The sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky, casting a warm golden glow over the landscape below. Despite the vibrant light, the trees stood bare and stark, their branches reaching upwards like skeletal fingers against the backdrop of the cloudless sky. The grass beneath them was dry and yellowed.
In the expansive field where horses roamed freely, a makeshift tent had been erected, providing shade and respite from the relentless sun. The tent was spacious, its flaps open to invite in the gentle breeze that rustled through the surrounding trees.
Inside the tent, the Empress Dowager reclined in a comfortable seat adorned with plush cushions, her green dress shimmering in the sunlight that filtered through the fabric. A wide-brimmed hat adorned her head.
