Dawn in the palace211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZrKwDzUBY
—a held breath before the storm.
The candleflames tremble in the corridors,211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvMyL96kmV
as do I.
Chen Qing’er’s warning coils in my gut:211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqcwMyZn2e
"Does the Crown Prince truly trust you?"
A question that now blooms thorns211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbxWvBwyNb
in every glance he gives me,211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8C4WGD6Y5
every silence between words.
The Summons
Zhang Feng arrives like a shadow,211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYChUHN4NE
his voice devoid of inflection:211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaxWOhDkdQ
"His Highness requests you."
I follow, counting my heartbeats—211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fZIKglIg5
each step a precipice.
The Audience
The Prince’s study smells of ink and iron.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkbxZQqhvW
He doesn’t look up from his documents211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYmsqsspb2
when he says:
"You spoke with Chen Qing’er last night."
A statement, not a question.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ7XMNEf19
The blade hidden in the scabbard of courtesy.
I keep my voice steady:211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWPLaGBgSd
"Nothing of consequence passed between us."
His fingers pause on a parchment edge.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5psjqVgRd
"I hear you’ve grown… close to certain officials."
Another knife, poised at my throat.
I parry: "All for the sake of reform."
The Warning
He rises, silhouetted against the window,211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1VcQEg7Pr
backlit by a dawn he cannot yet see:
"Chen Qing’er is the true threat now."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IBCKWypGk
"Are you prepared to face her?"
The unspoken words hang heavier:211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ52O33slHb
Are you prepared to betray me?
I give the expected answer.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbArhjUpoUW
He smiles—
—a flash of teeth in the gloom,211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyuS1uuwt3
more warning than approval.
"Remember: we play this game together."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDI5jcN5uI
His fingers brush his dagger’s hilt.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfqo4J38cy
"Cross me, and you’ll wish Chen Qing’er had killed you first."
The Aftermath
Alone again, I press my palm to my chest—211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1PaZfcG1D
feeling the thing that frightens me most:
Not the Prince’s threats.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIRTEi4mUr
Not Chen Qing’er’s schemes.
But the traitorous whisper in my own pulse:211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bWNkxdGUP
What if I want to choose neither?
