冷月 snorted coldly, her eyes like cutting knives. "You think I'm afraid of you? If I wasn't hiding, would I be here to show you mercy?" She said, her voice sharp as a blade.

The air was thick with tension as the two of them faced each other in the grand hall. The royal family was sitting on the throne, their expressions serious. The king, dressed in luxurious robes, looked between the two with a frown.

Cold月 had been a庶女 since birth, unwanted and unloved by her father. Yet, she was smart and quick-witted, always finding ways to stand up for herself. Today, she was in trouble again, accused of stealing a priceless jade pendant from the queen's room.

"Sir, please believe me. I would never dare to steal from the queen," Cold月 said, her voice steady despite her fear.

The king ignored her, his gaze fixed on the person standing beside him—Liu Ruyi, the crown prince. Liu Ruyi was known for his傲娇 personality and his belief that he was always right. But today, he was looking at Cold月 with a different expression. There was something in his eyes that made Cold月 feel uneasy.