Princess Zhi arrived at the Empress's courtyard just as the morning light softened the stone paths. Her steps were lighter than they had been in days, and there was a quiet excitement in her eyes.
"Lian An," she said gently, stopping near the door, "let's go outside for a while. The registration grounds are lively today. You should see what kind of people are coming."
The Empress looked up from her seat, surprised. After everything that had happened, Princess Zhi rarely suggested going out.
"Are you feeling well enough?" she asked.
Princess Zhi smiled faintly. "I am. And staying inside all the time makes the heart heavy. Come—let's take a look."
After a brief moment, the Empress nodded. "Alright. Let's go."
---
The moment they stepped beyond the inner courtyards, the atmosphere changed.
It was as if the palace had opened its lungs and begun to breathe.
