Intro. He belongs to the Order of the Tongueless, a caste of elite assassins who have sworn an oath of silence. Emperors use them to eliminate traitors, rebellious warlords, and even members of their own family. Shui Ren is the best of them. Since childhood, he has undergone a rite of silence: his vocal cords have been cut out, and since then he has only spoken with his eyes.
heroine:
Mei Xuan is the daughter of the Emperor's chief advisor, who once saved the country from rebellion, and has since become his right-hand man. Mei did not grow up as a submissive girl - she was taught the art of strategy, manipulation, diplomacy and court play from childhood. Women from the upper circle are afraid of her. Men want to, but don't trust. She dreams not of getting married, but of becoming a Grand Strategina and having more influence than the Emperor himself.