The first morning after the edict was issued—
No one in the Inner Palace had truly slept.
"Spring Routine Audit of Palace Affairs."
Eight harmless-looking words.
Yet they felt like an invisible hand tightening around every throat.
No specific target.
No formal accusation.
But everyone understood—
This would not be limited to simple bookkeeping.
For the first time, a line formed outside the Shangshi Bureau.
Not of servants.
But of chief eunuchs and senior matrons from each palace.
They held ledgers. Sealed pouches. Key tokens.
Their expressions were darker than storm clouds.
Because for the first time—
It was not the Director of Shangshi coming to demand accounts.
It was the Six Palaces being ordered to prove their own innocence.
Qing Tian sat in the side hall.
She wore neither official robes nor ornate court dress.
Only the simple attire of a consort.
Before her were three things:
Ledgers.
Seals.
And a cup of cold tea.
She did not speak.
She only turned pages.
The first irregularity did not come from Zhaohua Palace.
Nor from Changchun Palace.
It came from Consort Hui's subsidiary Buddhist shrine accounts.
"D-Director Qing…" the matron beside Consort Hui knelt, trembling. "The shrine's incense oil has always been allocated according to standard practice."
"It's just that… last winter, the price of incense oil increased…"
Qing Tian's finger paused on a page.
"Increased by thirty percent."
She flipped the page.
"But the account records a fifty percent increase."
Silence dropped like a blade.
Consort Hui's face went white.
"Director Qing!" she exclaimed sharply. "Why would this palace falsify such a trivial matter?"
Qing Tian closed the ledger calmly.
"Your Ladyship need not be anxious."
"My investigation is not aimed at you."
Her gaze shifted to the kneeling matron.
"It is aimed at her."
The woman shook violently.
"Half of the incense oil was diverted to Your Ladyship's private shrine."
"The other half was secretly transported outside the palace."
Qing Tian's voice hardened.
"Take her away."
The order came under the Emperor's verbal authority.
News spread like wildfire.
Consort Hui collapsed where she stood.
She was not the mastermind.
But negligence—
Was one of the deadliest sins in the harem.
The first drop of blood had fallen.
The Six Palaces trembled.
Almost at the same hour—
A summons arrived from Cining Palace.
"The Empress Dowager requests Director Qing."
The meaning was clear.
The true opponent had stepped forward.
Inside Cining Palace, sandalwood incense hung heavy in the air.
The Empress Dowager sat upon her couch, prayer beads moving slowly between her fingers.
She did not look at any ledgers.
She did not ask about grain.
Her first sentence cut straight to the core.
"You investigate the Buddhist Hall."
"You are touching what belongs to Us."
Qing Tian bowed deeply.
"This concubine would not dare."
The Empress Dowager laughed softly.
"You already have."
"Consort Hui's shrine was approved by Us. The incense oil was allocated by Us."
Her gaze sharpened.
"You now uncover irregularities."
"Are you implying that We govern the harem poorly?"
The air froze solid.
This was open pressure.
A test of power.
Qing Tian did not retreat.
She raised her head.
"My investigation is not of the shrine."
"It is of the accounts beyond the accounts."
The Empress Dowager's eyes narrowed.
"Explain."
"The shrine's books are clean."
"But beyond the shrine—"
Qing Tian withdrew a single-page document from her sleeve.
"Excess incense oil, grain, and offerings were listed under the shrine's name, yet never entered it."
The Empress Dowager's prayer beads paused for the briefest second.
"If I do not investigate," Qing Tian continued calmly, "they will continue to be used to devour lives."
"To devour whom?" the Empress Dowager asked.
"The lowest ranks."
Qing Tian held her gaze.
"And Your Majesty's reputation."
That—
Was a counterstroke.
Not defense.
But an invitation.
Are you complicit—
Or are you willing to cleanse this with me?
Silence stretched long.
Then the Empress Dowager smiled.
It was light.
But cold enough to freeze bone.
"You have a sharp tongue."
She set down her beads.
"Then tell Us—what should We do?"
Qing Tian knelt fully, forehead touching the ground.
"Request that Your Majesty reduce the Buddhist Hall's allocations by thirty percent."
"And issue an edict requiring all palace shrines to undergo unified audit."
The Empress Dowager studied her like a new piece placed upon a chessboard.
"You are not afraid that once We finish cleansing with your hand—We will discard you?"
Qing Tian lifted her head.
"I am."
A pause.
"But I am more afraid that someone will continue devouring lives in Your Majesty's name."
The Empress Dowager was silent.
For a long time.
Then—
She nodded.
"Very well."
"Let Us walk this round with you."
That very day—
A second edict was issued.
"Unified Audit of Buddhist Hall Offerings."
The seal at the bottom bore the mark of Cining Palace.
The Inner Palace erupted.
This time—
No one could remain untouched.
And Qing Tian—
Standing at the center of the storm—
For the first time,
Stood perfectly steady.