Chapter 3

The capital city of the Han Dynasty, Luoyang, was alive with energy. The streets bustled with merchants shouting their wares, scholars debating philosophy, and courtiers whispering the latest gossip.

Stalls overflowed with silks dyed in brilliant hues, spices so fragrant they perfumed the air, and jewelry that glittered under the bright morning sun. Beyond the market, the towering palace walls loomed, a stark reminder of the emperor's ever-watchful presence.

At the heart of this grand city lived Li Wei, the Wu Emperor, ruler of the vast Han Empire. The palace he resided in was a marvel of engineering and artistry, its golden roofs shining like fire against the sky.

The Imperial Princes

Li Zhi Ming, the Third Prince and Duke of Huai. His sharp features carried an air of relaxed confidence, and his warm smile endeared him to the common folk. Known for his sharp mind and calm demeanor, Li Zhi Ming had little interest in the intrigues of court politics. Instead, he valued freedom above all, often disappearing from palace life to wander the countryside.

Then there was Li Jun Yi, the First Prince and Duke of Chen, whose handsome face masked a cunning and calculating heart. Arrogant and ambitious, he carried himself with the air of someone who believed the throne was already his. His sharp tongue and disdain for others made him feared, but his status as the emperor's eldest son ensured he held considerable power in the court.

Finally, there was Li Zhao, the Second Prince and Duke of Su. Though younger than Li Jun Yi, his presence overshadowed his elder brother's arrogance. His towering frame exuded authority, and his dark eyes, cold as obsidian, seemed to pierce through the soul. The half-mask he always wore added an air of mystery, sparking countless rumors. Some said his face was disfigured, others believed it hid a curse.

Yet, it was not his mask that made Li Zhao feared, but his reputation. As the empire's youngest general, he had led countless successful campaigns, earning both the emperor's favor and the army's loyalty. But the mystery of his mask left the court divided—was he truly a man destined to lead, or a harbinger of misfortune?

Li Zhao cared little for the throne, focusing instead on his military responsibilities. Yet his very existence posed a threat to the ambitions of Empress Yi, Li Jun Yi's mother.

Scheming in the Palace

The Empress sat gracefully on her throne, her silken robes adorned with phoenixes embroidered in gold. Despite her serene expression, her eyes glinted with malice as she addressed the emperor.

"Your Majesty, Zhao Er is already of marriageable age," she began, her tone soft yet insistent. "It is time he takes a wife."

The emperor sighed, setting aside a scroll he had been reading. "Zhen agrees," he said. "But who would marry him willingly? His mask and his reputation—"

The emperor was well aware of the countless rumors and assumptions surrounding Li Zhao's mask, a symbol that had sparked endless speculation within the court and among the people. Strangely, even His Majesty himself had never seen Li Zhao without it since the day he first donned it as a teenager.

It was after the tragic passing of his mother, Imperial Concubine Fu, that the mask appeared. Li Zhao had been involved in a brutal fight during the chaotic aftermath of her death, suffering a wound to his face. But the emperor knew the injury wasn't severe enough to leave a lasting scar, let alone warrant a mask. The mystery remained unsolved, as whenever the emperor broached the subject, Li Zhao would either deflect or respond with icy silence, his posture firm.

The emperor could do nothing but accept it. Though he was curious about what lay beneath the mask, he respected the son who had proven himself time and time again on the battlefield.

But Empress Yi, the First Prince's mother, bore no such affection for Li Zhao. Her disdain for him was deeply rooted in the past. Though she had been elevated to the position of Empress, her victory felt hollow because of the shadow cast by the late Concubine Fu. The emperor's love for Fu had been an open secret, and despite Fu's lower rank, she had held a special place in his heart.

The Empress had once believed that Concubine Fu's death would bring her peace—that without her rival, the emperor would finally direct all his affection and attention toward her. But instead, Concubine Fu's son, Li Zhao, became an even greater obstacle.

His excellence in both academics and martial arts only amplified the emperor's pride in him, leaving the Empress with an overwhelming sense of resentment and insecurity.

Although the odds of Li Zhao ascending to the throne were slim—he had no political ambition and showed no interest in the power struggles within the palace—his very existence was a threat. The loyalty he commanded from the army and his impeccable reputation among the people made him a force to be reckoned with.

For years, the Empress had schemed to diminish his standing, but each of her plans had failed spectacularly. Li Zhao, it seemed, was untouchable.

That was until one of her servants accidentally overheard rumors about the Third Miss of Xu Manor, a girl known for her misfortune and bad luck. The gossip painted her as an omen of disaster, a cursed woman who brought misfortune wherever she went.

The servant relayed the tale to the Empress, whose mind immediately began spinning a new scheme. The Empress was deeply superstitious, believing in omens, curses, and fate. If this Third Miss truly embodied misfortune, then she could become the perfect weapon to bring down Li Zhao.

Thus, the Empress concocted a new plan. She proposed a marriage between Li Zhao and the Third Miss of Xu Manor. On the surface, it would appear as a thoughtful gesture—matching the powerful and unmarried Duke of Su with a suitable bride. But her true intention was to saddle Li Zhao with an ill-fated wife who would, in her mind, destroy him from within.

"A brilliant young miss," the Empress told the emperor with a practiced smile, masking her venomous intent. "A union that will ensure he is settled and happy."

The emperor, unaware of her malice, agreed. To him, Li Zhao's solitary life was a concern, and a wife might provide him with some much-needed companionship.

With the imperial decree issued, the Empress was overjoyed, convinced her plan would finally rid her of Li Zhao's threatening presence. What she didn't realize was that her carefully laid scheme would set in motion events that no one—not even the calculating Empress—could predict.

Duke Su's Manor

In the lavish study of Duke Su Manor, Li Zhao sat at his desk, shrouded in shadows. His figure was imposing even at rest, his posture straight, his black robes blending seamlessly into the dim room. The flickering candlelight danced on his half-mask, casting sharp, angular shadows across his chiseled jaw.

The events of the previous night lingered in his mind. The girl from the river—her defiance, her refusal to explain herself, and her skill in tending his wounds. It had been years since anyone dared approach him so casually.

Before his thoughts could wander further, the sound of footsteps broke the silence. His trusted guard, Wu Xi, entered the room and knelt before him.

"Your Highness," Wu Xi began hesitantly, "a royal decree has been issued. His Majesty has ordered you to marry the Xu Manor's Third Miss."

The air in the room grew cold as Li Zhao's gaze sharpened. His deep voice broke the silence, calm but laced with menace. "And if I refuse?"

Wu Xi hesitated before replying, "Your Highness will be stripped of your title and exiled."

Li Zhao's eyes narrowed behind his mask. He knew this was the Empress's doing. She feared him, hated him, and this was her attempt to rid herself of him.

"Send betrothal gifts to the Xu Manor," he ordered, his tone icy. "Make them extravagant. And ensure they understand—their Third Miss will not return."

Chaos at the Xu Manor

The arrival of the royal decree threw the Xu household into disarray.

"This is impossible!" Second Madam Gu shrieked, her voice echoing through the grand hall.

"Why her? Of all people, why that cursed girl?" the eldest Xu sister, Xu Ling Mei, spat, her face twisted in jealousy.

Xu Ling Ai's stepsisters laughed cruelly, their mocking voices filling the room. "Serves her right! Ugly for ugly! What a perfect match!"

Despite their disdain, even they could not deny the significance of the betrothal gifts. The intricate silks, precious jewels, and crates of gold spoke volumes of Duke Su's status.

"Send someone to fetch her," Second Madam Gu said through gritted teeth.

Countryside Refuge

Far from the chaos of the Xu Manor, Xu Ling Ai sat cross-legged on the floor of her modest countryside home. In her hands was the jade token left by the masked man. The single word carved into its surface—Su—gleamed faintly in the afternoon light.

"Is this his name?" she muttered. "Su? Suho? No, wait, I'm Chinese, not Korean. It must mean something else."

"Or is it his title? Wait, is he someone important?"

Her musings were interrupted by Jiang Mama, who burst into the room.

"Miss! The Xu Manor has been sent to you. They say you must return immediately!"

Xu Ling Ai didn't even glance up. "I'm not going back," she said simply.

"But, Miss... they said if you refuse, the servants who came will be punished... maybe even killed."

At this, Xu Ling Ai sighed. Her modern sensibilities told her this wasn't her problem, but the thought of innocent lives being lost left a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Fine," she said, rising to her feet. Her eyes glinted with determination. "Let's see what the Xu Manor wants from me now."

With the jade still in her pocket, Xu Ling Ai followed Jiang Mama out the door, her thoughts racing.

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