"Pei Yuan, Imperial Noble Consort, are you both ready?" I lowered my voice, though my heart beat like a war drum, pounding against my eardrums.
A heavy atmosphere permeated the bedchamber, the air seemingly frozen. Outside the windows, the darkness before dawn was as thick as undiluted ink, pressing down so hard it was hard to breathe.
Pei Yuan was dressed in full military uniform, his gaze as unyielding as iron. "The Imperial Guards are already lying in wait outside the palace, waiting only for your signal." He reached out and squeezed my hand, the warmth of his palm transferring over and strangely calming me a little.
Chapter 63