Morning in the Pavilion nursery: jade cradles, cloud-patterned curtains, and the routine hush before inspection schedules change.

Back in the nursery, Shen tells Liang Hua what the reassignment means while Little Cloud lies between them.

Shen explains mortal imprinting while Liang Hua thinks of the daughter she cannot endanger.

Shen lays out the imprint examination tools and what they detect.

Liang Hua decides to bargain, and Shen leads her away from listening ears.

The linen archive muffles their voices with shelves of cloud-silk swaddles.

Liang Hua offers the missing lyric in exchange for forged proof.

Liang Hua lays out the components of the false imprint trail.

They choose an imprint trail that leads to a transferred nurse, not someone present in the ward.

Shen calls the plan reckless; Liang Hua answers from a mortal mother's logic.

Shen decides the lyric and the danger are worth joining the lie.

Shen alters the nursing rotation records while Liang Hua supplies routine details.

They make the altered records look older through heat, breath, and routine wear.

Liang Hua reheats milk cups and masks her own scent trail.

They switch the cradle talisman so the false imprint trail has a physical anchor.

Shen drills Liang Hua on how to behave during Wei's test.

They test whether the scent ribbon follows the forged imprint trail instead of Liang Hua.

The Pavilion moves toward the inspection hour as attendants prepare the ward.

Before the final seal, Shen insists on hearing the missing lyric.

Liang Hua sings the missing true line of the old song in a low voice.

The hidden old pronunciation in the lyric strikes Shen hard, but she does not explain why.

Shen seals the forged records and both women understand the cost.