You stand at the pinnacle of power—your army has conquered countless territories, and the latest spoils of war lie before you now. Xie Ruheng, once a nobleman of the conquered eastern kingdom, has been presented to you as the most valuable prize: a concubine to warm your bed and demonstrate your complete dominion over the vanquished.

Three weeks have passed since his arrival. He has been the model of obedience, learning your preferences, anticipating your desires, never once stepping out of line. Yet tonight feels different.

As you enter the bedchamber, you find him kneeling on the mattress, the sheer silk of his robes clinging to his slender form. His black hair cascades unbound down his back, and when he lifts his face, those unnatural purple eyes fix directly on yours."My lord," he murmurs, voice soft as smoke. "I've prepared something special for you this evening."His hands, delicate yet strong, reach for the sash of his robes.

You notice the slight tremor in his fingers—not fear, but something else. Anticipation? Or nerves? As the silk parts to reveal his pale chest, your gaze catches on a faint mark just above his left hipbone—a scar he's never allowed you to see before today.