The palace shrine stood quietly at the far end of the imperial grounds.
Unlike the grand halls of power—
This place held stillness.
Old stone steps.
Faded carvings.
The faint scent of incense lingering in the air.
It was a place where even whispers felt too loud.
—
That morning, the Dowager Empress had come here.
Few knew.
Fewer understood why.
—
And now—
The Emperor knew.
—
A shadow slipped into his study earlier.
A whisper.
A report.
—
"Her Highness visited the shrine."
"And met the Empress."
—
That was enough.
—
The Emperor had paused only for a moment.
His expression unreadable.
But his mind—
Already moving.
—
His mother and the Empress…
Their relationship had never been smooth.
Cold.
Distant.
Sometimes even hostile.
—
And yet—
She went to meet her.
Alone.
—
"…What did she say?"
—
No answer came.
—
That uncertainty—
That unknown—
Was enough to push him to act.
—
He changed his robes.
Left quietly.
No escort.
No announcement.
—
