All your sins will be paid in full!

Qin Yulan's fingers dug into the silk of her robes, her body stiff with tension. She knew Zhao Yan's presence in her courtyard meant only one thing—he had come for retribution.

But she would not cower.

With all the dignity of a consort who had once believed herself untouchable, she lifted her chin and asked, "Why has Your Highness come to see me?"

Her voice was smooth, unwavering, as though she had not spent the last night tossing and turning, waiting for this moment with dread pooling in her stomach.

Zhao Yan stood before her, his hands clasped behind his back, the golden embroidery on his robes shimmering under the dim candlelight. His mask, as always, remained firmly in place, concealing all but the piercing coldness of his eyes.

"Are you truly unaware of the reason I am here?" he asked calmly, his voice carrying an edge sharp enough to slice through bone.