Heena had just flawlessly dismantled the Ministry of Rites, secured her family's political dominance, and mentally checked out of the Imperial Assembly. She turned on her heel, fully prepared to march back to her estate and terrorize her new thirty-year-old son.
But the civil officials, having just watched their greatest, darkest secret dragged into the harsh light of day, were pushed entirely past the brink of rational thought. A fragile, hyper-stressed Deputy Minister from the back row completely snapped.
"The investigation is not over, you fucking bitch!" the Deputy Minister shrieked, his voice cracking with hysterical, suicidal rage. "Where do you think you are going?!"
Heena paused, casually looking over her shoulder just in time to see the enraged scholar charging directly at her. He had raised his heavy ivory-and-wood court tablet high above his head, fully intending to smash it down onto the Madam's skull.
