Sheltered in a tunnel with Taiping, Zetian processes the revelation that Yizhi, Sima Yi, and Qin Zheng arranged a surrogate pregnancy with her harvested eggs. Taiping, working over her abacus on advanced calculations, insists she had no idea about her brother Yizhi's role and threatens to scold him, though Zetian warns her not to risk Qin Zheng's wrath. Taiping mocks Qin Zheng's performative renunciation of silk, briefly lifting Zetian's mood.

Zetian recounts confronting Qin Zheng in the throne room, where he refused to let her interfere with Auntie Wei, calling the surrogate a proud mother. Zetian recognizes the hypocritical bind: she cannot in good conscience force an abortion on another woman. She suspects the gods want a child to exploit as Qin Zheng's vulnerability, and fears she will be pressured into another pregnancy if Auntie Wei miscarries. She admits she might have agreed to the plan had they consulted her, but resents being kept in the dark.

Reflecting on Yizhi's motives, Zetian theorizes he severed ties with her to retain Qin Zheng's favor, recalling Qin Zheng's jealous displeasure at their past. She resolves to respect that distance and want nothing more to do with him. Taiping voices broader frustration with men's unchecked power, while Zetian observes that being male shaped every man in her life—Yizhi, Shimin, and Qin Zheng—giving them mobility and recognition denied to women.

To cheer Zetian, Taiping describes underground clubs like Club Lily, where she met Wan'er—safe spaces for queer people and gender nonconformists that persist despite Sage crackdowns. The clubs are closed during the revolution but Taiping promises to take Zetian in disguise someday. Zetian, intrigued and moved, smiles and welcomes the idea.