The palace woke to chaos.
Servants rushed through corridors, eunuchs whispered urgently, and even the guards looked uneasy.
Lin Yue stepped out of her chamber, startled by the sudden tension.
Xiao An ran toward her, breathless.
"My Lady—something terrible happened!"
Lin Yue steadied her. "Slow down. What is it?"
Xiao An swallowed hard.
"It's… it's the Empress Dowager's favorite prayer scroll. Someone damaged it."
Lin Yue frowned. "Damaged?"
"Torn," Xiao An whispered. "And the blame is falling on… on your courtyard."
Lin Yue froze.
"My courtyard?"
Xiao An nodded miserably. "They say the scroll was found near your attendants' storage room."
Lin Yue's heartbeat quickened, but her voice remained calm.
"Who found it?"
"A maid from Noble Consort Xue's palace."
Of course.
Lin Yue exhaled slowly.
"So she's begun."
Summoned to the Phoenix Hall
Lin Yue entered the Empress Dowager's hall with steady steps.
The Empress Dowager sat at the center, her expression unreadable.
The Empress stood beside her, tense.
Noble Consort Xue sat gracefully to the side, sipping tea as if she were merely a spectator.
Lin Yue bowed. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
The Empress Dowager spoke first.
"Noble Lady Lin, a sacred scroll was found torn near your courtyard. Do you have an explanation?"
Lin Yue lifted her head slightly.
"I do not, Your Majesty. But I assure you, neither I nor my attendants would dare touch something so important."
Xue set down her teacup with a soft clink.
"How unfortunate," she said lightly. "The scroll was discovered by one of my maids. She was quite shaken."
Lin Yue turned to her. "Your maid found it?"
Xue smiled sweetly. "Yes. She said she saw one of your servants near the area last night."
Lin Yue's eyes narrowed just slightly.
"A convenient sighting."
Xue's smile didn't falter.
"Are you suggesting my maid is lying?"
"I'm suggesting," Lin Yue said calmly, "that coincidences in the palace are rarely coincidences."
A few attendants gasped softly.
The Empress Dowager tapped her fan against her palm.
"Enough. Lin Yue, your courtyard will be inspected. If nothing is found, the matter will be dismissed."
Xue bowed gracefully.
"Your Majesty is wise."
But Lin Yue caught the flicker in her eyes — irritation, not respect.
The Inspection
A group of senior attendants arrived at the Moonlit Courtyard.
Lin Yue stood calmly as they searched every room, every drawer, every corner.
Xiao An clung to her sleeve.
"My Lady, what if they planted something?"
Lin Yue whispered, "Then we will deal with it."
But after nearly an hour, the attendants returned.
"Nothing suspicious was found," the lead attendant said. "Noble Lady Lin is cleared."
Xiao An sagged with relief.
But Lin Yue didn't relax.
Because she knew:
Xue never expected the scroll to be found here.
This was only the opening move.
A Visit from the Emperor
That evening, the emperor arrived, his expression dark.
"I heard what happened."
Lin Yue bowed. "It has been resolved."
He stepped closer.
"It shouldn't have happened at all."
Lin Yue met his gaze. "She's testing me."
"She's provoking me," he corrected. "She wants me to react."
Lin Yue hesitated. "Will you?"
He exhaled slowly.
"I want to. But reacting too quickly gives her power."
Lin Yue nodded. "Then we wait."
He looked at her, surprised.
"You're calm."
"I have to be."
He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his voice softening.
"You shouldn't have to face this alone."
"I'm not alone," she said quietly.
His eyes warmed.
"No. You're not."
Later That Night
After he left, Lin Yue sat beneath the magnolia tree, the lanterns flickering softly around her.
Xiao An approached timidly.
"My Lady… are you angry?"
Lin Yue shook her head.
"No."
"Then what are you?"
Lin Yue looked up at the moon, her voice steady.
"Prepared."
Because Noble Consort Xue had shown her hand.
And Lin Yue was ready for the next move.