Yan Meilin forced her eyes open, dazed and trembling as the chains clinked softly with her movement. Her vision was blurry, but the towering figure in front of her was unmistakable.
Fear crawled slowly up her spine as she tried to understand the reason behind his anger. "I… I don't understand…" she whispered weakly, her voice breaking from exhaustion and fear.
Long Mingze's response was a low chuckle—one that sent a chill through the entire room. It was not a laugh born from amusement, but from madness. His eyes glowed with an eerie, feverish light as he leaned forward, his breath brushing against her ear.
"Qingqing is pregnant."
Yan Meilin froze.
The world seemed to tilt violently beneath her as the words sank in. Her eyes widened in pure, unfiltered shock. "The… Empress?" she breathed, barely able to form the words. "She is… pregnant?"
