The early morning sun crept across the sky, casting long shadows over the courtyard. Shuyin stood at the window of her chambers, watching the world wake up beneath her. The stillness of the morning was almost deceptive; it was the calm before the storm, the moment before chaos descended.
The servant girl, Li Mei, had proven herself useful so far, but Shuyin had learned to never rely too heavily on others. Trust was a luxury she couldn't afford, not in a world built on betrayal and shifting alliances.
Today would be a turning point, the moment when everything changed. The moonlit night would be the stage for a deadly game, one that would either solidify her place or set her back irreparably. And in this game, only the most ruthless survived.
Shuyin turned away from the window, her thoughts shifting to Zhang, the head steward. He had thought himself clever, trying to make deals with General Zhao Liang in secret. But Shuyin had already seen through the cracks in his plan. His betrayal was not just an act of ambition; it was an attempt to usurp her. His life had already been forfeited the moment he had turned against her father's legacy.
She allowed herself a brief, cold smile. No one dared challenge the Murong family and lived.
The plot was simple enough. She had already positioned Li Mei to provide information and act as an intermediary. The servant would play her part tonight, ushering Zhang into the carefully set trap. General Zhao Liang would be dealt with afterward, but for now, Shuyin had only one target in her sights.
---
The night fell quickly, wrapping the estate in a blanket of darkness. The air was thick with anticipation as Shuyin made her way to the secluded courtyard where the meeting was set to take place. The moon hung low in the sky, casting silver light on the stone paths, making it easier for Shuyin to slip through the shadows unnoticed.
Li Mei was already in position, standing near the edge of the courtyard, her back to the shadows. She looked nervous, her hands trembling slightly as she glanced around, but there was no sign of the steward yet.
Shuyin walked toward her, her footsteps soft but purposeful. "Are you prepared?" she asked, her voice cool and unwavering.
Li Mei nodded, swallowing her fear. "It's all set, Lady Murong. Zhang will be here shortly. Everything is ready."
"Good," Shuyin said, her gaze turning cold. "Remember, the moment he steps into that courtyard, he is mine. Do not hesitate. Do not fail."
Li Mei nodded again, her face pale, her lips pressed together in tight compliance.
Shuyin remained silent, her senses sharp as she waited. Her fingers brushed the hilt of the dagger hidden beneath her cloak. Tonight, the world would see what it meant to cross her.
The minutes dragged on, each second filled with the quiet tension of a predator watching its prey. Finally, the sound of footsteps reached her ears. Zhang had arrived.
Shuyin glanced toward Li Mei, who stepped forward, signaling the steward's approach.
"Lady Murong," Zhang's voice broke the silence, tinged with mock respect as he stepped into the moonlight. His figure was tall and imposing, but his arrogance was evident in the way he carried himself. His eyes flicked briefly toward Shuyin, but he made no effort to hide his disdain. "I trust everything is in order?"
"It will be," Shuyin replied, her tone neutral. "But before we discuss your... offer, there are matters that need to be addressed."
Zhang raised an eyebrow. "Matters?" he asked, his voice laced with thinly veiled condescension. "There's nothing left to address. I have the general's support. Once your father is out of the picture, I will—"
Shuyin cut him off with a sharp glance. "You think you've already won?" she asked, her voice like ice. "That your little conspiracy will secure you the power you seek?"
Zhang's arrogance faltered for a split second, but he quickly regained his composure. "You've always been... difficult, Shuyin. But your father's days are numbered. It's only a matter of time before I take control. You're either with me or you're against me."
"And what if I told you," Shuyin said, her lips curling into a cold, predatory smile, "that your time has already run out?"
Zhang's eyes widened in realization, but before he could react, Shuyin gestured to Li Mei, who stepped forward, her hands trembling but determined. The servant girl pulled out a small vial from her sleeve and uncorked it with a quiet hiss.
Before Zhang could even react, the liquid inside the vial splashed onto the ground, releasing a sharp, toxic fume that filled the air around him. The steward gasped, his hands flying to his throat as he stumbled backward, choking on the poison. His eyes bulged in panic as his knees buckled, and he fell to the ground in a convulsion of pain.
Shuyin watched with cold detachment as Zhang's life slowly slipped away. The poison had been carefully crafted—slow, agonizing, ensuring that no one could trace the cause of death back to her.
Within moments, the steward's body lay still, his face contorted in a final expression of terror. Shuyin stood over him, her eyes empty, her emotions as cold as the stone beneath her boots.
Li Mei took a shaky breath, stepping back from the scene, her eyes wide with shock. "It's done," she whispered.
Shuyin nodded, wiping the faint trace of poison from her hand before turning her gaze toward the darkened corners of the courtyard. "Now we wait for General Zhao."
---
The next few days passed in a blur of preparations. With Zhang out of the way, Shuyin's influence within the estate grew. The servants whispered in the halls, the rumors spread quickly, but Shuyin remained a shadow in the background, always calculating, always patient.
General Zhao would be dealt with next—he had made the mistake of thinking that he could make deals behind her back and escape unscathed. But Shuyin knew that power didn't belong to those who were too careless to conceal their ambitions.
And she had made sure that General Zhao would learn the price of underestimating her.
---