In the days that followed, Xian Ling gathered information about Duke Yuan Long:
Age: 26.
One of the most powerful military commanders in the empire.
His father died five years ago, leaving him a vast duchy and the loyalty of tens of thousands of soldiers.
Publicly neutral in the struggle between the princes for the throne—making him a target for both sides.
Most intriguing of all: he had once been engaged, but his fiancée died under mysterious circumstances three years ago. Since then, he had rejected all marriage arrangements.
"He's the most desired and most dangerous man at the same time," Li Feng said. "Every family wants an alliance with him—but no one wants their daughter to be the second wife who dies mysteriously."
But Xian Ling was thinking of something else.
Why had he given her money and advice?
Why had he appeared in her life at all?
She received an unexpected answer a week later.
A servant from the town's inn arrived, carrying a sealed letter marked with a dragon crest.
"Miss Xian, Lord Yuan Long invites you to meet him at the Southern Temple Garden at dusk."
The invitation was socially improper—a private meeting between an unmarried man and woman. But refusing a duke's invitation was impossible.
She went, hesitant but determined to learn his intentions.
He stood beside a lotus pond, dressed in plain dark robes, looking more like a wealthy merchant than a duke.
"Thank you for coming," he said without turning.
"I didn't have much choice."
"We always have a choice," he replied. "Even when we believe we don't."
"Then what is my choice here?"
"To listen—and then decide."
She nodded.
"The Emperor is ill," he said bluntly. "The princes are in conflict. Civil war is approaching."
"And how is that my concern? I'm just the daughter of a poor baron."
"Poor barons possess one valuable thing," he said, stepping closer. "Invisibility. I want to make you my eyes and ears here."
Xian Ling was stunned.
"Espionage? Why me?"
"Because this region appears quiet, but it controls supply routes to the capital. Whoever controls it controls provisions. And many… interested parties are moving here."
"Including the Zhu family."
"Including the Zhu family," he agreed. "And the Li family. The Wang family. Even your own."
"My family has no power."
"But it has position. And you have intelligence."
She thought quickly. The offer was extremely dangerous. But it was also… an opportunity.
"What do I gain?"
"Protection. Resources. And perhaps… a chance to rise."
"Why me?"
He paused.
"Because you survived an attempted murder. Because you began shaping your own fate. And because when we first met, you neither bowed excessively nor asked for anything."
"I asked for advice."
"And that is what made you different."
The moment was decisive.
Refusal meant remaining trapped in her small family pond, at the mercy of petty enemies. Acceptance meant entering a storm that could swallow her whole.
"I accept," she said at last. "But with conditions."
He raised an amused eyebrow. "I'm listening."
"First: I will do nothing that directly endangers my family.
Second: I must always know why I'm being asked to do something.
Third: when this ends, you will grant me full protection to begin anew."
Yuan Long smiled—truly smiling—for the first time.
"Agreed."
And so, Xian Ling officially entered the great game.
She did not yet know that this decision would lead her down a path she had never imagined—a path of conspiracy, love, power… and the ambition to become a duchess herself.