The afternoon sun hung low, casting long shadows upon Wanying who sat on a stone bench beneath the branches of a magnolia tree lost in thoughts for her future.
The petals is the garden flowers drifted lazily to the ground. The air felt thick with the scent of damp earth, but it wasn't the heat that weighed on Wanying.
It was Consort Shu's parting words...soft as silk,yet sharp as a knife.
"But sometimes these things happen without us realizing it. Lingyi is young, eager to prove herself."
Consort Shu's voice had been light, her smile so easy that it bordered on insincere. . But the meaning behind it was a quiet storm waiting to break.
Wanying remained frozen beneath the shade of the tree long after Consort Shu left, her mind replaying the conversation, trying to grasp what it meant. She knew Shu's words for what they were, a seed of doubt, planted with precision. But even knowing that did little to stop the twisting sensation growing in her chest.
"Lingyi…" Wanying muttered under her breath, tasting the name as though saying it aloud would diminish its power and whatever thoughts raging her mind.
She rose from the bench with a deep breath, brushing the dust from her robes. The sun was lower now, and a breeze stirred the edges of her sleeves. She needed to return to Chengqian Palace, needed to banish these thoughts before they took root.
...
As Wanying made her way along the winding paths back to Chengqian, the hum of palace life faded to background noise. Her steps were brisk, but her thoughts raced faster, weaving questions she had no answers for.
Ru Lingyi was just a maid, new to the palace and too young to understand the intricacies of her position..or so Wanying had thought. But Consort Shu's words was like an itch she couldn't scratch, refusing to leave her mind. 'Could Consort Xian really favor Lingyi over me? '..wanying thought to herself.
The very idea seemed absurd. Yet the seed had been planted, and it gnawed at her pride.
She quickened her pace, trying to outrun the growing doubt.
By the time she reached Chengqian Palace, the sky was already bleeding into evening, the light fading into a dusky gold. Wanying slipped inside, the familiar scent of sandalwood and silk calming her nerves..at least , only for a moment.
Her quarters were quiet, a sanctuary from the whispers and glances of the outer palace. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring out at the courtyard beyond the window, where the first stars began to peek through the twilight. She ran her hands over the cool silk of her robes, trying to smooth out more than just the fabric.
"This is nothing. Consort Shu only meant to sow discord. That's what she does.".. Wanying convinced herself..so she thought, standing up to head outside.
But the knot in her chest still refused to loosen.
The palace was bathed in moonlight by the time Wanying stirred again. She slipped quietly from her quarters, the practiced routine of night service unfolding without thought. This was her duty..helping Consort Xian retire for the night, just as she had done for years.
She tied her sash neatly, smoothing her hair into place with quick, efficient movements. The night was quiet, but her thoughts buzzed like restless insects.
The corridors of Chengqian Palace were dimly lit, the lanterns casting soft pools of light along the stone floors. Wanying's footsteps were soundless as she made her way to Consort Xian's private chambers, each step heavier with the weight of unseen change.
Her hand rested on the polished wood of the chamber door, and she paused for a moment, exhaling slowly to steady herself. Everything will be as it always is, she assured herself. There's no reason for things to be different.
She pushed the door open—just enough to step inside—and froze.
Consort Xian lay reclined on a couch, her robe draped loosely over her shoulders, her posture relaxed. But it wasn't the scene itself that stopped Wanying in her tracks.
It was the presence of Ru Lingyi, standing at the bedside, already halfway through the familiar motions that Wanying knew so well.
Ru lingyi's hands moved with practiced ease, smoothing the silk shawl over Consort Xian's shoulders and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. There was no hesitation, no awkwardness. Lingyi acted as if she had always been there, her presence quiet yet undeniable.
Consort Xian's voice, low and soft, drifted through the room. "That's good, Lingyi. You have a light touch."
Lingyi bowed her head slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's my honor, Mistress."
Wanying's breath got cut in her throat.
She stepped forward, schooling her expression into one of calm, though her heart thudded heavily in her chest. "Mistress, I've come to assist you."
Consort Xian glanced up, her gaze lingering on Wanying for a moment that felt far too long. Then, with a faint smile—polite but distant—she said, "There's no need tonight, Wanying. Lingyi has already taken care of everything..i didnt want you to stress yourself over something lingyi can handle"
The words landed lightly, but their meaning struck deep.
Wanying's lips parted, though no words came. She bowed slightly, hiding the turmoil that churned within her. "Of course, Mistress."
Consort Xian returned her gaze to the book resting on her lap, her mind already elsewhere. Lingyi remained by her side, her presence quiet yet unshakable.
Wanying backed toward the door, her movements measured and deliberate. Her heart pounded against her ribs, but her face remained smooth, betraying nothing.
As she reached the doorway, Lingyi turned slightly, her eyes meeting Wanying's for the briefest moment. There was no triumph in her gaze, no malice...just an innocent serene calm that unsettled Wanying more than open defiance ever could.
The door clicked softly behind her, leaving Wanying alone in the dim corridor. The cool night air brushed against her skin, but it did little to soothe the heat rising beneath it.
She stood there for a long moment, her mind racing. The scene she had witnessed was small
..just a passing moment between mistress and maid. But it carried a weight far greater than the sum of its parts.
When Wanying finally returned to her quarters, the night was well underway. She sat on the edge of her bed, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Consort Shu's words echoed once more, clear as the first time she heard them.
"It starts with small changes..missing the morning greetings, being given fewer responsibilities. Before you know it, you're no longer needed."
The seed of doubt, planted earlier in the garden, had sprouted. And now, with every passing moment, it sank deeper into Wanying's heart.
But it wasn't just doubt that simmered beneath the surface...it was a fierce, unyielding jealousy, a twisted sense of betrayal.
"What right did Lingyi have to take my place? To stand beside Consort Xian as if she were the one who had always belonged there"...those were the thoughts Wanying harboured.
Wanying clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. The injustice of it all fueled a fire in her heart, a reckless desire to reclaim what was hers.
"I won't let this go unchallenged," she whispered to the darkness in her room, the words falling heavy into the silence of her quarters. "If Consort Xian thinks she can replace me with a mere child, she has another thing coming."
A wicked grin curled at the corners of her lips, ready to remind them all of the power she held, the loyalty she had given.
She would strike before she was struck, and when the time came, Consort Xian would find herself to be the one cast aside.