"I have to go somewhere alone."
That was the first thing Anji said as soon as she exited her trance.
Without further explanation, she simply stared at her godmother.
Torn between letting the prophet fulfil her duty and watching over her goddaughter, Hong Nian Niang sighed. It had been hours since Anji fell into a trance. The worst of the fire in the city had been put out, but the crisis was far from over. With so much damage, even the Empress would have to step up personally to oversee construction while the Emperor strengthened military defences.
"When do you have to leave?" she asked eventually, not even knowing the destination.
Smiling, Anji told her she did not need to leave immediately. There were still matters to settle, and they involved the Imperial Palace.
Still feeling uneasy, Hong Nian Niang asked if Anji could push it further back.
"At least until we recover your second brother," she explained.
