Concubine Qin was stepping into Changle Palace for the very first time.
For years, Changle Palace had been cleaned daily. The Emperor had ordered the courtyard planted with roses and allowed his pet foxes to frolic freely within its walls—yet no concubine was permitted to enter.
Concubine Qin had dreamed countless times of crossing its threshold, of becoming the most exalted Empress of Southern Chu. But though she had spent years in the palace, outmaneuvering one newcomer after another, the Emperor still had not named her his consort.
As she entered Changle Palace, Concubine Qin was startled to find that not a single rose remained in the courtyard. They had all been uprooted, replaced with rare flowers and greenery. Beneath the eaves, a rosewood desk and a wicker chair had been placed.
The girl the Emperor had brought back from afar reclined lazily in the chair, reading a book, her slender silhouette striking. She turned the pages leisurely, occasionally plucking a fruit from the desk to nibble on.
"How insolent! You dare not greet Her Ladyship Concubine Qin?" an old matron scolded furiously.
Concubine Qin noticed the girl pause mid-bite.
Shen Wei slowly turned her head.
Concubine Qin saw her face clearly.
Her skin was slightly dark and rough, her hair loosely curled—clearly weathered by years of sun and wind, without the means to pamper herself.
Concubine Qin felt a flicker of disappointment. At best, the girl could be called plain. Any concubine in Southern Chu’s harem could outshine this fisher girl in looks.
The fisher girl had only two redeeming qualities: her rather graceful figure and those clear, bright eyes, sharp yet calm.
There was no trace of cosmetics—she wasn’t hiding her appearance.
When Shen Wei still didn’t move, the old matron snapped again, "Yuan Xi'er, the hierarchy of the inner court must be respected! Concubine Qin honors you with her presence, yet you refuse to rise and greet her? Do you await punishment?"
Shen Wei’s lips curved faintly. She set the book down with deliberate calm. "I reside in Changle Palace. Concubine Qin lives in some lesser hall. Shouldn’t she be the one paying respects to me?"
Her tone was indifferent.
Utterly unafraid.
For a moment, she carried the bearing of an Empress.
Concubine Qin marveled inwardly—how could a lowly fisher girl possess such presence?
The old matron fumed, "You merely lodge in Changle Palace! The Emperor has granted you no rank! At most, you’re a lowly candidate, yet you dare defy Her Ladyship? Putting on airs before even being titled—such disgrace!"
Caizhu knelt nearby, trembling, casting desperate glances at Shen Wei, begging her to yield and not provoke Concubine Qin.
But Shen Wei remained seated, unperturbed.
Concubine Qin’s beautiful face darkened. "It seems my sister is unfamiliar with palace decorum. Someone—teach her."
The old matron and two palace maids stepped forward to drag Shen Wei from her chair.
Before they could lay hands on her, footsteps echoed outside. The Chief Eunuch, sent by Li Yuanli, arrived bearing a bowl of medicinal tonic for Shen Wei.
Taking in the tense scene, the Chief Eunuch hesitated.
He sighed inwardly.
So Concubine Qin had come to make trouble.
But this time, her schemes would fail. Serving the Emperor daily, the Chief Eunuch knew just how much His Majesty valued the girl in Changle Palace.
For Shen Wei, the Emperor had burned a missive from Qing State’s new ruler and deployed troops along the border.
With the Chief Eunuch present, Concubine Qin’s attendants held back. He carried the tonic through the crowd, placing it on Shen Wei’s desk.
"Miss," he said warmly, "Doctor Mo has prepared a new prescription. His Majesty insisted it be delivered at once. Knowing your distaste for bitterness, he also sent candied sugar."
Shen Wei clutched her book. "Tell the Emperor I won’t drink it."
The Chief Eunuch stiffened. "Miss, your health is frail. The physician insists on daily tonics. Bitter medicine is most effective—please, take it."
Shen Wei propped her chin on her hand. "Eunuch, tell Li Yuanli this: Concubine Qin has bullied me. I’m so frightened, I can’t even swallow medicine."
The Chief Eunuch: "..."
Everyone else: "..."
The old matron seethed. "Outrageous! You dare address His Majesty by name?"
Shen Wei set her book down and "fearfully" patted her chest, pointing at the livid matron. "See? They’re terrifying me."
The Chief Eunuch studied Shen Wei’s utterly composed face—not a trace of fear in sight.
His lips twitched.
The harem brimmed with beauties, yet none as brazen as Shen Wei—spouting nonsense without blinking, fearless to the core.
Suddenly, he understood the Emperor’s fascination.
Clearing his throat, the Chief Eunuch soothed, "Fear not, Miss. I shall report this to His Majesty at once."
Turning to Concubine Qin, he added politely, "Pray restrain yourself, Your Ladyship. His Majesty shall judge this matter."
With that, he departed.
Silence fell over Changle Palace.
Shen Wei motioned for Caizhu to retrieve her book. Dusting it off, she resumed reading.
A maid brought a chair for Concubine Qin, who sat stiffly, face like frost.
In the past, palace intrigues had led some concubines to feign victimhood before the Emperor.
One had been sentenced to thirty strokes—beaten to death.
Li Yuanli was merciless. He ignored harem squabbles unless they interfered with governance.
He loathed women weeping before him. An Emperor with grand ambitions had no patience for petty grievances.
That precedent had cowed the harem into keeping conflicts private.
Today, Shen Wei’s audacity—naming the Emperor so casually, spinning blatant lies—would surely cross his limits.
Perhaps she’d be beaten to death as well.
"Miss, perhaps you should apologize?" Caizhu whispered urgently.
Shen Wei: "No need."
Caizhu sighed inwardly.
She’s digging her own grave.
Soon, the Chief Eunuch returned, panting, bearing another food box with a fresh bowl of tonic.
Bowing deeply, he said, "Miss, His Majesty insists—bitter medicine is most potent when warm."
Placing the tonic on the desk, he turned to Concubine Qin, his gaze pitying.
"By Imperial Decree: Concubine Qin, for her arrogance and cruelty, is stripped of rank, reduced to commoner status, and sentenced to immediate execution by beating."
