The night Shin Gu died, the palace did not sleep.
It was not because the palace mourned her.
It was because nobody understood what had happened.
By sunrise, the story had already spread through the inner palace.
By noon, it had reached the servants' quarters.
By evening, merchants outside the palace gates were whispering about it.
And by the following morning—
The entire capital had a story of its own.
Unfortunately, none of those stories were the truth.
---
The first rays of sunlight slipped through the curtains of the Empress's chamber.
Lian An had barely opened her eyes when she heard hurried footsteps outside.
Several servants were whispering.
Their voices were low.
Their words indistinct.
But there was fear in them.
Lian An slowly sat up.
"What happened?"
The maid outside immediately fell silent.
A moment later, she entered and bowed.
"Your Majesty."
Lian An looked at her.
"Why is everyone whispering?"
The maid hesitated.
