The Empress's chamber was heavy with the bitter scent of medicine.
Candles burned low, their flames trembling in the suffocating silence. The thick curtains were drawn halfway, allowing only a thin thread of pale light to fall across the bed where Lian An lay unmoving.
Her face was bloodless.
Her lips were pale.
Her chest rose so faintly it was as if even her breath feared to stay.
The Emperor sat at the bedside, his fingers curled tightly around the edge of the table. He had not slept. His eyes were rimmed red, his robe wrinkled, his hair loose from its tie.
He had ordered no one to enter.
No one.
This room was supposed to be sealed.
Yet—
The door burst open.
Footsteps stormed in.
The first to enter was Yao Qing.
Her eyes were red, her hair disheveled from running, her chest heaving with rage and fear. Behind her rushed the twins, Lin Yue and Lin Chen, and Wei Jie. Then the Duke and Duchess entered, followed by Lian Rou and little Lian Hua.
