Night had fallen, and in the stone pavilion located in the back garden of the East Palace, Zhao Yan, a member of the Eastern Palace, stood outside with his head bowed. The sound of pieces falling on a board could be heard clearly from within the pavilion. Zhao Yan's eyebrows twitched, and he raised his eyes to peer inside.

Inside the pavilion, a man sat dressed in a gown as white as the moon, concealing the four-clawed dragon insignia on his sleeves. At that moment, he was playing with the chess pieces in his hands, his brows furrowed with a hint of coldness. His demeanor was different from that of ordinary nobles—he exuded an aura of grace and distinction.