44

The Dragon's Awakening

The moon hung low in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the ancient city of Xianyang. The streets were empty, and a hushed stillness settled upon the imperial palace. Inside, the Empress Dowager, Li Minghua, sat alone in her chambers, her thoughts troubled. For weeks, she had been plagued by a recurring dream, a vision of a dragon rising from the depths of the Yangtze River.

Li Minghua was no ordinary woman. She possessed a power that had been passed down through her bloodline for generations—a connection to the ancient dragons that once roamed the land. It was a power that she had kept hidden, for those who could harness the might of the dragons were often feared and hunted.

But as her dreams grew more vivid, Li Minghua couldn't ignore the calling of the dragon any longer. She knew that the time had come for her to embrace her destiny and seek out the dragon's lair.