Morning light slipped gently through the lattice windows, painting pale gold patterns across the Empress's bed. She stirred, half-awake, half-lost in a pleasant dream where no one demanded reports, festivals, or embroidery samples.
Unfortunately, peace never lasted long.
"Wake up."
The voice was sharp, impatient, and far too close.
The Empress groaned and pulled the quilt over her head. "Fen Yu… if you don't let me sleep for five more minutes, I'll burn incense for someone else."
"That won't scare me," Fen Yu replied smugly. "I already died once."
Wei Rong's deep voice followed, calm but annoyingly amused. "It's morning. The sun is up. Birds are chirping. You're being lazy."
Li Shen sighed dramatically. "Such a waste of daylight. In my time, scholars rose before dawn to recite classics."
The quilt was yanked down.
The Empress shot upright, hair a mess, eyes blazing. "WHO TOUCHED MY BLANKET?"
