“Are you suggesting we simply overlook it?”
Sinyeong frowned, clearly displeased by her evasiveness.
The Empress Dowager quickly turned toward the court ladies.
“That is how the consorts’ quarters are governed. Someone—take that girl to the confinement wing. Get a proper answer out of her by nightfall.”
Before Sinyeong could escalate the situation any further, the Empress Dowager gestured curtly.
“That will do. Have her taken away.”
At her command, the court ladies who had surrounded Hwayeong earlier returned and quietly led the maid out of the tea room.
As they left, Hwayeong stood in silence, trying to collect her thoughts. The room had fallen still again.
The Empress Dowager pressed a hand to her forehead, her voice low with frustration.
“What an utter mess....”
She looked genuinely drained—perhaps from realizing how rashly she’d acted, taking a single maid’s word at face value. As the silence dragged on, it was the Empress who finally stepped forward.