The harem had always been a place of silent wars—smiles that hid daggers, and every word a potential weapon. Concubine Xu had ruled this arena with an iron fist wrapped in silk, her reign unchallenged for years. Yet recently, her once unshakable hold over the other concubines had begun to erode, and the cause of it all was painfully clear: Concubine Mei.
Xu sat in her chambers, the cool breeze brushing through the open windows. She maintained her usual calm exterior, but inside, her mind buzzed with plans of retaliation. Mei had been far more formidable than she had initially expected, gathering allies among the weaker concubines and even gaining the loyalty of some of the palace maids. Xu had seen challengers come and go in the harem, but Mei had survived longer than most.
But survival wasn't enough in this place. In the harem, you didn't just survive—you had to thrive, or else you'd be crushed. Mei had to be reminded of that.
Xu's fingers trailed over the delicate porcelain cup in her hand as she thought about her next move. If she could isolate Mei, break apart her alliances, the girl would crumble. Mei's network was still fragile, after all. The key was finding the weakest link.
That link was Concubine Linghua.
Linghua sat in the small garden behind her chambers, her hands trembling as she tried to concentrate on the embroidery she had been working on. But the thread kept slipping, her fingers too shaky to hold the needle properly.
Xu's visit earlier that day had shaken her more than she cared to admit. Xu had always been an intimidating figure, but today... today had been different. Xu had cornered her in her chambers, her voice soft, too soft, as she reminded Linghua of the delicate nature of her position in the harem.
"You've aligned yourself with Mei," Xu had said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "I hope you understand how dangerous that is. Mei is ambitious, and ambition in the harem can be... deadly. You wouldn't want to be caught on the wrong side when she eventually falls, would you?"
Linghua had stammered out a weak response, but Xu's meaning had been clear. The message was simple: betray Mei, or suffer the consequences.
Now, sitting in the quiet of the garden, Linghua didn't know what to do. She had thought Mei's protection would be enough to shield her from Xu's wrath, but Xu was far more terrifying than she had imagined. If she betrayed Mei, would Xu truly protect her? And if she stayed loyal to Mei, how much longer would that protection last before Xu decided to act?
Mei sat in her chambers, a small smile playing on her lips as she listened to Lian, her most trusted maid, recount the events of the day. Lian had become Mei's eyes and ears in the harem, her network of information growing stronger with each passing week.
"Concubine Xu spoke with Linghua today," Lian said, her voice quiet but steady. "She's trying to turn her against you."
Mei raised an eyebrow. "And Linghua? Did she seem... persuaded?"
Lian shook her head. "No. She's scared, but I don't think she'll betray you. She's too frightened of what might happen if she does."
Mei leaned back in her chair, considering the situation. Linghua had been a valuable ally, but her fear made her vulnerable. Xu knew that, and that's why she had targeted her. It was a smart move—if Linghua cracked, Mei's alliances would begin to fall apart.
But Mei wasn't about to let Xu win that easily.
"Arrange for Linghua to meet with me later," Mei said after a moment. "We'll reassure her, and while we're at it, we'll use this to our advantage."
Lian bowed her head. "As you wish, my lady."
As Lian left, Mei's thoughts began to spin. Xu was playing a dangerous game, but Mei had been in situations like this before. Back in her old life, it had been a different kind of battlefield—gaming tournaments, martial arts competitions—but the strategies were the same. You had to stay ahead of your opponent, anticipate their moves before they made them. Xu had made her move, and now it was Mei's turn.
Later that evening, Linghua arrived at Mei's chambers, her face pale, her hands still trembling slightly. Mei could see the fear in her eyes as she stepped inside.
"Mei," Linghua began, her voice shaky, "I... I don't know what to do. Xu... she came to me today. She... she wants me to betray you."
Mei remained calm, motioning for Linghua to sit. "I know," Mei said softly, her voice gentle but firm. "And you're right to be afraid. Xu is dangerous, but I need you to trust me."
Linghua looked at her, wide-eyed. "But what if she...?"
Mei leaned forward, placing a reassuring hand on Linghua's. "Xu is desperate. She sees that her power is slipping, and that's why she's trying to scare you. But if you stand with me, I promise you'll be safe."
Linghua swallowed hard, clearly torn, but Mei's steady gaze gave her a small glimmer of hope. "You've protected me so far," Linghua whispered. "I'll... I'll trust you."
Mei smiled, but there was a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Good. Now, we're going to use Xu's tactics against her. The next time she approaches you, act uncertain. Let her think you're considering her offer."
Linghua blinked, confused. "But why...?"
"Because," Mei explained, her voice cool, "we're going to let her dig her own grave. The moment she thinks she's won, we'll expose her tactics to the other concubines. By the time we're done, no one will trust her."
The following morning, Concubine Xu woke to a palace buzzing with whispers. She had expected rumors to circulate, but not like this. The other concubines were talking—about her. Words like "blackmail" and "threats" danced through the air, growing louder with each passing moment.
Xu's calm demeanor cracked as she realized what had happened. Somehow, despite her best efforts, Mei had turned the tables on her. The rumors spreading through the harem painted Xu as a desperate woman, clinging to power through underhanded tactics.
As Xu stormed through the halls, her mind raced. How had this happened? She had been so careful, so precise in her moves. And yet, Mei had outmaneuvered her.
"I want to know who started these rumors," Xu demanded of her maid, her voice sharp with barely contained fury.
Her maid, visibly trembling, bowed deeply. "I... I'm trying to find out, my lady, but... the rumors are everywhere now."
Xu's fists clenched at her sides. Mei had managed to strike back, and it had worked. Her power, once unshakable, was slipping. But Xu wasn't finished. She had been in the harem long enough to know that power could be reclaimed.
"This isn't over," Xu muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing as she thought of Mei. "Not by a long shot."
Later that day, Mei walked through the palace gardens, her steps light, her expression calm. She could feel the shift in the air—the other concubines watching her with new eyes, some with admiration, others with thinly veiled jealousy.
She had won this round, but Mei knew better than to rest easy. Xu was still dangerous, and the more power Mei gained, the bigger target she became.
But she had always thrived under pressure. Back in her old life, every game, every competition had been about staying one step ahead of her opponents. The harem was no different. The stakes were higher, yes, but the rules? They were the same.
She glanced up at the palace, knowing that Zhihao was fighting his own battles in the court. They hadn't spoken directly in days, but their silent understanding remained. He would handle his side of the palace, and she would handle hers.
Mei smiled to herself. The game was far from over.