Counterplot
1699 Words
Lady Wang’s warning made its mark the very next day.
Supplies to the side courtyard were slashed—charcoal rations cut by thirty percent, vegetables no longer fresh, and even Su He was harassed when collecting the monthly allowance.
“The kitchen folks said it was the Lady’s order—our side courtyard has so few people, we don’t need half as much,” Su He stormed back, fuming. “This is blatant bullying!”
Shen Qingwu was flipping through the original owner’s diary. She looked up: “Lady Wang has made her move?”
“What?”
“This is suppression,” she said, closing the diary. “She’s testing how I’ll react. If I endure it, she’ll keep pushing. If I fight back, she’ll pounce on my weakness.”
“Then what do we do?”
Shen Qingwu didn’t answer right away. She walked to the window and stared at the old pagoda tree in the courtyard. Its leaves were turning yellow—autumn was drawing near.
In the ER, she’d witnessed countless power struggles just like this: department heads intimidating new residents, senior nurses ostracizing interns, patients’ families challenging doctors’ judgments… The core was always the same: Who holds the upper hand?
Right now, Lady Wang had the upper hand. But advantage could shift—find the opponent’s vulnerability, strike once, and strike hard.
What was Lady Wang’s weakness?
Recalling her observations from the day before: Lady Wang’s sensitivity to “flaunting power,” her obsession with “control,” and that jade bracelet she kept rubbing obsessively.
What did a woman who’d clawed her way up from a concubine’s daughter to the official wife fear most?
Not enemies. Unpredictable variables.
And Shen Qingwu was that variable.
“Su He,” she turned, “how has Concubine Li been lately?”
Su He blinked in confusion. “Concubine Li? She’s… been rather full of herself lately. Word is she was upset when the Lady changed her doctor, but the Master’s been visiting her often these days, so she hasn’t kicked up much of a fuss.”
“The Master visits her often?”
“Yes—heard Concubine Li learned a new dance, and the Master’s absolutely smitten with it.”
Shen Qingwu’s eyes narrowed.
This was her opening.
The feud between Lady Wang and Concubine Li was an open secret in the Shen Manor. Lady Wang, as the legal wife, held sway over the inner courtyard; Concubine Li, the favored mistress, relied on the Master’s affection to flout Lady Wang’s authority. They’d sparred for years, neither able to gain the upper hand.
If she could make Lady Wang believe Concubine Li was secretly recruiting “her own people”…
“Su He, I need you to do something for me,” she said, lowering her voice. “Go to the kitchen, find that boy Ah Fu. Tell him I want to thank him for his kindness before, and ask him to pass a message to Concubine Li.”
“What?” Su He’s eyes flew wide. “Miss, you want to see Concubine Li? She’s—”
“I’m not actually going to see her,” Shen Qingwu cut her off. “You just need to make sure Ah Fu overhears you—say I think Concubine Li treats servants far more considerately than the Lady, and I want to find a chance to thank her.”
Su He blinked, still confused.
“Let who hear?”
“Let those who need to hear, hear,” Shen Qingwu said. “Lady Wang definitely has spies all over the manor. There’s no doubt someone’s keeping an eye on Ah Fu. As long as this reaches Lady Wang’s ears, it’ll be enough.”
Su He nodded vaguely and hurried out.
Shen Qingwu sat on the bed and waited.
Waiting was a skill. In the ER, she’d learned to stay calm during resuscitations, focused amid the wails of grieving families, alert through endless night shifts.
Now, she needed to wait for Lady Wang’s reaction.
If Lady Wang was as obsessed with control as she suspected, she’d never tolerate anyone defecting to Concubine Li. Even a mere show of favor from a concubine would put her on high alert.
And alertness bred miscalculation.
Sure enough, word came back within half a day.
Su He ran back, breathless. “Miss! Something’s happened! The Lady suddenly sent for Concubine Li, and they had a terrible fight in the main courtyard! The Lady smashed a teacup, accused Concubine Li of improper conduct, and Concubine Li ran crying to the Master to complain!”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Shen Qingwu’s mouth.
“What did the Master say?”
“The Master… he said inner courtyard affairs are the Lady’s responsibility. He refused to interfere.”
“And Concubine Li?”
“She’s been confined to her quarters, ordered to reflect on her mistakes.”
Shen Qingwu nodded.
The first step had worked. Lady Wang had taken the bait, convinced Concubine Li was secretly poaching allies. But this wasn’t the end goal—she wanted Lady Wang and Concubine Li to suspect each other, to divert attention away from herself.
“There’s one more thing,” Su He hesitated. “The Lady sent a message—she wants you to come to the main courtyard.”
Shen Qingwu’s heart sank.
Lady Wang wanted to see her? At this critical moment?
“Understood,” she said, standing and straightening her clothes. “I’ll be back soon.”
The air in the main courtyard was even more suffocating than before.
Lady Wang sat at the head of the table, her face dark with rage. Her left hand clenched the jade bracelet so tight her knuckles turned white.
“Shen Qingwu,” her voice was icy. “Do you know your crime?”
Shen Qingwu knelt on the floor, her head bowed. “This servant does not know.”
“Do not know?” Lady Wang let out a cold laugh. “You spread rumors everywhere, claiming Concubine Li treats servants better than I do. Is this not sowing discord?”
Shen Qingwu lifted her head, her gaze calm. “In reply to the Lady, this servant never uttered such words.”
“Still daring to argue!” Lady Wang slammed her fist on the table. “Ah Fu has confessed—it was you who asked him to pass the message!”
“Ah Fu?” Shen Qingwu feigned confusion. “Does the Lady mean Ah Fu from the kitchen? This servant did wish to thank him for his kindness earlier, but I told him to thank the Lady for changing my doctor—not Concubine Li.”
Lady Wang froze.
“What did you say?”
“This servant said, ‘Thank the Lady for changing my doctor,’” Shen Qingwu repeated. “When I was ill before, the Lady graciously arranged for a new physician to examine me. I have always been grateful for this kindness. Ah Fu was only helping me pass on my thanks—I wanted to express my gratitude to him, and to reaffirm my thanks for the Lady’s mercy.”
Lady Wang’s expression shifted.
She stared at Shen Qingwu, her eyes filled with doubt and uncertainty.
“You… you truly said that?”
“Every word is true,” Shen Qingwu bowed her head again. “This servant is but a lowly concubine—how dare I disrespect the Lady? Much less speak well of Concubine Li. The Lady is discerning—surely this is someone deliberately stirring up strife between us.”
Lady Wang fell silent.
She slowly sank back into her chair, her left hand unconsciously rubbing her jade bracelet. Her brows furrowed deeply.
If Shen Qingwu spoke the truth, then her outburst at Concubine Li had been a mistake. But if Shen Qingwu was lying…
“Rise,” Lady Wang’s voice softened slightly, though vigilance still lingered. “I will look into this matter further.”
“Yes, my Lady.”
Shen Qingwu stood and stepped back to the side.
Lady Wang studied her for a long moment before finally waving her hand. “Return to your quarters. From now on… speak less, do more.”
“This servant will remember the Lady’s teachings.”
Shen Qingwu bowed and withdrew.
As she walked out of the main courtyard, her back was drenched in cold sweat—but her steps remained steady, her expression composed.
That gambit had been incredibly risky.
She’d bet on Lady Wang’s suspicious nature—a woman who’d climbed from a concubine’s daughter to official wife would never trust anyone easily. Her words just now had both explained the “misunderstanding” and tossed the blame back to Lady Wang.
Now, Lady Wang faced two choices:
First, believe her, and admit her outburst at Concubine Li had been a mistake—but that would undermine her authority.
Second, refuse to believe her, and keep investigating—but the more she probed, the more “misunderstandings” she’d uncover, complicating the situation further.
No matter what Lady Wang chose, Shen Qingwu had achieved her goal: diverting attention, stoking suspicion between Lady Wang and Concubine Li, and buying herself breathing room.
Back in the side courtyard, Su He was pacing anxiously, waiting for her.
“Miss! Are you alright? Did the Lady—”
“I’m fine,” Shen Qingwu cut her off. “Pour me some water. I’m parched.”
Su He blinked, then hurried off to fetch water.
Shen Qingwu sat on the bed, gazing at the old pagoda tree outside, a faint smile playing on her lips.
In the ER, she’d learned one crucial lesson: Sometimes, the best defense is making your enemies turn on each other.
The feud between Lady Wang and Concubine Li was her best shield.
Outside the window, the setting sun cast golden hues over the pagoda leaves. Shen Qingwu closed her eyes.
She knew this was only temporary. Lady Wang would not let her off easily, and Concubine Li would not swallow this humiliation quietly.
But for now, she’d bought herself time.
- Writer
