In the deep twilight of the Forbidden City, the Hall of Supreme Harmony shimmered with gilded splendor. Candlelight flickered, casting long shadows and illuminating a scene heavy with stifling tension.
In the center of the hall, the Emperor—a man known for his imposing majesty—sat upon the dragon throne, his face ashen. Everyone had been summoned; even the noble ladies and misses waited on the sidelines. Given that the matter concerned the Third Prince and the Prince, there could be no room for even the slightest error.
Once everyone had arrived, the Emperor sat high above, gazing down at the court. His eyes seemed to pierce through every deception, staring directly at the ministers kneeling below. Within the hall, the silence was so profound that one could hear the faint sound of robes brushing against the floor and the dull, distant thud of the night watchman’s drum, which only added to the oppressive atmosphere.
Chapter 110