"He sleeps most days," the Empress Dowager supplied softly, helping her grandson. "When he wakes, he's often confused. Delirious. It's very difficult to see him like this." She dabbed at her eyes with a silk handkerchief. "My poor son."
Liar, Soyeon thought viciously. You're killing him. Poisoning him slowly. You monster.
The words were on the tip of her tongue. She wanted to scream them, to grab the old woman by her perfect hair and shake her until the truth fell out.
But then the Empress Dowager's eyes found hers. And in that gaze, Soyeon saw the warning.
Remember Lady Xia. Remember what happens if you speak.
Soyeon swallowed hard and looked away.
"I should examine His Majesty," she heard herself say. to her shock. Ugh?! What are you doing Soyeon?! "Perhaps there's something I can do. Some treatment that might help—"
