The Court Holds Its Breath

Chapter 44 – The Court Holds Its Breath (Lianhua’s POV)

The scroll was thick. The ink, fresh. The wax seal bore the Dowager’s mark.

It meant permission.

Lianhua would be allowed to present her proposal—to the inner advisory court.

Not as a daughter. Not as a bride.

But as a diplomat.

She prepared as she had never prepared before.

Not with rhetoric.

But with facts. Precedent. Poetry turned into policy.

And her final line:

“Let our empires unite not through conquest—but through choice.”

The court was split.

Some whispered of betrayal. Others of brilliance.

The Dowager gave no public reaction.

Only a single command:

“Let it go to vote.”

In the garden, Yenli whispered:

“They’ve never voted on love before.”

To which Lianhua answered:

“Then we’ve already changed something.”