The official study was quieter than usual.
Zhu Mingyu sat at the long carved table, the scrolls before him untouched. The scent of wax and dried ink filled the space, but neither brought him comfort. The red lacquer seal of the physician's report remained broken on the table. The characters within were sharp, definitive, and damning.
He didn't need to read it again. The conclusion had already carved itself into his mind like a knife: the child was gone.
Shi Yaozu stood by the far wall, arms loosely folded, his dark eyes focused and unreadable. The flicker of torchlight painted uneven shadows across his features, but the man did not move.
Zhu Mingyu's voice, when it came, was low. "Did she do it?"
There was a beat of silence where Yaozu didn't bother to reply.
"Could she have?" demanded Zhu Mingyu, slapping the table in his anger. The moment he exploded, he regretted it. Taking in a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down. "I need to know the truth."
