The Emperor's Secret Favor
Summer arrived in the palace, bringing with it warmth that contrasted the tension simmering beneath every polished floor and carved pillar. Lianhua had grown stronger in her knowledge of the palace's currents, moving like a shadow among allies and rivals alike. Yet she knew that survival was no longer enough—she needed leverage, subtle and precise, to shape her future.
One afternoon, a eunuch approached her quietly, bowing low.
"Your Majesty requests your presence in the southern gardens," he whispered.
Lianhua's heart quickened. She had been summoned by the Emperor before, but never alone in a place removed from the Dowager's eyes.
The southern gardens were lush, fragrant with jasmine and lotus blossoms. Emperor Zhao Rui stood beneath a trellis, sunlight catching the gold embroidery of his robes. He gestured for her to approach.
"You have learned much," he said, his tone calm but intense. "The Dowager tests you constantly, yet you endure. Few possess such patience and discernment."
Lianhua bowed. "Your Majesty honors me."
He walked closer, lowering his voice. "I am giving you a gift, though it is not without risk. Here, away from prying eyes, I trust you with knowledge few others possess. There are plots—alliances forming that even the Dowager does not fully control. Observe them, use discretion, and report only when the time is right."
Lianhua's mind raced. Knowledge from the Emperor himself was more dangerous than any test, more potent than any favor.
"Your trust is noted, Your Majesty," she said, steady, hiding the surge of ambition in her chest.
He studied her silently, as if weighing her soul. "Remember, Shen Lianhua, favor is a weapon. Wield it wisely. One wrong move, and the Dowager will see it. Misuse it, and your life may end before your ambition is fulfilled."
Lianhua bowed once more, feeling the gravity of his words settle like a mantle across her shoulders.
As she left the gardens, she realized that the Emperor's secret favor was both a shield and a challenge. The palace had given her the knowledge, but the choice to act—and to survive—was entirely hers.
That night, she whispered her vow once again:
I will endure the Queen Mother's games.
I will honor the Emperor's trust.
And I will weave every thread of power until the Vermilion Throne belongs to me.
The palace was no longer merely a battlefield.
It was a chessboard.
And Shen Lianhua was preparing her first move.