The silence in the Office of Careful Punishment was suffocating, broken only by the faint shuffle of Wanying's hands over her vanity as she stared at her reflection, casted by the afternoon sun through the small squared window in her cell.
Her eyes were dull, a faint sheen of sweat over her skin. The bruises on her wrists and shadows under her eyes were marks of the last twenty-four hours—evidence of her misstep, of her calculated gamble that hadn't turned out as planned. Part of her regretted every decision that had led her here. But another part, the part that had lived in Consort Xian's shadow, told her it had been necessary. If she hadn't acted, if she hadn't staked her place, she'd simply disappear, just as she always feared.
But at Chengqian Palace, the void left by Wanying's absence weighed heavily on Ru Lingyi who found herself standing in the courtyard, staring into the quietness as if waiting for Wanying's footsteps to echo through the halls. The questions in her heart weighed as much as the silence around her. She had been there when the bottle was revealed, had seen Wanying's betrayal, her ruthless accusations against Consort Xian.
But why? What could drive her to that? As much as they don't see eye to eye on normal days, they do once shared quiet moments, shared memories and duties. Lingyi couldn't fathom the extent of Wanying's resentment..or her motives.
With this, Lingyi's resolve solidified as she lingered upon these thoughts . She had to see Wanying, hear her explanation. They weren't close..Yes, maybe they were never friends at all—but they were bound by the loyalty they once shared toward Consort Xian.
She set off for the Office of Careful Punishment, each step heavy, her heart quickening with anticipation and a vague, persistent dread.
When she arrived at Wanying's cell, the sight that met her eyes made her pause. Wanying, despite everything, sat as if nothing had happened, her back straight, her face calm. She was either fearless or too numb to care anymore. For a moment, they just looked at each other, the air thick with unspoken words and shared memories.
"You've come to laugh at me?".. Wanying broke the silence.
Lingyi maintained a neutral look..didn't know what to say.
"But why, Wanying?" Lingyi said with her voice barely above a whisper "Why would you do this?"
Wanying's expression remained blank for a moment, and then she chuckled bitterly. "Why?" she repeated, her gaze hardening as she looked Lingyi up and down, as though sizing up an opponent. "You really don't know?"
Lingyi frowned, her voice gentle but firm. "I truly don't understand. Consort Xian trusted you. You've been with her far longer than I have."
"Exactly," Wanying spat the word out , her eyes blazing. "I was there first. I served her, protected her, understood her needs better than anyone. I was her shadow, her confidante...Until you came along."
Lingyi shook her head, incredulous. "You're saying this was all… because of me?"
Wanying's laughter was hollow, almost mocking. "It wasn't just you. But when you arrived, Consort Xian began to change. Suddenly, I was less needed. Suddenly, I was less seen." Her eyes narrowed, her tone bitter. "One day it's a small thing, just a simple duty taken from my hands. The next day, she's asking for you instead of me. Do you know what it's like to be forgotten, Lingyi? To realize you've been replaced without a word?"
Lingyi felt a pang of guilt but pushed it aside, her own frustration bubbling up. "Wanying, the loyalty you claim to have is shattered now. Even if you were replaced, that doesn't excuse what you've done to Consort Xian. If anything, this betrayal only confirms she chose wisely in trusting someone else."
The fire in Wanying's gaze flared before dimming into something darker, something unrepentant. "So be it," she said quietly, her voice calm yet filled with defiance. "I would rather be punished a thousand times over than stand by and watch my life slip through my fingers. I made a choice. And no, I don't feel sorry for her, for you ..or for anyone."
lingyi paused, ran her gaze through Wanyings countenance and then she remembered that Wanying must not have acted alone, there must have been a mastermind, she knew there was one. But who was it .
"Wanying" Lingyi called out to get her attention
"Who helped you in this ..or should I say who put you to this?
Lingyi knew better that Wanying wouldn't admit to that, and she watched keenly for her look to betray her. And there is was... Wanyings hands shaked at the question, and her eyes flaring up at Lingyi in defence.
"I acted alone..no one put anyone to anything". Wanying responded quickly.
A bitter silence followed. Lingyi looked at her one last time, as if searching for some sign of the person she'd once known, but found only hardened resolve. With nothing more to say, she left, her heart weighted by both pity and anger.
As she returned to Chengqian Palace, lost in thought, she was unaware of a figure watching her from the shadows.Cai, Consort Shu's faithful - witty maid, saw Lingyi pass, her gaze narrowing in suspicion. A thought flickered in her mind, and with stealthy steps, she returned to Luyang Palace to relay what she had observed.
In Luyang Palace, Cai knelt by Consort Shu, who listened in silence, a cold glint in her eye as Cai recounted every detail. "Niang Naing, I saw her. Ru Lingyi, returning from the Office of Careful Punishment."
Consort Shu's gaze sharpened. "So she went to see Wanying?" Her voice was calm, calculating, but Cai could sense the storm beneath her mistress's quiet.
"It would seem so, Mistress," Cai replied, her tone laced with a knowing undertone. "Perhaps they share more loyalty than we thought....and Lingyi might get the truth out of Wanyings throat"
Shu smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "Lingyi. Of course." She sat back, folding her hands elegantly, her gaze distant as though already scheming. "If Lingyi is to become troublesome, we should handle it before she grows into a larger threat. The fewer people who remember this… incident, the better."
Cai nodded with a wicked smile curling up her lips.
The next morning, Lingyi woke to an unexpected summons. Consort Shu had requested her presence, a rare occurrence that filled her with trepidation. She dressed carefully, making her way to Luyang Palace with guarded composure.
In Consort Shu's chambers, a quiet tension hung in the air. Shu sat regally, her gaze piercing as she gestured for Lingyi to approach.
"This servant greets Your Highness , Consort Shu", Lingyi bowed in respect.
"You've come," Shu began smoothly, gesturing for lingyi to rise , her voice soft but carrying an underlying chill. "Lingyi, isn't it? I hear you've been most loyal to Consort Xian."
Lingyi bowed, her response careful. "Yes, Your Highness. My loyalty to Consort Xian remains unshaken."
Shu's smile widened, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Loyalty is a precious thing in the forbidden city, wouldn't you agree? And yet, it can be so… brittle."
Lingyi kept her expression steady, even as she sensed the threat beneath Shu's words. "I do what I must to serve those I'm loyal to, Niang Niang."
"And yet," Shu continued, her tone casual but precise, "you seem to have taken a certain… interest in Wanying's fate. A rather dangerous interest."
Lingyi tensed, her gaze hardening. "I sought only to understand her betrayal of our Mistress."
"Ah," Shu said, raising an eyebrow. "But betrayal is such an insidious thing. Once a person is tainted by it, the stench never really fades, does it?"
Lingyi took a steadying breath, her tone calm yet resolute. "If you're questioning my loyalty to Consort Xian, Niang Naing, I assure you, it's unwavering."
Consort Shu tilted her head, studying Lingyi with a mixture of amusement and calculation. "I would hate to see such loyalty go unrewarded, Lingyi. But remember this: loyalties in this palace can be as fleeting as a passing breeze." Her voice dropped, cold and clear. "And those who test the strength of that breeze often find themselves… swept away."
Lingyi felt the weight of Shu's warning settle heavily, but she maintained her composure, bowing low. "Thank you for your guidance, Naing Naing....I must return before my mistress notices my absence".
Consort Shu waved her hand reluctantly signaling for lingyi to run along.
As Lingyi left, a chill lingered in her heart. The subtle threat in Consort Shu's words echoed in her mind, a reminder of the silent war being waged around her. She knew now that Consort Shu must have something to do with Wanying betrayal and that Shu had become aware of her and had deemed her presence a threat. But she also knew she couldn't abandon Consort Xian now—not when the very air of Chengqian Palace carried the echoes of betrayal.
Later, as she walked through the gardens, a memory flashed through her mind—Wanying's bitter face, her words filled with resentment. In that moment, Lingyi resolved that, no matter the risks, she would find a way to protect Consort Xian from enemies seen and unseen. For now, she would play Shu's game, keeping her true intentions hidden behind her quiet obedience. But one day, she promised herself, she would repay every slight, every threat, with the same cold calculation that Consort Shu wielded so masterfully.
In the shadows of the Forbidden City walls, survival was a battle fought not with swords, but with secrets—and Lingyi intended to sharpen hers until the time was right...or so she thought.