Zetian wakes alone, sore and bruised from her night with Qin Zheng. She wrestles with conflicting feelings: shame, defiance, and a disturbing craving for more. She refuses to let herself feel as though something was taken from her, framing the encounter as mutual release rather than emotional surrender.

Qin Zheng enters in full armor and teases her. He reports that he made Wan'er Imperial Secretary and was impressed by Taiping (Minister Gao), who pitched the Cybernetic Cooperative Network (CyberCo)—a national supply-chain management system Zetian had long advocated. Zetian insists he address both women by their proper titles. He warns that if Wan'er ever betrays him, Zetian won't be able to save her again, momentarily making Zetian fear he may have learned of her attempt to leak the truth about their world onto the networks.

He gifts her a jade dragon-and-phoenix pendant that splits in two, placing the phoenix half on her and letting her clasp the dragon half on him. He admits she resembles his late shīfu General Mi, which is partly why he made her wear a mask, though he says she now infuriates him too much to evoke that memory. He refuses to let her stop wearing the mask publicly.

Their banter turns into another sexual encounter, this time with Zetian taking control since she is sore. She reflects that intimacy with him hasn't deepened her feelings; he is merely a warm body and a release. She also recalls that in their shared dream realm the previous night, Qin Zheng confirmed they should not delay their plan to slay the gods, since stalling risks discovery. Zetian resolves she'll be free, one way or another, in less than five months.