After a broken heart, I traveled through time and space and became an abandoned concubine. My fate i

That day, the Empress held a banquet in the harem, claiming it was to appease the recent unrest within. The banquet hall was decorated with lavish elegance, silks and satins adorning the walls, and the tables were filled with delicacies.

The concubines from all the palaces, meticulously dressed, arrived one after another. Concubine Hui wore a long, emerald green dress, the hem embroidered with lifelike peonies, accentuated by jade ornaments, further highlighting her high rank. She was the first to speak, "It's truly a bustling day," but her eyes occasionally glanced at Concubine Su, revealing a hint of jealousy. The flames of jealousy burned within her, because she felt that Concubine Su had recently received considerable attention from the Emperor.

Concubine Li was wearing a pink palace dress, the peach blossoms on the hem of her skirt were lifelike, and her golden hairpins swayed slightly with her movements. She agreed in a sweet voice: "Yes, sister, you are absolutely right." Her eyes were wandering around Concubine Su, and she was thinking about how to stand out at this banquet.

Concubine Su Xian was dressed in a pale blue gown, crafted from tribute silk from Jiangnan, embroidered with orchids of pure elegance. Her graceful presence instantly captured the attention of many. She knew, as clear as a mirror, that beneath this seemingly harmonious scene lay turbulent undercurrents. Yet, she remained composed, showing no sign of panic.

While everyone was chatting and laughing, Concubine Liu raised her chin slightly, with a hint of disdain in her eyes, and said, "I heard that Concubine Su is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Can you play a song for us to enjoy?" After she finished speaking, her eyes were full of a difficult look. She was determined to make Concubine Su look bad so that she could be proud in front of everyone.

Another noble lady, Zhou, then said, "It just so happens that the palace houses the late emperor's beloved guzheng. It's such an elegant instrument, and no one has been able to play it since the late emperor sealed it. Concubine Su is so talented that she should be able to play it." A subtle sly smile curled her lips as she spoke. She secretly hoped that Concubine Su would fail to play the instrument well and thus fall from the emperor's favor.

Another Chen Changzai said timidly: "I heard that Sister Su learned superb cooking skills when she was in the cold palace, so why not..." Before she finished speaking, she was frightened by the looks of others and dared not say another word.

Concubine He Shu, sitting nearby, sneered and interjected, "The Empress' birthday is in a few days. Why not ask Concubine Su Xian to personally prepare a 'Lily Ruyi Cake' for the Empress? That way, we can all see how thoughtful she is." She knew that this cake required a rare tonic, which the palace didn't have. If Concubine Su Xian wanted to please the Empress, she would undoubtedly find a substitute. And that substitute, combined with one of the ingredients in the cake, would be highly toxic. Thinking of this, a sinister glint flashed in Concubine He Shu's eyes, as if she could already see herself, the Empress, witnessing Concubine Su Xian's miserable plight as she was banished to the cold palace.

De Fei wanted to remain silent, but seeing this, she couldn't help but recall He Shu Fei's coldness and indifference when she had a miscarriage, and she was furious. She tightly grasped the handkerchief in her hand, suppressing her anger, and said, "Since everyone knows that Concubine Su Xian is talented, why don't you sisters show off your skills and let the Empress Dowager give you some guidance?"

Concubine He Shu exchanged a glance with several other concubines of lower rank and said sarcastically, "Sisters, you are so incompetent and uneducated that you dare not show off your skills in front of an expert. If Concubine De is interested, you can demonstrate first. Oh, by the way, Concubine De must take good care of yourself and have children for the royal family as soon as possible." The sarcasm in her tone made Concubine De's face turn pale instantly.

For a moment, the atmosphere at the banquet became subtle, and everyone's eyes turned to Concubine Su, wanting to see how she would respond.

Concubine Su Xian understood that this was a deliberate attempt to embarrass her, but she remained calm and composed, smiling slightly. "Thank you for your kindness, sisters," she said, "I will show you my skills. I haven't practiced for a long time, so I hope you won't mind." Inwardly, she scoffed at their tricks. She knew that if she gave in to such harassment in the harem, her future would be even more difficult.

At this time, Concubine De saw that Concubine Su was in a difficult situation and felt pity for her. She said, "Concubine Su is so talented and so respectful. She deserves more respect and favor."

The Empress watched Concubine Su's unflinching demeanor in the face of danger, her eyes filled with admiration and concern. She admired her intelligence and composure, yet worried about her future difficulty in controlling her. Taking a sip of her tea, she added, "Sister Su is incredibly talented. I will petition the Emperor to grant her the title of Imperial Concubine." But she was secretly plotting how to use this opportunity to suppress the He family and win over Concubine Su to her own advantage. If she showed gratitude, she could offer her assistance; if she showed any signs of disloyalty, she would deal with her accordingly.

When Concubine He heard this, she gnashed her teeth in hatred, her face turned pale, and she cursed inwardly: "Hmph, why does Concubine Su deserve such favor!" The chopsticks in her hand were tightly grasped, as if they were Concubine Su's neck.

The other concubines had different thoughts. Some envied Concubine Su's impending power and were thinking about how to curry favor with her; some were worried that the situation in the harem would become more complicated and were afraid of being implicated.

Concubine Su Xian was fully aware of the turmoil of power struggles within the harem, hidden behind these seemingly gracious words. She maintained a composed demeanor, a confident smile on her face, as she silently pondered everyone's thoughts, plotting how to navigate this complex situation safely and securely.