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The sound of cold metal clinking against the marble floor echoed through the narrow halls of the Minister's estate.
Shen Yunxi's father, tall and imposing, held out his hand to accept the heavy pouch of gold from the strangers standing before him. They were dressed in dark silks, their faces partially veiled by the shadows, their expressions unreadable, but their eyes were sharp, calculating.
Shen Yunxi stood at the back of the room, silently observing the transaction. His hands were clenched at his sides, his face pale, his eyes lowered to the floor. He had long ago learned the art of blending into the background, to remain unseen, unheard.
He was not needed here.
His father's voice broke through the silence, hard and cold. "This is the price of his silence," he said, his words directed at the men before him. "The Emperor will find him a valuable asset."
Yunxi's heart sank.
He had heard these words before.
He had heard them all his life.
"Value." That was what he had been reduced to. His father had never once called him a son, never once had he called him his child.
Yunxi had never been more than a thing-something to be used, something to be sold for profit.
His father's cruel eyes flickered toward him for a moment, his gaze cold, but with a hint of disdain. "His Majesty will have his prize," his father added, the word "prize" tasting like poison in his mouth. "A beauty like no other.
His silence will be his strength. He will be of great use to the Emperor."
Yunxi's throat tightened. He felt a lump rise, but he swallowed it down, forcing the pain back into the depths where it always resided.
There was nothing to say. There was no need to speak. He had been sold, and that was the end of it.
The strangers nodded, their faces hidden beneath dark veils. One of them stepped forward, his voice low and measured. "We will take him now. His Majesty expects him before nightfall."
Yunxi's father handed over the gold without a second glance, sealing Yunxi's fate. His eyes met Yunxi's only for a fleeting moment, then turned away as though the boy were nothing more than an insignificant detail.
"Go," his father said, his voice dismissive. "The Emperor is waiting."
Without another word, the strangers motioned for Yunxi to follow them.
Yunxi took a final look around the estate, but it offered no comfort, no safety.
He had long ceased to hope for anything beyond the walls that now trapped him. Slowly, he stepped forward and followed the men out of the room.
The journey was long and silent. The carriage in which Yunxi was bound to ride rattled and creaked over rough roads, but the silence was the most deafening thing of all.
Outside, the world passed by in a blur of grey and brown-muddy streets, fields, and distant mountains. He sat still, his hands folded in his lap, his mind a quiet storm, but his face remained unchanged. He had learned to keep his emotions hidden. If he cried, it would do nothing. If he screamed, no one would hear.
There was nothing to do but endure.
The palace gates loomed ahead, massive and foreboding, standing as silent sentinels to a world he had never known. The men beside him exchanged low words as they entered, their voices muffled by the thick walls of the carriage. The air inside felt thick, as though it, too, was suffocating him.
When the carriage finally came to a stop, the door opened with a sharp creak. The men ushered him out with little ceremony, their hands gripping his arms firmly, guiding him toward the imperial palace.
It was like stepping into a different world. The walls of the palace were painted in brilliant reds and golds, and the air was thick with the scent of incense. Palace servants moved with quiet efficiency, their faces blank masks of duty. They paid Yunxi no attention, but their eyes lingered for a moment, noting his appearance before quickly moving on.
At the entrance, a eunuch stood waiting.
"Is this the new concubine?" the eunuch asked, his eyes scanning Yunxi from head to toe.
Yunxi lowered his gaze, but he didn't answer. He could not.
The eunuch's expression remained impassive, but a flicker of disdain passed through his eyes. "A mute," he muttered under his breath, then turned away. "Follow me."
Yunxi obeyed, walking behind the eunuch with quiet steps. His new life began now, and he had no choice but to walk it in silence.
They passed through grand halls, corridors lined with silk tapestries, and ornate statues of imperial ancestors. Everything in the palace felt vast and distant, yet suffocating at the same time.
The eunuch led him through a maze of rooms until they came to a small courtyard where a group of women stood gathered. They were dressed in vibrant silks, their hair adorned with elaborate ornaments, and their gazes were sharp, like hungry birds watching a mouse.
The eunuch stopped in front of them, bowing slightly. "Royal Consort Ning, Concubine Zhao, Concubine Han, and Lady Fang," he said, addressing each of the women by title. "This is the new concubine, Shen Yunxi."
The women turned their eyes on him all at once, their gazes filled with curiosity, and perhaps something darker-envy.
Royal Consort Ning, a woman of grace and cold beauty, was the first to speak. "He's so delicate," she remarked, her voice as sweet as honey, but with a faint edge of mockery. "Is this the Emperor's new plaything?"
Concubine Zhao, dressed in a gown of deep red, laughed lightly, a sound that carried little warmth. "I suppose he is a 'beauty,' but there's no use for a mute concubine. What can he do for the Emperor?"
Concubine Han, who wore pearls in her hair, glanced at him with a sneer. "How fragile," she murmured. "I would never have expected His Majesty to choose such a delicate thing." Her voice dripped with judgment.
Lady Fang, more reserved than the others, tilted her head, studying Yunxi with quiet interest. "A mute concubine, yes? I wonder how long he will last in this palace."
Their eyes turned back to the eunuch, waiting for his explanation. "He was chosen for his beauty," he said, his voice flat, indifferent. "His silence will be his greatest strength."
The women exchanged glances, some with skepticism, others with quiet disdain.
"Does he have any other talents?" Royal Consort Ning asked, her gaze never leaving Yunxi's face. "Or is his only worth in his looks?"
Yunxi kept his head bowed, not daring to speak. The weight of their gaze pressed against him like a thousand stones.
"They say the Emperor values such beauty," the eunuch said, his voice holding a slight edge. "And beauty can bring its own power."
Power.
The word cut through him.
Did they believe beauty was power? Did they think he could find safety in his silence, or would he be used and discarded like everything else?
No one cared what he thought.
No one cared for his voice.
The eunuch led him away, his footsteps echoing in the silence.
Yunxi was shown to his new quarters-a small room tucked away from the main palace. It was a modest chamber, furnished with little more than a simple bed, a small desk, and a wardrobe that stood in the corner.
The walls were bare, the room cold and devoid of warmth. It was far smaller than the other concubines' chambers, and it felt as though he were being kept in the shadows, away from the rest of the world.
He stepped inside, his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet beneath him. The door closed behind him with a soft click.
For a long moment, Yunxi stood there, his back to the door, his hands folded tightly in front of him. He didn't know where to go. He didn't know what to do. His whole life had been a string of silent moments, and this one was no different.
A soft voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Are you the new concubine?"
Yunxi turned slowly to find a young woman standing in the doorway. She wore a simple maid's uniform, her face gentle and kind, her eyes full of curiosity.
"My name is Mei Lian," she said, her voice soft, but not cold like the others. "I will be your personal maid. If you need anything, you can ask me."
Yunxi did not answer. He could not.
But he bowed slightly in acknowledgment, and Mei Lian smiled gently.
She stepped forward and gestured to the small bed. "You must be tired from your journey. Rest for now. I will bring you some food later."
For the first time since entering the palace, Yunxi felt something stir deep within him-a flicker of warmth. It was small. Barely noticeable. But it was there.
And perhaps, for once, it was worth holding on to.
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(End of Chapter 1)