Chapter 52: Consort Mei's Conspiracy

Chapter Twenty-Two: Shadows and Schemes

The court was quiet again, the echoes of Ren's speech still lingering in the air. But not everyone had left the pavilion with the same sense of hope. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows, Consort Mei made her way through the palace halls, her face a mask of calm hiding her true thoughts. Her plans had been set back by Zhen's support of Ren, but she was far from defeated.

For years, she had meticulously nurtured Prince Hanyu's image, quietly positioning him as the true future of the throne. And now, all her efforts seemed threatened by a boy who, until recently, had barely set foot in court.

When she reached her private quarters, Lady Ying Yue and Lady Lian were already there, waiting. They looked up as she entered, sensing her frustration.

"I never thought Zhen would go this far to support Ren," Consort Mei began, her voice controlled but cold. "He's never shown interest in the throne before. But now, with his influence over the Empress and his bond with Ren, he's giving the First Prince a power he never had."

Lady Ying Yue frowned, her fingers tapping nervously against her fan. "It's not just Ren who benefits from this. With Yanli by his side, Zhen's reputation is untouchable. No one dares question her anymore, especially after the rumors were so easily silenced."

Lady Lian's expression darkened as she glanced at Consort Mei. "If Zhen and Ren keep gaining support, what chance does Prince Hanyu have? The people barely know him, and if this continues, they may never see him as a future ruler."

Consort Mei's gaze sharpened. "That's why we can't let this continue. Ren and Zhen may think they've won today, but alliances are never as strong as they appear. Zhen's weakness is his loyalty—he'd never suspect a betrayal from someone close to him." She paused, her voice low. "And that's where we can strike."

Lady Ying Yue raised her brows, understanding Consort Mei's implication. "Are you suggesting...?"

Consort Mei nodded slowly. "We may not be able to hurt him directly, but we can place doubts in Ren's mind. We need Ren to see Zhen not as an ally, but as a threat. Summon Lady Xiu and the others ".

Lady Lian's eyes glinted with interest. "And if we turn Ren against Zhen, they'll weaken each other. Prince Hanyu will be ready to step in, and the kingdom will have no choice but to look to him."

The three women exchanged a knowing glance, their shared purpose clear. This was the first step in a plan that would shake the kingdom's stability.

"Lady Xiu," Mei began, her tone as smooth as silk yet laced with authority, "I want whispers of doubt to infiltrate the court. Let it slip that Ren's inexperience will lead to instability. Start small—discreet suggestions that he's too young, too idealistic to understand the true demands of the throne. Let these ideas grow in the minds of those already uneasy about his sudden rise.

"We need Ren to feel isolated," she began, her tone cold. "Convince him that Zhen's intentions are not as pure as they appear. Sow doubt in his heart—let him think Zhen has his own motives."

Lady Xiu smiled, her eyes gleaming with a predatory glint. "Consider it done, Your Highness. The ministers and nobles have their doubts; I'll make sure those doubts fester."

"Good." Consort Mei turned to Madam Lian, her long-time servant and spy, whose humble appearance masked a mind as sharp as a blade. "Madam Lian, you know the palace better than anyone. Keep a close watch on the Empress's chambers and on Prince Ren's movements. Report any meetings, any alliances she tries to build with Ren. I want to know every strategy she whispers in his ear."

Madam Lian bowed, her expression unreadable. "I will be your shadow, Your Highness. Neither the Empress nor her son will have privacy within these walls."

Satisfied, Mei shifted her gaze to Commander Wu, her final and perhaps most dangerous confidant. His loyalty to her was rooted in both gratitude and ambition—a loyalty she knew she could rely on in this delicate game. "Commander Wu, your task will be more public. I need you to subtly undermine Ren's authority among the guards and military officers. Remind them of Hanyu's skill and loyalty to the empire. Reinforce that Hanyu has the strength, the will, and the experience that Ren lacks."

Commander Wu's face hardened with determination. "The men will hear it, Your Highness. Prince Hanyu will be seen as the only worthy successor."

A smirk tugged at the corner of Mei's mouth. "Excellent. Now, each of you must remember—our actions are threads in a larger tapestry. No one thread must be noticed, but together, they will bind Ren's rise and pull him down."

Her confidants nodded, their expressions solemn, understanding the weight of her words. They had long learned that Consort Mei's plans were woven with patience and precision, each scheme laid quietly over months, sometimes years, until her influence ran deep in the palace's foundations.

"Lady Xiu," she added after a pause, "ensure Zhen's loyalty to Ren doesn't go unnoticed by those wary of her influence. Start rumors that she holds ambitions beyond mere support—that she may seek a position of power if Ren rises. Let the nobles wonder if she'll become a force they cannot control."

Lady Xiu's smile grew, a dangerous glimmer in her eyes. "They'll begin to fear her as they do you, Your Highness."

With her confidants now armed with their tasks, Consort Mei's satisfaction deepened. She was no fool; she knew that Empress Qin Li was no ordinary woman, and that Ren possessed qualities which drew people to him. But the road to the throne was not a simple one. It required more than just noble intentions or rightful birth. It required cunning, endurance, and the ability to inspire both fear and loyalty.

Once her confidants had left, Mei sat alone in her chambers, the flickering candle casting her shadow across the wall—a long, looming silhouette, as if even the very walls of the palace knew her ambitions.

She looked out into the night, her gaze focused and unwavering. Her son would have the throne, even if it meant turning the entire court into a nest of vipers. There were no lengths she wouldn't go to, no scheme too dark, no lie too poisonous. As long as she breathed, she would ensure that Ren's reign was but a fleeting dream, and Hanyu would take his rightful place.

Outside, the kingdom lay shrouded in a false sense of peace. But within the palace walls, Consort Mei's schemes simmered, casting shadows that would soon spread like poison. And in time, even the strongest would taste its bitterness.