Morning sunlight filtered softly through the carved windows of the Dowager Empress’s chamber.

The room smelled faintly of sandalwood incense.

Outside, palace servants moved quietly through the courtyard, careful not to disturb the silence surrounding the older woman’s residence.

Inside—

The Dowager Empress sat beside the window, slowly turning prayer beads between her fingers.

Her expression remained calm.

Controlled.

But her thoughts—

Restless.

—

The palace had not been peaceful lately.

Too many incidents.

Too many whispers.

Too much unease spreading through the halls.

Even the servants walked more carefully now, lowering their voices whenever the Empress’s name was mentioned.

—

The Dowager Empress closed her eyes briefly.

Then finally spoke.

"Where is Princess Zhi?"

—

A maid immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Highness, the princess is still confined to her courtyard."

—

The Dowager Empress’s fingers paused slightly against the prayer beads.

For a moment—

Silence.

Then she sighed quietly.

"...Enough."

—

The maid looked up slightly.

"Your Highness?"

—

The Dowager Empress leaned back slowly.

"Go tell her."

"Her punishment is lifted."

—

The maid blinked in surprise.

"...Lifted?"

—

"Yes."

Her voice remained calm.

"She may leave her courtyard now."

"And..."

The Dowager Empress paused briefly.

"...she may return to the shrine whenever she wishes."

—

The maid quickly bowed.

"Yes, Your Highness."

—

But before the maid could leave—

The Dowager Empress spoke again.

"...Wait."

—

The maid stopped immediately.

—

The older woman’s gaze shifted toward the courtyard outside.

"...Has the Empress returned from the shrine residence?"

—

The maid hesitated slightly.

Then lowered her head again.

"...No, Your Highness."

—

The Dowager Empress frowned faintly.

"...No?"

—

The maid carefully continued,

"There is news..."

"They say..."

"She requested permission from His Majesty to remain at the shrine residence temporarily."

—

Silence filled the chamber.

—

The Dowager Empress’s fingers slowly resumed moving against the beads.

But her eyes darkened slightly with thought.

—

"...That stubborn woman."

—

The maid lowered her head further, not daring to speak.

—

The Dowager Empress looked out the window quietly.

Her thoughts drifting.

—

After everything that happened—

The lake incident.

The attack outside the city.

The strange rumors.

—

And now the Empress still refused to return immediately.

—

"...Does she think the outside is safer?"

The Dowager Empress murmured quietly to herself.

—

If another attack happened—

If something happened to her again—

The consequences would be disastrous.

Not only for the palace.

But for her son.

—

The Dowager Empress closed her eyes briefly.

She had lived long enough to recognize certain things.

And lately—

Her son had changed.

—

Before—

He avoided the Empress.

Ignored her.

Looked irritated whenever her name was mentioned.

—

But now—

Every time news arrived regarding the Empress—

His expression shifted immediately.

The concern in his eyes was impossible to hide anymore.

—

The Dowager Empress sighed softly.

"...He finally realized too late."

—

A faint bitterness lingered beneath the words.

Not toward the Empress.

Not completely.

—

Toward fate itself.

—

Because she understood now—

The Empress had never truly been weak.

Only lonely.

—

And perhaps—

The palace had failed her long before she ever tried to leave it.

—

The Dowager Empress remained silent for a long moment.

Then finally spoke again.

"...Did His Majesty stay there last night?"

—

The maid blinked slightly.

Then nodded carefully.

"Yes, Your Highness."

—

The Dowager Empress’s brows lifted faintly.

"...He stayed?"

—

The maid lowered her head even further.

"Yes."

—

A strange silence settled again.

—

Then unexpectedly—

The Dowager Empress laughed softly.

Quietly.

Almost helplessly.

—

"That child..."

—

The maid looked confused but didn’t dare ask questions.

—

The Dowager Empress shook her head lightly.

For years—

Her son had buried himself inside duty and pride.

Cold.

Untouchable.

—

And now—

One woman had turned his entire world upside down.

—

The Dowager Empress looked toward the distant palace roofs.

"...Good."

—

The maid looked surprised.

—

The older woman’s expression softened slightly.

"If she stays there for now..."

"...then let her."

—

The maid blinked.

"Your Highness?"

—

The Dowager Empress leaned back calmly.

"They need time."

—

After everything—

Pain.

Misunderstanding.

Almost losing each other—

—

Forcing the Empress back into the palace immediately would only create more distance.

—

And strangely—

The Dowager Empress no longer wanted that.

—

She sighed quietly again.

"...I won’t interfere."

—

The maid remained silent.

—

The Dowager Empress continued softly,

"If they can solve things between themselves..."

"...then let them."

—

Outside—

The wind moved gently through the courtyard trees.

—

Inside—

The Dowager Empress looked older than usual.

Not weak.

Just thoughtful.

—

Because lately—

Too many things were changing.

—

The palace.

Her son.

The Empress.

Even herself.

—

For years—

She believed Lady Chen was the better choice.

Gentle.

Refined.

Easy to control.

—

But now—

When she compared the two women—

One image stood clearly above the other.

—

The Empress.

Standing strong despite everything.

Protecting others even after being hurt repeatedly.

Returning from death itself.

—

The Dowager Empress slowly closed her eyes.

"...Perhaps..."

"...I judged her unfairly."

—

The words barely escaped above a whisper.

Even she herself seemed surprised by them.

—

But deep down—

She knew it was true.

—

The maid quietly stepped back.

Leaving the older woman alone with her thoughts.

—

And for the first time in many years—

The Dowager Empress stopped thinking like a ruler of the palace.

—

And simply thought—

Like a mother.

Hoping—

That her son would not lose the person he finally learned to love.

.

The shrine was quiet.

Comfortable.

And far less exhausting than palace politics.

Still...

There was one person who hated this arrangement.

—

Princess Zhi.

—

Inside her own courtyard, Princess Zhi sat unhappily beside the lotus pond.

A chess piece rested in her hand as she sighed dramatically.

"...So boring."

Her maid stood nearby helplessly.

"Your Highness, perhaps you should read?"

Princess Zhi looked horrified.

"Read?"

"I’m suffering and you want me to suffer more?"

The maid coughed awkwardly.

Princess Zhi tossed the chess piece lightly onto the table.

"I miss the shrine."

She leaned against the chair dramatically.

"I miss snacks."

"I miss talking."

"I even miss losing games to her."

The maid tried not to laugh.

Ever since the Empress moved into the shrine courtyard temporarily, Princess Zhi had been forbidden from visiting too often because the Dowager feared the two women encouraged each other’s "improper behavior."

Which meant—

Princess Zhi had spent days trapped in boredom.

No one played with her.

No one listened to her complaints properly.

And no one secretly cooked food at midnight.

Life was tragic.

Then suddenly—

A maid hurried into the courtyard.

"Your Highness!"

Princess Zhi lazily lifted her head.

"What happened?"

The maid smiled brightly.

"The Dowager Empress has lifted your restriction."

Princess Zhi blinked.

"...Really?"

"Yes!"

"You may freely visit the shrine again."

Silence.

Then suddenly—

Princess Zhi stood up so quickly the chair nearly fell behind her.

"Prepare gifts."

The maids froze.

"Gifts?"

Princess Zhi nodded rapidly.

"Yes!"

"I’m visiting the Empress!"

Immediately, the entire courtyard became chaotic.

Princess Zhi personally inspected everything.

"This tonic must stay warm."

"And pack those fruit pastries too."

"Oh—and bring the chess set."

One maid blinked.

"Your Highness... chess?"

Princess Zhi looked offended.

"What if she’s bored?"

Then she suddenly pointed at another servant.

"And bring cards!"

"And that throwing ring game!"

"And the painted dice!"

The maid looked overwhelmed.

"...Your Highness, are you visiting the shrine or moving there?"

Princess Zhi ignored her completely.

Within half an hour, Princess Zhi marched proudly toward the shrine courtyard followed by several servants carrying boxes.

The palace maids watching from the side whispered quietly.

"Her Highness looks happier than during festivals."

"She really likes the Empress..."

"Of course. The Empress treats her genuinely."

Meanwhile—

Inside the shrine courtyard—

The Empress sat beneath the pavilion with her three ghost companions.

Fen Yu floated upside down lazily.

"This punishment is so peaceful."

Wei Rong crossed his arms.

"I still think you should’ve argued with the Dowager."

Li Shen adjusted his sleeves calmly.

"The shrine environment is spiritually balanced."

Lian An sighed.

"You three adapted too quickly."

Before anyone could continue—

A familiar excited voice echoed from outside.

"EMPREESSSSS!"

Lian An immediately smiled.

"...Princess Zhi."

The next second, Princess Zhi rushed inside dramatically.

"You abandoned me!"

Lian An laughed softly.

"I was punished, not exiled."

Princess Zhi ignored logic entirely and immediately sat beside her.

"You don’t understand how bored I was."

"I almost started reading poetry willingly."

Lian An looked genuinely alarmed.

"That serious?"

"Yes!"

The maids placed all the boxes down while Princess Zhi proudly presented them one by one.

"I brought tonic."

"Snacks."

"Games."

"And more snacks."

Lian An laughed helplessly.

"You brought enough things for a festival."

Princess Zhi leaned proudly.

"I came prepared."

Fen Yu floated excitedly near the snacks.

"She’s my favorite princess."

Wei Rong nodded.

"Excellent priorities."

Li Shen sighed.

"Food again..."

Soon the pavilion became lively.

Princess Zhi opened the chessboard immediately.

"One round."

Lian An raised an eyebrow.

"You always lose."

"I’ve improved."

"You said that last time too."

"This time is different."

Ten minutes later—

Princess Zhi stared at the chessboard in horror.

"...How did I lose again?"

Lian An calmly sipped tea.

"Talent."

Princess Zhi pointed accusingly.

"You’re secretly evil."

Fen Yu laughed loudly in the background.

The shrine courtyard, once silent and still, slowly filled with laughter again.

The maids nearby smiled softly while watching.

Because everyone could see it—

The Empress was different when Princess Zhi was around.

Lighter.

Warmer.

More alive.

At one point Princess Zhi suddenly leaned against the table dramatically.

"You know..."

"I really missed this."

Lian An’s expression softened.

"...Me too."

Princess Zhi looked around the shrine courtyard.

"Honestly, this punishment doesn’t even feel bad."

Lian An nodded thoughtfully.

"It’s peaceful here."

Princess Zhi smirked.

"You’re saying that because you don’t attend court meetings."

"That too."

Both women burst into laughter again.

As evening slowly approached, warm sunlight filtered through the trees surrounding the shrine.

And for the first time in many days—

The lonely shrine courtyard no longer felt lonely at all.