The days following the Empress's awakening slowly brought a sense of calm back to the palace.
The terrifying rumors of her death had faded, and the mourning banners had long been removed. Though whispers still lingered in corners of the palace corridors, the overall atmosphere had begun returning to normal.
Inside the Empress's courtyard, however, life moved more gently than before.
Lian An's recovery had become the most important matter for everyone around her.
The physician had ordered strict rest, herbal medicine every few hours, and warm food to restore her strength. The wound on her head from falling into the lake had mostly healed, but her body was still weak from the days her soul had hovered between life and death.
Yet each day, her health improved a little more.
That morning, the sun shone softly into the courtyard. The winter air was cold, but the light made the space feel peaceful.
