The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows through the missing walls of the throne room. Servants were already busily at work repairing the damage. For most of them, it was back to work as though nothing had happened… Just a new Emperor to serve.
It was, however, a major upheaval for the women of the harem. The Emperor had ordered that they not be buried with him on his death, a practise that his more recent forebears had abolished.
The Crown Prince gave orders to his Chief Eunuch, Shi Lei.
"See to it that my Father's concubines who bore him children are rehoused to suitable rooms to live out their days in the palace. Any who didn't bear him children may return to their hometowns. That includes Noble Consort Ling," he emphasised.
