5 a.m.
The sky was bright, the sun dazzling, and the glazed tiles on the palace roof reflected the light, almost blindingly bright.
Jiang Shaohua stepped into Ning An Palace.
Empress Dowager Li, eyes bloodshot from a sleepless night of anxiety, hurriedly came out to meet her, lacking any semblance of a stately Empress Dowager, and grasped Jiang Shaohua's hands: "Shao Hua! It's such a relief that you're alright! I was terrified out of my wits when I heard noises last night. I had no one to rely on, and didn't dare meddle recklessly. I also didn't want to add to your troubles, so I ordered the palace gates sealed. What exactly happened now?"
Jiang Shaohua looked up at Empress Dowager Li, smiled slightly: "Rest assured, Empress Dowager, those who disrupted the court have all been executed."
Jiang Shaohua was exceedingly beautiful, and at the prime of her youth, her smile was like a blossom in full bloom.
