The incident happened on an utterly ordinary morning court.
Dawn had just broken.
Civil and military officials stood in orderly ranks beneath the golden pillars of the Grand Hall.
Everything was as usual.
Until—
Bang!
A dull, heavy sound echoed.
A middle-aged official standing in the third row suddenly staggered.
His face flushed crimson.His breathing turned ragged.
An invisible current surged around him.
"Y-Your Majesty…" he managed to speak—
The green stone tiles beneath his feet cracked.
The court exploded.
"Protect His Majesty!""Someone is using forbidden arts!""Retreat—now!"
Several elderly ministers recoiled in terror.
The man at the center of it all looked even more frightened.
"I—it wasn't me!" he shouted desperately."I just… copied scriptures these past few days, and my breath felt smooth.""Last night it suddenly—suddenly went out of control!"
His voice shook.
Spiritual energy rampaged inside his body.
A textbook case of early-stage loss of control.
Instinctively, every gaze turned toward the dragon throne.
Xiao Xuanyin sat perfectly still.
He did not rise.
He did not grow angry.
He simply spoke.
"Stand where you are."
Two words.
The entire court froze into silence.
"You," Xiao Xuanyin said, looking at the trembling official."What is your name?"
"T-This servant… Zhou Shen."
"Good." Xiao Xuanyin nodded."Zhou Shen. You didn't make a mistake."
"You simply walked faster than the rest."
Those words stunned Zhou Shen.
They stunned everyone.
Xiao Xuanyin rose.
Step by step, he descended the dais.
No guards followed him.No pressure was released.
Yet the sheer presence of an emperor—
forced all unrest back into submission.
"Remember this," Xiao Xuanyin said calmly.
"Cultivation cannot be stolen."
"You must carry it."
"Only those who can endure it… may walk steadily."
He placed a hand on Zhou Shen's shoulder.
At that instant—
imperial fate stirred.
Not to attack.
But to stabilize.
The rampaging spiritual energy inside Zhou Shen was pressed back into his dantian.
His knees buckled.
He collapsed.
Yet his breathing became smooth and even.
Dead silence filled the hall.
"Transmit my verbal decree," Xiao Xuanyin said, turning away.
"Zhou Shen is to withdraw temporarily and be reassigned to the Internal Treasury's Observation Division."
"As for the rest of you—"
His gaze swept the court.
"Today's matter is not to be spread."
"Nor is panic to be allowed."
At that very moment—
far from the court—
inside Fengyi Palace.
Su Wan's phone lit up sharply.
[Detection: Core Court Figure Spiritual Energy Overload][Status: Preliminary Suppression Complete][Recommendation: Follow-Up Stabilization Required]
She rose immediately.
"People really are different," she murmured.
She did not go to court.
Instead, she went to a small, unremarkable side hall.
Zhou Shen had been placed there.
When Su Wan entered, he was already awake.
Seeing her, he struggled to rise.
"Y-Your Majesty the Empress—!"
Su Wan raised a hand.
"Don't move."
She stepped closer and tapped her phone lightly.
A thread-thin glow sank into his forehead.
[Stabilization Module · Individual Version][Temporary Binding Complete]
Zhou Shen felt his mind clear instantly.
The chaos vanished.
In its place—
a strange sense of being supported.
"Remember this," Su Wan said evenly.
"You weren't chosen."
"You were simply suitable."
"So walk slower."
Zhou Shen's eyes reddened.
"This servant… understands."
High above the clouds.
Three presences locked onto the small hall completely.
The Immortal Realm's observers looked grim.
"Confirmed. A stable cultivator has appeared within the court."
"And someone is covering the aftermath."
Another voice dropped lower.
"And that person… isn't the Emperor."
"It's the Empress."
Immortal Realm — Hall of Balance
The Arbiter stood from behind his jade desk after hearing the report.
"So," he said quietly.
"She has begun to intervene directly with people."
He issued a calm command.
"Adjust strategy."
"Proceed to the next target."
Night.
Su Wan returned to the sleeping chamber.
Xiao Xuanyin was already waiting.
They exchanged a glance.
No words were needed.
They both understood—
the true contest had begun today.
Outside the window.
Concubines continued sweeping the palace grounds.
Their movements were steadier now.Their rhythm smoother.
They did not yet know—
that every sweep beneath their feet
was laying the foundation
for an entirely new era.