The morning sun spilled over the towering walls of the Nine Heavens Palace, painting the marble courtyards with a warm, golden hue. Lin Qingge's small feet clicked on the stone path as she hurried through the grand entrance, the bundle of nerves in her chest coiling tighter with every step. She adjusted the plain silk robe she had been given, smoothing the wrinkles she knew would betray her unease.
At seventeen, she was just another face among the countless girls brought to the palace each year—maids, attendants, and daughters of minor nobles. But for Lin Qingge, this day marked a turning point. She had been personally summoned to serve in the Inner Court, a place where every smile hid a dagger, and every polite word might conceal deadly intentions.
The palace loomed before her like a living entity. Gilded pillars rose toward the sky, silk banners fluttered with the wind, and guards in polished armor stood at precise intervals, eyes sharp and unyielding. The air smelled faintly of incense and candle wax, a scent that carried both beauty and warning. Lin Qingge's dark eyes scanned every detail, aware that even the smallest observation might save—or cost—her life.
"Keep your head down," whispered a fellow maid as she brushed past Lin Qingge, her tone edged with both warning and quiet envy. "The Inner Court is no place for someone like you. One misstep, and you'll be ruined."
Lin Qingge forced a small, polite smile. Words were weapons, yes, but she had learned long ago that reacting with anger was worse than silence. Instead, she would watch, wait, and learn. She would prove that underestimating her was the gravest mistake anyone could make.
Her first encounter with danger came faster than she expected. Just as she reached the central hall, a group of palace attendants huddled around a younger girl, their whispers sharp enough to sting.
"Lin Qingge, isn't it?" one of the attendants sneered, eyes narrowing as they studied her. "The little maid thinks she can survive here. How laughable."
Lin Qingge felt her stomach twist, but she held her head high, refusing to lower herself to reply. Actions, she reminded herself, spoke louder than words—and she would let hers do the talking when the time came.
The escort led her through a maze of corridors and staircases to her new quarters. The room was small, yet tidy, tucked away behind the Emperor's private chambers. Sunlight streamed through the carved window, illuminating the sparse furnishings. Lin Qingge unpacked the few belongings she had brought: a small jade pendant from her mother, a leather-bound notebook filled with sketches and observations, and a folded piece of parchment she had treasured for years.
It was that parchment that drew her attention. Delicate, precise lines formed intricate patterns—array formations she had studied in secret, long before she ever stepped foot in the palace. Her fingers brushed the inked lines, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself a small smile. If the palace was a battlefield, she thought, then knowledge was her weapon, and cunning her shield.
By noon, Lin Qingge had been assigned her first tasks. Cleaning the emperor's private garden, delivering messages to various concubines, assisting with ceremonial preparations. Every duty seemed simple, yet each step was observed, each gesture noted. A misstep would not just earn her scorn—it could make her a target for more insidious schemes.
Her first brush with real danger came when she carried a tray of tea into the Empress's chambers. The air inside was perfumed with the scent of jasmine, but the tension was palpable. She barely set the tray down before a voice, soft but venomous, whispered behind her:
"Watch her closely. She's not as innocent as she looks."
Lin Qingge froze, realizing the Empress had already noticed her presence. A chill ran down her spine. The games of the palace had begun, and she was already a player in a world where everyone had a hidden agenda.
Later that afternoon, while tending to the delicate orchids in the inner garden, she overheard whispers that made her blood run cold. Noble ladies speculated about her family, her abilities, even her fate. The court was like a web—each thread connected, every move potentially fatal. Lin Qingge clenched her fists, her jaw tightening. She would not fall victim to rumors or schemes. Not today, not ever.
Evening came, and the palace corridors dimmed under the glow of lanterns. Lin Qingge returned to her quarters, exhausted but determined. She sat by the window, the folds of her robe draped neatly over her knees, and unfolded the precious parchment once more. Her eyes traced the ancient patterns of the arrays, imagining the power they held, the secrets that could change her life.
"They may see me as weak," she whispered, voice firm in the quiet room, "but one day, they will remember my name. I will not be a pawn. They will see me rise."
Somewhere in the shadowed halls of the palace, a figure observed her from afar, hidden in the veil of a doorway. A low, thoughtful chuckle echoed softly.
"Interesting," the voice murmured. "She may prove useful… or dangerous. Very dangerous."
Lin Qingge felt a spark of determination flare in her chest. She had no allies, no protection, no one to trust—but she carried within her a secret strength that even she was only beginning to understand.
The palace was a labyrinth of power, deceit, and danger, but for Lin Qingge, it was also a place of opportunity. And as the moon rose high above the gilded rooftops, a single thought burned in her mind:
This is only the beginning.
The game of the Nine Heavens Palace had begun, and Lin Qingge had just taken her first step onto the board.