All eyes turned toward the grand doors, tension hanging heavy in the air as the Empress Dowager made her entrance, her presence commanding immediate silence and attention.
"What brought the Empress Dowager here from her quarters?" Melisa asked, a cunning smile plastered across her face as she folded her hands elegantly before her.
The Empress Dowager's eyes scanned the hall before settling on Melisa, her expression darkening.
"I should be the one asking you," she snapped, her voice laced with restrained fury. "How dare you summon a concubine and drag her forcefully from my quarters without my knowledge?" Her tone trembled with equal parts anger and disbelief.
Good. My plan worked.
Sorayah thought to herself as she swallowed hard, still reeling from the pain but maintaining her composure with effort.
Melisa arched an eyebrow, scoffing lightly.
