~ 𝑪𝑶𝑴𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑺𝑶𝑶𝑵 - In the heart of an ancient Chinese dynasty, a young emperor reigns with wisdom beyond his years but carries a heart heavy with unresolved grief. Years ago, he lost his beloved under mysterious circumstances, a loss that has...
The air in the council room felt heavier than usual as I stepped inside, a sense of foreboding enveloping me. The members of the council sat arrayed before me, their expressions stern and unreadable. As the door closed with a soft click behind me, the woman who had gestured me in took her seat, leaving me to walk further into the spotlight of their scrutiny.
I approached, feeling each step weigh heavily under the council's intense gaze. They gestured for me to stop closer to the center of the room, a spot that felt unnervingly like an interrogation stage. The room was silent, save for the soft rustling of papers and the occasional shift of a chair.
"We're sure you're aware why we brought you here," one of the council members stated, his tone firm and detached. I shook my head slightly, my voice barely a whisper as nerves tightened my throat.
"Not exactly, I'm sorry," I replied, hoping my genuine confusion would elicit a more detailed explanation.
The council member who had spoken fixed me with a curious look, his eyes narrowing as if trying to decipher my thoughts. After a brief pause, he leaned forward slightly, his hands clasping together in a gesture that seemed both controlled and slightly tense.
"You're connected to the dead lover of our emperor. Do you know what that means?" he asked, his voice low but carrying a sharp edge.
I felt a chill run down my spine at his words. The connection he referred to—the dream, the inexplicable feelings of sadness and pain, the blood—how could they possibly know about that? Unless they were referring to something else, something more tangible.
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice. "I believe there might be some misunderstanding," I began cautiously. "I had a dream about the emperor's late lover, yes, but I don't see how that forms a connection that would concern the council."
The room tensed further at my admission. A few members exchanged quick, sharp glances, their unease palpable. The lead councilor leaned back, his gaze still fixed on me, as if reassessing his approach based on my response.
As I turned to leave, feeling the tension slowly ebbing from the room, the councilor's voice abruptly halted me. "Wait a second—" he called out, rising swiftly from his seat.
