Such an early morning that Taizong couldn't help wondering what wind had blown his mother here. At this hour, she usually would just about rise up and getting ready to go to the temple for incense burning and prayers to the Goddess. Only then, leaving her palace three hours later.
The Empress Dowager dismissed her dozens of ladies and the two eunuchs following behind, then gestured for her brother to be on his way too.
As Chancellor Pyun quickly backed out—keeping his head bowing low so that he could conceal the rebellion in his eyes—Taizong watched him leave with a frown still full of distrust.
When the doors closed behind them, the pair mother and son were alone in the elegant room facing onto a private courtyard graced with blossoming lotus. And the fingers of dawn rendering the light of the room grainy contended with his mother glowing gold as the orb of the noon. Taizong stared at her and blinked with surprise and dislike.
