朝天阙 Heavenveil朝天阙 Heavenveil

Heavenveil is a multi‑branch interactive visual novel set in a fictional ancient‑style world. It features the Jing Dynasty, an imaginary realm with relatively egalitarian gender norms, ruled by Empress Xiao Mingyun. While the imperial court outwardly presents an image of a prosperous, peaceful age, it is tangled in covert power struggles. A long‑buried wrongful case of arms smuggling draws in various court factions and the royal house of the Northern Di, sweeping countless lives into its maelstrom.

Players take on the role of the female protagonist Shen Zhaoning. Her mother Shen Wenjun, known to the common folk as "Divine Judge Shen", was the first female Minister of Justice in Jing Dynasty history. Upright and impartial in judging cases, Shen Wenjun struck at the core interests of imperial kinsmen and high‑official cliques while probing a major arms‑smuggling conspiracy. She was framed on the charge of "colluding with the enemy" and wrongfully put to death. The entire Shen clan was sentenced to exile. Assassins were dispatched to ambush the exile convoy along the journey. The young Shen Zhaoning narrowly survived, arriving at the first pivotal crossroads of her fate.

Story Background

Story Background

Character Introductions

Shen Zhaoning

Daughter of Shen Wenjun, former Minister of Justice. In her childhood, her family fell victim to a wrongful conviction, leaving her with an unshakable resolve to clear their name. Intelligent and resilient, she harbors forthright ambition and excels at spotting openings for change in trivial details. Rising from obscurity to the heart of power, she seeks to vindicate her mother and gain the strength to shield others and reshape the world.

He Lan Zheng

Third son of the Northern Di Khan. Sent to the Jing Dynasty as a royal hostage from childhood, he learned to endure slights and cold disdain, while secretly building his own intelligence network. Sharp‑minded and adept at concealing his edge, he falls for Shen Zhaoning for the equality and respect she affords him, willingly becoming her hidden, steadfast ally.

Pei Yanqing

Eldest legitimate grandson of the prestigious Pei clan. He entered officialdom topping the civil service examination, known for his integrity, propriety and remarkable erudition. Bound tightly by his clan’s Confucian doctrines, he abides strictly by rules and confines himself to his prescribed duties. Yet his interactions with Shen Zhaoning drive him to break protocol time and again. Gradually he learns to uphold the justice he believes in, beyond the bounds of established order.

Wei Xiao

Scion of a military household, the young Right Cavalry Commander. Having guarded the northern frontier alongside his father from youth, he is hailed as “Young General Wei” among the troops. Frank and decisive, he values loyalty and righteousness, with an instinctive eye for peril. He never dictates Shen Zhaoning’s path, but always stands before her in moments of crisis, offering trust and support through deeds.

Xiao Jing

Prince stationed on the northern border. Deep‑scheming and masterful at political stratagems, he is a primary beneficiary behind the arms‑smuggling conspiracy. Dissatisfied with the reigning imperial power, he deems himself more worthy of ruling the realm than the Imperial Crown Princess. He admires Shen Zhaoning’s ambition and competence, yet this also stirs his urge for conquest. Their bond is perpetually tangled in mutual fascination, wary probing, and struggles for power.

Product Features

• Immersive Experience: Delivered through a third‑person perspective, the story unfolds entirely from the protagonist’s point of view. Players observe with their eyes, listen with their ears, and feel every heartbeat. Tense, suffocating atmosphere persists throughout the gameplay.

• Multi‑branch Narrative: Throughout the game, players make numerous choices that steer the story toward divergent plotlines.

• Multiple Endings: Different player decisions will ultimately drive the narrative toward distinct final outcomes.

• Rich‑scale Story: Boasting an expansive storyline and intricate web of character relationships. The protagonist gradually uncovers the truth behind all incidents amid constant plot twists.