The Dowager's Warning
One morning, Lianhua was summoned again to the Hall of Ancestral Virtue. The Dowager sat behind her low table, sipping tea, her expression calm and unreadable. The silence in the room pressed down like a weight, and every servant present knelt as if the air itself demanded it.
"Shen Lianhua," the Dowager began, her voice soft but cutting, "you move carefully, observe well, and survive. That pleases me. But take heed: the palace rewards skill only when it serves its purpose. Too much ambition, too much cleverness… can be fatal."
Lianhua lowered her head, listening intently.
"You have allies," the Dowager continued, "but even allies can betray when it suits them. And the Emperor… he notices many things, but not everything. Remember this: power is delicate, and attention is a double-edged sword. Fail to understand that, and you will vanish like the rest who think themselves cleverer than they are."
She leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing. "I do not say these words to frighten you, Shen Lianhua. I say them because I expect you to endure, to learn, and perhaps… to survive my game. But remember: I am older, wiser, and far more patient than you imagine. One misstep, and all your careful planning will be for naught."
Lianhua bowed deeply, her heart steady. "I understand, Your Majesty. I will watch, learn, and act wisely."
The Dowager set her teacup down and allowed a faint, approving smile. "Good. Remember this, child: the Vermilion Throne is not won by strength alone. It is claimed by those who see, endure, and strike at the precise moment."
Dismissed, Lianhua left the hall with a mind ablaze with strategy. Every lesson, every warning, every observation from the Dowager was another thread she would weave into her plans. The palace was a battlefield, and she intended not just to survive it, but to master it.
That night, she whispered to herself:
I will endure the Queen Mother's games.
I will read the Emperor's intentions.
And one day, the Vermilion Throne will belong to someone who is not merely a pawn… but a queen.
The Dowager had warned her.
And Shen Lianhua had heard.