The first light of dawn spread across the palace roofs.
Usually, this hour was peaceful.
Servants swept the stone paths.
Maids prepared morning tea.
Officials gathered for court.
But today—
The atmosphere was unusually tense.
Throughout the night, not a single servant in the Dowager Empress's courtyard had slept peacefully.
The strange crying had echoed through the residence again and again.
Every time the guards rushed outside—
Nothing.
No figure.
No footprints.
No shadow.
Only silence.
Yet the moment they returned inside—
The mournful weeping began again.
It was enough to leave every person shaken.
---
The Dowager Empress sat in the main hall, looking far older than she had the previous evening.
Dark circles rested beneath her eyes.
The prayer beads in her hand moved slowly.
She had already made a decision.
Turning to her head maid, she said calmly,
"Invite the Emperor."
"Invite the Empress."
"Princess Zhi."
"Prince Liang."
"And Lady Chen."
