CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Tea and Tension

The tea was steeped in the fragrance of jasmine and chrysanthemum. The cups, thin as porcelain whispers, glowed in the low candlelight.

Lady Hua's pavilion was much quieter than the palace halls. The walls were thick with tapestry, the air rich with incense, and the garden beyond the window — green, serene, and still.

Liora entered, no attendants with her, just the sound of her soft footsteps as she approached the low table. Hua was already seated, her posture poised but unhurried, as though her invitation had been made on a whim rather than with careful deliberation.

"Lady Liora," Hua greeted, her smile a delicate curve. "I hope the evening finds you well."

Liora returned the bow, her gaze steady. "You honor me with this invitation, Lady Hua."

"Please, sit," Hua gestured to the cushion opposite her, pouring tea into the waiting cup. "It is rare to find a moment's peace in this palace. I thought we might share it, as two women with more in common than most would admit."

Liora sat, the silken cushion yielding beneath her, and accepted the cup. The warmth from the tea curled up her fingers, filling the space between them with a delicate, unspoken tension.

"I have heard much about your child," Hua said, eyes glinting like dark pools. "Congratulations are due."

Liora gave a small smile, but said nothing. The quiet was her ally, her strategy.

"And," Hua continued, with an almost imperceptible shift in tone, "I understand you've been building alliances. Zhen, for one. A wise choice."

Liora took a sip of her tea, letting the taste linger before speaking. "And yet, you're not the first to call it 'wise.'"

Hua laughed softly, the sound like the rustle of silk. "I am not like the others, Lady Liora. I do not play at this game of courtly affection. I am not here to win your favor, nor you mine." She paused, letting the words fall between them, heavy with meaning. "But I do see an opportunity."

"An opportunity?" Liora raised an eyebrow. "What kind of opportunity?"

"To be practical," Hua said simply. "We both know that children will change the game. Your alliances will not hold if you do not have the right protection. And I know that you, like me, are no stranger to the power of what is unspoken." She leaned forward slightly, her voice lower now. "What if we could help each other?"

Liora's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Hua's words were careful, and yet there was a rawness beneath them that Liora could feel. This was not a proposal born from naiveté — it was one born from careful calculation.

"What is it you want, Lady Hua?" Liora asked, her voice steady.

Hua's gaze flickered toward the window, where the moonlight pooled like silver liquid. "I do not need your title, nor your position. What I need is security. For my child. For my future." She looked back at Liora. "The court is a house built of stone, but even the strongest stones can crack. The Queen's favor will not last forever. Elira's favor is fickle. But you... you're different."

Liora took another sip, considering her words. She had seen Hua's game before — hidden behind beauty and exotic origins, her ambition was sharp as a blade, cutting through the softer edges of the harem's politics.

"And what would you expect from me?" Liora asked, her voice quieter now, more measured.

"A mutual exchange," Hua replied. "I can offer you the protection of those who are loyal to me. In exchange, you can help secure my future — and my child's."

"Not much of a trade for me," Liora said dryly, though her mind worked quickly. "You have no power in this court. No connections beyond your family."

Hua smiled, almost faintly. "Ah, but power comes in many forms. Do you not see the way others look at me? My appearance alone is a shield."

"And if the King does not notice?" Liora asked.

"Then he is blind," Hua answered, her smile turning sharp. "He is not the only one who counts. There are other men of influence, other women who rule the undercurrents of the court. Even the Dowager Empress has her whispers."

Liora sat back, absorbing the weight of the words. She had been in the palace long enough to understand that Hua's subtlety was her true weapon. The woman had learned how to move within the shadows, drawing power without ever fully revealing her hand.

"You want me to use my influence to give you leverage," Liora said, her gaze unwavering.

"I want you to use your alliances to keep both of us alive," Hua corrected, her voice smooth but firm. "In exchange, I will not move against you. You'll have my loyalty, and the loyalty of those who owe me."

Liora remained silent, turning the offer over in her mind. There was danger in aligning with someone like Hua. But there was also potential — potential for strength when she needed it most.

"I will consider your proposal," Liora said at last, setting her cup down. "But know this: I do not make alliances lightly."

"I would expect nothing less," Hua replied, her smile both friendly and foreboding.

Liora rose, bowing slightly. "I will take my leave. But you've given me much to think about."

"And I you," Hua said softly. "Think carefully, Lady Liora. A woman who stands alone can be swept away. But one who stands with the right people… will make the palace tremble."