Mei Lin's POV
I woke in the Emperor's arms as dawn light crept through the windows.
For a moment, I let myself pretend this was normal. That I was just a woman waking beside the man she loved. That I wasn't lying about everything.
Then reality crashed back.
Yiren's eyes opened. He looked at me, and something soft crossed his face before the imperial mask returned.
You stayed, he murmured.
You asked me to.
I asked. You could have refused. His hand came up to brush hair from my face. Why didn't you?
Because I'm falling for you. Because this feels right even though it's completely wrong.
I don't know, I whispered.
He smiled slightly. Liar. You always know. You just don't want to admit it.
Before I could respond, urgent knocking shattered the moment.
Your Majesty! Urgent news from the northern border!
Yiren's expression shifted instantly to Emperor mode. He rose, pulling on formal robes with practiced efficiency.
Go. Use the private exit. He gestured to a hidden door. People will talk if you're seen leaving my chambers at dawn.
People already talk.
Then let's not give them more ammunition. He paused at the main door, looking back. Tonight. Come back tonight. We're not finished.
Then he was gone, leaving me alone in his private chambers.
I slipped out through the hidden exit and made my way back to my quarters. The morning air was cold, but my chest felt warm.
He wanted me to return. That had to mean something.
Inside my room, Tang Qing waited, pacing anxiously.
Mei Lin! Where have you been? I've been worried sick!
The Emperor's chambers. Heat flooded my face at her expression. We just talked. And slept. Nothing else.
Just talked. Tang Qing's eyes were knowing. Is that why you look like that?
Like what?
Like a woman who's falling in love.
The words hit too close to home. I sank onto my bed.
I can't afford to fall in love with him. I came here for revenge, not romance.
Maybe you can have both.
Can I? He's the Emperor. Wei's his trusted advisor. If I expose Wei, I expose my lies. Yiren will hate me for deceiving him.
Tang Qing sat beside me. Or he'll understand. He's not stupid, Mei Lin. He already suspects you're hiding something. Maybe he'll choose you over Wei.
That's a dangerous gamble.
Everything about this is dangerous. She gripped my hand. But I saw the way you looked when you came back. You're happy. When's the last time you were happy?
Six years. Since before my father died.
It doesn't matter. I need to focus on gathering evidence against Wei. Feelings complicate things.
Feelings make you human. Tang Qing stood. But speaking of evidence—I have information.
My attention sharpened. What kind?
I was serving tea in the ministers' quarters yesterday. Overheard two officials discussing unusual financial transfers. Large sums moving from the imperial treasury to private accounts.
Wei's embezzlement.
Probably. But there's more. Tang Qing lowered her voice. One of them mentioned your father's name. Said the evidence against General Xian was 'conveniently timed' to stop his investigation into missing funds.
My heart raced. Did they say who was behind it?
No. But they seemed scared. Like they knew something dangerous.
This was it. Confirmation that my father had been investigating corruption. That his execution was murder, not justice.
Can you identify these officials? Get their names?
I think so. They meet regularly in the tea house near the eastern gate.
Then we watch them. Learn their routines. See if they lead us to Wei. I stood, mind already planning. This is the connection I need. Proof that Wei killed my father to hide his crimes.
A knock interrupted us. One of my new servants—Hua—entered nervously.
Noble Lady Mei Lin, I have news from the Inner Court. Imperial Noble Consort Lian has been released from custody.
My blood went cold. What? When?
This morning. The Emperor ordered her freed pending investigation. She's returned to her quarters.
No. This was bad. Very bad.
Thank you, Hua.
After she left, Tang Qing grabbed my shoulders. Lian knows the assassins lied. She knows you're alive. She's going to be furious.
Let her be furious. I survived her twice. I can survive again.
Mei Lin, she's desperate now. Desperate people are dangerous.
As if summoning her by speaking her name, another servant appeared.
Noble Lady Mei Lin. Imperial Noble Consort Lian invites you to tea this afternoon. She insists it would be rude to refuse.
Of course she did.
Tell Imperial Noble Consort Lian I would be honored to attend.
After the servant left, Tang Qing stared at me. You're actually going? That's suicide!
It's strategy. Lian wants to threaten me face-to-face. Fine. I'll meet her. Show her I'm not afraid.
What if she poisons the tea?
Then I won't drink it. I smiled grimly. I can play games too.
The afternoon found me in Lian's pavilion—the most luxurious quarters in the Inner Court. Everything screamed wealth and power. Silk hangings. Jade ornaments. Servants hovering silently.
Lian sat like a queen, pouring tea with elegant movements.
Noble Lady Mei Lin. How kind of you to accept my invitation. Her voice was honey-sweet. Her eyes were ice.
How could I refuse such generosity?
Indeed. Please, sit.
I sat carefully, watching her every movement. She poured two cups of tea. Pushed one toward me.
I wanted to apologize personally, Lian continued. For the unfortunate misunderstandings. The bracelet incident. The banquet accident. Surely you don't believe I actually intended harm?
Of course not. I smiled without touching the tea. Accidents happen.
They certainly do. Her smile sharpened. Though you've been remarkably lucky avoiding them. Three times now. That's quite unusual.
I'm careful.
Or protected. Lian sipped her own tea delicately. The Emperor seems quite taken with you. How did you manage that? A servant catching imperial attention so thoroughly?
I honestly don't know. Perhaps I just happened to interest him.
Interest. Lian's laugh was brittle. Yes. Men are so easily interested by novelty. But novelty fades, Noble Lady. And when it does, the Emperor will remember you're nobody. Just a servant pretending to be important.
The insult landed, but I didn't flinch.
Perhaps. Or perhaps he values intelligence over birthright.
Lian's cup hit the table with a sharp crack. You think you're clever. Rising from nothing to catch the Emperor's eye. But you don't understand how this palace works.
Then educate me.
Power here isn't about the Emperor's favor. It's about connections. Family. Resources. She leaned forward. I have Prime Minister Wei as my cousin. The Empress Dowager as my ally. Officials who owe me favors. What do you have?
The Emperor's attention. Apparently that's enough to threaten you.
Her face twisted with rage. Then smoothed into cold calculation.
Let me be very clear, since subtlety seems wasted on you. Leave the palace. Disappear. I'll arrange a generous settlement. You'll live comfortably somewhere far from here.
And if I refuse?
Then accidents will continue happening. Eventually, one will succeed. The Emperor can't protect you every moment. Lian's smile was poisonous. Ask the seven concubines who died in the past three years. Oh wait—you can't. They're all dead.
The threat hung in the air like a blade.
I stood slowly, maintaining eye contact.
Thank you for the tea, Imperial Noble Consort Lian. And for the warning. But I think I'll stay. The Emperor finds me interesting, as you said. I'd hate to disappoint him by leaving.
You're signing your death warrant.
Perhaps. But at least I'll die on my own terms, not yours.
I walked out before she could respond.
Outside, my hands shook. That had been incredibly stupid and incredibly satisfying.
Lian had just confirmed everything. She'd killed seven women. She had powerful allies. And she wanted me gone permanently.
But she'd also revealed something important: she was scared.
I threatened her position. My presence destabilized her power. That's why she wanted me dead so badly.
Good. Let her be scared.
I returned to my quarters to find Eunuch Chen waiting.
Noble Lady Mei Lin. A word?
Of course, Eunuch Chen.
He gestured for privacy. My servants withdrew.
I've been serving this palace for thirty years, Chen said quietly. I've seen many women come and go. Most are beautiful but empty. You're different.
You've mentioned that before.
Because it's important you understand. His eyes were sharp. Lian is spreading rumors. She's telling the other concubines you used dark magic to seduce the Emperor. That you're a spy from a rival kingdom. That you're planning to poison him and seize power.
My stomach sank. People believe that?
Some do. Fear makes people believe anything. Chen's expression was sympathetic. You need allies, Noble Lady. Real allies. Not just servants and the Emperor's favor.
Who would ally with me? I'm the lowest rank with the most dangerous enemy.
Imperial Concubine Su. She hates Lian. Has hated her since Lian poisoned her unborn child three years ago.
I remembered Su from the banquet. The woman who'd warned me about Lian.
Why hasn't Su moved against Lian before?
Fear. Lack of proof. Isolation. Chen smiled slightly. But now she has you. Someone bold enough to challenge Lian openly. Someone with the Emperor's ear. Together, you could be formidable.
You're suggesting I build a political alliance.
I'm suggesting you survive by being smarter than your enemies. Lian has the Empress Dowager and Wei. You need your own network.
He was right. I'd been thinking about this like a simple revenge mission. But it was palace politics. Complex. Layered. Requiring allies and strategy.
How do I approach Su?
You don't. I will. Arrange a meeting. Private. Where you can speak freely. Chen moved toward the door. But Noble Lady? Be careful. Su was the Emperor's favorite once. She may have... complicated feelings about his new interest.
After he left, I sat in the growing darkness and thought about everything.
Lian wanted me dead. Wei was suspicious. The Empress Dowager hated commoners. I had enemies on all sides.
But I also had the Emperor's attention. Tang Qing's loyalty. Chen's mentorship. And potentially Su's alliance.
I could do this. Build a network. Gather evidence. Destroy my enemies.
All while hiding my true identity and falling deeper in love with the one man who could ruin everything.
A servant appeared. Noble Lady Mei Lin. The Emperor summons you to his private study. Now.
My heart leaped. Tonight. He'd said to return tonight.
I changed into fresh robes. Let Hua arrange my hair. Tried to calm my racing pulse.
As I walked through the darkening palace toward Yiren's chambers, I felt the weight of it all.
Every step was dangerous. Every word a potential trap. Every emotion a liability.
But when I reached his door and heard his voice call enter, when I saw him waiting with tea and books and that slight smile that was just for me—
Everything else faded.
Tomorrow I'd scheme. Tonight, I'd just be Mei Lin with the man who made me forget why I was supposed to be careful.
You came back, he said.
You asked me to.
I'm asking a lot from you lately.
I know. I moved closer. Ask more. I'll give you whatever you want.
His eyes darkened. Careful, Mei Lin. I might actually take you up on that.
I'm counting on it.
The air between us crackled with tension. Promise. Danger.
And somewhere in the darkness, enemies plotted our destruction.
But right now, in this moment, I didn't care.