It was early morning, barely light, and the sky still held the pale white of a fish's belly.
Golden morning light shone on the Heavenly Hall in Heaven Dou Imperial City, lending everything an air of peace and quiet.
The Heavenly Hall was a palace built from gold bricks, gleaming brilliantly in the morning light.
It glittered dazzlingly beneath the sunlight, while its decorations and furnishings were magnificent, every corner exuding luxury.
At that moment, only a few maids were cleaning the Heavenly Hall. They bustled about in a flurry, yet not one uttered a complaint.
They knew that the Heavenly Hall was the residence of Xue Qinghe, emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, and one of the most revered and important places in the entire empire.
On the bed in the Heavenly Hall's inner chamber, a man wearing purple dragon robes and a jade crown held a beautiful woman in a long, silver court gown.
An intimate atmosphere filled the Heavenly Hall. The man was Xue Qinghe, the exalted emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, and the woman was his beloved consort, Tang Yuehua.
Xue Qinghe held the beauty in his arms tightly, his spirits soaring.
The night before, he had been so immersed in joy that he could not pull himself free, only drifting off to sleep late into the night.
Xue Qinghe gently stroked Tang Yuehua's flat belly as he gazed deeply at her with clear, starry eyes.
"Yuehua."
Xue Qinghe called to her softly.
"Mm."
Lying in his arms, Tang Yuehua answered with flushed cheeks and a dreamy gaze.
"I was truly so happy last night that I nearly lost all composure."
Xue Qinghe's voice brimmed with excitement. Though he spoke quietly, his heart surged with emotion.
"Your Majesty, I was unwell and unable to attend