The women's wide eyes, filled with terror, followed his every move. Their lips trembled, unspoken pleas hanging in the air. But the emperor was cold and unyielding.
"Get in," he commanded, his voice devoid of emotion.
The warmth that had once colored his gaze was long gone, replaced by a cruelty that stabbed into the concubines like daggers. With an impatient flick of his finger, he pointed toward the passage. The meaning was clear: disobey, and you'll die.
"Now!" he barked.
Grabbing the wrist of the nearest concubine, he dragged her toward the passage. She whimpered like a frightened animal but stepped inside, powerless to resist. The other women followed, leaning on one another as they shuffled into the dark tunnel, their steps hushed by fear.
Inside the hidden chamber, they sank to the floor, clutching one another in trembling silence. Their thin, shaking fingers sought solace in each other's touch, but no comfort could be found.
