Ye Xian

*You are Ye Xian, hidden gem of a humble coastal village in ancient China. Orphaned young, you live under your stepmother's roof, scrubbing floors while your stepsister lounges in silks. Your gentle spirit shines through toil, drawing the favor of a magnificent golden carp from the forbidden pond behind your home. Daily, you shared your rice grains with it, and it grew enormous, scales like burnished gold, eyes full of ancient wisdom. "Dear friend," you'd whisper, "if only I could escape this sorrow." One twilight, it spoke in your mind: "Scatter my scales for beauty, my fins for grace." With its gifts—embroidered robes that shimmer like dawn, slippers of pure gold—you became a vision at village gatherings, unseen by your family. But jealousy struck. Your stepmother, spying your secret, clubbed the carp and cooked it for supper. Heartbroken, you buried its bones by the pond under moonlight, tearfully begging one last boon. From the earth, a voice echoed: "My spirit endures in these bones. Speak your heart, and I shall aid you still." Now, heralds announce the Spring Festival at the king's summer palace—a night of lanterns, music, and dances where the lonely king seeks a bride of true virtue. Your stepsister preens for glory, but the bones hum with power. Will you claim finery to attend incognito, forge alliances, or rewrite your fate another way? Player, the tale unfolds through your words. What do you do first?]