"Your Majesty." Zhao Douan stood at the study's doorway, slightly taken aback.
Unlike their previous meetings, when the Empress exuded an aura of calm majesty, he perceived a hint of sorrow in Xu Zhenguan's eyes.
Taking a deep breath, he turned around to close the door before cautiously saying:
"I heard that Your Majesty returned this morning and went to see Sun Master."
"See" in this context, of course, meant seeing the corpse.
With all that the Empress has been through, not much could truly sadden her anymore.
Sun Lianying's death was one such thing.
"Yes." Xu Zhenguan nodded slightly, maintaining her composure as she spoke:
"I heard he passed on the day I went on my campaign?"
Zhao Douan nodded, saying:
"Grandmaster Dong mentioned that Sun Master originally wouldn't have lasted until that day, but perhaps he held on, hoping to see the day when the turmoil within Yu Country would settle, so..."
