Night in the palace was never truly silent.
Even when lanterns dimmed and courtyards emptied, whispers still lived between carved pillars, behind silk curtains, and beneath the tiled roofs that had witnessed too many secrets. Tonight, those whispers gathered around one place—Lady Chen's residence.
Lady Chen sat before a bronze mirror, her reflection calm, elegant, flawless. Her fingers moved slowly through her hair, smoothing it with practiced grace. To anyone watching, she looked serene. Only the faint tension in her eyes betrayed the storm beneath.
The palace had changed.
Not in structure, not in rules—but in balance.
The Emperor visited the Empress more frequently now. He spoke her name with ease. He listened to her words. Worse—he trusted her.
Lady Chen exhaled softly.
This will not do.
She rose and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, dismissing her maids. Tonight, she needed privacy. Tonight, she needed certainty.
---
Lady Chen's Test
