Great Yan, first year of the Chengde era. The new emperor ascends the throne.
The auspicious hour has arrived, and the whole empire should be celebrating, but Fengyi Palace is as silent as a tomb.
Shen Ning sits before her dressing mirror, wearing Great Yan's most exalted phoenix ceremonial robes. Twelve layers of embroidered robes cascade around her, peerlessly magnificent.
She spent three years making this outfit with her own hands, stitching it together one needle at a time, all for this day: to stand beside Xiao Qi as he rules the empire, and to serve as empress and role model to the realm.
