Chapter 1: Prologue
In the thirty-third year of the Qihui era, the Hong Emperor of Southern Chu passed away, plunging the entire nation into mourning.
The third prince, Chu Yuheng, known for his virtue and talent, diligently worked to govern, aligning himself with the will of Heaven above and the wishes of the people below. He ascended the throne and changed the era name to Yongping.
In the second year of Yongping, Prime Minister Yusongnian abused his power, forming factions and pursuing personal gain, showing blatant disregard for the emperor. According to the law, he should have been executed along with his entire clan to serve as a warning. However, the wise and benevolent emperor, recalling that Yusongnian was a loyal minister who had served two reigns and aided the previous emperor, commuted the sentence to the execution of Yusongnian’s entire household and confiscation of all assets. The Yu family’s relatives were spared, with the hope that they would remember the emperor’s grace and conduct themselves with humility and virtue in the future.
***
In the cold palace, Yu Qingyan stared blankly out the window. Snow was falling again.
The biting wind blew through the window, and the white snowflakes dusted her hair and face. Her pale complexion seemed to merge with the pristine snow.
The cold palace was truly cold.
She remembered it was on a snow day much like this that she had been admiring the snowfall in the courtyard. When she turned around, she saw a figure standing amidst the white, icy world—a man in an embroidered robe dusted with snow. He must have been there for some time, but she had not noticed.
“You are—”
The man stepped closer, his gaze intense. “Forgive me, such a beautiful scene and a lovely lady, I was momentarily impolite.”
Before she could respond, a movement in his arms caught her attention. Looking closer, she saw it was a rabbit.
“Miss, if you like it, I, Yuheng, will gift it to you.”
Yu Qingyan quickly accepted. The white rabbit obediently nestled in her arms. She named it Xiaobai.
Watching his figure disappear around the corner, Yu Qingyan was momentarily dazed, unsure whether it was the beauty of the falling snow or the man himself that captivated her so.
Later, she learned that man was the current third prince, Chu Yuheng. Though she was raised secluded, she was not ignorant. Her father had always supported the second prince.
Yet she married him because it was well known that the third prince harbored no ambition for the throne, and because of her father’s favor.
In splendid phoenix coronet and embroidered bridal dress, amid a ten-mile procession, she had become the third prince’s consort as she wished. But she never expected the reality after marriage would be so bleak.
***
Since marrying her, Chu Yuheng had not touched her, rarely even meeting her.
Day and night she waited in vain, left with only an empty courtyard and a growing chill in her heart.
When Xiaobai died, her dreams ended as well.
Later, to the astonishment of the court, Chu Yuheng ascended the throne, and she became the nominal empress.
As more women filled the harem, within just a few months, she—an empress known throughout the court to be unloved—was deposed and sent to the cold palace, accused of poisoning consorts and harming the imperial heir.
***
“Miss! Bad news!”
Yu Qingyan pulled her gaze from the window and looked at the breathless maid.
“Cui’er, what is it?”
“The emperor... the emperor has ordered the death of your father!”
Yu Qingyan steadied herself by the table. He was truly ruthless!
“Miss—” Cui’er hurried forward to support her.
“What about the rest of the Yu family?”
“Miss...”
“Speak!”
“The emperor has decreed the extermination of the entire Yu clan.”
Yu Qingyan slowly sank into a chair, her limbs trembling. Extermination of the entire clan, extermination of the entire clan... Chu Yuheng, how could you be so cold-blooded!
“Miss, where are you going?”
“I must ask him—why he treats me this way, why he destroys my family so cruelly!”
Cui’er hurried after her. “Miss, don’t go. The emperor will not see you. Please, take care of yourself!”
Yu Qingyan rushed to the palace gate, only to be stopped by the guards.
“Step aside! I must see the emperor! Step aside!”
The guards looked at her with disdain. “Go back. The emperor will not see you.”
“Step aside!”
“Go back. What’s the use of making a scene? Do you even know your place? Who do you think you are to see the emperor?”
“Please, let me through! The emperor will see me, I beg you!”
One guard grumbled, “Third prince, why waste time with her? Just drag her back.”
“But she...”
“Hmph, the emperor ordered her entire family killed. What’s one more of them?”
Cui’er quickly stepped in front of Yu Qingyan. “No! Don’t hit Miss, please don’t...”
…
The snow fell heavier and heavier, blanketing the ground with a thick layer. Soon the entire palace was transformed into a crystalline world of ice and snow, making this already merciless place even colder.