What if they tried to kill me knowing I could destroy and rewrite the entire novel, or made me some kind of fortune teller?
Well, those are not bad, given how people react when they know someone has such ability.
But then, thinking of it, I only created part of the book, that for reasons I don't know, still continues to this point.
Probably because it was already planned without being written, since there wouldn't be any other explanation.
So I shouldn't claim authority over them. Yet.
Then Huang Renjun spoke, "Uncle Shen, wait here."
The advisor, Shen, didn't respond with surprise. He bowed his head lightly and stepped back, hands still folded within his sleeves.
He didn't look at me again, but I could feel his eyes lingering on me.
Did I look that weird?
Renjun turned without a word and began to walk toward the gate. He didn't ask me to follow, but I did.
His stride was slow and graceful, perfect.
I kept a respectful distance behind him, my boots silent on the dew-slick stone.
Through the inner gate, the inner courtyard opened into a wide garden of trimmed plum, peach, and apple trees, and still ponds on the sides.
Stone lanterns lined the paths, like streetlights would in the megacities.
We passed three servant girls kneeling beside the path, brushing fallen petals into wooden baskets.
They bowed deeply as we passed, but Renjun gave no sign he noticed.
While as soon as he passed, they blushed and scoffed when our gaze met—except one who furrowed her brow.
I gave a small smile and a wave before turning ahead, not because I liked her. No.
She was just pretty, on a normal scale. Perfect.
Prince Renjun only spoke again once we reached the second corridor, where light barely touched and the air became cold.
"You've seen this place before?" he asked without looking back.
"I've read about it," I answered.
That's half true anyway.
A soft breath escaped his lips. Whether it was amusement or disbelief, I couldn't tell.
"This is your first time meeting the Emperor?" he asked.
"Yes."
"You'll want to remember how you speak."
I didn't respond. It was not advice that needed acknowledgment.
It was a test in the form of a warning.
As we turned another corner, Renjun paused.
He looked at me fully this time, and I noticed how calm his posture was—relaxed but... say, too upright.
A noble's grace trained since childhood.
"You said your mother was a mage," he said.
I nodded.
"Which province?"
"South of Khalinovka," I replied. "Her family ran a pharmacy and a dojo."
His gaze lingered on my face a little longer. Then he turned again and continued walking.
We reached a long inner hallway, where the walls were carved with cloud motifs and framed poems etched in brushstroke scripts.
Finally, the main hall appeared.
Two guards stood to either side of the heavy doors.
Unlike the man before, they were dressed in full ceremonial hanfus, black with red sashes, and swords at their sides.
They looked straight ahead, like statues. That was expected, since they were positioned near the Emperor.
Renjun stopped at the steps.
He turned to me, his eyes steady.
"He doesn't tolerate excuses," he said quietly. "Or flattery."
I nodded once.
He studied me for a moment again, then raised a hand.
The guards stepped aside. The doors opened without a sound.
What greeted me was fresh air, and the faint scent of roses, and the cold pressure even worse than the prince's gaze.
The throne hall of Huang Zhongyu, Emperor of the Eastern Continent, was vast, but it was not meant to impress.
Strange but perfect.
Its walls were dark wood and red lacquer, high ceilings with a massive lamp at the center...what one would call a chandelier.
No banners, no music. Only a single path of polished stone leading forward.
At the far end sat a figure.
His robe was deep black with crimson edges, and his posture was straight.
He sat with one leg slightly forward, one hand resting on the armrest.
His long hair, more silver than black now, was tied with a red cord.
My steps slowed as I walked behind Renjun.
When we reached the bottom of the steps, Renjun stopped and bowed deeply, arms crossed at his waist.
I followed, lowering my body until I was kneeling.
Silence came, then a deep, emotionless voice replaced it.
"This is the boy from the North?"
"Yes, Father," Renjun said.
"Raise your head."
I did as he said.
The Emperor's eyes were imposing too, but he looked like someone who could be a good father as well as a ruthless king.
"You're Han Xueling," he said.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You were hit by a truck. Survived."
"Yes."
"Explain why."
What explanation do I even have for that? I couldn't tell him I survived because I happen to have a goal.
I took a breath.
"I adjusted the energy burst angle at the last second," I replied. "My abilities failed, but I managed to roll out of freefall."
He nodded once. "Instinct or calculation?"
"Both."
A slight pause.
Then he said, "A dead soldier is useless. A soldier who cannot learn is worse."
"I understand."
"You are here to serve me, correct?"
"Yes."
He looked at Renjun then. "You approve?"
Renjun's voice was calm. "He's not weak. He lies well, but not without reason."
The Emperor's eyes returned to me, brows, now and finally, furrowed.
"You lied?"
"I didn't tell everything."
"Why?"
"Because I wasn't asked."
The silence that followed was honestly painful, but more annoying.
To my surprise, the Emperor gave the faintest nod.
"Good."
He gestured once to a nearby attendant, who emerged from the shadows with a folded cloth and a thin wooden box.
"His badge," the Emperor said.
The attendant stepped forward and handed it to Renjun. He accepted it, then turned back to me.
"Stand."
I did, not taking my gaze off the Emperor even when I stood, until Renjun held out the box.
Inside was a simple bronze pin, shaped like a serpent on a circle held up by a pole, the mark of Lian House.
"You'll be my shadow... for now," he said.
"Understood."
"Then you'll need to start seeing things the way I do."
I bowed as low as I could, expressing my gratitude, but that would've been my worst mistake.
I waited for him to excuse us, but suddenly I heard something move fast through the wind.
To avoid being suspected if I caught it, I stepped slightly to the side, missing it only by an inch.
"Ren."
"Yes, Father!" the prince answered, tilting his head with a smile on his face. "What do you want me to do?"
"Move his quarters to the Sapphire Estate. The same building as the Apothecary and cadet."
"As you wish," Renjun replied, then turned to me, instantly changing his expression... probably his father's favorite.
"Shall we?" he asked, and I nodded.
Like I said, I created the Emperor to be as ruthless as I could. I wouldn't want anyone trampling on the Imperial palaces I created.
That's unacceptable.