Unmasking Loyalty
The soft glow of afternoon light filtered through the lattice windows of the Phoenix Palace, casting warm patterns across the polished wood floors. Jin Meihui stood near the open veranda, a gentle breeze stirring the silk curtains. In her hands, she held a delicate scroll — the list of names provided by Madame Zhao.
Gu Lianhua stood quietly beside her, eyes scanning the list. "Your Majesty, there are over twenty names here. Some are well-known servants… but a few are newer faces."
"Precisely," Jin Meihui said, her fingers lightly tracing the elegant calligraphy. "Those who have served long may have grown bold. Those who are new may seek favor wherever they find it."
Her gaze remained calm, but her mind was a blade, cutting through each name. In her past life, she had walked these halls as a gentle, trusting Empress — a title without power. But now she would see them all for what they truly were.
"Gu Lianhua," she said softly. "Arrange for these servants to be assigned to the Phoenix Palace's inner chambers. Those who serve close to me will reveal their hearts faster."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Gu Lianhua replied, a faint smile of understanding on her lips.
The first test was observation. Jin Meihui moved with quiet grace through the palace, her steps light, her smile gentle. But her gaze was watchful.
She began with the kitchens, where two of the names on Madame Zhao's list served. A young maid, Chao Lan, and an older cook named Liu Ping. Jin Meihui watched from the shadow of a screen, her expression serene.
"Her Majesty is so kind," Chao Lan whispered to another maid, her voice sweet, but her lips curled in faint amusement. "Always so gentle. I wonder how long that will last."
Liu Ping chuckled, stirring a simmering pot. "Kindness is for fools. The Empress may smile now, but soon she will learn. The palace is a place of fangs."
Jin Meihui's serene smile never wavered, but her gaze was ice. Two serpents hiding beneath polite smiles.
"Your Majesty," Gu Lianhua whispered, tense. "Shall I have them punished?"
"No." Jin Meihui's voice was a soft, chilling whisper. "They will reveal more of themselves with time. For now, we watch."
Next, she walked through the main courtyard, where a group of maids were arranging fresh peonies. Among them was Shen Mingxia, the maid with the bright blue ribbon who had once dared to smile too boldly.
But now, as Jin Meihui's figure approached, Shen Mingxia's head lowered, her bow deep and perfect. Her voice trembled slightly. "Your Majesty."
Jin Meihui paused, her smile warm. "Such lovely flowers. You have arranged them beautifully."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Shen Mingxia's voice was careful, but her hands trembled slightly as she placed the blossoms.
"Continue your good work, and you may earn further recognition," Jin Meihui said, her gentle smile hiding her quiet satisfaction.
Fear had taken root in Shen Mingxia's heart — and fear was the leash that Jin Meihui would use.
But not all were so easily read.
~
That evening, as the lanterns cast a soft golden glow over the palace halls, Jin Meihui wandered the outer gardens. A young eunuch, Gao Cheng, quietly swept the stone paths, his expression calm, his gaze focused. Another name on Madame Zhao's list.
"Your Majesty," Gao Cheng whispered, bowing low as she approached. "This servant greets you."
"You work diligently, Gao Cheng," Jin Meihui whispered. "Are you satisfied with your duties in the Phoenix Palace?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied, his voice steady. "It is an honor to serve."
Jin Meihui's smile remained warm. "If ever you see anything troubling, remember — an Empress cannot protect her palace if she is blind to shadows."
Gao Cheng's gaze flickered — a brief hesitation — but he bowed even lower. "This servant understands."
As she continued walking, Gu Lianhua leaned closer. "Your Majesty… that boy seems careful. But is he trustworthy?"
"Careful is useful," Jin Meihui whispered. "We will see if he can be made loyal."
One by one, she studied the names, each servant becoming a thread in her web. Some were foolish, their whispers revealing envy and ambition. Others were cautious, watching her with careful eyes. And a few, like Gao Cheng, hid their true thoughts beneath a mask of obedience.
But they were all exposed beneath her gaze.
~
Three days later, as she sipped tea in the quiet of the eastern pavilion, Madame Zhao arrived, her expression polite, her steps careful.
"Your Majesty," Madame Zhao bowed. "I have come to ensure all is well in the Phoenix Palace."
Jin Meihui smiled gently. "Thank you, Madame Zhao. Your diligence is most reassuring."
Madame Zhao's thin smile widened. "It is this humble servant's honor to ensure harmony."
"Indeed. Harmony is precious." Jin Meihui set down her cup, her gaze warm but piercing. "But tell me, Madame Zhao… are you certain of the loyalty of those you recommended?"
A flicker of surprise passed over Madame Zhao's face. "Your Majesty… I chose only those I believed trustworthy."
"Of course," Jin Meihui said. "But trust is a delicate thread. It can snap at the slightest pressure."
Silence settled between them. Madame Zhao's smile remained, but her fingers tightened slightly within her sleeves.
"Your Majesty is wise," she said. "If there are any who prove unworthy, they shall be removed."
Jin Meihui's smile softened. "You have served the palace for many years. I would hate to think that those around you might act without your knowledge… or even deceive you."
Madame Zhao's expression grew tense. "This humble servant will ensure any such disloyalty is swiftly punished."
"Excellent." Jin Meihui's voice was a gentle breeze, her smile a perfect mask. "Your vigilance is a blessing."
As Madame Zhao bowed and left, Gu Lianhua stepped closer. "Your Majesty… do you think she suspects you are watching her?"
"Perhaps," Jin Meihui whispered. "But fear is a clever servant's leash. So long as she believes I see all, she will obey."
"Should we dismiss those who spoke against you?"
"Not yet." Jin Meihui's gaze turned toward the garden path, where servants moved with careful grace. "They will serve me best when they fear me most."
And fear was beginning to spread. The maids whispered more quietly. The eunuchs bowed more deeply. Even Madame Zhao, with her smooth smiles, seemed more cautious.
Jin Meihui walked through the palace like a gentle breeze, her voice a quiet melody. But beneath her grace, a silent storm brewed.
She had cast her net, and the palace was already caught within it.
But this was only the beginning.