Yuan woke slowly, wrapped in the warm heaviness of blankets that smelled faintly of plum blossoms. He tried to turn over and ignore the sunlight, but the whispering outside his chamber pierced through the last layer of sleep.
At first, he thought it was just the usual gossiping of maids doing their rounds.
But the hurrying footsteps…
The breathless excitement…
The rustling of expensive silk…
It was too noisy. Too frantic.
He opened one eye.
Did someone die?
He pushed himself upright just as two maids passed his door, voices carrying clearly into the room.
"Her Highness, Princess Ming is really here—"
"So early? But the envoys only sent word last night—"
"Even the Crown Prince was surprised!"
Yuan froze.
Her Highness…?
Here?
He swung his legs off the bed, heart thudding once in disbelief.
Princess Ming.
The female lead of the novel.
