The Dowager's Game
Word of Lianhua's subtle influence began to reach corners of the palace that were usually silent. The Queen Mother, ever watchful, took notice. She called for Lianhua one morning, summoning her to the inner hall where few servants were ever allowed.
Lianhua entered cautiously, bowing low. Empress Dowager Xu sat behind a low table, sipping tea as if the entire world belonged to her. Her gaze, cold and precise, settled on Lianhua, weighing her like a scale.
"You are clever, Shen Lianhua," the Dowager said softly. "Cleverness can survive many trials, but it can also destroy the foolish. Tell me… do you understand the rules of my game?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Lianhua replied, careful not to tremble. "Observe, endure, and act when the moment is right."
The Dowager's smile was thin. "Wise. But acting too soon, or too late, can be fatal. The palace watches everything, records everything. Even the Emperor does not see all that occurs beneath these roofs."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Some call me cruel. I prefer precise. And you, Shen Lianhua, have caught my attention. That is both your danger and your opportunity."
Lianhua bowed deeper, feeling the weight of the words. Opportunity could be deadly if misused. Danger lurked in every gesture, every glance, every favor.
"You will serve in the inner kitchens for a week," the Dowager continued, her voice calm, almost casual. "There, you will observe and record the comings and goings of certain… influential guests. Report nothing to anyone except myself. A single mistake, and your head may not remain on your shoulders."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Lianhua said, her mind already mapping the assignments, the risks, the angles, the people she would need to watch.
As she was dismissed, she realized something crucial: the Dowager's games were never straightforward. Every test carried hidden rules. Every command was layered with intention. And surviving here would mean seeing all the layers, before they were revealed.
Walking back to her quarters, Lianhua whispered another vow:
I will endure every test.
I will learn every rule.
And one day, the Queen Mother will meet someone she cannot control.
The palace was alive with hidden dangers.
And Shen Lianhua was ready to move through them, unseen but never unprepared.