The Cold Future King
1141 Words
Lianhua had spent days preparing herself for this moment. The moment she would meet Jian again.
Not as the foolish, lovesick woman she had once been. Not as the helpless consort who had begged for his mercy as he sentenced her to death.
No, this time, she was different.
She walked through the prince’s residence with careful steps, her silk robes gliding against the polished floors. Every part of her looked composed, but underneath, her heart was pounding not with longing, but with cold, burning hate.
Jian was not yet the ruthless man who had ordered her execution, but she knew what he would become. And this time, she would not let him ascend the throne.
She would make sure of it.
She arrived at the main hall, where the Queen had summoned her. The air smelled of delicate incense, and the golden curtains swayed gently in the breeze. A group of maids stood nearby, heads bowed in silence. At the far end of the room, seated on a cushioned throne, was him.
Prince Jian.
The man who had once whispered promises of love in her ear, only to betray her when she needed him most.
He sat with his back straight, a book in his hand, though his eyes were not on the pages. The moment she entered, his gaze flickered to her.
Lianhua felt her breath hitch.
He was just as she remembered.tall, sharp features, an air of quiet dominance. He wasn’t cruel yet, but there was already a coldness in his expression, a distance that warned her not to get too close.
Foolish girl.
She wasn’t here to get close. She was here to ruin him.
“Prince Jian,” she said, lowering herself in a respectful bow.
There was a long pause. The room was silent except for the soft rustling of fabric as the maids moved about. Then, Jian finally spoke.
“You’re the scholar’s daughter.”
It wasn’t a question.
Lianhua forced a smile. “Yes, Your Highness. My father was grateful for your invitation.”
Jian nodded slowly, studying her. There was something unreadable in his gaze. Lianhua held her breath, keeping her expression gentle, delicate like a woman with no power.
Would he recognize her? Even though she had been reborn two years earlier, she still looked the same.
But after a moment, he simply returned to his book.
Lianhua exhaled quietly. Good. He doesn’t remember me.
This was her advantage.
She could stay close to him, manipulate his path without him ever realizing it.
She took her seat and glanced toward the side, where Han stood.
Han, the daughter of the Prime Minister.
She looked just as innocent as before.pretty, with large eyes and an elegant posture. She smiled when she met Lianhua’s gaze.
“You must be Lady Lianhua,we talked at the lake” Han said, voice sweet like honey. “I must say,it was nice meeting you.Could we have breakfast together tomorrow i heard you have an eye for fashion.”
Han said smiling at her.
Lianhua returned the smile, though inside, her nails dug into her palms.
She had spent years trusting Han, thinking they were friends. But Han had been the one who pushed for her execution. Han had wanted her gone because she saw Lianhua as a threat.
This time, Lianhua would not be the one to disappear.
“The pleasure is mine,” she replied smoothly.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed someone watching her. Jian.
He had been listening to their exchange, though his expression remained unreadable.
Was he curious about her?
Lianhua turned her attention back to Han.
“I hope we can be friends,” Han said warmly.
Lianhua almost laughed. Friends?
Oh, Han…
Lianhua had thought about killing her many times. It would be so easy one push at the right moment, one slip of poison.
And yet…
She wasn’t here to be reckless. She had a bigger goal.
She would destroy everything Han loved.
She would make her watch as Jian chose someone else, as the Queen fell, as the Prime Minister lost everything.
Lianhua smiled at her. “Of course.”
Just then, the Queen entered.
The room immediately fell silent. Maids bowed low, and Lianhua followed suit, lowering her head as the Queen took her seat.
Cold, elegant, and powerful. The Queen had always been a woman to fear.
Lianhua’s heart burned as she looked at her. This woman will die by my hands.
The Queen’s gaze flickered to her. “Lady Lianhua,” she said smoothly. “You are settling in well, I assume?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
There was a long pause. The Queen’s eyes narrowed slightly, assessing her.
“You are a guest in this household,” she said finally, “but do not forget your place. The Prince is already promised to Han.”
The words stung, but Lianhua kept her expression neutral.
She knew this moment would come.
Han, standing nearby, smiled faintly.
Lianhua lowered her head. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
But inside, she laughed.
She would never let Han have him.
Not because she wanted him. No.
But because Han wanted him.
And Lianhua would rather burn everything down before she let Han win.
A slow, careful battle had just begun.
####
Meanwhile, at the training grounds, Ying and General Wei were having their first encounter.
“Excuse me!” Ying called out as she rushed past the palace guards.
General Wei, who had been overseeing the guards’ training, turned just as Ying nearly collided with him.
He caught her by the wrist. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Ying blinked up at him. He was tall. Taller than she expected. His grip was firm but not painful.
“I I was just i”
Wei’s lips curled into a smirk. “You shouldn’t be running around here, little maid. You might get hurt.”
Ying scowled. “I am not little.”
Wei raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “No?”
She crossed her arms. “No.”
He chuckled. “Then try not to get in the way of the soldiers, little one.”
Ying opened her mouth to argue, but Wei had already turned back to the training field.
She huffed, cheeks warm.
What an annoying man.
But as she left, she found herself glancing back at him.
Just for a second.
####
Back in the palace…
Han had left the room after the Queen’s announcement, but as Lianhua walked down the corridor, she heard the girl’s voice from around the corner.
“She’s dangerous,” Han whispered to a servant. “I don’t trust her.”
Lianhua smiled to herself.
Good.
She didn’t want Han to trust her.
She wanted Han to fear her.
And soon, she would.
Very, very soon.
- Writer
