In the opulent chambers of the Empress Dowager's palace, heavy drapes cast long shadows across the floor, their deep reds and golds reflecting the room's grandeur. The Empress Dowager, draped in her luxurious robes, sat on her carved chair, facing the Commissioner. The two were engrossed in a whispered conversation, their words dripping with disdain for Cassiopeia.
"Why does that girl continue to rise?" hissed the Empress Dowager. "With each passing day, she becomes more and more of a thorn in my side."
The Commissioner, a thin man with sharp features, nodded, his eyes flicking warily around the room. "Your Highness, the Empress has allies. She is not to be underestimated."
The Empress Dowager scoffed, "Allies? They will crumble soon enough."
Seated at her ornate desk, the Empress Dowa
