Snow fell like white silk across the northern border.
The crimson banner of the Fifth Prince stood proudly above the outpost walls, and beneath it, the soldiers were far too alert for what should have been a simple royal visit.
Because no one believed royal visits were simple.
Especially when the visitor was Princess Chen Yao.
The Seventh Princess.
The woman even Chen Lie found annoying.
Which automatically made me interested.
I stood at the front gate with Yue Lian, Xue Ning, Feng Yuehuang, Hu Mei, and enough armed soldiers to either welcome a princess or start a small war.
Honestly—
Both were possible.
Hu Mei leaned beside me, eating fruit she definitely didn't pay for.
"Master."
I sighed.
"Yes."
"If two princesses and one Phoenix Goddess start fighting over you…"
She smiled brightly.
"…who gets the throne room first?"
I looked at her.
"Why are you like this?"
She nodded thoughtfully.
"So Hu Mei gets the throne room. Understood."
I decided silence was healthier.
Far healthier.
Feng Yuehuang stood to my right, golden eyes fixed on the snowy road ahead.
Calm.
Elegant.
Murderously calm.
That was becoming a pattern.
Xue Ning stood to my left, white robes moving with the wind, looking like winter itself had decided to judge my life choices.
Also fair.
Yue Lian simply looked prepared to stab politics, if necessary.
The best kind of officer.
Then—
The sound of horses.
A silver royal carriage emerged through the snowfall, followed by elite guards wearing the plum blossom crest of the imperial family.
No arrogance.
No excessive display.
Just controlled elegance.
That somehow made it more dangerous.
The carriage stopped.
Silence spread across the courtyard.
Then the door opened.
And she stepped out.
Princess Chen Yao.
White robes lined with silver.
Long black hair flowing behind her like ink in snow.
Cold beauty.
Sharp eyes.
The kind of woman who smiled as she had already read the ending of your story.
Beautiful.
Dangerously beautiful.
I was starting to suspect my life had become a collection hobby for dangerous women.
She looked at me.
Then at the crimson banner.
Then at the outpost walls.
Then, finally, he smiled.
Softly.
"So."
Her voice was calm.
"The dead Fifth Prince built himself a kingdom."
I stepped forward.
"Not yet."
I smiled faintly.
"Right now it's still mostly paperwork and emotional damage."
For the first time—
She actually laughed.
Good.
A princess with humour was still dangerous, but at least entertaining.
She walked closer.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Very royal.
She stopped directly in front of me and studied my face.
Long enough to make several people behind me emotionally invested.
Then she said softly,
"You really survived."
Not politics.
Not sarcasm.
Something else.
Something honest.
Interesting.
I answered just as quietly.
"You sound disappointed."
She shook her head.
"No."
Her gaze didn't move.
"Relieved."
Ah.
Now that—
was dangerous.
Hu Mei, from behind me, whispered dramatically,
"Oh no, she's pretty too."
Feng Yuehuang did not look at her.
But the temperature somehow increased.
Again.
Princess Chen Yao finally stepped back and looked toward Feng Yuehuang.
There it was.
The battlefield.
She smiled politely.
"Phoenix Goddess, I assume."
Feng Yuehuang met her gaze.
"Yes."
Calm.
Beautiful.
Absolutely not peaceful.
Chen Yao nodded.
"I understand why he behaves so stupidly around you."
I coughed.
Hard.
Hu Mei almost died trying not to laugh.
Feng Yuehuang's lips curved slightly.
"He behaves stupidly around everyone."
Traitor.
All of them.
Every single one.
I decided the safest military strategy was to change the subject.
"Princess, welcome to the Northern Border."
I gestured toward the outpost.
"My territory."
She raised a brow.
"Confident."
I smiled.
"Territorial."
That made her smile again.
Good.
I escorted her inside the command hall, where warm tea waited and trust absolutely did not.
Tradition.
She sat across from me while the others remained nearby.
No one trusted royal conversations alone.
Wise.
Chen Yao placed a small jade box on the table.
"A gift."
I stared.
Royal gifts were rarely gifts.
Usually they were problems with decorative packaging.
Still, I opened it.
Inside—
a golden token engraved with the imperial dragon and the old royal seal.
My expression changed.
I recognised it.
The Fifth Prince's memory recognised it faster.
This was—
"Grandfather's command token," I said quietly.
The former Crown Prince.
The man Bai Wuchen had once served.
Chen Yao nodded.
"I found it hidden among old palace records."
Silence.
Even Feng Yuehuang stepped closer.
This was no ordinary political favour.
This was legitimacy.
Ancient legitimacy.
Proof tied to the old royal bloodline.
I looked at her.
"Why give me this?"
She met my eyes calmly.
"Because if you intend to take the throne…"
Her voice lowered.
"…you should stop asking permission."
That sentence hit harder than most sword strikes.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
I closed the jade box slowly.
"You're helping me far too much."
She smiled faintly.
"Maybe I simply enjoy watching the palace panic."
Honestly—
fair.
Extremely fair.
Before I could answer, the system flashed.
[Major Support Item Acquired]
Ancient Royal Command Token
Effect:
+20 Political Legitimacy+15 Army LoyaltyUnlock: Hidden Royal Supporters
Excellent.
I liked the presents.
Especially ones that came with political earthquakes.
I looked at Chen Yao.
"And what do you want in return?"
Because everyone wanted something.
Always.
She was silent for a moment.
Then—
unexpectedly—
she said,
"When the day comes…"
Her voice was calm.
"...do not become like Father."
No throne request.
No political seat.
Just that.
That was somehow heavier.
I nodded once.
"I won't."
She studied me for several seconds.
Then accepted the answer.
Good.
Outside, the northern wind moved across the walls.
Inside, the game had changed again.
The Seventh Princess had arrived.
She had not come as an enemy.
Not fully as an ally.
Something far more dangerous.
Someone who believed I might actually win.
And honestly—
That was more terrifying than armies.
Because now—
Failure would disappoint people I actually respected.
Annoying.
Very annoying.
I smiled anyway.
"Princess".
She looked up.
"Yes?"
I leaned back.
"Welcome to my territory."
And somewhere far away—
The capital probably felt a throne shaking.
Good.
It should.
Because exile was no longer sustainable.
Exile was coming home.