The most delicious part?

"The universe… the universe!" Consort Shu murmured, a low, throaty chuckle rumbling through her airways. She paced her chamber, her silk night garment whispering against her skin, her fingers tracing intricate patterns in the air as if weaving a spell. Her lips curved into a mischievous smile, and her eyes, glittering with ambition, were fixed on the darkness beyond the ornate windows. "Xian Fei," she hissed under her breath, "you think you've been cautious enough, carrying on this facade of cowardice you call virtue… hmph!" She huffed, the sound sharp and dismissive. "Well… one can never be too careful within the walls of the Forbidden City." She sank gracefully onto a stool before her dressing table, her gaze shifting from the empty expanse outside to the reflection of her own face in the mirror.

Consort Shu's victory felt tantalisingly close, so close she could almost taste it. But it had never materialized in the way she had envisioned. Consort Shu had never been on Xian's good side, the reasons for their animosity buried deep within the complex politics of the harem. They had entered the imperial harem at the same time, two ambitious women vying for the Emperor's favor, and had risen in rank almost simultaneously. But Consort Xian had always held a slight edge, radiating an aura of virtue and possessing a more refined elegance that made Shu seethe with resentment. Consort Xian was better connected, her family more influential, a constant reminder of Shu's own perceived shortcomings. The thought of it fueled the bitterness in Consort Shu's heart.

If her carefully crafted plans had succeeded, Consort Xian would be languishing in the Cold Palace by now, forgotten and disgraced, or perhaps even banished from the Forbidden city entirely, for attempting to harm a royal heir was no difference from a capital crime. Shu had manipulated Wangying, holding the naive maid firmly within her grasp. Wangying was her most potent chess piece at that moment, well-hidden and venomous enough that even Consort Xian would never have suspected the treachery. But then, Ru Lingyi had intervened, piecing together the puzzle of false accusations, exposing Wangying's lies, and exonerating her mistress.

Consort Shu clenched her hands, her nails digging into the soft fabric of her gown, as the memory of her near-triumph and subsequent crushing defeat flashed before her eyes. She bit her lower lip, her eyes narrowing as she thought of Lingyi. Then, a slow, predatory smile spread across her face. "Ru Lingyi, you meddlesome fool," she murmured. "Had you not interfered, that viper in Chengqian Palace would have been ruined long ago. But you chose to speak out of turn, to meddle in affairs that do not concern you. Well…" She raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Since you have given me no choice… I will not be silent either."

Back at Yanxi Hall, Wangying had accused Consort Xian of attempting to murder Noble Consort Ling's son, trapping her in a dangerous corner from which even Xian herself could not easily escape. It had unfolded precisely as Shu had envisioned, a perfect trap, only for Lingyi to step in at the last moment, meticulously analyzing the facts and accusations, and ultimately proving Xian's innocence. It was a moment of agonizing near-success for Shu, followed by the bitter taste of defeat. Since then, she had learned to tread carefully with Xian, wary of provoking her direct wrath. If she were to strike at Xian again, it would have to be a decisive blow, a single, devastating strike, not a series of clumsy mishaps. Her thoughts drifted back to Lingyi, the loose end she had failed to tie up earlier. Consort Shu had originally planned to silence Lingyi permanently, but fate, it seemed, always had other plans.

However, Shu's excitement tonight stemmed from the knowledge that she now possessed a powerful weapon against Lingyi, something that would allow her to control the clever maid and, through her, finally reach Consort Xian. The evening's feast, while it had not garnered her the attention she craved – an honor stolen by the radiant Consort Jia – had, nonetheless, delivered Lingyi directly into her hands. Shu had observed Lingyi leave the feast, disguised as a lowly palace maid, and slip away to meet with Prince Lan. She had then lured the prince away from the festivities, only to return seamlessly to her mistress's side, Consort Xian remaining blissfully unaware of her maid's clandestine activities. This information was more than enough to manipulate Lingyi. Or so Consort Shu believed.

As she sat before her mirror, meticulously plotting the downfall of her rival, her stream of thoughts was interrupted by the sudden creak of her chamber door as it swung open, revealing Cai.

"Niang Niang," Cai curtsied, a wide, knowing grin plastered across her face.

Consort Shu, sensing the importance of what her maid was about to say, gestured for her to remain as she was. Cai, barely able to contain her excitement, blurted out, "Niang Niang… I have news!" She paused, her eyes darting towards her mistress, searching for any hint of reaction.

She continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "Word has reached me from a reliable source… Prince Lan attempted to… to compromise a maid in the changing room. But… she resisted. And in her escape, she… she wounded him." Consort Shu's eyes widened in genuine shock, a flicker of surprise momentarily breaking through her carefully constructed composure. "As we speak," Cai continued, her voice brimming with malicious glee, "Prince Lan is searching for the maid who inflicted the injury, even though he knows..... who the maid was. Isn't that… thrilling, Niang Niang?" Cai paused, watching Consort Shu expectantly, but her mistress remained silent, her expression unreadable.

"Thrilling?" Shu finally echoed, her gaze fixed on Cai. "What if he doesn't know who the maid was, in truth?"

"How do you mean, Niang Niang?" Cai asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Consider this, Cai," Shu explained, her voice low and deliberate. "Lingyi had disguised as a common palace maid, lured her beloved… to the changing room, perhaps intending a surprise. But she herself was surprised, instead, by his… advances. In her struggle to escape, she injured her supposed lover and then returned to the feast as if nothing had happened. And Prince Lan… he never returned. My speculation is this: Prince Lan never realized that the maid was Lingyi. And he certainly doesn't know that his secret is about to be revealed."

Cai's eyes widened as she pieced together the implications of Shu's words. "But Niang Niang," she stammered, "Prince Lan will surely kill Lingyi to protect his reputation, if he discovers that the victim knows."

Consort Shu smiled, a slow, chilling smile that sent a shiver down Cai's spine. "Yes… that, is the most delicious part."

"The most delicious part?" Cai repeated, her voice laced with a mixture of apprehension and excitement.

"If I am to take this information to Prince Lan," Shu explained, her voice smooth and calculating, "Lingyi will be eliminated without me lifting a finger, that is one of my worries out of the way. But… if I take it to Lingyi… I stand a far greater chance of orchestrating Xian's ultimate downfall."

"So, either way," Cai breathed, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, "it is to our advantage, Niang Niang?"

"You finally understand," Shu replied, her smile widening.

"Niang Niang is wise," Cai murmured, bowing her head in admiration.

Consort Shu smiled at her maid and turned back to face her dressing table, her reflection staring back at her, a mask of serene composure. "Now, go and rest, Cai," she instructed. "We have a task at hand… and you must be prepared."

"Certainly, Niang Niang," Cai replied, curtsying deeply as she retreated, a devilish smile playing on the corner of her lips.

The days to come held immense promise. Consort Shu could barely contain her excitement as she envisioned her plans unfolding, her enemies falling helplessly like dry leaves, and herself sitting at the center of her hard-won victory. The anticipation was intoxicating.