The morning sun barely touched the palace walls when the commotion began. Servants rushed through corridors carrying messages, banners fluttered as if warning of impending chaos, and the court was already buzzing with rumors about the mischievous nobody boy who seemed impossible to punish.
Han Jian, of course, had anticipated it. He lounged casually in the garden, Soul Flame Art flickering faintly around his fingertips. A slow, smug smile spread across his face. Today would be even more entertaining.
Inside the throne room, the King and Queen sat in cold judgment, their faces tight with disapproval. Zhen Luo had been summoned to answer for his increasingly… unusual behavior, and they were determined to correct it.
"Your Highness," the King began, voice sharp as a blade, "your behavior in the gardens and your interactions with that boy are unacceptable. You are the crown prince. You must set an example!"
Zhen Luo's expression remained composed—though his lips twitched ever so slightly. "Father, I am well aware of my duties," he said evenly. "And I do set examples. Some… more interesting than others."
The Queen's eyes narrowed. "This is not a joke. You are being forced into a union with Li Shuran, and yet you encourage scandal?"
Zhen Luo pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering under his breath, "Encourage? Hardly. More like surviving."
Li Shuran stood nearby, hands folded tightly, a forced smile painted on her face. "Your Highness, surely this boy—Han Jian—is the cause of all these… irregularities. Perhaps he should be punished."
Zhen Luo's dark eyes flicked toward Han Jian, who had appeared in the doorway as if summoned by chaos itself. "And how would you punish someone so… charming?" he asked, his voice low but deadly.
Han Jian's grin widened. "I am perfectly capable of handling myself, Your Highness. Besides…" He tilted his head, eyes gleaming, "…punishment can be fun if administered creatively."
The King's hand slammed the table. "Enough! You will respect the royal decrees. This boy will not disrupt the palace any further!"
Han Jian bowed mockingly. "Of course, Your Majesty. I exist only to serve the royal family's amusement."
The Queen's eyes narrowed. "You are insufferable."
Across the room, Bai Zehan and Luo Xian watched the drama unfold, hidden behind a velvet curtain. Bai Zehan whispered, "I knew this palace needed entertainment. That boy… is pure chaos."
Luo Xian muttered, "And yet somehow… he's surviving it."
Han Jian moved closer to Zhen Luo, allowing just enough distance for the crown prince to notice his presence. The tension was palpable; every whisper, glance, and subtle movement carried weight.
"Interesting," Zhen Luo muttered, eyes narrowing. "You thrive in chaos, don't you?"
"I thrive in revenge," Han Jian replied softly, letting the faint shimmer of Soul Flame Art dance across his wrists. "And in fun."
The King leaned forward, voice colder than ever. "You will end this nonsense immediately! Or—" He hesitated, then glared at Zhen Luo. "Or you will answer for it."
Zhen Luo's lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smirk appearing. "Very well, Father. I will consider your… suggestion." His gaze flicked briefly to Han Jian, sharp and assessing, before he added, "But some things… cannot be controlled."
Han Jian's eyes sparkled. Exactly.
After the council broke, Li Shuran's face darkened with frustration. "That boy…" she hissed, muttering threats under her breath. "I will not be humiliated by a mere nobody."
Han Jian only chuckled, fading into the corridors like a shadow. Every glance from Zhen Luo, every reprimand from the King and Queen, every scheming whisper from Li Shuran—Han Jian filed away for later. Every slight, every insult, every order… would be used to his advantage.
By the evening, the palace buzzed with quiet rumors. The nobody boy was untouchable. The crown prince was flustered yet intrigued. Li Shuran was plotting anew. And in a shadowed balcony, Bai Zehan leaned close to Luo Xian, whispering with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "I think we're going to see sparks fly… and not just between the crown prince and the boy."
Luo Xian shook his head, smiling faintly. "Try not to start a war, okay?"
Han Jian watched Zhen Luo from a distant garden, eyes cold and sharp, smile dangerous. Patience, he whispered to himself. The palace will crumble piece by piece. And when it does… revenge will be complete.