The night air in the palace had turned strangely cold.
Even though the mourning banners had been removed and the palace returned to its usual rhythm, an uneasy atmosphere still lingered within the walls. Servants moved quietly through the corridors, whispering about the miracle of the Empress's survival.
But not everyone in the palace welcomed that miracle.
In a secluded corner of the inner palace stood Shin Gu's courtyard, silent and shadowed beneath the pale moonlight.
Unlike other residences where lanterns glowed warmly, Shin Gu's courtyard felt unnaturally calm. The wind barely stirred the leaves of the trees. Even the insects seemed quiet, as if something in the air warned them to stay silent.
Inside the main chamber, Shin Gu stood beside her ritual altar.
The candlelight flickered softly against her pale face as she slowly rearranged the small ritual objects on the table. To an outsider, she looked calm, almost serene.
