Chapter 97 — Milk, Fur, and Ghostly Eyes
(Full 2,000-word version)
The morning sunlight poured gently through the lattice windows, painting golden squares across the Empress's chambers. The air smelled faintly of flowers from the inner courtyard and the soft milk fragrance that clung to her robe.
Lian An sat cross-legged on a low stool, her sleeves rolled up and her hair tied loosely with a silk ribbon. In front of her, on a folded towel, two tiny kittens squirmed restlessly — one white as snow, the other a faint gray with darker paws. Their eyes were bright now, no longer dull with fear.
"Hold still, little ones," she murmured, smiling faintly. "If you move again, you'll both fall into the tub."
She gestured to her maid. "Bring the warm water, not too hot. And the soft towel too."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
