Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: The Queen's Shadow (皇后之影)

The days following Concubine Shu's exile were steeped in a silence that felt more like a held breath. The court, which thrived on the currency of gossip, was now mute with fear. The swift, brutal removal of a noble consort had served its purpose; it had cauterized the open wound of Li Jian's affliction with a brand of terror. Yet, like a poorly set bone, the fear festered just beneath the surface, a dull, persistent ache that made everyone flinch at a sudden noise or a shadowy corner.