Thousand Goodbyes

"Will you be a Yellow Robe or a Black Robe?" "Devour or be devoured?"PROLOGUE: THE CURSED CHAIR It will never be easy. Why must blood be spilled with every single step? I asked myself this question as I walked toward the summit—toward that golden chair so many would gladly die to possess. I never once dreamed of sitting on that cursed throne. Yet, here I am, stepping toward it. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Behind me, a gentle hand tapped my shoulder. I looked back to see my twin sister, Fang Huan—my constant support, my protector, the bared weapon of our family. I suppose I am too greedy, wishing to have her by my side in every lifetime. Truth be told, I am a coward at heart; I would not have survived, and I would have bowed to fate long ago if not for her. As I finally sat down upon the cold gold, I looked at the figures flanking me. They both looked terrifyingly dangerous, yet their presence brought me an absolute, profound peace. To my left, I caught the arrogant smirk of my best friend, Wei Evander. Sometimes I still wonder how a man so insufferable became my closest confidant—and when, exactly, he is finally going to make a move on my sister. They call our family the Fangs. For generations, we have been the sharp teeth of this empire, tearing through our enemies to secure the peace. But looking at the throne before me, I realized the real battle was only just beginning. I shook the thoughts away, hardening my gaze. Let me focus first on the conclusion of this bloody journey for a cursed chair. Below us, the grand doors burst open. A sea of court officials fell to their knees in perfect unison. "Long live the Emperor! Long live! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years!" The chant echoed through the stone halls as they kowtowed, their foreheads pressing against the cold floor. They thought the war was over. They thought the victory was won. They had no idea that the snakes were already crawling back into the palace.