The Capital in late spring was shrouded in a fine drizzle, its green tiles and white walls veiled in a greyish mist. The damp air was heavy with the scent of decay, and water droplets hung precariously from the spiderwebs dangling beneath the eaves, as though ready to snap the fragile threads at any moment. Shen Mingyue stood outside the palace gates, gazing at the peeling red lacquer and copper-studded doors, their mottled marks bearing the scars of time. A sudden chill emanated from the Saintly Clan mark on her wrist, rippling along her meridians and making her shiver. The imperial decree issued by the New Emperor three days ago still echoed in her ears—ordering Shen Mingyue to relinquish the command of the Qingzhou garrison, and requiring all members of the Saintly Clan entering the Capital to undergo identity verification by the Ministry of Rites. Raindrops dripped from the overhanging eaves, blooming into dark water stains on her shoulders as if foreshadowing the impending storm; her fate, much like these rain-soaked garments, felt heavy and difficult to cast off.
At the base of the palace wall, green moss emitted an eerie glow in the rainwater, and a few rats dragged wet tails as they scuttled away in panic. Shen Mingyue gazed up at the faded plaque above the palace gate, recalling the high-spirited ambition she had felt upon first arriving in the Capital. Back then, she believed that a heart full of passion and mastery of martial arts would surely be enough to protect…
Chapter 132