The Second World in Ancient Times

Wanqing hurried in, looking panicked. "Your Majesty, have you heard? The Empress has been very close to the relatives and concubines of several ministers in the court recently. They seem to be planning something. I'm afraid it's targeting you, Your Majesty."

I frowned slightly, feeling uneasy: "The Queen? She has always been afraid of me. Now she is doing this, she must want to suppress me completely." I know very well that the Queen's position in the harem is very important, and she has a powerful family force behind her. If she really wants to be my enemy, this battle will inevitably be extremely difficult.

Not long after, at a palace banquet, I distinctly sensed a strange atmosphere. The empress sat high up in the throne, her eyes gleaming with a subtle smugness and a touch of defiance. The concubines beside her also occasionally cast unfriendly glances my way.

The banquet was filled with singing and dancing, yet a hidden agenda lay hidden. A concubine aligned with the empress suddenly stood up and said with a sweet smile, "Sister Yu, I heard you've excelled in many previous matters, and I deeply admire you. However, within the palace, talent is certainly important, but moral integrity and proper conduct are even more crucial. You seem to have been getting quite close to some foreign officials recently. If word gets out, it will be disreputable to the royal family." Her words were like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, instantly sparking whispers among the crowd.

I was shocked. This was clearly a false accusation. I stood up calmly and responded, "Sister, please don't believe the rumors. I serve the King and the Queen Mother wholeheartedly and strictly abide by the palace rules. How could I do such a thing? But sister, you so easily believe the rumors and slander me. What are your intentions?" I looked her straight in the eye, not flinching.

Seeing this, the queen coughed lightly and said, "Okay, don't quarrel at this banquet, it's not proper. But Concubine Yu, you should also pay attention to your words and actions and don't give people a chance to talk." She seemed to be giving fair advice, but in fact she was adding fuel to the fire.

After returning to the palace, Wanqing angrily said, "Your Majesty, the Queen and the others have gone too far! This is clearly a false accusation. Why don't you just report the truth directly to the King?"

I shook my head gently: "Things are not that simple. The Queen must have planned this for a long time, and her say in front of the King is far beyond my reach. If I go there rashly, the King may not believe me, but may think I'm quibbling." I paced back and forth in the palace, thinking about how to respond.

I knew full well that within the harem, public opinion was a force to be reckoned with. Therefore, I decided to begin with the palace maids and eunuchs, seeking to learn more about the Empress's Alliance. I instructed Wanqing, "Select a few clever and reliable palace maids and have them secretly monitor the Empress and her concubines' every move, especially to determine if they were colluding with any external officials."

Wanqing took her orders and left, while I began to sort out my connections within the palace. I remembered an old maid I'd once helped by chance. She held considerable prestige within the palace and had good relationships with some of the imperial concubines. I decided to visit her and seek her support and assistance.

Upon seeing the old maid, I bowed respectfully. "Mammy, I came here today to ask for your help. The Queen has teamed up with others to kill me. I am isolated and helpless in this harem. I hope you can give me some advice."

The old nanny frowned slightly. "Concubine Yu, the Queen's power is immense. It will be no easy task for you to fight against it. However, you are known for your kindness and have a good reputation among the palace maids and eunuchs. You can start from this aspect and consolidate your foundation first."

An idea struck me. After thanking the old maid, I returned to the palace and began implementing my plan. I treated the palace maids and eunuchs even better, not only increasing their monthly allowances but also regularly checking in on their lives. I also employed modern management concepts and organized simple skills training for the maids, such as improving their embroidery skills and reinforcing etiquette, to help them feel their value within the palace.

However, the Empress did not stop there. She continued to fabricate my faults in front of the Empress Dowager: "Empress Dowager, Concubine Yu has behaved erratically in the palace, disrespecting her elders and often boasting about her own talents, which has caused dissatisfaction among the other concubines. Such a person is unlikely to be a role model in the harem."

After hearing this, the Queen Mother frowned slightly and said to me, "Concubine Yu, is what the Queen said true?"

I quickly knelt down and said, "Empress Dowager, the Queen is slandering me. Since I entered the palace, I have respected both the Empress Dowager and the Queen and have never overstepped my bounds. Although I have some small talents, I just want to add some fun to palace life and I have no pride or complacency in my heart." I spoke earnestly and conveyed my sincerity to the Empress Dowager with my eyes.

The Queen Mother pondered for a moment and said, "I will find out the truth myself. Please leave for now."

I knew my battle with the Queen had only just begun, and I needed to find her flaws quickly. Otherwise, my position in the harem, and even my life, would be in jeopardy. I remembered that in modern society, facing a rival often requires a thorough analysis of their weaknesses, then a precise attack. So, I began to carefully research the Queen's past experiences, family background, and her style of conduct within the palace, hoping to find a way in.

By chance, I learned that the Queen's family had engaged in some illegal activities in business. Although this matter was deliberately concealed, some clues were still left. I decided to take a risk and secretly sent people to investigate the matter, hoping to find enough evidence to give the Queen a fatal blow at a critical moment.

Meanwhile, the Empress's repressive tactics within the harem grew increasingly harsh. She reduced the supplies in my palace and often deliberately harassed me in public. At a flower viewing party, the Empress deliberately handed me a withered flower: "Concubine Yu, although this flower has withered, it still has its charm. Just like you, you once had your moments of glory in this harem, but now it's time to be more restrained."

I took the withered flower and responded with a smile: "Empress, although this flower is withered, it once bloomed. I believe that as long as there is hope in the heart, there will always be a day when it blooms again. Just like in this harem, right and wrong are in the hearts of the people. How can it be changed by temporary suppression?" My words were firm and powerful, which made the queen's face change slightly.

As my investigation into the Queen's family's misdeeds deepened, I uncovered crucial evidence. However, I also realized that this evidence alone wasn't enough to bring down the Queen; I needed to wait for the right opportunity. Throughout this process, I steadily consolidated my influence within the harem, building closer ties with the concubines oppressed by the Queen. We supported each other and worked together to confront the Queen's threats.

As the days passed, the atmosphere in the harem became increasingly tense.