A Meeting at the Temple

"This selection is a cruel tradition," Concubine Jia thought, a lottery that decided the futures of royal daughters. She clenched her fists, a sudden surge of determination hardening her resolve. "No...I can't give up, not now. There has to be a way to turn this tide." She looked back into the room, her mind already spinning with new plans, searching for allies to help her navigate this turbulence.

Lixin watched her mistress with a mix of admiration and sorrow. She knew the immense strength it took to fight against the court's powerful currents, especially when imperial wives were strictly forbidden from discussing matters concerning the state. She feared for Concubine Jia's safety. The imperial harem, a place of whispers and secrets, where alliances were fragile and enemies numerous. One wrong move could bring disaster not just for her mistress, but for the First Princess as well.

Filled with compassion, Lixin stepped closer. "Your Highness, whatever happens, I am with you. We will find a way."

Concubine Jia turned to Lixin, a small, grateful smile breaking through her troubled facade.

Together, they stood in silence, the weight of the night pressing upon them. Concubine Jia knew the road ahead would be dangerous and uncertain, but she also knew she couldn't afford to give room to fear. For her daughter's sake, she would gather every ounce of strength and courage.

With conventional paths seemingly closed, Concubine Jia felt a dangerous shift in her resolve. She had to resort to a more treacherous path. She quickly sat down at her writing desk, pulling out a fresh sheet of paper. If she was to save her daughter, she needed a new plan, one more daring and audacious than before. She dipped her brush into the ink, her hand steady despite the turmoil churning within her.

The palace might be a place of shadows and secrets, but Jia was no stranger to its games. She had risen through the ranks with her wits and her will, and she would use every tool at her disposal to guard her domain.

Lixin watched as her mistress wrote. With every stroke of the brush, determination was etched on Jia's face. Lixin knew this battle would be one of the hardest they had faced, but she had unwavering faith in her mistress.

Hours passed as Concubine Jia meticulously laid out her new strategy. Each word was a calculated move in a complex game of survival. She considered potential allies and adversaries, mapping out a network of influence that could be leveraged to her advantage. She knew she needed to act swiftly and with utmost discretion, for any misstep could lead to further disaster.

As dawn began to break, casting a pale light into the room, Concubine Jia finally set down her brush, exhaustion tugging at her.

Lixin approached quietly, placing a gentle hand on her mistress's shoulder. "Your Highness, you should rest now. You have done all you can for tonight."

Concubine Jia nodded, the adrenaline that had fueled her through the long night finally fading away. She allowed Lixin to guide her to bed. The soft sheets welcomed her with a sense of relief, but as she lay down, her mind still raced. Yet, there was a semblance of peace. She had a plan, and with it, a flicker of hope.

In the following days, Concubine Jia set her plan into motion. She discreetly reached out to those she believed could be swayed to her cause. Each meeting was a delicate dance of words, chosen with precision to avoid suspicion. She leveraged favors and old alliances, one of which was her deep-rooted connection with Madam Cheng, wife to Minister Cheng.

Concubine Jia had arranged to meet with Madam Cheng secretly at the temple, disguised as going to pray for the empire's greater cause. Madam Cheng was a woman of few words, calm and composed, but she rarely made acquaintances to climb the social ladder.

Their relationship was unique, born out of the pity Madam Cheng had felt for Jia when she was a First Class Attendant struggling during her entry into the imperial harem. Back then, Concubine Jia was seventh-rank, far below the Empress, and had no allies. It was rumored she had even betrayed her mistress, Consort Yang, in order to become an imperial wife. Those were her days of suffering and neglect, her quarters in the North Palace were deserted, receiving the least care among the Six Palaces in the imperial harem. But hope came on the day Madam Cheng rescued Jia from attempting suicide at the temple, in a desperate attempt to escape her miserable life. After the rescue, Concubine Jia narrated her ordeal to Madam Cheng, who offered her hope and ignited her courage to fight. Through this unlikely alliance, both parties had benefited in countless ways.

The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the temple's ancient stone steps. Concubine Jia, wrapped in a plain cloak to avoid recognition, paced anxiously inside the temple courtyard. The tranquility of the sacred place did little to quell her churning nerves as she awaited Madam Cheng's arrival.

Inside the temple, the rich scent of incense filled the air, mingling with the soft murmurs of prayers from the monks. Concubine Jia's heart raced with anticipation. She had to meet with Madam Cheng before anyone noticed her absence from the palace, especially after the Empress's recent reassertion of authority.

The sound of approaching footsteps made her turn. It was Madam Cheng, also cloaked for anonymity, entering the courtyard, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.

She bowed slightly to Concubine Jia. "Greetings, Your Highness Concubine Jia," Madam Cheng said, her voice calm but laced with unspoken questions. "It is unusual to receive such an urgent request from you. What matter brings you here so compellingly?"

Concubine Jia returned the bow. "Madam Cheng, thank you for coming. I wouldn't have asked for this meeting if it weren't of the utmost importance. It concerns the princess envoy selection."

Madam Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly. "The princess envoy selection? How does that bother you?" she questioned, waiting for Concubine Jia to explain.

Concubine Jia took a deep breath, steadying herself. "His Majesty's decision will likely favor my daughter, the First Princess, which deeply concerns me. If she is chosen as the envoy, she will be sent to a foreign land, far from the safety and familiarity of our kingdom."

Madam Cheng's brow furrowed in confusion. "Your daughter? But the First Princess is seen as a perfect candidate for such a position. Her selection would bring great honor to your clan."

"Honor, perhaps..." Concubine Jia conceded, her voice filled with urgency, almost a plea. "But it will also bring great disadvantage. The journey itself is filled with dangers, and she will be isolated in a foreign court. Her position there would be precarious, subjected to the schemes of foreign politics and intrigue."

Madam Cheng listened closely, her face thoughtful. "You make a compelling argument, Concubine Jia. But if she is as capable as everyone believes, would she not thrive even in a foreign land? Surely, a strong woman can make her own way, no matter where she is sent?" Madam Cheng questioned, a subtle challenge in her tone.

Concubine Jia stepped closer, lowering her voice, her gaze unwavering. "She is capable, yes. But her capabilities are better used here, within our own court, where she can influence and contribute to our kingdom's stability. Sending her away would not only endanger her but also weaken our court. It's almost as if some here forget that a woman's true strength isn't in enduring hardship abroad, but in building power right where she belongs."

"How so?" Madam Cheng asked, leaning in, her interest clearly piqued by this new angle.