniable mark of the imperial bloodline.
The shape of their features. The way they carried themselves.
This was no ordinary messenger.This was a claim to the throne.
The realization settled over the room like a storm about to break.
One of the nobles, Minister Zhang, took an unsteady step forward, his face pale."Impossible " he whispered. " The lost heir is nothing but a myth".
The stranger's gaze flicked toward him, then back to the Emperor. " A myth?"Their voice held the slightest hint of amusement." then why do you look so afraid"
Shen Haoyu exhaled slowly, his mind racing. If this was a trick, it was an audacious one. But deep down, something inside him whispered that this was no deception.
His father, however, was not so easily swayed. The Emperor's eyes burned with the weight of a man who had built an empire, who had crushed rebellions and silenced opposition. " You speak of the prophecy as if it gives you power" he said, his voice quiet but commanding. " But this is my throne, no legend can change that".
The stranger tilted their head, studying him. Then, slowly, they reached into their robes.
The guards reacted instantly, drawing their weapons—but the stranger did not flinch. Instead, they pulled out a small jade pendant.
It was simple, unassuming—except for the imperial seal carved into it.
The room froze.
Shen Haoyu felt his chest tighten. That pendant…
It was a symbol reserved only for the direct bloodline of the ruling family.
The Emperor's fingers curled into fists. "Where did you get that"
The stranger met his gaze head-on. " You already know the answer"
For the first time that evening, Shen Haoyu saw something flicker across his father's face. It was gone in an instant, but he had caught it.
It was recognition.
He knew.
Whoever this stranger was… the Emperor had known of their existence before this night.
The air in the hall felt charged, like the moments before a storm broke over the horizon.
Shen Haoyu slowly rose from his seat, his heart hammering against his ribs. He wasn't sure what he was going to say, what he even could say, but he knew one thing.
Everything he had believed about his place in this empire was about to change.
And he wasn't sure if he was ready for it.