"The custodian is not the highest authority."
Administrator Shen's warning lingered in the room.
Ding Shun stared at Liang.
Then his expression hardened.
"Before we discuss this so-called higher authority, I want something clarified."
Liang lowered his head.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"What exactly were you authorized to do?"
Song Jia looked toward the Emperor.
Good.
That question should have been answered before they went any further.
For twenty years, Liang had maintained the concealed archive.
But maintaining something did not necessarily mean controlling it.
Ding Shun continued.
"Not what your predecessor told you."
"Not what you assumed."
"Your actual functions."
Liang took a moment before answering.
"I was the archive's custodian."
"Meaning?"
"I maintained the catalog and physical condition of the records assigned to the concealed archive."
"I verified old access credentials when someone presented them."
