Palace Shadows: The Diary of a Female Eunuch - My betrothed had entered the palace—only to become the Empress's pawn.

I never imagined I’d see him again—

—least of all like this.

That day, under the Crown Prince’s orders, I was in the Hall of Literary Brilliance inspecting eunuch registries. Just as I turned the second page—

"What a coincidence. Young Master An is here too?"

My hand jerked. The ledger nearly fell.

That voice—

How could it be him?

I turned slowly.

There he stood beneath the eaves—wearing newly tailored indigo robes, a white jade fish pendant at his waist, his features as refined as I remembered.

Xu Chen.

Once, I was his betrothed.

And he was the one who’d pushed me into the abyss.

Three years ago, my family fell. Father and brothers executed. Mother’s suicide. Me—branded a criminal’s daughter.

The Xu family, our generational allies, tore up the marriage contract and cast me out within hours.

I thought our paths would never cross again.

Yet now—

He’d entered the palace as the Empress’s "scholarly attendant", ostensibly to compile imperial history.

But the Crown Prince had long exposed him: another of the Empress’s spies.

His eyes flickered with shock when he saw me—quickly masked.

"...Why are you here?"

I bowed, laughter strangled in my throat. "This lowly one, An Liu, pays respects to Lord Xu."

"An Liu?" His frown said he didn’t recognize me.

Good. Better this way.

As long as he remained ignorant, I could survive.

But then he stepped closer—

—and stared at the tiny mole by my eye.

My heart plummeted.

That mole was my birthmark. Three years ago, he’d teased:

"Don’t run too far. I’d spot you in any crowd."

He remembered.

"You’re—"

I cut him off. "If Lord Xu has no business here, please leave."

He reached for me, but I was already walking away.

Yet I knew: he’d investigate. And if he did—

He’d uncover everything.

That night, I stood outside the Crown Prince’s study, unable to knock.

The door swung open before I could.

"Enter."

The moment I stepped inside, it slammed shut behind me.

The Crown Prince didn’t mince words:

"Your past is exposed."

I stiffened.

"Xu Chen is digging through Ministry of Justice archives. Hunting you."

"Guess which he’ll discover first—that you’re the Su family’s last daughter? Or that you’re a woman?"

My lips pressed into a bloodless line.

He turned, smiling coldly:

"Amusing. The Empress’s newest pawn is your former fiancé."

"This game grows more entertaining—"

Suddenly, his gaze pinned me:

"So tell me. Should I let him die?"

I lifted my head.

Heart trembling. Lips shaking.

Yet the words came out steady:

"Better to let him live."

"Let him watch… as I claim victory for Your Highness."

The Crown Prince’s eyes ignited.

"Well played, Su Liu."

"From today, you’re not just my blade—"

"You’re my poison."

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My betrothed had entered the palace—only to become the Empress's pawn.

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