The meeting took place in the Empress Dowager's private study, deep within her palace where even servants rarely entered.
Prime Minister Li knelt before her, his chains removed, and a cup of expensive wine in his hands. The arrogance of before had reduced, giving way to careful thought, restrained yet steady as a mountain stream.
"Your Imperial Majesty," he said with a bow. "I owe you my gratitude for your intervention. Without your influence, the investigation might have taken a more...unfortunate direction."
The Empress Dowager smiled, settling into her chair like a queen on a throne. She wore informal robes tonight, deep purple silk embroidered with phoenixes that seemed to move in the lamplight.
"Gratitude is premature, Prime Minister. You're not cleared yet. Merely.….suspended." She sipped her own wine delicately. "Tell me. How goes our arrangement with the Xiongnu? Are they receiving the information as planned?"
