Chereads / Battle of Palaces / Chapter 55 - A game of Chess

Chapter 55 - A game of Chess

Hua pin swept into her chambers, her demeanor light as though she carried no weight of the schemes she had woven. A'rou trailed behind, the perfect picture of obedience, though her mind churned with curiosity and confusion. The events at Luyang Palace, particularly Hua's strange interaction with Consort Shu, had left her puzzled. Hua had claimed to have trapped Shu in a game of chess, but the moves remained invisible to A'rou.

Pouring tea with careful precision, A'rou gathered her courage. Placing the porcelain cup on the low table before her mistress, she hesitated before speaking. "Niang-niang," she began cautiously, her voice a blend of reverence and inquiry. "Forgive my insolence, but… how do you intend to use Consort Shu to achieve your goals?"

Concubine Hua remained silent, her gaze fixed on the teacup. She picked it up with deliberate grace, sliding the lid over the brim. The rhythmic movement seemed almost hypnotic. She took a sip, her expression unreadable, then replaced the lid with an audible click. A quiet chuckle escaped her lips as she finally turned her piercing gaze to A'rou.

"Do you not see, A'rou?" she asked, her tone soft yet laden with menace. "The finest schemes are not wrought through haste but through patience and precision. Like embroidery on silk, every thread must serve its purpose."

A'rou swallowed nervously, unsure if her question had been out of place. Hua leaned back, the corner of her lips curling in a sly smile.

"I will make myself indispensable to Consort Shu, although so she might see it" Hua said, her voice laced with quiet triumph. "I will become her most trusted ally, her closest confidante. With words veiled in concern and advice wrapped in loyalty, I will shape her thoughts, guide her actions, and sharpen her grievances against Jia. And when the moment comes for the blow to fall…" Hua's voice dipped into a chilling softness, "Shu will wield the blade, and I will remain spotless, completely reaping my benefits"

A'rou's eyes widened. Her mistress's cunning was like a river—deceptively calm on the surface but treacherously deep beneath. "Niang-niang, your wisdom is boundless," she murmured, lowering her head.

Hua's laughter rang out, soft and melodic. "Wisdom, perhaps. Or the resolve of a woman who will not be cast aside. Now, A'rou, see to it that my brocades are prepared for tomorrow's audience. We shall not falter in our appearance, even as the harem burns around us."

Consort Shu sat at her painting desk, her brush hovering over the silk canvas. The elegant strokes she had planned to paint had become hesitant smudges, her thoughts too restless to focus. Hua's visit lingered in her mind like an echo she couldn't silence. The story of her humiliation at Qixiang Palace had pricked at something deep within Shu—a mix of pity and indignation.

She sighed, placing the brush down with a sharp clink. Could it be true? she wondered. Had Jia truly changed so drastically since her elevation? The Jia she had once known was cunning, yes, but respectful and cautious. The idea that she had so openly insulted Concubine Hua made Consort Shu question her own judgment.

"Niang-niang?"

Shu turned to see Cai standing nearby, her maid's expression shadowed with concern. "How long have you been standing there?" Shu asked.

"Long enough to see that something troubles you," Cai replied boldly, stepping closer. "Is it Hua Pin?"

Shu nodded slowly. "Her story was troubling, Cai. If what she says is true, then Consort Jia's ambitions may have outgrown her sense of propriety. I had hoped her elevation would humble her, but it seems it has only emboldened her."

Cai's brow furrowed. "Niang-niang, if Consort Jia has become a threat, then we must tread carefully. Her current favor with the Emperor makes her a formidable force. You cannot afford to underestimate her."

Consort Shu leaned back, her fingers drumming against the armrest of her chair. "Underestimate her? No, I do not. But what troubles me more is the shifting alliances in this harem. Hua Pin may be pitiable now, but I cannot forget her past transgressions. She was never one to act without an agenda."

Cai nodded, her tone sharpening. "Then perhaps Hua's plight is not as simple as it seems. Niang-niang, you must consider that her tears may conceal more than sorrow."

Shu's eyes narrowed slightly. "You think she has come to manipulate me?"

"I think," Cai said carefully, "that Hua Pin has always been a strategist. Whatever her motives were, she has chosen you for a reason. Whether as an ally or a pawn, she intends to involve you in her schemes."

Shu tapped her fingers against the table, deep in thought. "If she seeks an ally, she will find me cautious. If she seeks a pawn, she will find me unyielding. For now, we shall observe. Inform me of anything unusual concerning Hua pin or Jia Fei."

"Yes, niang-niang." Cai bowed and retreated, leaving Shu to her thoughts.

A'rou stood by Hua's side as her mistress examined her wardrobe, choosing attire for the upcoming event. Though Hua appeared calm, A'rou knew her well enough to sense the undercurrent of tension.

"Niang-niang," A'rou ventured hesitantly, "do you trust Consort Shu?"

Hua laughed softly, her eyes glittering with amusement. "Trust her? Trust in this harem is a luxury none of us can afford, A'rou. I do not trust Shu, but I trust her ambitions. She seeks stability, and I shall make her believe that I offer it."

"But niang-niang," A'rou pressed, "what if Shu discovers your intentions?"

Hua's smile turned sharp. "Then she will find herself too entangled in my web to escape without consequence. Do not concern yourself with Shu's loyalty, A'rou. Concern yourself with ensuring that I remain indispensable to her."

A'rou nodded, though the unease in her heart remained. Her mistress was brilliant, but the harem was a battlefield where even the sharpest minds could falter.

Hua turned to her, her expression softening slightly. "A'rou, you have served me faithfully for years. Do you doubt my ability to navigate these waters?"

"Never, niang-niang," A'rou said quickly, bowing her head. "I only wish to ensure your safety."

Hua placed a hand on A'rou's shoulder, her touch both reassuring and firm. "And that is why I value you. But remember this—safety is an illusion in the Forbidden City. Here, survival is won through wit, patience, and the willingness to strike when the moment demands it."

As Hua Pin turned back to her wardrobe, A'rou couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine. Her mistress was playing a dangerous game, and this time, the stakes were higher than ever.

The air buzzed with tension as whispers of shifting alliances and hidden schemes spread through the palaces. Maids exchanged glances, eunuchs spoke in hushed tones, and the consorts walked their gilded halls with careful poise, each woman a queen on her own chessboard.

Hua smiled to herself as she gazed out the window of her chambers, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns on the brocade she had gifted Consort Shu. "The game has begun," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the rustle of the wind. "Let us see who falls first."