The Legend of Concubine Su

Ever since Consort Li was confined to her cold and lonely chamber due to the musk sachet, a subtle atmosphere seemed to have enveloped the entire harem. This once bustling corner of the palace was now deserted, with only the occasional sound of wind and birdsong breaking the dead silence.

The Empress, as the head of the harem, possessed a mind as deep as the ocean, difficult to fathom. While seemingly silent about Concubine Li's plight, she privately dispatched her most trusted maids to quietly monitor her chambers. These maids, dressed in elegant palace attire and gliding lightly, moved like ghosts within the palace walls. Each arrival was silent, yet they instilled a sense of invisible pressure on Concubine Li.

The Empress's actions undoubtedly sent a clear message to Concubine Li: Even if you find yourself in dire straits, you will never escape my control. This also instilled awe in the other concubines in the harem, who understood even more clearly that within this deep palace, only by relying on the Empress's power could they find some semblance of peace.

Concubine Li, faced with this predicament, naturally felt a mixture of emotions. She resented the Empress's coldness and callousness, while also feeling helpless and sorrowful about her fate. Yet, trapped within this high-walled courtyard, what could she do? She could only endure it silently, waiting for an unknown turn of events.

The maids assigned to monitor Concubine Li couldn't help but feel sympathy for her plight while carrying out their duties. They knew that within the harem, every concubine was a pawn, vulnerable to being sacrificed at any moment. Therefore, while monitoring Concubine Li, they also tried to maintain respect and kindness, sparing her from further pain and humiliation.

In this way, the days passed, and Concubine Li's chamber remained as deserted as before, while the Empress's surveillance never ceased.

Since being confined to the palace, Concubine Li's life has undergone tremendous changes, the most notable of which is the drastic decline in her food. In the past, she enjoyed a feast of delicacies from land and sea, each dish meticulously prepared, with a vibrant color, aroma, and flavor that not only satisfied her appetite but also highlighted her noble status as a noblewoman.

However, after confinement, all of this was gone. Gone was her once luxurious and plentiful life, and now she was forced to face reality and accept her fate. Her diet was drastically reduced, from the delicacies she once enjoyed to simple meals. Only two meals a day, and the portions were greatly reduced, barely satisfying her appetite. Furthermore, the quality of the food was significantly lower than before. The delicacies she once craved were now nowhere to be found, replaced by simple meals, and sometimes even these were unavailable.

The palace kitchens seemed to silently express their disregard for her. The chefs who once greeted her with smiles had now become indifferent and cold. They no longer prepared with care, but instead did their jobs casually and perfunctorily, as if her meals had become something they could not care less about.

In the spacious and bright palace, Concubine Li sat quietly on an exquisite chair, staring ahead as if she was thinking about something. However, a closer look revealed a flicker of anger and resentment in her eyes.

Beside her was a tray with several dishes on it, but these dishes had obviously been placed haphazardly, and some were even completely cold. This was clearly not the treatment a noble person deserved.

Suddenly, as if unable to bear it any longer, Concubine Li swung her hand and knocked all the food from the tray to the ground. With a crisp crack, the porcelain bowls and plates shattered into countless pieces, and the food spilled onto the ground, creating a mess.

"I am a noble after all!" Noble Lady Li stood up, her voice trembling with excitement. "Even if I'm confined here, I shouldn't be unable to eat, right? How can I, with my status and position, tolerate such an insult?"

Her eyes flashed with anger, and her body trembled slightly, as if she was trying hard to suppress her inner dissatisfaction. Her voice trembled slightly, a tremor of anger and unwillingness.

"When did the rules of this palace become so unbearable? Just because I've temporarily lost power, are you going to treat me like nothing?" Concubine Li's words were filled with doubts and dissatisfaction with the palace rules. She felt she was being treated unfairly, and her heart was filled with grievances and resentment.

Her gaze, peering through the tightly closed palace gates, seemed to penetrate numerous obstacles and land on the unreachable center of power. Anger burned within her, her eyes gleaming with jealousy and resentment. "Concubine Ning, that woman from Nepal! She won the Emperor's favor simply by virtue of her exotic charm. And what about me? I've already spent seven long years in this deep palace. In terms of talent, I'm proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; in terms of wisdom, I'm clever and intelligent. How have I lost to her? Why am I being treated so coldly now?" Concubine Li's voice was filled with a hint of sarcasm and resentment, as if protesting against fate, questioning why it was so unfair.

At this moment, the palace maid beside her saw this and hurried forward to comfort her, "My lady, don't be angry. The Queen is now sending people to monitor our every move. If those people see you like this, I'm afraid they will give you something to talk about." The palace maid's words were filled with anxiety and helplessness. She knew very well how Concubine Li felt at the moment, but she could only try her best to persuade her, hoping to calm her down.

However, Concubine Li didn't seem to fully understand the maid's advice. Her anger still burned, and her eyes gleamed with rage. She bit her lip tightly, as if trying to swallow all her dissatisfaction and grievances.

Seeing Concubine Li like this, the maid grew increasingly worried. She knew that if Concubine Li couldn't control her emotions, she would probably bring herself into more trouble. So, she gently advised again, "My lady, you must calm down. Now is not the time to act rashly. We must find a way to deal with the predicament at hand."

Hearing the maid's words, Concubine Li finally raised her head and glanced at her coldly. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. She knew her current situation was not optimistic, but her innate pride and dignity would not allow her to bow to anyone.

After a moment's silence, Concubine Li slowly spoke, "Alright, I understand." Her voice was low and firm, as if telling herself to persevere no matter what. "But one day, I will make everyone know that I, Concubine Li, am no pushover. The humiliation you endure today will be repaid a hundredfold in the future!"

Seeing Concubine Li's determination, the maid couldn't help but feel touched. She knew that although Concubine Li could sometimes be stubborn, she was also a woman of integrity and determination. Given time and opportunity, she would surely achieve her goals.

The maid gently held Concubine Li's hand and comforted her, "Don't worry, my lady. I believe you will succeed. Let's work together to overcome this difficulty." Concubine Li nodded in gratitude. She knew that in this palace full of conspiracy and calculation, only unity could help them go further.