From Zhuge Fei's Perspective
The afternoon had been surprising from the very first moment.
Zhuge Fei was still trying to understand how everything had happened.An unexpected visit from her older sister — the feared Zhuge Su Lan — earlier that day, followed by a direct yet calm order:
"Dress properly. Today, you'll see the throne room."
Those words had echoed in her mind for hours.And now, as her footsteps resounded across the smooth, frozen floor of the great imperial corridor, Fei's heart raced — a mixture of nervousness, curiosity, and awe.
It was almost strange to think that in fifteen years, she had never once set foot there.A legitimate princess of the Zhuge lineage, born in the very heart of the empire, yet confined to her mother's courtyards and gardens — a jeweled bird locked in a golden cage of silk.But now, at last, the great spiritual-crystal gate before her opened.
And Zhuge Fei saw the Throne Room.
Her first thought was that no story had ever done it justice.She had heard countless descriptions — every servant, every tutor, every attendant had their own version of its grandeur — but to see it with her own eyes…was like beholding the frozen heart of a god.
The Zhuge Throne Room was immense — so vast that the sound of her steps vanished before it could echo.Everything there was made of ice — but not ordinary ice.It was alive, luminous, pulsating with a cold, ancient energy.The towering pillars, smooth and crystalline, seemed carved from the very spiritual essence of winter itself; their curves shimmered with reflections from hundreds of crystal snowflowers suspended eternally from the ceiling.
Above it all hung the grand chandelier — a magnificent structure resembling a frozen star, from which thin threads of blue light cascaded downward like strands of silk made from pure frost.Each ray of sunlight that entered through the cut-crystal windows fractured into dozens of reflections, weaving a silent dance of brightness and shadow through the air.
The floor was a perfect mirror, reflecting everything above — pillars, lights, and the throne itself.It felt as though the world had been turned upside down, a doubled reality of ice and brilliance.Fei had the strange sensation of walking through a dream — a cold one, yes, but breathtakingly beautiful.
And in the center of it all, upon a circular dais of ascending steps, stood the Zhuge Imperial Throne.
Fei stopped in silence, hardly daring to breathe.
The throne was made of the same living ice as the rest of the hall, yet it radiated its own light — a deep, pure blue that reminded her of the sky just before dawn.Its lines were elegant yet austere; its form delicate yet undeniably powerful.Every carved detail bore the ancient emblems of their clan — snowflakes intertwined with faint flames, representing the eternal balance of ice and fire that defined their father's bloodline.
Behind it, a great arched window framed the endless sky, allowing daylight to pour in and crown the throne with its own aurora.
Fei halted a few steps from the dais, unable to move closer.The chill in the air seeped into her skin — but it wasn't an unpleasant cold.It was a sacred one — solemn, reverent, commanding.And as that sensation wrapped around her, Fei understood why everyone said that this was no ordinary throne.
It wasn't a seat meant for mortals.It was a throne that demanded both reverence and fear.
Standing there, eyes reflecting the soft blue light, heart pounding with a mixture of awe and anticipation, Zhuge Fei realized she was face to face with the most sacred symbol of Zhuge Island —the throne that once belonged to her father, and now to her brother.
Perhaps I'm too excited, she thought.But honestly… how could I not be?
I, Zhuge Fei — the daughter always kept behind curtains, the silk princess raised among dresses and posture lessons — was here, inside the Imperial Throne Room.And this wasn't just a casual visit.
For the first time, fate had called me toward something greater.
The Tournament of the New Generations of Zhuge Island.An event I had only heard of in old stories whispered by aging maids — tales told with both admiration and fear.A tournament where the youth of every clan showcased their strength, where heirs earned recognition, and where the names destined for glory first began to shine.
And now, it would return — and I would have the chance to take part in it.
The chance I had always dreamed of.The chance to finally understand who I truly was.
Her heartbeat quickened, echoing like ceremonial drums within her chest.For years she had trained in secret — or nearly so.For years she had been told to remain delicate, graceful, untouched — a winter flower.But now, at last, she had the opportunity to prove that even flowers could grow among blades.
Her gaze drifted once more to the throne.Its reflection multiplied across the icy surfaces, as if the very empire itself were watching her in silence.She took a deep breath, fighting to contain the thrill rising within her.
Maybe she was being childish.Maybe Su Lan — her ever-cold, pragmatic sister — had called her here only for political reasons, or to assign her a decorative role during the tournament.But even if that were the case… even if she wouldn't be allowed to fight… just seeing it all with her own eyes would already be a gift.
And for a brief, fleeting moment, she smiled.
She was the first to arrive.The hall was empty, and the only sound was the echo of her own steps across the sacred frost.The feeling was indescribable — as though, for the first time, the world had finally allowed her to breathe freely.
Then the great doors opened again.
The smooth sound of crystal sliding against crystal reverberated through the chamber, breaking the solemn stillness.Instinctively, Fei turned — and for an instant, her heart leapt.
It wasn't Su Lan.Nor her mother.And certainly not a palace servant.
The person stepping through the door was…a surprise.A very welcome surprise.
And as the blue light spread across the mirrored floor, illuminating the figure entering the imperial hall,Zhuge Fei felt the air grow warmer — and realized that her story was about to change again.