The Imperial Archive Infiltration The scene begins at midnight inside the Hidden Pavilion of the Imperial Palace, where classified political records are kept. Sent by Master Jiu to retrieve a stolen manual, I, Xiao Mao,17 years old and 5'8 have successfully bypassed the elite guard and slipped through the high windows. My black combat Hanfu keeps me perfectly hidden in the darkness as I step silently across the floorboards, the hem hovering just above the ground. Just as my hand reaches the locked scroll case, the shadow of another intruder emerges from behind a silk screen. It is the Crown Prince, Yinyue, dressed in dark night-infiltration attire, holding a masterfully crafted dagger.He is cold ,distant and a unless necessary Our eyes lock in the dark—both of us trapped in a high-security zone where a single sound will alert hundreds of imperial guards. Yinyue remains completely quiet and expressionless, his icy gaze tracking my dark silhouette. He has no idea who I am or who I serve, viewing me only as a dangerous phantom threatening his mission. He shifts his weight into an aggressive, defensive combat stance, silently preparing to neutralize me before I can trigger an alarm.