At dawn – Grand Imperial Council
A somber mist seemed to cling to the air, as though veiling the hearts of every man in the room.
Clusters of officials whispered among themselves.
At the center of the chamber, resting atop a wooden table, was a palm-sized plank bearing uneven yet deliberate handwriting:
"Imperial Procurement Ledger, Year of Li – 7th:
Thousands of taels in missing jewels."
No sender's name.
No royal seal.
But everyone knew—something like this didn't appear by chance.
⸻
At Hua Lan Residence
Xianlan poured tea, lifting the cup to her lips with calm grace.
"I never told anyone I was the one who gave them the document…"
"But I also didn't stop them from revealing it."
Liu Meirong, seated beside her, paused before whispering:
"They won't trust you… if they learn you play games like this."
Xianlan smiled faintly.
"Those who trust too easily… are always the first to be betrayed."
⸻
Among the conservative officials aligned with the Noble Consort, arguments had already begun.
"The Ministry of Finance must be held accountable!"
"Yet I recall it was you who pushed to reduce auditing budgets three years ago!"
The assembly heated quickly.
No one raised their voice—
but every word thrown was a spear piercing through the room.
A few officials began glancing toward the Crown Prince—
who sat quietly on the vice throne, expression unreadable, lips sealed.
⸻
Wen Yichen leaned closer and murmured:
"If Your Highness does not intervene, they may revolt."
Feng Yuhan spoke softly:
"Let them revolt…
A fire hidden in shadows burns less than one out in the open."
"And when that fire scorches the Noble Consort's hem,
I'll have all the reason I need to summon the rain."
⸻
In the city market
A scrap of parchment listing names of court officials was "accidentally" dropped by a delivery boy.
Whispers arose of "thieves within the palace."
The name of a former royal secretary—
once loyal to Consort Yifei—
resurfaced again.
This time, as one who had been silenced.
⸻
At the Noble Consort's Residence
Lady Su Zhen sipped her tea slowly.
"They're using the name of a dead man… to wash away that woman's sins."
"How bold of them."
A maid whispered at her side:
"Shall we deal with the rumors spreading in town, Your Grace?"
Su Zhen shook her head.
"No… the fire's just begun.
If we snuff it out too soon, people will wonder what I'm afraid of."
"Let it burn.
And when the time is right—
let heaven's rain fall."
⸻
That night – Moonlit Pavilion by the Lotus Pond
Feng Yuhan leaned against a column, watching the moonlight ripple across the water.
Wen Yichen stood nearby.
"What do you think Xianlan truly wants?" Feng asked.
Wen Yichen replied,
"Power? Or truth?"
Feng chuckled quietly.
"I don't think she wants power.
She wants truth—
to be something no one dares to forget."
"Should I be afraid of her?"
Wen Yichen didn't answer—
just offered a small, knowing smile.
"Afraid? No…
But if you don't take her hand now,
you may end up kneeling to ask for it later."
⸻
Meanwhile – at Hua Lan Residence
Xianlan wrote a secret letter to Jiang Xinluo:
"The fire I lit is not to burn—
but to ensure even the shadows have light cast upon them."
Jiang Xinluo read it in silence.
"This woman…
she's not just seeking revenge."
"She's setting the board to change the game entirely."