Time has passed since the lantern banquet. Morning frost over the Pei estate garden. A single plum blossom in bloom.

A servant approaches Zhaoyue in the garden with a sealed letter.

Zhaoyue reads the letter in her cold room.

The imperial gardens, morning. The Fourth Prince waits.

Zhaoyue arrives. The Fourth Prince sees her.

The Fourth Prince and Zhaoyue walk together through the garden. Their first real conversation.

Their conversation deepens. Zhaoyue asks a question no one has asked him.

The Fourth Prince answers. Zhaoyue reflects his thought back to him.

Zhaoyue reflects his thought back to him with precision. He recognizes something.

A later scene — tea in a sparse room. The Fourth Prince and Zhaoyue seated across from each other.

The Fourth Prince decides to give her something. The guard.

Zhaoyue accepts. The first thread of trust.

Transition — cut to the Shen household. Warm tones. Zhaoxia in a letter.

Cut to Zhaoyue reading Zhaoxia's letter. Cold room. Cold light.

The Shen Matriarch visits Zhaoxia with news. Warm tones shift slightly.

Zhaoxia's reaction. She does not understand what this means.

The betrothal ceremony. Warm tones. Gold and white. Zhaoxia in fine robes.

Zhaoyue attends the ceremony. She stands at the edge of the crowd.

Zhaoyue's internal thought. The knife.

The Crown Prince's son with Zhaoxia. His dismissive attitude.

Zhaoyue observes the Crown Prince's son from across the hall. She notes everything.

After the ceremony. Zhaoyue alone in the corridor.

Zhaoyue meets the Fourth Prince's guard. She begins building her network.

Zhaoyue gives Wei Sheng his first task. The network begins.

Zhaoyue in her cold room at night. Writing the letter to her grandmother.

Zhaoyue seals the letter. The chapter ends.