The morning mist was as thick as ink, wrapping the Cold Palace in a heavy shroud. Dewdrops condensed in the crevices of the gray bricks, reflecting a faint, chilly, and ghostly blue light. The sound of copper rings knocking against the palace gates echoed through the deathly silent courtyard, like the tolling of a funeral bell signaling an end. Shen Mingyue’s fingers tightened around the half-piece of the Jade Pendant. The icy surface of the jade pressed against her sweat-dampened palm, and the intricate lotus carvings on its edges dug into her skin, leaving tiny, bleeding marks. The scene reminded her of a fortnight ago, when the Second Prince first proposed the marriage in the imperial court; the calculation in his eyes then was identical to the look he wore now. He was merely repeating his old tricks, attempting to use marriage as a shackle to keep her under his complete control.
The eunuch sent to deliver the decree spoke in a shrill, piercing voice: "His Highness the Second Prince, mindful of his cousin’s reputation, wishes once again to quell rumors regarding the former dynasty's remnants through a grand wedding. He has specifically requested a decree to bestow this marriage..." Before he had finished speaking, Shen Mingyue had already knelt to the ground, her raven hair cascading down like a waterfall, perfectly veiling the roiling, monstrous intent to kill in her eyes. "I am honored by His Highness’s favor; Mingyue is willing to atone for my family’s sins." Her voice…
Chapter 60