The rain outside drummed against the roof like countless tiny fingers tapping on the windowpanes.
"Concubine Zhen, you... stay away from me!" Empress Ji shrieked, bolting awake from a nightmare. Beads of cold sweat covered her forehead, and her chest heaved violently.
Her hands flailed in the air, but as her eyes adjusted to the furnishings of the room, she let out a quiet sigh of relief. She was at the Yuelai Inn, on the return journey from Mount Tai to the Xia State capital, not back in the days of constant strife within the prince's mansion.
Chapter 379