Minister Feng stood by the wide, intricately carved window in his private chambers, staring out at the sprawling palace grounds, his eyes dark and calculating. The beauty of the gardens did little to ease his mind. The air in the room felt thick, heavy with tension. He had always known that the game of power in the court was a dangerous one, but never had the stakes been so high. He had spent years building his influence, slowly weaving his web through the court, the military, and the harem. And now, everything was unraveling.
His reflection in the glass showed the signs of wear—deepening lines on his forehead, eyes that had once been sharp now filled with the creeping shadow of doubt. Zhihao's unexpected rise, his unyielding charm, and the audacity with which he played his cards had caught Feng off guard. What had once seemed like a manageable threat was becoming an all-consuming problem.
Worse still, the rumors about the king and General Tian Yi had made things more complicated. At first, Feng had seen the rumors as an opportunity to isolate Zhihao and weaken his position, especially within the military. But the way the court had responded—the way Zhihao had deftly turned even the most dangerous accusations into tools of manipulation—had thrown Feng's carefully laid plans into chaos.
And now, his allies were beginning to slip through his fingers.
Minister Sheng, once a solid and reliable pillar of his network, had started talking about other options—other potential alliances in the court and harem. The mention of Concubine Mei had been a subtle but unmistakable shift in the conversation. Sheng had been cautious, but Feng knew what his intentions were. Mei was rising quickly in the harem, and her influence was beginning to rival Concubine Xu. Sheng's interest in Mei had made Feng wary, and the idea that Sheng might already be planning to approach her without him had planted the seed of paranoia.
Feng had always prided himself on being able to see the angles in every situation, but recently, the angles had become murky. There were too many variables, too many people with their own agendas. And at the center of it all, Zhihao, that damned king, was somehow always one step ahead.
His thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. He didn't need to turn to know who it was. Only one person entered his chambers without needing to be announced.
"Come in," Feng said, his voice tight.
The door opened, and Lady Feng stepped inside, moving with the grace and poise of someone who knew the power of subtlety. She wore her usual simple but elegant attire, her hair pinned up in a way that suggested both authority and restraint. Her expression, however, was far from serene.
"Brother," she said softly as she approached, her tone carrying the weight of their shared burdens.
Feng finally turned away from the window, his eyes meeting his sister's. Lady Feng had always been his most trusted confidante. While she wasn't directly involved in court politics, her influence over the harem—and through that, the power structure of the palace—had made her invaluable to his plans. But even she had begun to sense the shifting tides.
"We need to talk," she said, her voice low, though there was an edge to it that Feng didn't like. It wasn't the usual calm, controlled tone she used when reporting on her dealings. It was sharper, more urgent.
Feng gestured for her to sit. "What news?"
Lady Feng sat down gracefully, smoothing her robes before speaking. "Concubine Xu is losing her grip faster than expected. Mei has proven... more resourceful than we anticipated."
A bitter laugh escaped Feng before he could stop it. "Xu has always been a liability. She's been useful, but her desperation is beginning to show. If she can't maintain control, then she's no longer of use to us."
"I wouldn't write her off so quickly," Lady Feng warned. "She still has influence over several of the lower concubines, and more importantly, she's deeply entrenched with the court officials who still support you."
"And what of her recent actions?" Feng asked, narrowing his eyes. "You told me you met with her again recently. How did that go?"
Lady Feng's lips pressed into a thin line. "It was... tense. Xu knows she's losing her standing, but she's too proud to admit it. She suggested that we consolidate our forces and move against Mei directly—perhaps orchestrating a scandal that could ruin Mei's reputation."
Feng frowned. "And?"
"And I advised caution," Lady Feng continued. "There's something about Mei that I don't trust. She's too clever, too controlled. She doesn't react the way Xu does—she plays the long game, much like the king himself."
Feng's expression darkened. "Sheng mentioned her to me as well. He's considering shifting his support."
"I thought so," Lady Feng murmured. "That's why I advised Xu to accept a truce with Mei, at least for the time being. They've tentatively agreed to split influence within the harem, though how long that will last is anyone's guess. Xu is growing more paranoid by the day, and it's only a matter of time before she does something reckless."
Feng was silent for a moment, digesting the information. The idea of Concubine Mei as a potential ally was intriguing, but also dangerous. If Sheng had already approached her—or if he was planning to—then Feng was at risk of losing his grip on the harem entirely. But abandoning Xu now would be equally risky. Despite her flaws, Xu still had considerable sway among the older officials, and casting her aside could turn those allies against him.
"You're right to advise caution," Feng said finally, his voice thoughtful. "But we can't wait forever. If we let Mei consolidate too much power, it will be even harder to deal with her later. We need to be strategic."
Lady Feng's eyes narrowed slightly. "And what of the king? He's been limiting your movements in court, keeping you on the defensive. Have you made any progress in reestablishing contact with the Xu Kingdom?"
Feng's jaw tightened. The question stung, not because of its directness, but because it highlighted how much Zhihao had curtailed his influence. Ever since Zhihao had confronted him about the leaked military information, Feng's ability to communicate with his contacts in the Xu Kingdom had been severely restricted. The king had not made any overt moves to expose him, but Feng knew it was only a matter of time before Zhihao tightened the noose.
"I've been working on it," Feng said slowly. "But Zhihao has made it difficult. His spies are everywhere, and I've had to be more cautious than usual."
Lady Feng didn't look convinced. "Caution will only get us so far. If we can't reestablish our connection with the Xu Kingdom, our options will become even more limited. And with the rumors about the king and General Tian Yi spreading through the court, the military may soon become unstable."
Feng clenched his fists. The rumors about Zhihao and Tian Yi had been a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they had created a rift within the military, causing some of the generals to question Tian Yi's loyalty. But on the other hand, Zhihao had used those very same rumors to deepen his bond with Tian Yi, making the general even more loyal to him. It was infuriating how effortlessly the king had turned a potential weakness into a strength.
"I have a plan," Feng said finally, his voice low. "A final move, one that will either secure our victory or destroy us entirely."
Lady Feng raised an eyebrow. "What do you have in mind?"
Feng's eyes gleamed with a cold determination. "The harem. Xu may be losing control, but she's still a useful piece on the board. I'll push her to act against Mei. Publicly, if necessary. If she can create enough chaos in the harem, it will distract Zhihao long enough for me to make my move in the court."
"And if Xu fails?" Lady Feng asked, her tone sharp.
"Then you'll be my backup plan," Feng said, his voice hard. "If Xu falls, you'll take over the harem. Mei may be clever, but she's still vulnerable. She's new to this game. We can use that to our advantage."
Lady Feng was silent for a moment, her eyes calculating. She knew the risks involved in her brother's plan, but she also knew that their options were limited. Zhihao had boxed them in, and if they didn't act soon, they would lose everything.
"Very well," she said finally. "I'll keep Xu in line for as long as possible. But don't underestimate Mei. She's more dangerous than she appears."
Feng nodded, his mind already turning to the next steps. This was an all-or-nothing plan, and he knew it. If it worked, he would regain control of the court and the kingdom. But if it failed…
He didn't let himself dwell on that thought.
Tian Yi's Perspective
The sun was setting by the time General Tian Yi finally left the training grounds. His men had been working hard all day, preparing for the upcoming drills, but there was an underlying tension that he couldn't ignore. The rumors about him and the king had spread through the military like wildfire, and though his subordinates tried to maintain their composure, Tian Yi could feel the doubt creeping in.
He wiped the sweat from his brow as he walked through the barracks, nodding at the soldiers who saluted him as he passed. They respected him—he knew that much. But respect wasn't the same as trust. And with the rumors swirling around his relationship with the king, trust was becoming a fragile commodity.
Tian Yi's mind wandered as he made his way toward his private quarters. Zhihao had always been an enigma to him. The king was charming, cunning, and impossibly difficult to read. And yet, there was something about Zhihao that drew him in—a magnetic pull that Tian Yi couldn't explain, no matter how much he tried.
He had always been a man of duty, of honor. His loyalty to the kingdom had never wavered. But Zhihao had complicated things. The king's flirtations, his subtle manipulations, had left Tian Yi questioning his own feelings. Was he being used? Or was there something genuine behind Zhihao's actions?
He didn't know anymore.
Tian Yi entered his quarters and sat down heavily at his desk. He stared at the reports in front of him, but his mind wasn't on military strategy. It was on Zhihao. The rumors had become unbearable. His subordinates were starting to question his loyalty, and it was only a matter of time before the tension boiled over.
He needed to talk to Zhihao. He needed answers.
But how could he approach the king? How could he confront Zhihao without risking everything? If Zhihao was truly manipulating him—if the king's affections were nothing more than a ploy to keep him loyal—then Tian Yi didn't know how he would respond.
And yet, despite his doubts, Tian Yi couldn't bring himself to sever the bond he had with the king. There was something about Zhihao that made him want to stay, even if it meant risking his reputation and his position.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. One of his lieutenants entered, saluting him sharply.
"General, the men are asking about tomorrow's drills," the lieutenant said. "Do you want us to continue as planned?"
Tian Yi nodded, pushing his personal thoughts aside. "Yes. Continue with the usual schedule. I'll oversee the drills myself."
The lieutenant saluted again and left, leaving Tian Yi alone with his thoughts once more.
As the evening wore on, Tian Yi's resolve hardened. He couldn't continue like this, living in uncertainty and doubt. He needed to confront Zhihao, to demand the truth about their relationship and the rumors that had spread through the court and military.
With a deep breath, Tian Yi stood and prepared himself. Tomorrow, he would seek an audience with the king. It was time for answers.