Night had settled over the palace.
Lady Chen's courtyard was quiet, but the atmosphere inside the private pavilion was anything but peaceful.
A single lantern burned on the table between Lady Chen and Princess Zhi.
Neither woman was drinking her tea.
Both were thinking about the same thing.
The strange investigation.
The black altar.
The talismans.
And, most importantly—
Shin Gu's courtyard.
Princess Zhi finally broke the silence.
"Lady Chen, something about that day still bothers me."
Lady Chen looked up.
"You mean Shin Gu's courtyard?"
Princess Zhi nodded.
"Yes."
Lady Chen sighed.
"I've been thinking about it too."
They exchanged a troubled glance.
The details were becoming clearer now that they were looking back without the confusion and fear that had surrounded them at the time.
They had gone to Shin Gu's courtyard together.
The Emperor had been there.
Prince Liang had been there.
The Dowager Empress had been there.
The Empress had been there.
