The eldest son of the Yan family and Yan Father were returning to Lingnan, while Yan Sanlang seized the opportunity of Wei Shu's return from his diplomatic mission and the court's opening of trade routes with the Western Regions to explore opportunities in places like Hexi. With Erlang already serving as an official in the family, making it easier to handle affairs outside, Yan Sanlang had no intention of following in his second brother's footsteps.
Unable to dissuade her husband, Sanlang's wife had no choice but to take their children and return to Lingnan with the rest of the Yan family.
They entrusted Yan Xiaozhou to Yan Shang, leaving her in Chang'an. The reason was self-evident: to find her a good marriage.
Yan Shang had already learned from Mu Wan Yao about the entanglement between his sister and Yang Sanlang, and he was both shocked and conflicted, unsure how to broach the subject with her. Since Yan Xiaozhou was exceptionally well-behaved and never showed any signs of distress over the matter, and with Yang Sanlang already engaged on his side... Yan Shang could only keep a close watch on his sister and discuss with Mu Wan Yao the idea of waiting until Yan Xiaozhou had forgotten Sanlang before arranging her marriage.
Mu Wan Yao naturally agreed.
After all, she and Yan Shang were more than capable of supporting a young woman. Not to mention she herself was never short of money, and even someone as upright as Yan Shang, having reached his current official position, could not possibly lack funds, regardless of his refusal to engage in corruption. Moreover, Mu Wan Yao secretly suspected that Yang Si's interest in Yan Shang's sister stemmed from her own past habit of privately gossiping with Yang Si about Yan Shang, sharing their views on the opposite sex.
Perhaps her frequent praises of Yan Shang had made Yang Si particularly desire a woman with Yan Shang's temperament.
How innocent Yan Xiaozhou was.
Thus, Mu Wan Yao devoted herself to being a good sister-in-law, ensuring that Yan Xiaozhou lived comfortably in Chang'an.
This raised another issue—with the Yan family about to leave, should Yan Xiaozhou live with her brother and sister-in-law at the Princess Residence, or should she live alone next door? The estate adjacent to the Princess Residence, which Yan Shang no longer occupied, stood empty and vast. The question was whether it should be sold.
Yan Shang felt it unnecessary to spend extra money maintaining an empty property, believing his sister should simply live with them.
Mu Wan Yao had no strong opinion either way.
Yan Father hesitated for a moment before saying, "Let's keep the estate."
He glanced at Erlang's puzzled expression and the princess's indifferent gaze, then added hesitantly, "If the two of you ever have a disagreement or quarrel, having this estate would give Erlang a place to go."
Yan Shang was taken aback, then flushed with a mix of embarrassment and amusement. His father seemed to imply that if he and Mu Wan Yao argued, she would kick him out and refuse him entry. Yet, although Mu Wan Yao was a princess with a fiery temper, she would never treat him that way.
Sure enough, the moment Yan Father brought it up, Mu Wan Yao's gaze sharpened.
She grabbed Yan Shang's arm and immediately decided the fate of the estate: "Sell it! It must be sold! Quarrels in bed are resolved in bed. No matter how fiercely Second Brother Yan and I argue, I will never allow him to sleep separately from me."
Yan Father: "...There might be inconvenient times."
Mu Wan Yao: "There are no inconvenient times!"
She threatened Yan Shang: "It's fine if we quarrel, but I would rather die than let you sleep apart from me."
As long as they shared a bed, problems tended to be half-solved after a night's sleep, and completely resolved after a few more nights. She had come to realize that in matters between men and women, physical and intimate contact was especially important. During their most intense conflicts, once they had physical contact, both their attitudes would soften because of it.With tensions eased, they finally had the mood to communicate.
When two people love each other, they inevitably desire physical contact. If Yan Shang grew accustomed to sleeping separately and never wanted to touch her, showing no longing for her, that would truly indicate problems between them.
Yan Shang flushed at Mu Wan Yao's resolute words. Though selling the courtyard had been his decision too, their reasons were clearly different. He gently nudged her, signaling she shouldn't be so intimate with him in front of others.
Mu Wan Yao raised an eyebrow: "You consider even your own father an outsider?"
Yan Shang gave a light cough.
Seeing the young couple's flirtatious exchange, Yan Father couldn't help but smile, refraining from further comment about the residence's fate.
When he first came to Chang'an, he had been deeply worried - fearing Erlang had married the princess for career advancement, or that he'd been forced into the marriage by the princess's coercion.
Though typically timid and hesitant to voice opinions, when it came to his children's lifelong matters, he'd prayed to his deceased wife for protection before mustering the courage to intervene.
He'd shamelessly stayed in Chang'an for six months, living next to the Princess Residence, observing Erlang and the princess's daily interactions. Had Erlang been coerced, he would have taken his children overseas rather than let them suffer. After half a year, he realized his second son and this proud princess were genuinely devoted to each other, just as Yan Shang had claimed.
The princess, for all her arrogance, would unconsciously follow Erlang with her eyes whenever they were together, revealing her determined possessiveness. Her every word and action declared to all - Yan Shang is mine, my possession, my exclusive property.
Mine, mine, mine!
No one shall take him from me!
With such a domineering daughter-in-law and his gentle son who yielded to her in everything, Yan Father felt complex emotions, yet found comfort in this.
Thus, when Yan Shang arranged for his sister to live in the Princess Residence and sold the opposite property, with Yan Sanlang going to Hexi, Yan Father along with Dalang's family and Sanlang's wife boarded ox carts to return to Lingnan.
Sitting in the ox cart as sunset painted the sky crimson, Yan Father looked back at the majestic Chang'an city with rising emotion, recalling old memories -
The year he took the imperial exams and became a jinshi happened to be the first year the Great Wei dynasty held examinations;
By luck, he passed on his first attempt, becoming that year's tanhualang, receiving offers from Chang'an's princesses and noble ladies;
Though ordinarily quiet and timid, the most courageous act of his life had been abandoning his impending official post to elope with that maiden, thereafter wandering with his children across the land...
Thinking of his deceased wife, Yan Father sighed softly, his handsome face clouded with sorrow and tenderness.
The spring wind carried a chill as he tucked his hands into his sleeves, turning away from Chang'an and old memories. Those like him from bygone days were aging, while Chang'an's future lay in the hands of young people like Erlang and Her Highness.
No need to dwell on it—
At Luling Grand Princess's residence, upon hearing Yan Shang's father had departed, the Eldest Princess sat up from her couch with a light hum, though complex emotions swirled in her eyes.Feeling that Chang'an had been unsettled recently, the Eldest Princess grew more cautious. She avoided politics but would send people to gather information on recent events. Mu Wan Yao’s side was her top priority for intelligence, which was why even news like Yan Father’s departure was reported to the Eldest Princess.
Uneasy, the Eldest Princess wondered if Yan Father’s departure signaled that Yan Erlang intended to send his family away before engaging in affairs in Chang’an.
As for Yan Father…
A nostalgic look surfaced in the Eldest Princess’s eyes as she recalled long ago, during the first year her elder brother held the imperial examinations, the Tanhua (Third-Ranked Scholar) that year also bore the surname Yan. Back then, all the princesses had been captivated by him. That Yan Tanhua, youthful and fair-skinned, had caused a far greater stir than the current Yan Erlang, who was known for his grace and measured conduct.
Over twenty years had passed, and another cycle was beginning.
After some contemplation, the Eldest Princess instructed her servants, “Starting today, I will pray for my late husband’s blessings. Invite Taoist priests and Wizards to perform rituals and offer prayers. I will not leave my residence for a month and will not involve myself in any external matters.”—
In the third month, when the imperial examination results were announced, the gates of Danyang Princess Residence were nearly overwhelmed. Some came seeking Mu Wan Yao’s recommendation, while others brazenly approached Yan Shang to submit their literary works.
As Yan Shang served as the Appraisal and Merit Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, he was responsible for the imperial examinations. In his first year overseeing the matter, he adjusted the rules and modified the types of examination questions appropriately. Scholars who had previously been confident found themselves unsettled, and noble families came to inquire about the changes.
Fortunately, Yan Shang’s reputation was well-established, so no one dared to overstep.
Yan Shang was merely experimenting with reforms to the imperial examinations. In the past, during casual conversations with his mentor, he had remarked that it was unfair to judge candidates solely based on poetry and prose.
At the time, Lord Liu had argued for compromise with the noble families.
Now, Yan Shang sought to gradually break this monopoly and explore different approaches. He did not need to engage in a life-or-death struggle with the noble families; a step-by-step exploration would suffice.
In that year’s imperial examinations, the number of candidates from humble backgrounds who passed increased by thirty percent compared to previous years. This proportion was acceptable to the noble families, while the commoners were particularly encouraged. Everything unfolded as Mu Wan Yao had initially planned: only by controlling the Ministry of Personnel could those from humble backgrounds have opportunities.
Yan Shang did not seek to drive the noble families to desperation or force a destructive confrontation. The noble families, in turn, felt that since the rise of commoners was inevitable, having someone as gentle and refined as Yan Erlang as their leader was preferable to facing a ruthless and stringent leader from humble origins.
Both sides understood the situation implicitly. Concessions were made where necessary, and promotions were granted where deserved, creating an atmosphere of harmony and cooperation everywhere.
After the imperial examinations, officials were reassigned. Wei Shu was appointed to the Ministry of Rites and promoted to the position of Director, overseeing trade routes and commercial affairs between Great Wei and neighboring countries, utilizing the knowledge he had gained from his diplomatic missions.
In the fourth month of that year, a military uprising erupted in Taiyuan Prefecture. The Governor of the Northern Capital, Taiyuan, was killed by rebellious civilians, shocking the central government. The court hastily sought to dispatch officials from Chang’an to suppress the rebellion. However, officials in Chang’an were reluctant to leave the capital, and upon hearing about the chaos in Taiyuan, they declined the assignment, fearing they might not return alive.
Yan Shang voluntarily requested an imperial decree to go to Taiyuan and pacify the unrest, comforting the people. He would return to Chang’an once a new Governor of Taiyuan was appointed.
Since no one in the central government was willing to go, Yan Shang’s request was approved swiftly. He was dispatched to Taiyuan as an Observer, with ten thousand troops provided by the court to quell the rebellion.The affairs in Taiyuan began to stabilize after Yan Shang's arrival. Officials in Chang'an held mixed feelings as they received continuous reports of victories from Taiyuan—how Yan Er stabilized the situation, visited households one by one, opened government offices to live and eat alongside the common people, and reformed policies... During this period, Yan Shang had only mobilized troops once, and not a single person had died in Taiyuan since his arrival.
The court had to admit that when it came to practical governance, Yan Shang had never faltered.
By June, Chang'an had largely shifted its focus away from Taiyuan. The central government dispatched a new governor to take over Taiyuan and recalled Yan Shang to the court. That month, as in previous years, the Emperor went to the mountain resort to recuperate. This annual arrangement had never changed, and everyone was accustomed to it.
Before leaving Chang'an, the Emperor once again entrusted the Crown Prince with overseeing court affairs.
Mu Wan Yao was summoned by the Emperor. It was widely said that the Emperor favored his youngest daughter, who had once been sent away for a political marriage, and often brought her along to the mountain resort for extended stays. However, the truth behind this was likely known only to Mu Wan Yao herself.
The mountain resort lay at the foot of Zhong Mountain. After a night passed and dawn broke, Mu Wan Yao went to pay her respects to the Emperor. However, the young eunuchs attending to him informed her, "His Majesty is unwell and requires quiet rest. He will not see the Princess."
Mu Wan Yao paused briefly. "Is Gong Liu not here?"
The young eunuch bowed slightly. "Gong Liu is handling affairs in Chang'an and did not accompany us this time."
Mu Wan Yao grew impatient. "Then summon Cheng An to see me. I must at least inquire about my father's health."
The young eunuch continued to smile apologetically. "Duke Cheng is seriously ill and also did not accompany us this time. Only lowly servants like myself are here."
Mu Wan Yao raised an eyebrow.
The eunuch stole a glance and saw the Princess curl her lips in a faint, ambiguous smile. His heart raced, fearing she had seen through the situation. But Mu Wan Yao asked no further questions and simply turned to return to her quarters, much to the eunuch's relief.
After exchanging a few words with the accompanying ministers, Mu Wan Yao retired to rest. With her husband absent, she felt listless and bored. Reading for a while held no appeal, and playing the zither brought no one to appreciate it. So, she sat before her dressing mirror and began to redo her makeup.
Now that Xiarong had married, Mu Wan Yao's capable maid had officially become Qiu Si. After returning from gathering information outside, Qiu Si anxiously reported to the Princess, "The mountain resort is tightly controlled this year. I couldn't go anywhere, no matter how much I bribed the eunuchs—they wouldn't let me pass."
Qiu Si added, "Your Highness, do you think something might happen?"
Mu Wan Yao gazed at her own reflection in the mirror, her beauty clearly visible, and replied leisurely, "I'm not afraid of something happening. It would be strange if nothing did."
Qiu Si immediately grew tense. "What?!"
Mu Wan Yao lowered her head, the ivory comb gently gliding through her dark hair as she fell into silent contemplation, ignoring her maid. Just then, a sudden commotion outside piqued the curiosity of the mistress and servant in the room.
Fang Tong burst into the outer chamber without announcement, his voice strained. "Your Highness, something has happened! Prince Qin has led troops to surround the mountain resort, claiming he's 'cleansing the court' and 'eliminating treacherous officials'!"
Qiu Si, a fifteen-year-old girl, hurriedly lifted the curtain. Seeing the blood on Fang Tong's clothes, her face turned pale with fright, and she looked helplessly at the Princess.
Mu Wan Yao's ivory comb stilled in her hand. She let out a scornful laugh.
Murmuring softly, she said, "So, it has come to this after all."The rebellion of Prince Qin... was something she and the Emperor had forced step by step. From last year to this year, they had finally driven Prince Qin to revolt.
To eliminate the Jiang clan and prevent them from growing stronger by allying with Prince Qin, the Emperor, in his final years, was determined to suppress the Jiang clan, which currently held the most power among the noble families. How could Prince Qin not resent this? How could he not rebel? The noble families—they were like the Emperor's obsession.
In his lifetime, the Emperor was determined to crush the noble families, leaving them no chance to rise again.
Before his death, he would ensure that the common-born officials overshadowed the noble families.
Before the servants could ask further questions, Mu Wan Yao slammed the comb onto the table with a sharp "crack" and stood up. She strode outside, her sleeves billowing, her aura fierce and imposing. As she passed Fang Tong, she casually drew the sword from his waist. The gauze curtains brushed against the blade's edge and were instantly sliced in two.
Qiu Si and the other maids, following this resolute young woman, felt their hearts settle.
As Mu Wan Yao strode out with the sword, she issued orders: "Ascend the watchtower and change the flags! Announce that Prince Qin has rebelled and summon the feudal lords from all directions to Chang'an to protect the Emperor!"
"Summon all the ministers remaining here to see me! Tell them Prince Qin has rebelled—there is no need for restraint. Have them temporarily assume the roles of generals, muster troops and commanders, and ensure the Emperor's safety. They will not lack rewards!"
Commands were issued one after another, methodically and orderly. The crowd gradually found their anchor and ceased their panic.
Fang Tong followed closely behind Mu Wan Yao: "Your Highness, where are we going now?"
Mu Wan Yao lifted her gaze, a trace of mockery flickering in her icy eyes. She stared in the direction of the Emperor's bedchamber, her tone peculiar: "We are going to my father's bedchamber to see... to see what purpose he had in mind for this year's trip to the mountain resort, and how gravely ill he must be to dare not even see me."
There was no father-daughter affection left now—only the relationship between ruler and subject. Mu Wan Yao was determined to see whether the Emperor was as she had imagined!—
On Zhong Mountain, dust clouds swirled. Soldiers who had been lying in ambush for days or even months raised clouds of dust as they charged down the mountain toward the resort under their generals' command. These troops belonged to the Southern Agency and were scarcely different from Prince Qin's private soldiers.
With the Jiang clan lending troops and clearing the way, they were naturally unstoppable!
Amid the thunderous advance of troops, Prince Qin, clad in armor and holding a long sword, rode a fine steed. After the Li clan's defeat, Prince Qin had taken over the Ministry of War and managed it for nearly a decade. The ministry was now as tightly controlled as an iron barrel, obeying only his commands and ignoring the Emperor's decrees. With the Emperor pressing step by step, who would be willing to retreat again and again?
Brandishing his sword, Prince Qin led the charge toward the resort. His personal guards killed the sentinels outside the resort, and he himself shot an arrow that struck down a scout on the watchtower. His voice boomed like thunder: "Warriors, you are all heroes of Great Wei! In recent years, my father has grown old and confused, favoring my sixth sister excessively. My sixth sister, a mere woman, has been deceived by scoundrels like Yan Er.
"The court administration has fallen into their hands. For a time, the court only knows of the renowned minister Yan Suchen within the realm, but not of my father! Today, we shall cleanse the court of evil influences and rescue my father from the clutches of these vile traitors! Men, if you trust me, follow me and charge in!
"If we succeed today, every one of you will be rewarded!"
The soldiers, inspired by his words, grew even more fervent. Their eyes gleamed with fierce excitement as they fixed their gazes on the mountain resort. Believing Prince Qin's words, they felt they were carrying out a righteous cause. Led by Prince Qin's personal guards, shouts of support rose from all directions—
"Prince Qin is mighty!"
"We will not fail Your Highness's command!"The summer retreat was thrown into chaos and panic as they watched the rebel forces swarm in like locusts, seizing cities and lands. The officials accompanying the Emperor panicked and hurriedly sought His Majesty, searching for the one in charge here—Princess Danyang.
Less than ten li from Zhong Mountain, Yan Shang had been lying in ambush with his troops in the wilderness for over a month. Using the Taiyuan military uprising as his pretext to leave the capital, the true imperial decree he received was to guard against Prince Qin’s rebellion.
The Emperor, Mu Wan Yao, and Yan Shang all knew that such relentless pressure would drive Prince Qin to rebel. Yet, to weaken the noble families, this move was indispensable.
Scouts ascended the watchtower daily to observe Chang’an. On this day, as soon as they climbed the tower, they noticed the shifting of banners in Chang’an. The scout immediately rode to report to the Prefect, dust swirling as several horses galloped across the plains. Yan Shang took a deep breath, already forming a conjecture about the situation.
He mustered his troops and mounted his horse, having made his decision.
At the same time, a messenger rode frantically to Yan Shang’s tent. Gasping for breath, the messenger said, “Sir, this is from His Majesty—a letter from ten days ago! Please read it personally!”
Yan Shang tore open the letter. After reading it, his expression remained unchanged. He handed the letter to Han Shu Xing, instructing him to keep it safe. Yan Shang continued to rally his troops, ordering the soldiers to follow him to Zhong Mountain to rescue the Emperor.
Han Shu Xing asked nervously, “Erlang, has the situation changed? What new orders did His Majesty give you?”
A faint, almost imperceptible flicker passed through Yan Shang’s eyes.
Few would have noticed his subtle expression, but had Mu Wan Yao been there, she would have recognized the shift in his emotions—mockery and weariness. Yet he had long been prepared and anticipated this.
Yan Shang told Han Shu Xing, “His Majesty gave me no new orders. He merely informed me that my wife is at the summer retreat beneath Zhong Mountain.”
Han Shu Xing was puzzled. “Hasn’t Her Highness been with His Majesty all along? We already knew that. Why would His Majesty specifically mention this?”
Yan Shang smiled faintly as he gazed at the dust clouds rising below Zhong Mountain. “He fears I might deliberately delay the rescue, dragging out the time. In military matters, every moment counts; a delay of even a few breaths can change the situation in an instant. He simply wants to ensure I won’t use any excuse to procrastinate. He suspects… I might deliberately delay and refuse to rescue him properly.”
Yan Shang said mockingly, “His meaning is clear: at the summer retreat, only Yaoyao remains. If I do not rescue them, Yaoyao will die. He wants to see whether I will save her or not.”
Han Shu Xing replied, “…Your Great Wei’s Emperor is far too suspicious. Erlang has exerted himself tirelessly for him, yet he still distrusts you like this.”
Yan Shang remained silent.
He thought to himself that it had not always been this way. Even three years ago, the old Emperor had not been like this. It could only mean that as the old Emperor’s health declined, he trusted fewer and fewer people… as if only interests could endure.
Yan Shang pushed these thoughts aside. He was weary of court intrigues and the mind games with the Emperor. He would only do what he must… If this ruler proved unworthy of trust, he would simply withdraw and leave!
Yan Shang issued the command to his troops: march to Zhong Mountain and rescue the Emperor!—
The rebel troops stormed in, burning, killing, and plundering without any semblance of order. The officials hid within the retreat, and after finding Mu Wan Yao, they clustered around the Princess in fear. “Your Highness, Prince Qin’s forces are as numerous as locusts! We cannot hold them off!”
Mu Wan Yao walked briskly, her voice cold. “We must hold them off, whether we can or not. You only need to stall them for a few moments. Someone will come to rescue us.”Her heart stirred with a subtle determination, thinking this was the perfect opportunity to take control of the Ministry of War... No one would dare obstruct her merit in rescuing the Emperor!
The ministers exclaimed, "Who? Your Highness, have you already sent someone to Chang'an for help? Or are the feudal lords from all directions coming to rescue? Your Highness..."
Mu Wan Yao sharply retorted, "What does this have to do with you? Your duty is to serve the Emperor loyally! Prince Qin's troops have reached the city gates. Why are you following me? Why haven't you mobilized the troops and gathered all the soldiers in the mountain villa?
"If I must handle everything myself, what use are you?
"Prince Qin has rebelled! Do you intend to join him as traitors?"
After dismissing the ministers, Mu Wan Yao, guarded by Fang Tong and other soldiers, arrived at the Emperor's bedchamber. Eunuchs blocked the entrance, still refusing her entry. But this time, Fang Tong and the others took direct action, and Mu Wan Yao barged in without hesitation.
She put on the demeanor of a devoted child, declaring, "The rebels are here! I am escorting the Emperor to safety. Anyone who dares obstruct us is siding with the rebels, seeking to assassinate the Emperor and claim the throne!"
The eunuchs panicked, "Your Highness, you cannot force your way in..."
But force her way in she did.
Amid the chaos and noise, Mu Wan Yao pushed open the doors to the Emperor's bedchamber. The room was thick with the scent of medicine, and plain silk curtains billowed everywhere. Step by step, she advanced inward, slashing through the fluttering curtains with her sword—
The chamber was empty!
Not a soul in sight!
The Emperor was not there at all!
The old Emperor had never come to the summer retreat—he had used her as bait, as a mere dagger!
Mu Wan Yao sneered, having seen through the Emperor's scheme. The eunuchs who had tried to stop her rushed in, their faces turning pale with terror upon realizing the princess had uncovered the secret, and they dropped to their knees. Mu Wan Yao turned and ordered Fang Tong, "Arm them. Take them to join the villa's troops and confront Prince Qin's forces.
"You followed my father's orders, so I will not kill you. But since you left me to die, I will not spare you either... Go to the battlefield. Let fate decide your lives! If you die, your families will be richly rewarded for your loyalty to the Emperor and the nation. If you survive, I will not hold today's actions against you.
"Let us all trust to heaven's will!"
Her sword pressed against the smooth floor tiles, her long robes fluttering in the wind. Though her frame was slender, it held boundless strength, her eyes blazing with a wildfire-like intensity.
Unfazed by the chaos, she listened as the rebels poured in from outside, feeling as if she had been transported back to the night she escaped the Black Barbarians. But today was different—today she knew she was not fighting alone. Mu Wan Yao raised her sword, pointing directly out the window—
"Men, fight with me!"—
Tens of thousands of troops, tens of thousands of voices!
The entire Zhong Mountain was engulfed in dust and smoke, Chang'an trembled at the sound, and the Northern Agency began mobilizing troops—yet they did not leave the capital!
From Youzhou and Jizhou to Guannei, the vast plains stretched unobstructed. Yang Si led tens of thousands of troops, charging toward Chang'an like a black lightning bolt! The endless landscape lay beneath their feet, a streak of white lightning silently splitting the sky, illuminating the heavens and earth—
In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince gazed quietly at the chessboard before him, lost in thought.
In the Qingning Palace, where the late Empress had resided in Chang'an's imperial palace, the Emperor waited with Grand Eunuch Cheng An for news from all fronts—
Over Chang'an, dark clouds gathered, shrouding the land for miles.
Yan Xiaozhou and a few close female friends walked through the streets, chatting and laughing. Hearing the thunder above, they couldn't help but look up at the sky.At the residence of Censor Zhao, Duke Zhao inquired in detail about Zhao Lingfei's experiences over the years. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Your father will take charge and have Wei Juyuan propose to you. After all these years of being together day and night, he ought to take responsibility for you."
Zhao Lingfei blushed crimson, then pressed her lips together and smiled. Suddenly, a deafening clap of thunder roared, and the flash of lightning illuminated her face, pale as snow. She turned her head to look out the window—
The storm had arrived, and none could escape it!
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