The tribal leaders and ministers stood in their usual rows in the grand hall. Their voices were a low hum that filled the hall before every meeting. It was the sound of a court doing what courts always do: whispering about secrets they would soon have to discuss out loud.
They talked about the southern borders and the trade routes. But beneath the normal business, there was something else.
In recent days, the palace had been full of rumors. The ministers of Tughril had noticed the changes. They saw Princess Lian Zhi appearing in the halls. They saw her standing beside the Khan during morning meetings. Sometimes, they saw her leaving the council chamber with him when the work was done.
No official word had been given, but everyone already believed the same thing.
The throne of Tughril would soon have a Khatun.
Lin Rui knew what they were thinking before he even sat down.
