Tea Party Incident
The tea party incident spread through the noble circles like wildfire. Word of Li Han, the second prince, coming to the defense of Shen Yue, the Prime Minister's concubine-born daughter, was on everyone's lips. Gossip painted the event in vivid colors—some claimed it was an act of pity, others whispered of hidden affections, while the more cynical among them speculated that Shen Yue had somehow orchestrated the moment to elevate her status.
Back at the Prime Minister's mansion, the air was heavy with tension. Madam Zhen's meticulously crafted plan to humiliate Shen Yue had backfired spectacularly, and her fury was palpable.
Shen Yue sat quietly in her small courtyard, her fingers tracing the edge of the delicate porcelain tea cup in her hands. She could feel the weight of Madam Zhen's wrath looming over her, a storm ready to break. But for the first time in years, she didn't feel entirely powerless. The memory of the prince's words echoed in her mind:
"Perhaps Lady Shen should be treated with more respect."
It wasn't a grand declaration, but it was enough to give her a glimmer of courage.
Her moment of reflection was interrupted by the arrival of her elder sister, Shen Ruo, her expression a mask of barely concealed rage. Dressed in a stunning crimson gown, Shen Ruo's beauty was as striking as ever, but her eyes burned with fury.
"You," she hissed, her voice low but sharp. "Do you realize what you've done?"
Shen Yue stood, keeping her composure. "I'm not sure what you mean, Sister."
"Don't play coy with me," Shen Ruo snapped, stepping closer. "You humiliated me in front of the second prince. Do you know how hard I've worked to capture his attention? And now, because of your pathetic little act, I've become a laughingstock."
Shen Yue's heart raced, but she kept her voice steady. "I didn't ask the prince to intervene. If anyone embarrassed you, it was your own behavior."
Shen Ruo's hand shot out, slamming against the edge of the table, causing the tea cup to rattle. Her lips curled into a venomous smile. "You think this is over? You're nothing, Shen Yue. A daughter of a maid. You don't belong in the palace, let alone anywhere near the prince. I'll make sure you regret today."
Before Shen Yue could respond, Madam Zhen swept into the courtyard, her silk robes billowing like a storm cloud. Her face was a mask of cold fury, her sharp gaze fixed on Shen Yue.
"Shen Yue," Madam Zhen said, her voice like ice. "Do you have any idea the trouble you've caused? Do you think the second prince defending you is a victory? It's nothing but a fleeting whim. And yet you've dared to embarrass your sister in front of the entire noble court."
Shen Yue's fists clenched at her sides, but she didn't lower her gaze. "I didn't humiliate anyone, Madam. Shen Ruo brought it upon herself."
Madam Zhen's lips tightened, and for a moment, the silence was deafening. Then, with a suddenness that startled Shen Yue, Madam Zhen raised her hand and struck her across the face.
The slap rang out, leaving Shen Yue stunned and trembling. Her cheek stung, but she refused to let the tears that threatened to fall betray her. Instead, she met Madam Zhen's glare with quiet defiance.
"Remember your place," Madam Zhen spat. "You're nothing but an inconvenience—a reminder of your mother's shame. You'll do well to keep your head down and stay out of the way."
Shen Yue didn't respond. She bowed her head slightly, more to hide her expression than out of submission. When Madam Zhen and Shen Ruo finally left, she collapsed onto the bench, her composure cracking.
Her maid, Xiao Lan, rushed to her side, her eyes wide with concern. "Miss Yue! Are you alright?"
Shen Yue nodded weakly, her voice barely a whisper. "I'll be fine."
But as Xiao Lan dabbed at the reddening mark on her cheek, Shen Yue couldn't help but wonder if she truly would be.
---
Meanwhile, in the palace, Li Han was dealing with his own fallout. His intervention at the tea party had not gone unnoticed. His half-brothers, the first and third princes, had already begun spreading rumors, using the incident as a tool to undermine him.
"You're too soft, Brother," the third prince sneered during a private meeting. "Defending a concubine's daughter? What kind of leader shows such favoritism? It won't end well for you."
Li Han's expression remained impassive, but his jaw tightened. "I don't recall asking for your opinion."
The crown prince, on the other hand, was more amused than anything. "You're drawing too much attention to yourself, Li Han. The court loves a scandal. Be careful, or you might find yourself dragged into something you can't control."
Li Han dismissed them both, but their words lingered in his mind. He hadn't intended to make a spectacle of himself at the tea party, nor had he intervened with any deeper motives. But something about Shen Yue's quiet dignity, her unwillingness to stoop to the level of her tormentors, had compelled him to act. It was a decision that might cost him, but he couldn't bring himself to regret it.
---
In the days that followed, the tension between Shen Yue and her family only grew. Shen Ruo's schemes became more insidious, and Madam Zhen's disdain more overt. But Shen Yue also found herself thinking of the second prince more often than she cared to admit. His brief defense of her had sparked something within her—a sense of worth she hadn't felt in years.
As for Li Han, he found himself drawn into the mystery of his mother's death with renewed urgency. The tea party had reminded him of the delicate balance of power within the court, and Shen Yue's quiet resilience lingered in his thoughts. He wasn't sure why, but he knew one thing—she wasn't as insignificant as the court believed.
And perhaps, neither was he.
Shadows and Resilience
Shen Yue spent the next few days confined to her quarters. Madam Zhen had insisted it was for her own good, but Shen Yue knew better—it was punishment. Despite the humiliation she'd endured, a strange sense of clarity settled over her. The events at the tea party had left ripples, not only in her family but in the palace as well. And for the first time, Shen Yue felt an inkling of power, no matter how small.
Late one evening, Xiao Lan entered her room, carrying a tray of food. "Miss Yue, you haven't eaten all day. You must keep your strength."
Shen Yue looked up from the window, where she had been staring at the moonlit garden. "Thank you, Xiao Lan." She took the bowl but paused before eating. "Have you heard anything?"
Xiao Lan hesitated. "The rumors have not died down, Miss. They say Madam Zhen is furious and plans to speak with the Prime Minister about arranging Shen Ruo's marriage to the second prince soon."
Shen Yue's heart sank, though she wasn't surprised. Madam Zhen would stop at nothing to elevate Shen Ruo, even if it meant using every underhanded tactic available.
"And what about the second prince?" she asked quietly.
"Some say he's been avoiding court gatherings since the tea party," Xiao Lan replied. "Others claim he's... been asking questions about you."
Shen Yue's breath hitched. Why would he do that? She dismissed the thought as quickly as it came. The prince likely wanted to ensure she didn't cause him further trouble. Still, the memory of his intervention lingered, a faint warmth in her otherwise cold world.
---
Across the city, within the sprawling palace walls, Li Han was deep in thought. Seated in his private study, he sifted through records and documents, each one a fragment of the puzzle surrounding his mother's death. It had been years since she had died, but the pain of her absence still gnawed at him.
His trusted confidant, Captain Wei, entered the room, bowing deeply. "Your Highness, I've followed up on the leads regarding the poisoning. It seems the servants who worked in the late consort's chambers have all either disappeared or..." He hesitated.
"Or?" Li Han prompted.
"Or they've met untimely deaths," Wei said grimly. "It's clear someone wanted to erase any trace of the truth."
Li Han leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming against the desk. "And what of the palace physician at the time?"
"We've found his family," Wei said. "They live in the outskirts of the city. The physician himself passed away shortly after your mother's death, but his son may have answers."
Li Han nodded. "Arrange for me to meet him, discreetly."
As Wei departed, Li Han's thoughts drifted back to Shen Yue. Her defiance at the tea party, her quiet dignity in the face of humiliation—it had been a stark contrast to the scheming, power-hungry nobles he was used to. She was different, and though he didn't fully understand why, he found himself wanting to know more about her.
---
At the Prime Minister's mansion, Shen Ruo was pacing her room, her frustration barely contained. "That wretched girl thinks she can steal the prince's favor from me!"
Her maid, Qin Er, spoke cautiously. "Miss, the second prince barely knows her. Surely his intervention was nothing more than a passing moment of kindness."
Shen Ruo rounded on her. "Kindness? The second prince isn't known for being kind. No, there's something more to this." Her lips curved into a wicked smile. "But it doesn't matter. I'll make sure Shen Yue never stands in my way again."
Madam Zhen entered the room then, her expression calm but calculating. "Ruo'er, the Prime Minister has agreed to propose a marriage alliance with the second prince. We'll soon see to it that you become the future consort. But you must tread carefully—any more public outbursts will only hurt your chances."
Shen Ruo nodded, determination blazing in her eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes, Mother."
---
Meanwhile, Shen Yue began her days anew with a resolve she hadn't felt before. She took to walking in the gardens in the early morning, finding solace in the quiet beauty of nature. Her steps were deliberate, her chin held higher than before.
During one such walk, she came across Shen Wen, her eldest sister. Shen Wen was the only one in the family who treated her with kindness, though their interactions were rare.
"Yue'er," Shen Wen said softly, her smile warm. "It's good to see you outside."
"Eldest Sister," Shen Yue replied, bowing respectfully. "I... needed some air."
Shen Wen nodded knowingly. "The tea party has caused quite a stir. You've managed to rattle not just Madam Zhen and Shen Ruo, but even the nobles."
"I didn't mean to," Shen Yue said quietly. "I only wanted to avoid trouble."
Shen Wen placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Sometimes, trouble finds us whether we want it or not. But I see something in you, Yue'er—a strength you may not realize you have. Don't let them break you."
Shen Yue felt a lump rise in her throat. "Thank you, Sister."
---
In the palace, Li Han prepared for his meeting with the late physician's son, determined to uncover the truth behind his mother's death. But as he donned his cloak and prepared to slip away unnoticed, a strange thought crossed his mind.
Would Shen Yue still be safe in her father's house?
He shook the thought away. She was not his responsibility. And yet, as he mounted his horse and rode into the night, he couldn't deny the faint pull in his chest, a feeling that whispered she might matter more than he cared to admit.