苏清寒疼得龇牙咧嘴， colder than the North Pole wind. She had been tossed out of the cold palace like a tossed-out ragdoll, left to bleed silently. But she wasn't about to let this be the end of her story. Not on her watch.

She stumbled out of the corner, ignoring the excruciating pain that shot through her every time she moved. The moonlight cast a ghostly glow on her bruised and battered body, but she didn't care. She was a survivor, and she would not go down without a fight.

As she made her way through the palace grounds, she noticed a flicker of movement in the shadows. Someone was watching her, someone who looked equally desperate and determined.

"Need some help?" the voice was rough, but it held a hint of kindness.

苏清寒 turned around, her eyes narrowing. She was no fool; she could sense the power radiating from this person, but it was different from the cold, calculating power she had seen in the court. This was raw, untamed, something she could respect.