Su Sheng left the mountain gate in silence, carried by Rong Yu.
She rested in his arms as his golden wings wrapped around her like a curtain of light, separating her from the rest of the world.
By the time they landed, night had fallen.
What lay before her was a grand palace carved of white jade, crowned with golden feathered spires, surrounded on all sides by beast statues kneeling in reverence.
She blinked, stunned. "This is…"
"Jin Yu Palace," Rong Yu said as he stepped through the gates, still holding her gently. "It's yours now."
She stirred, trying to climb down—but her legs buckled the moment they touched the ground.
Rong Yu chuckled lowly, then set her down before the golden throne. With one knee lowered, he reached into his robes and drew out a golden feathered hairpin—crafted with exquisite detail, crowned with a delicate crest. He placed it gently into her hair.
"From this day on, you are the Golden Wing Queen."
Su Sheng sat frozen, dazed by the reverence in his eyes. Her heart was in chaos.
"…Rong Yu," she whispered, "aren't you afraid that I'm only choosing you because I was cast out?"
He looked at her, his hand resting warm on her shoulder."I'm not afraid of you leaning on me," he said softly. "I'm only afraid… you won't stay."
That night, the lights of the palace never dimmed.
She sat alone in the grand bedchamber, wrapped in a ceremonial robe of golden feathers, embroidered with emblems of the king's line.
But Rong Yu never entered the room.
She thought—perhaps—he was regretting this. That the weight of the crown frightened even him. That maybe, despite everything, he was hesitating.
Until—A gust of wind. A shadow beyond the windows. The rustle of feathers in the night.
He leapt through the window in a golden blur, his silhouette sharp against the moonlight. No cloak, no crown—just wind and snow clinging to his bare skin, the scent of frost and wildness still on him.
She gasped, rising from the bed. "Where did you go?"
He smiled, soft but wild. "The throne… the palace… it was all too heavy. I was afraid it would crush you."
"So I left it behind."
He unfastened the royal robe and let it fall. Then stepped toward her.
"I came back in light."
That was the moment she finally cried.