Chapter 22: Mei’s Move

The harem had always been a battlefield, but now the stakes were higher than ever. Mei sat in the alcove of her chambers, a porcelain teacup cradled in her hand as she gazed thoughtfully out the window. The rumors swirling after Concubine Xu's failed attempt to blackmail Linghua had stirred the waters. The once-solid ground beneath Xu's feet was beginning to crumble, but Mei knew the queen of the harem wouldn't go down without a fight.

The air buzzed with tension, every concubine glancing over her shoulder, wondering where alliances truly lay. Mei had worked quietly, planting the seeds of doubt and watching them grow, but now it was time to move to the next phase of her plan.

"Lian," Mei called softly, her voice cutting through the stillness.

Her loyal maid appeared almost immediately, her demeanor calm, but Mei could see the glint of sharp intelligence in her eyes. Lian had proven invaluable in navigating the harem's politics, becoming Mei's most trusted ally.

"Yes, my lady?" Lian asked, bowing her head slightly.

"Any word from Linghua?" Mei set her teacup down, her fingers tapping lightly on the arm of her chair.

"She's shaken but loyal. Xu's pressure has increased. Linghua fears retaliation," Lian replied, her voice low. "But she hasn't wavered. She still trusts you."

Mei smiled faintly, though there was no warmth in it. Fear was an excellent motivator, and she needed Linghua afraid—afraid enough to cling to Mei for protection, but not so afraid that she would break.

"Good," Mei said smoothly. "Continue to reassure her. Make sure she understands that her only path to safety is through me."

Lian nodded, but there was hesitation in her posture. "My lady… there's more. Xu has been seen meeting with Minister Feng's people. The alliance is real, and it seems she's moving beyond the harem. She's trying to extend her influence into the court."

Mei's eyes narrowed. So Xu had finally made her move. Feng was a powerful ally, but aligning with him meant that Xu had crossed into dangerous territory. She wasn't content to rule the harem—she wanted to play in the political arena where the real power lay.

"Let her try," Mei said coolly, her voice hardening. "We'll be ready when she does."

Concubine Xu paced in her chambers, her sharp features twisted in thought. The harem was growing more volatile by the day, and Mei's influence was spreading faster than Xu had anticipated. The concubines who once flocked to her side were wavering, their loyalty shaken by rumors of her blackmail attempt. Mei had outmaneuvered her, but Xu wasn't done yet.

No, if the harem wouldn't bend to her will, she would find power elsewhere.

"Send word to Minister Feng," Xu ordered her maid, her voice cutting through the room like a blade. "Tell him I wish to meet. We need to escalate our plans."

The maid bowed quickly, rushing out to deliver the message. Xu allowed herself a moment of satisfaction. Mei might have gained ground in the harem, but the court was where true power lay. And with Feng's backing, Xu would crush anyone who dared stand in her way.

Later that evening, Linghua sat nervously in Mei's chambers, her hands trembling as she clutched her teacup. Mei watched her carefully, her expression calm and composed. Linghua had been teetering on the edge of fear and loyalty for weeks, and Mei knew that if she pushed too hard, the concubine might break. But if she didn't push enough, she would lose her.

"I… I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this," Linghua whispered, her voice trembling. "Xu's threats… if she finds out I've been loyal to you—"

"She won't find out," Mei interrupted smoothly, leaning forward slightly. "Not unless you give her a reason to. You're afraid, and that's understandable. But fear can paralyze you or it can push you to make the right decisions. Xu is losing control, and everyone in the harem can see it. She's desperate. That's why she's pushing harder. But desperation makes people reckless."

Linghua looked up at her, wide-eyed and anxious. "But what if she targets me directly?"

Mei smiled softly, her expression soothing but firm. "If you stay with me, you'll be safe. Xu may be dangerous, but she's a sinking ship. You don't want to go down with her, do you?"

After a long pause, Linghua finally shook her head, her grip on the teacup loosening slightly. "No… I'll stay with you. I trust you."

"Good," Mei said, her voice gentle but full of authority. "You've made the right choice."

The military ceremony was an elaborate display of power, a carefully orchestrated event designed to showcase Zhihao's strength and the kingdom's military might. Mei stood at the edge of the gathering, watching as Zhihao took the center stage, his every movement deliberate and calculated. The court was watching closely, their eyes on the young king, but Zhihao knew exactly how to play the game.

Mei's gaze shifted to the gathered ministers, her eyes narrowing as they landed on Minister Feng. His expression was calm, but there was a sharpness to his gaze that betrayed his thoughts. He was watching Zhihao closely, likely calculating his next move. Mei had no doubt that Xu had already begun whispering in Feng's ear, trying to secure his backing. The harem was no longer enough for Xu—she wanted control of the court as well.

But Mei was ready.

As the ceremony continued, Mei noticed the subtle way Zhihao interacted with General Tian Yi. His flirtations were never overt, but there was a certain intimacy in the way he spoke to the general, a deliberate closeness that would stir rumors and confusion in the court. It was a brilliant tactic, one that Mei admired. Zhihao was using public perception to his advantage, keeping his enemies off-balance while he solidified his power behind the scenes.

The ceremony ended with a final flourish, the gathered ministers and generals bowing their heads to the king. As Zhihao made his way back toward the palace, Mei followed quietly, her mind already racing through the next steps of her plan. Xu had moved the battlefield to the court, but Mei had anticipated this. The game was far from over, and Mei was determined to win.

That evening, back in her chambers, Mei allowed herself a moment of satisfaction. The harem was shifting in her favor, and Xu's grasp on power was weakening. Zhihao was holding his own in the court, playing his own dangerous game against the ministers. Together, they were slowly but surely consolidating their positions.

But Mei knew that Xu wasn't done yet. Xu would strike back, and when she did, it would be with the full force of Minister Feng's backing. The alliance between Xu and Feng was dangerous, but Mei was already laying the groundwork to dismantle it. She had planted rumors, sown seeds of doubt among Xu's allies, and slowly, methodically, she was turning Xu's own tactics against her.

The pieces were falling into place.

As Mei sat by the window, the moonlight casting a soft glow across the room, she allowed herself a small, satisfied smile.

The game was just beginning, and she was ready for whatever came next.