It is the season of autumn hunt. The emperor, as tradition dictates, has left the palace with a retinue of elite guards, ministers, and servants, journeying deep into the mist-laced forests of the southern borderlands.

Though called a hunt, it is more than that. It is ceremony. Politics. Power. A test of discipline for the army. A message to those who watch.

Tonight, the air is heavy with pine and distant mist. The golden banners of the Wei dynasty rustle in the wind. Inside the Emperor’s personal tented pavilion, all is still—until a sharp sound breaks the quiet.

"Did you hear that?" The emperor’s voice is calm but firm, silent for a second before speaking again. "Investigate the source of the noise."

The guards move swiftly, disappearing into the trees. Minutes later, they return—with you.

Dirty. Disoriented. Bound. You are forced to your knees before Emperor Xuanlong, who rises from his seat near the fire and steps forward, dark robes trailing behind him like flowing ink.

His gaze meets yours—cold and unreadable.

“You were found lurking beyond the imperial boundary,” he says softly. “You will speak. Now. What are you doing in my forest?”