That night—
Qing Tian stood by the window of Tingyu Pavilion, watching the darkness.
The spring wind was warm.
Yet—
for the first time—
she felt cold.
Shen Zhaoyi had only ever been a piece on the board.
The one who could place moves across the temple, the granary, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the same time—
had always been just one person.
The Empress Dowager.
Cining Palace
Lights burned bright.
The Empress Dowager sat upright on her couch.
Prayer beads slid slowly through her fingers.
"How far has she investigated?"
The old matron beside her lowered her voice.
"Your Majesty… she has only reached irregularities in the temple grain accounts."
"She has not yet touched anything beyond that."
The beads stopped.
"Only… not yet."
Two words.
Heavy with meaning.
"She is more capable than I expected."
"And faster."
Her tone was calm—
but edged with something cold, something aged by power.
"A girl from the kitchens…"
"…daring to reach into the temple."
"The Emperor…"
"…does choose his people well."
She lowered her gaze.
The beads resumed their slow rotation.
"But how long can she keep investigating?"
"And whether she'll still be alive by the time she reaches the truth…"
"That—"
"…remains to be seen."
Three Days Later
A message came from Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager summoned Qing Tian—
to bestow a meal.
Not an interrogation.
Not a confrontation.
A reward.
Qing Tian understood immediately.
This was—
a test.
And a warning.
She entered the hall.
The Empress Dowager sat at the head.
Serene.
Gentle.
Almost kind.
"I've heard you've been quite busy lately."
"Even taking on the temple's affairs for me."
"That must be exhausting."
Qing Tian lowered her gaze and bowed.
"It is my duty. I would not dare call it hardship."
The Empress Dowager smiled.
"You do understand propriety."
"But—"
She looked up.
"The temple grain…"
"…is meant for the ancestors."
"You've been examining it rather… closely."
"That may not be appropriate."
"Yes."
Qing Tian lifted her head.
"Which is why…"
"I do not dare act alone."
She reached into her sleeve.
Produced a document.
"This is a revised regulation I drafted—"
"with His Majesty's approval."
"Regulations for the Allocation of Palace Offering Grain."
"The temple offerings will remain under Your Majesty's oversight."
"But the grain used for porridge distribution…"
"…for staff meals…"
"…for relief—"
Her voice was steady.
"Will now be recorded under a separate account."
The Empress Dowager's gaze—
darkened.
"You intend…"
"…to split the accounts?"
Split accounts meant—
cutting through the gray areas.
Completely.
"Director Qing."
Her voice softened.
But the pressure deepened.
"Are you telling me…"
"…that I am incapable of managing the palace grain?"
The air—
turned cold.
Then—
a voice from outside.
"His Majesty arrives—!"
The Empress Dowager paused.
Then—
smiled again.
"The Emperor comes again?"
The Emperor Arrives
Tang Yi stepped in.
No formalities.
Just one sentence:
"I heard the temple accounts are being reorganized."
"I came to pay my respects."
"And to see what's happening."
His gaze moved—
to Qing Tian.
Then—
to the Empress Dowager.
"You've worked hard, Mother."
The Empress Dowager smiled faintly.
"What does the Emperor think?"
"Of Director Qing's work?"
Tang Yi answered calmly.
"What she's handling…"
"…is not just accounts."
"It's order."
"And she's doing it well."
One sentence.
A declaration.
He had chosen a side.
The Empress Dowager's fingers tightened slightly around her prayer beads.
She understood.
He hadn't come just to observe.
He had come—
to make it clear.
Qing Tian—
was under his protection.
After the Banquet
Qing Tian withdrew.
She knew—
there was no turning back now.
She stood—
on the opposite side of the Empress Dowager.
And the Empress Dowager—
finally understood something as well.
This girl—
was no longer a disposable piece.
She had the Emperor behind her.
But if she continued digging—
what would be uncovered…
would go far beyond this.
Her gaze darkened.
Some people—
should not be left alive.
Only the dead—
are truly obedient.
And so—
for the first time—
she decided—
to act.