Chapter Nine:The Escape
841 Words
The emperor gave a subtle nod to one of his guards, a man with sharp features and an air of deadly precision. Lin Yue recognized him instantly as a martial artist of high skill.
“Follow him,” the emperor said quietly.
Lin Yue didn’t wait. As the guard approached, she darted into the shadows, her movements swift and calculated. The guard pursued her, his footsteps quick and relentless.
But Lin Yue was faster. She led him through a maze of alleys, using every trick in her arsenal to throw him off. By the time she reached the outskirts of the city, the guard was nowhere to be seen.
Breathing heavily, Lin Yue adjusted her disguise and disappeared into the night. She had escaped, but the emperor’s words lingered in her mind.
News had spread quickly, as news always did in the harem: the emperor had visited Lin Yue’s chambers the previous evening. Though his visit had been brief and seemingly formal, it was enough to stir jealousy among the other concubines.
Concubine Yao Liqing, always the sharpest and most ambitious, immediately took notice.
Zhao Ming had not intended to visit Lin Yue that evening. His usual routine involved either reviewing reports from his ministers or, on rare occasions, indulging the company of one of his concubines to maintain appearances. But something about Lin Yu intrigued him.
It wasn’t just her resilience or the sharp wit she tried to hide beneath her formal demeanor. There was a spark in her that set her apart from the other women in the harem. While they clamored for his attention with practiced smiles and honeyed words, Lin Yue remained composed, almost detached.
The emperor’s initial interest had been born of suspicion—her fighting techniques, her sharp mind, and her unusual demeanor had all raised questions. But the more he observed her, the more he found himself drawn to her in ways he couldn’t fully explain.
That evening, as he sat across from her in her chambers, Zhao Ming noticed the faint tension in her shoulders, the way her gaze flickered cautiously toward him. Unlike the others, she didn’t seek his favor, which only made him want to give it.
“You’re different from the others,” he said, his deep voice breaking the silence.
Lin Yue met his gaze, her expression calm but wary. “I only seek to serve, Your Majesty.”
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Serve? Or survive?”
For a moment, Lin Yue mask slipped, her eyes revealing a flicker of surprise before she quickly composed herself.
Zhao Ming leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady. “Survive, then. I’ll allow it.”
By the next morning, the entire palace was in an uproar. The emperor’s subtle favor toward Lin Yue had not gone unnoticed, and the concubines wasted no time in plotting against her.
Concubine Yao gathered a small group in her chambers, her smile sharp and venomous.
“So,” she began, her voice laced with mock sweetness, “it seems our dear Sister Lin Yue has caught the emperor’s eye. How fortunate for her.”
Lady Hua, seated nearby, frowned. “Fortunate? More like suspicious. She hardly speaks during court and rarely leaves her chambers. What does His Majesty see in her?”
Yao Liqing’s eyes gleamed. “It’s clear she’s hiding something. No one rises in the emperor’s favor without reason. Perhaps it’s time we remind His Majesty of that.”
Sarcastic Words and Subtle Tricks
The concubines wasted no time putting their plan into action. That evening, during a banquet, Yao Liqing made her move.
As the emperor entered the hall, all the concubines rose to greet him, their faces painted with smiles. Lin Yue, as always, kept her expression neutral, bowing respectfully without drawing attention to herself.
Yao Liqing, however, seized the opportunity to speak.
“Your Majesty,” she began, her tone syrupy, “it is so wonderful to see you tonight. I must say, your choice of company lately has been… fascinating.”
Zhao Ming’s sharp gaze flickered toward her. “Oh?”
Yao Liqing smiled, her eyes glancing pointedly toward Lin Yue. “Lady Lin has such an unassuming presence, doesn’t she? So quiet, so… mysterious. It’s almost as if she were hiding something.”
Lin Yue stiffened but kept her head bowed, refusing to take the bait.
Zhao Ming’s expression remained unreadable as he replied, “Perhaps I value substance over noise.”
The room fell silent, Yao Liqing’s smile faltering as a few of the other concubines stifled their amusement.
But Yao Liqing wasn’t finished. “Of course, Your Majesty. It’s just that we’ve all noticed how delicate Lady Lin seems. I only hope she is strong enough to bear the responsibilities of palace life.”
Zhao Ming’s gaze turned icy. “If you doubt her strength, you doubt my judgment.”
Yao Liqing quickly bowed her head, her face pale. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I meant no disrespect.”
- Writer
