The day Qing Tian's demotion took effect,the Bureau of Provisions welcomed a new Director.
He arrived under the authority of the Department of Internal Affairs.
Surname Zhou.
A spotless record.Advanced in years.A man famed for respecting rules.
But everyone knew—
his rules were not meant to get things done.
They were meant to keep those above him comfortable.
Director Zhou's First Move
On his very first day, Zhou did not examine accounts.
He did not inspect the storerooms.
He did not step into the kitchens.
Instead—
he replaced people.
"Director Qing has been relieved of duty,"he announced gently before the assembled staff, voice smooth but absolute.
"Old personnel should not remain in sensitive positions."
Several head cooks responsible for night meals and restorative soups were reassigned overnight.
No noise.
No protest.
Only disappearance.
Then came the second order.
"Night rotation soup—temporarily suspended.""Evening meal standards—revert to former regulations."
Each sentence flawless.
Each word justified.
Yet the fires of the Bureau grew visibly colder.
Silence in the Kitchens
No fragrance of simmering broth drifted through the night corridors.
Night-duty servants gnawed on cold buns.
Even the clatter of utensils seemed subdued—
as if the kitchens themselves had learned to hold their breath.
Everyone understood.
This was suppression.
And a warning.
The Forgotten Stove
Qing Tian was reassigned to the farthest auxiliary kitchen.
A low stove.Heavy smoke.Grease layered like black armor.
A place reserved for those the palace had quietly abandoned.
Chun Tao's eyes reddened instantly.
"My Lady… they're doing this on purpose."
Qing Tian only rolled up her sleeves.
She cleaned the ash chamber.
Scraped soot from the vents.
Her expression remained unnervingly calm.
"Good," she murmured.
"This stove is closest to the grain depot."
A pause.
"Convenient."
Night Three — Collapse
On the third night, a young kitchen apprentice was carried out of the duty quarters.
His body burned with fever.
Lips pale.
Breath shallow.
The imperial physician examined him briefly, then sighed.
"Too little nourishment."
"His constitution is depleted."
"He can't hold on."
The words spread like frost.
Whispers began creeping through the Bureau.
"Are we… going back to hunger again?"
"When Director Qing was in charge, we had hot soup at night…"
"Now even the scraps are gone…"
No one dared speak loudly.
But resentment seeped like water into the cracks between the floor tiles.
Qing Tian's Answer
She said nothing.
Not a single word of:
"This didn't happen when I was Director."
Instead—
she quietly cooked an extra pot of porridge.
White rice.Clear water.Perfectly controlled heat.
No requisition filed.
No ration claimed.
She used the remaining balance of her personal grain allocation—still not fully audited after her demotion.
Bowl by bowl,
she handed it to night-duty workers.
No titles.
No hierarchy.
Only:
"Drink while it's hot."
Day Five — Something Doesn't Add Up
The Bureau's accounts were flawless.
Yet the grain stock no longer matched the records.
Director Zhou's forehead dampened as he flipped pages again and again.
"That's impossible…"
"This batch was allocated under the Empress Dowager's Buddhist Hall supply…"
"The numbers are correct…"
Qing Tian stood nearby.
Her tone was almost casual.
"Director Zhou… did you verify the physical grain?"
He blinked.
"The seals are intact. Why would I—"
Her voice was soft.
Deadly precise.
"An intact seal does not mean a full box."
The Box Opens
The lid was pried loose.
Lifted.
A collective gasp rippled through the room.
At the bottom—
a thick layer of husks.
Only the top portion contained rice.
Nearly thirty percent missing.
Director Zhou's legs nearly gave out.
"If this is investigated…"
His voice trembled.
"I'll be held responsible…"
Qing Tian looked at the grain calmly.
Her words fell like judgment.
"Whether to report it is your decision."
A pause.
"But if this becomes a case—"
"Every entry will bear your name."
Understanding
In that moment,
Director Zhou finally grasped the truth.
Qing Tian might now be Rank Seven.
But she was the only one in the Bureau who truly understood
the entire ledger.
That Night
The Bureau quietly restored night soup service.
No announcement.
No explanation.
Just—
fires relit.
Steam rising once more into the darkness.
The Next Morning
Qing Tian was invited back to the main stove.
No imperial decree.
No formal reinstatement.
Yet authority—
returned.
And Qing Tian knew.
This was not victory.
Only the opening move.
Because the real accounts—
were still waiting to be settled.