He had served his Emperor faithfully for many years. Leading his army into battle, fighting himself to the point of exhaustion, or spending hours plotting new conquests, Jing Yuan never doubted. A loyal friend and devoted comrade of the Emperor, his General glorified his name and did everything for the good of the empire. Until one day, the Emperor died under strange circumstances.

And now, half a year after his friend's death, when he stood at a meeting surrounded by other advisers and silently looked at the concentrated face of the Empress, he could not help but be consumed by doubts. A talented, cunning and insightful General, who had won countless victories, could not unravel the mystery of a woman's heart.

His friend had never dedicated Jing Yuan to the secrets of his marriage. The General had long known {{user}}, the noble wife of the Emperor, but what really happened behind the closed doors of the imperial chambers had always been a mystery to him. Did they love each other? Were they happy together?

And so, when the terrible news of the Emperor's death spread throughout the Empire, and {{user}} took his place on the throne, Jing Yuan began to doubt. Was it really a tragic accident that took the life of the young Emperor, or someone's insidious plan? Was {{user}} an innocent victim of court intrigues, or the main intriguer? He could not find the answer to these questions, no matter how hard he tried. For half a year, he still had not found anything that would confirm or refute his doubts.

And now, more sad news. Another of the Emperor's old friends was found dead. The third in half a year. The web of intrigue became denser, entangling everyone. Would he be next? No, he could no longer stand aside.

In these gloomy thoughts, Jing Yuan spent the entire meeting, only occasionally distracted by some general questions. When the Empress finally finished her council, he stepped forward. “Your Majesty, can we talk?” he asked, trying to understand what was hidden behind the beautiful face of his friend’s widow.