Crown Prince Yu darted through the bustling bazaar, his plain cotton robes blending with the crowd. Sweat dampened his collar as he searched between merchant stalls, scanning faces in the fading sunlight. His heart raced - not from exertion, but from the thrill of temporary freedom.
The bazaar's vibrant energy contrasted sharply with the rigid formality of palace life. Merchants called out their wares, children chased each other between stalls, and the aroma of street food filled the air. No one recognized the crown prince in his commoner's disguise.
Yu cherished these rare moments of solitude. In the Eastern Palace, attendants hovered constantly, monitoring his every move. When Empress Wei summoned him to the inner palace, his brothers became his shadows - Jia's protective hovering and Xin's curious observations leaving Yu no peace.
