Far from the Imperial Palace, beyond the crowded streets and guarded roads, an abandoned courtyard stood beneath the cover of night.
There were no lanterns burning.
No servants moving through the corridors.
No music.
No sound except the occasional rustle of leaves against the old wooden windows.
A single room at the center of the abandoned residence was illuminated by one small oil lamp.
A hooded man stood before the window.
His face remained hidden beneath the dark hood.
He had been standing there for a long time.
Behind him, two men waited silently.
Neither dared to speak first.
Finally, the hooded man asked,
"How is Shin Gu?"
One of the men lowered his head.
"She is deteriorating."
The hooded man slowly turned.
"Deteriorating?"
"She barely sleeps. She refuses food and suspects everyone around her. She keeps talking about the Empress."
The hooded man's eyes narrowed beneath the shadow of his hood.
"What exactly is she saying?"
The man hesitated.
