.
Every corridor shimmered with new silk banners; every servant rushed past with trays, flowers, and decorations. The faint clang of bronze gongs echoed through the halls as attendants rehearsed the welcoming ceremony. The scent of lotus and burning incense drifted on the breeze — all preparation for the grand banquet to welcome the Eastern Empire's Emperor and his delegation.
By late afternoon, even the gardens seemed to hum with excitement. Palace maids could be seen trimming hedges, hanging lanterns from every arch, and polishing the marble walkways until they gleamed.
Inside her chambers, Empress Lian An sat by the mirror, watching the bustle outside through her window.
The past few days had been full of exhaustion — endless planning, fittings for new gowns, and the polite emptiness of political smiles. She had overseen most of the arrangements personally, even though her knees still throbbed faintly from her recent punishment.
