Shadows Beneath the Surface
The Phoenix Palace basked in the golden light of late afternoon. Pale petals drifted on the breeze, swirling like a soft, silent snowfall. Jin Meihui stood by the open veranda, her gaze calm, her smile gentle — but her thoughts were a web of quiet calculation.
Madame Zhao had given her a list of trusted servants. But trust was a word easily twisted, a mask worn by those who smiled while sharpening knives behind closed doors. To learn the truth, Jin Meihui needed to see who Madame Zhao truly served.
"Gu Lianhua," she said, her voice barely a breath. "Bring Shen Mingxia to me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Gu Lianhua moved with quiet speed, leaving the pavilion. Moments later, she returned, guiding Shen Mingxia forward. The young maid's blue ribbon fluttered with each step, but her head remained bowed, her face pale.
"Your Majesty." Shen Mingxia's voice trembled slightly as she dropped to her knees, her forehead nearly touching the polished wood floor. "This servant greets Your Majesty."
Jin Meihui smiled, warm and gentle. "Rise, Shen Mingxia. No need to fear."
The girl lifted her head, but her eyes remained lowered, her hands clasped tightly before her.
"I have noticed your diligence these past few days," Jin Meihui said, her tone soft and kind. "Your flower arrangements are beautiful. Your work is admirable."
"Th-Thank you, Your Majesty," Shen Mingxia said, a faint blush touching her cheeks.
"Loyalty and hard work must be rewarded," Jin Meihui continued, her smile deepening. "But true loyalty is not only shown in tasks. It is shown in trust."
Shen Mingxia's gaze flickered, confusion mingling with fear.
"I wish to entrust you with a small task," Jin Meihui said, leaning forward slightly. "A simple matter — a message I wish you to deliver."
"A message?"
"Yes," Jin Meihui said, her voice almost a caress. "Go to Madame Zhao and tell her that the Empress wishes to host a quiet tea gathering. Only a few close, trusted ladies. Ask her to recommend which of the concubines would be most suitable."
Shen Mingxia hesitated. "Your Majesty… shall I tell Madame Zhao that you have requested this?"
"No," Jin Meihui's voice remained warm, but her gaze was sharp. "Simply speak of it as a quiet idea — something you overheard me considering. I wish to see who truly wishes to serve me."
"I… I understand, Your Majesty."
"Go."
Shen Mingxia bowed deeply, backing away, and hurried out of the pavilion.
Gu Lianhua stepped closer, her expression curious. "Your Majesty… will this truly reveal Madame Zhao's loyalty?"
"It will reveal more than that," Jin Meihui said, her gaze distant, calculating. "If Madame Zhao is loyal to me, she will bring the message directly. But if she serves another… she will take this opportunity to manipulate the guest list."
"And if she does?"
"Then we will know who truly holds her loyalty."
~
Hours passed, and the golden light of the sun melted into the soft glow of evening. Lanterns were lit, their warm light casting gentle shadows across the pavilion. Jin Meihui sipped her tea, her gaze never leaving the courtyard.
At last, Madame Zhao arrived, her steps careful, her expression polite. "Your Majesty, this humble servant has brought a suggestion."
"Oh?" Jin Meihui's smile was serene. "Please, speak."
Madame Zhao bowed. "I have heard that Your Majesty may wish for a quiet tea gathering. It would be a most elegant event. If I may, I would suggest inviting Concubine Jin Fang, Concubine Bai Ling, and Consort Wu Chun."
Jin Meihui's smile remained, but her fingers lightly traced the edge of her teacup. "An excellent suggestion. These ladies are… well-known in the palace."
But in her heart, she saw the game unfold. Concubine Jin Fang — her treacherous half-sister. Bai Ling — a schemer who had always allied herself with the strongest voice in the palace. And Consort Wu Chun — a quiet, careful woman who avoided conflicts but always listened.
Madame Zhao had named three women with influence, three who would benefit from knowing the Empress's thoughts. And it was no coincidence.
"Your Majesty, may I assist in arranging the gathering?" Madame Zhao's smile remained humble.
Jin Meihui's gaze lingered on her, calm and gentle. "Your dedication is appreciated. Please ensure the preparations are perfect."
"Of course, Your Majesty." Madame Zhao bowed deeply, then backed away, her expression a mask of calm respect.
As the pavilion doors slid shut, Gu Lianhua stepped forward, her voice a whisper. "Your Majesty… she revealed them."
"Yes," Jin Meihui said, her voice a quiet breeze. "She serves them — or believes they are the ones who hold power."
"Shall we dismiss her? Or confront her?"
"No." Jin Meihui's smile widened, a delicate, serene curve. "Madame Zhao is not an enemy… yet. But she is a mirror, reflecting the shadows around her. And now… I see the shadows clearly."
"Concubine Jin Fang, Concubine Bai Ling, and Consort Wu Chun," Gu Lianhua murmured. "They are her true masters."
"Perhaps," Jin Meihui said. "Or perhaps she is simply their pawn. But now we know where her loyalties lean."
Her fingers lightly tapped the jade teacup. "But we must be certain. We will hold the tea gathering as planned. And at that gathering, we will see who truly seeks to pull the strings in the Phoenix Palace."
A ripple of wind stirred the gauze curtains, their soft rustle the only sound. Jin Meihui's gaze remained calm, her expression serene. But her thoughts were a quiet storm.
"Your Majesty," Gu Lianhua said. "Shall I watch Shen Mingxia as well?"
"Yes," Jin Meihui said. "She may be useful. And I would like to know who she speaks to when she believes she is not watched."
Gu Lianhua bowed. "It will be done."
Jin Meihui rose, her crimson robes flowing around her like a river of silk. The palace was a garden of shadows, and she walked among them with quiet grace. But her steps were a hunter's, her smile a mask of warmth hiding a blade.
Madame Zhao believed she could control which faces surrounded the Empress. But she would soon learn that Jin Meihui saw far more than she revealed.
And those who sought to manipulate her would soon find themselves ensnared in their own schemes.