Night Before the Wedding — The Imperial City
Snow fell in a quiet, relentless curtain over the capital, muffling the restless noise of the streets. Lantern light blurred into soft halos against the drifting flakes, their red paper skins trembling under the wind's touch. Vendors along the avenue had long packed up their stalls, but small clusters of people lingered beneath eaves, whispering in low, conspiratorial tones.
It was impossible to keep a royal wedding secret, especially one so unusual.
"A mute? The Empress is truly marrying a mute?"
"Not only mute—no background, no wealth, no cultivation."
"He'll shame the throne. Mark my words."
The words drifted into the night like smoke, curling into the alleys and courtyards of the sleeping city.
The Palace Preparations
Inside the Vermilion Palace walls, the snow became a soft dusting upon lacquered roofs and frozen courtyards. The wedding would take place in the Hall of Eternal Harmony, a hall rarely opened except for coronations or marriages of the highest rank.
Dozens of palace servants hurried along the marble corridors, their footsteps hushed by thick layers of crimson carpet. Hands full of silks, lacquer trays, and steaming bowls of ginger broth, they passed one another in a flurry of ritual preparations.
In the Hall itself, the decorations had already begun:
Silk banners embroidered with dragons and phoenixes swayed gently from the rafters. Golden lotus lamps glowed on low tables, casting a warm light that fought the winter's chill. A jade platform had been placed at the center, where the bride and groom would kneel to bow before Heaven and Earth.
Outside, snow gathered silently on the shoulders of the stone qilin statues guarding the hall.
Meng Qingzhou's Quarters
In a smaller, far less decorated chamber at the eastern wing of the palace, Meng Qingzhou sat by the open window. The cold air spilled in freely, tousling his black hair. The candle beside him burned low, its flame wavering.
He was dressed not in formal robes, but in a plain robe of indigo, his posture deceptively calm.
A porcelain teacup rested by his side, steam rising faintly from the cooling brew.
He tapped his fingers lightly on the wooden armrest—a slow, deliberate rhythm that only he knew the meaning of.
From the courtyard came the faint crunch of footsteps. A young eunuch stepped into view, bowing.
"Lord Meng, the seamstresses ask if you wish to try the ceremonial robe one last time before dawn."
Qingzhou gave a slight shake of the head, his dark eyes cool. He did not speak.
The eunuch bowed again and retreated. He never questioned the silence; the palace had already spread the story of Meng Qingzhou's muteness far and wide.
But Qingzhou's lips curved, just barely.
He was mute to them, yes. But not to himself.
The Empress's Chambers
Elsewhere, in the heart of the Phoenix Pavilion, the Empress sat before a bronze mirror. Her robe was undone, her hair half-loosened from its pins. A maid carefully combed through the dark strands, the sound of the comb against her hair steady and soft.
Her eyes were sharp, distant.
She knew what the court thought of her choice.
Knew the ministers whispered about her impulsiveness.
And yet… the man she was to marry tomorrow was not chosen on a whim.
A shadow flickered in the doorway. The Empress glanced up; her chief attendant entered, kneeling.
"Your Majesty, the ministers will meet in the West Hall tomorrow morning. It is likely they will make one last attempt to stop the ceremony."
The Empress's expression didn't change. "Let them try."
Midnight — A Private Audience
Hours later, as the snow deepened, a figure in dark robes made his way to Qingzhou's quarters. The guard at the door stepped aside, recognizing the visitor as one of the palace strategists.
Inside, the strategist studied Qingzhou for a long moment.
"Do you understand the weight of tomorrow?" he asked. "The court believes you will be an ornament, a powerless consort. If you remain silent… they will treat you as such."
Qingzhou raised his gaze, slow and deliberate. The faintest glimmer of sharp amusement flickered there.
The strategist hesitated. "You… understand me, don't you?"
Qingzhou reached for the teacup, turning it slightly in his hand, then set it down without a word.
And yet, in that silence, the strategist felt the truth:
This man was not powerless.
This man was waiting.
Dawn Approaches
The first light of morning touched the palace roofs, turning the snow to molten gold. The city stirred; drums began to beat in the distance. Wedding bells would soon follow.
Qingzhou rose from his seat. The ceremonial robe lay folded on a nearby stand, crimson silk embroidered with gold thread.
He ran his hand across the fabric, feeling the weight of it.
When he finally put it on, the transformation was absolute—gone was the quiet figure by the window, and in his place stood a man who seemed carved from the stillness before a storm.
Tomorrow, they would think him a voiceless lamb.
Tomorrow, they would see only what he wished them to see.
And one day, when the time was right…
The Hidden Blade would strike.
Reader's Reference Section
Characters Introduced
Meng Qingzhou – Protagonist; outwardly mute, of humble background, seemingly without cultivation. Secretly cured, concealing his voice as a weapon.
The Empress – Powerful, politically astute ruler; her motives for marrying Qingzhou are not yet fully revealed.
Chief Attendant – Loyal servant of the Empress, messenger of court politics.
Palace Strategist – Keen observer; suspects Qingzhou's silence hides more than weakness.
Unnamed Eunuch – Minor servant, carries out instructions without question.
Places
Vermilion Palace – Imperial palace complex; home of the Empress and the center of political power. Hall of Eternal Harmony – Grand ceremonial hall used for the most important state rituals. Phoenix Pavilion – Empress's private quarters, symbol of authority and refinement.
Other Notes
Snow in the Capital – Symbolically linked to purity and concealment; its quietness mirrors Qingzhou's silence. Crimson Ceremonial Robe – Traditional marriage attire, heavily symbolic of loyalty and union, but also blood and sacrifice.