It was another warm summer night, enveloped by a deep, heavy darkness that seemed to swallow everything on earth, however, now it was at least faintly illuminated by a thin, pale crescent moon hanging from the clear nightly sky. A moderate breeze blew through the Imperial Palace and tore a few leaves, dried up by the heat during daytime, from the trees, sending them flying through the air.

A few candles and lanterns were burning in Jinshi's sleeping chamber, keeping the soft moonlight company with their warm, little flames. They weren't of much use, but were still lit every evening, in an attempt to make the night at least a bit more bearable for him.

Yet there was only one light that was truly able to help him.

A figure, lying in bed on their side, started to stir and grimaced slightly.