Inside the quiet halls of the Dowager Empress's palace, the atmosphere was calm and heavy with the faint scent of sandalwood incense.
Soft music played in the background as maids moved silently across the polished floor.
The Dowager Empress sat near the window, lazily turning prayer beads between her fingers while a servant carefully poured warm tea into her cup.
Her expression remained indifferent.
Cold.
Unreadable.
Then—
A maid hurried inside and bowed quickly.
"Dowager Empress."
The older woman did not even lift her gaze.
"What is it?"
The maid spoke carefully.
"Her Majesty the Empress has returned from the shrine."
Only then did the Dowager Empress pause slightly.
The prayer beads stopped moving for a brief moment.
"She returned already?"
"Yes."
"The Emperor personally brought her back after she completed her punishment."
Silence filled the room.
The maid lowered her head further, afraid she might have spoken wrongly.
But after a few seconds—
