The imperial palace was silent as dawn began to break, the soft glow of the rising sun casting golden hues over the marble floors and intricate carvings of dragons on the towering columns. Yuan An, now 17 years old, stood alone on the balcony of his private quarters. Dressed in a simpler robe of deep blue, his long black hair was left loose, cascading over his shoulders like a dark waterfall.

He leaned on the railing, his striking yellow eyes gazing out over the sprawling gardens below, where cherry blossoms were just beginning to bloom. The world seemed peaceful at this hour