The Empress Dowager had been about to retire for the night when a eunuch had delivered the word that the monarch was coming to visit her chambers tonight.
She had been ecstatic about it thinking that he would come to her rooms to talk about their child.
She had already heard whispers that her child was doing better than the First Prince in their classes.
She had been happy to know about it.
She had thought that maybe the emperor would forgive her and her child for whatever imagined slights they had committed against his person.
However, her heart had stilled when she had taken a look at those eyes.
They had a dead look as if the person's heart was almost lost.
She had thought something grave must have happened.
Just as she was about to inquire about it, the monarch had sent everyone out of the room, taken her in his arms and whispered.
