Chapter one

Sunlight streamed through the slightly broken window framed with torn curtains, the warmth of the morning light enveloping Yinzhi. Letting out a groan, she pushed her weight onto her hand, lifting herself up into a sitting position.

Today was November the third, the day she detested the most.

Why?

It was her birthday.

Her sixteenth birthday.

Despite the fact that she was the daughter of a concubine and a general, her birthday was never celebrated. Instead, she was treated like a monster, someone that killed her mother.

Yinzhi had nothing. No friends, no servants, nothing. The people at the imperial kitchen never cook for her, so she usually sneaks into the kitchen to grab at least something to last her for the day.

Sighing, she laid back down onto her bed, snuggling into the covers.

But maybe today wasn't the same after all...

"The Crown Prince is here!"

She shot up from the bed, rushing to get her clothes. This was her chance! If she could grab the attention of the crown prince and become a favoured concubine, maybe, just maybe, she could apprehend her father.

"Stop right there Yinzhi!" Turning around, she saw the Empress, along with the other concubine's daughters. The emperor had passed of old age, and the crown prince were to be crowned Emperor, marking the Empress as empress dowager.

"You are not to see the crown prince. We doubt he would want to see someone like you anyway."

Yinzhi let go of her slightly torn clothes she was about to change into, dropping onto the floor.

Taking away her freedom? Outrageous. It was outrightly wrong.

Even before she could protest, the door was shut in her face and locked up. Yinzhi sighed, not knowing what to do.

"I'll help you."

"Huh?" Yinzhi turned around to see...

"Who are you?"

"You don't know?" The voice jumped out of the shadows, turning out to be a handsome male at the age of about eighteen to nineteen.

He had Raven hair that faded to brown, his clothing that was made of silk suggesting that he was a noble of some sort.

Yinzhi shook her head, her brownish hair flowing everywhere.

"It's fine. You'll know soon. I've been sneaking in for a while now, and I brought something that could help."

His cheeks had been slightly tinted pink. Looking to the side, he handed her a necklace pendant and a change of clothes.

"A-ah! A necklace pendant? that only belongs to nobles!"

"Just hurry up and put it on! Oh, and also, take off your silver bracelet so you won't be recognised."

After doing what he said, Yinzhi turned to look at him, staring at him with a deadpan expression.

"Hurry up and change already! The crown prince is almost here."

Yinzhi sighed, pointing to the door.

"Wha- Oh. Sorry!"

Of course, the man had to leave for Yinzhi to change. Running out of the room, he touched his burning face and sighed, composing himself while Yinzhi changed.

Walking out, Yinzhi looked on as he gawked at her, turning red once again.

"Well, you're going to be my friend from the noble house Qin that's visiting me, okay? I already got the Qin's daughter to agree to this... Let's go."