Qing Tian stepped forward, knelt, and bowed deeply.
"Your servant, Director Qing of the Shangshi Bureau, has a matter to report."
Her voice was steady.
Steadier than anyone expected from someone who had just witnessed a murder.
The Emperor lifted his gaze and studied her for a brief moment.
"Speak."
Qing Tian did not begin at once.
From her sleeve, she withdrew a cloth-wrapped object and presented it with both hands.
Gao Dequan received it and placed it before the Emperor.
When the cloth was unfolded, a torn scrap of deep purple fabric lay revealed.
Fine embroidery.
Superior quality.
Imperial workshop standard.
The Emperor's eyes sharpened.
"Last night," Qing Tian said evenly, "a night-duty eunuch of the Shangshi Bureau was murdered."
No embellishment.
No theatrics.
"He was found drowned in the drainage channel beside the grain store."
She paused.
"The store that was pried open contained the allocated grain for the 'Warmth Soup.'"
The air inside Yangxin Hall dropped several degrees.
The Emperor slowly set the fabric down.
"Whom do you suspect?"
"I do not suspect," Qing Tian replied, lifting her head.
"I present facts."
From her sleeve, she withdrew another item—
Three ledgers.
"These are the three parallel accounts before last night."
"And these," she said, opening them one by one, "reflect the discrepancy found this morning after re-verification."
Her fingers turned each page calmly.
"The shortage totals three hundred and seventy-six measures."
She did not raise her voice.
"It would have fed the lowest-ranking palace workers for two full months."
The Emperor's gaze turned glacial.
"Where did the grain go?"
Qing Tian did not answer.
Instead, she bowed deeply again.
"Your servant requests that, effective immediately, the Shangshi Bureau grain stores be governed under a three-key system."
"One key held by myself."
"One by the Imperial Guard."
"And the third—"
She lowered her head further.
"Personally held by Your Majesty."
This was not merely a request.
It was a blade placed deliberately into the Emperor's palm.
Yangxin Hall fell silent.
Even Gao Dequan held his breath.
After a long moment—
The Emperor let out a low, humorless laugh.
"You would have Us sit guard for you."
Qing Tian bowed deeper still.
"I would not dare."
"But only with Your Majesty's presence will they cease testing the value of human life."
The Emperor rose and walked toward the window. Morning light spilled across his shoulders.
"Approved."
One word.
But it struck Qing Tian's heart like thunder.
The news traveled faster than wind.
Within a single day, the "Three-Key System" of the Shangshi Bureau was posted throughout the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
For the first time—
Low-ranking palace servants were summoned to the main hall.
They saw the ledgers.
They saw the grain.
They saw the Emperor's seal.
At noon that day, the Warmth Soup returned thick and fragrant.
A eunuch held his bowl with trembling hands.
"…Is this real?"
"No one answers."
But someone quietly straightened their back.
That same day.
Zhaohua Palace.
After hearing the report, Shen Zhaoyi calmly set down her teacup.
"She is clever," she said with a soft laugh.
"She did not cry injustice. She did not lodge accusations."
"She carried the matter straight to the throne."
A maidservant whispered, "Your Ladyship… about last night—"
"Last night?" Shen Zhaoyi lifted her eyes lazily.
"I only remember that the Empress Dowager appointed me to assist with Buddhist Hall offerings."
"As for where the grain came from—how would I know?"
She rose and walked to the window.
"If she wishes to investigate," she murmured,
"then let her investigate deeper."
Her voice softened further.
"Deep enough that she begins to doubt even the people she has saved."
That night.
In a side courtyard of the Shangshi Bureau, Qing Tian was revising the new operational statutes.
A shadow appeared outside the door.
Someone dropped to their knees.
"Director Qing."
It was an older kitchen worker she recognized.
His voice was hoarse.
"I… have something to say."
Qing Tian set down her brush.
"Come in."
He entered but did not rise.
"The boy who died last night…"
His throat tightened.
"The day before, someone ordered him to help move grain."
"He said it was…"
The man looked up, eyes filled with fear.
"…'an order from above.'"
Qing Tian's hand finally stilled.
She looked at him.
"Why speak now?"
The old worker lowered his gaze.
"Because I was afraid."
"But at noon today… when I tasted the soup again—"
His voice shook.
"I thought I would gamble once."
Qing Tian closed her eyes briefly.
When she opened them, they were clear.
"You chose correctly."
She stood.
"From tonight onward—"
Her voice remained calm.
"But steady as iron."
"The Shangshi Bureau has someone standing beside me."
Night fell again.
Within the palace walls, the undercurrent was no longer hidden.
It had begun colliding head-on.
And this time—
Qing Tian had no path backward.
Nor did she intend to take one.