Poisoned Favor
The palace whispered as Lianhua moved through the corridors. Some servants glanced at her with envy, others with suspicion. Rumors spread quickly, as always—this one was favored by the Emperor, that one had caught the Dowager's attention. But Lianhua learned to listen, not speak. Every word, every half-truth, could be a weapon.
It was during a mid-morning inspection that the first true test came. The Dowager entered the laundry court, her steps silent on the polished stone. Her eyes, like black ice, swept across the room until they landed on Lianhua.
"You are clever," the Dowager said, voice soft, but cutting. "Clever girls often die first in the palace. Do you know why?"
Lianhua kept her head low. "Because they attract attention, Your Majesty."
The Dowager smiled, a smile that did not reach her eyes. "Exactly. Attention is poison. Some drink it willingly, some are forced. You… will learn soon enough which is worse."
That afternoon, a tray of tea was delivered to Lianhua's quarters. She hesitated before sipping, her instincts sharpened by weeks of observation. A servant from the inner court appeared suddenly, bowing low.
"Your tea, miss. The Empress Dowager requested you drink it here."
Lianhua studied the liquid. Nothing smelled wrong, but nothing could be trusted. Slowly, deliberately, she poured a small amount onto the floor, watching it spill. No reaction.
The servant's eyes flicked toward her, and in that instant, Lianhua understood: the Dowager was testing her.
Later, during the Emperor's courtyard appearance, he watched her silently. "I see you survived the Dowager's little game," he said, his tone unreadable.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Lianhua replied.
"Good," he said, inclining his head slightly. "Many fail before sunrise. Few last beyond noon."
As she returned to her chores, she realized the truth: survival in the palace was not about strength alone. It was about observation, patience, and knowing when to act.
The Dowager's favor, the Emperor's attention—they were double-edged blades. And Lianhua, for the first time, accepted that she would have to learn to wield them both if she wished to live.
That night, she wrote the rules in her mind:
Watch everything.
Speak little.
Trust none.
Survive.
And perhaps one day… turn the poison into power.