FR

Lian Xuan. The quiet son of a respected noble family, known throughout the court for his elegance, intelligence, and unmatched skill with the sword. To those around him, he was composed and unreadable—a man who revealed little and questioned even less. No one knew the truth hidden beneath his robes. The scars. The betrayal. The childhood he had barely survived. When an unusual medicine disappeared from the Rear Palace, suspicion quietly spread through the Inner Court. Its trail led to an unexpected name: Lian Xuan, one of the few nobles with knowledge of rare medicinal herbs. Summoned by Jinshi, he attended an imperial banquet where everything appeared flawless—until a single warning came too late. Within moments, nobles collapsed as a sleeping agent hidden inside burning incense spread through the hall. As panic consumed the banquet, Maomao looked not at the unconscious guests, but at the calm young noble who had seen the danger before anyone else. "You recognized it," she realized. Lian Xuan gave no answer. Hidden beyond the silk curtains, someone smiled. The game had already begun.