Chapter 4: Friends, Foes, and Fireworks

The harem quarters were nothing like Bai Yu had imagined. Instead of peace and opulence, it felt like walking into a battlefield where smiles were weapons, and silk-clad warriors waited to pounce.

Bai Yu slouched in her seat at the courtyard pavilion, staring at a plate of untouched candied lotus seeds. Chun’er, ever-diligent, fanned her from the side.

"Miss, you mustn’t look so defeated," Chun’er whispered urgently. "You’re in the harem now. Appearances are everything!"

"Appearances are exhausting," Bai Yu muttered, resting her chin in her hand. "I can feel the daggers in their smiles from here."

Across the courtyard, a small group of women sat giggling around Lady Zhen. Their laughter was too loud to be genuine. Bai Yu instinctively shrank lower.

Just then, a woman with an impish grin plopped down beside her.

"You’re Lady Bai, aren’t you?" the woman asked, leaning in conspiratorially.

Bai Yu blinked. "Depends. Are you here to befriend me or poison my tea?"

The woman snorted, covering her mouth with a silk handkerchief. "Relax, I’m not one of them. I’m Lady Ning, and I’d rather spend my time avoiding trouble than causing it."

"Finally, someone who speaks my language," Bai Yu said, perking up. "You have no idea how much trouble I’m trying to avoid right now."

"Oh, I have some idea," Lady Ning replied with a sly smile. "Lady Zhen’s already pegged you as her next rival."

"Rival?!" Bai Yu groaned. "I don’t want to be anyone’s rival. Can’t I just be... scenery?"

Lady Ning laughed. "Scenery doesn’t trip over ceremonial vases or charm the Emperor with rice metaphors."

Bai Yu winced. "Point taken."

Before they could continue, Lady Zhen’s sharp voice cut through the courtyard.

"Lady Bai, would you join us?" she called, her tone deceptively sweet.

Bai Yu exchanged a look with Lady Ning, who smirked. "Good luck," Lady Ning whispered. "You’ll need it."

With no way to decline gracefully, Bai Yu rose and approached the group. Lady Zhen’s entourage shifted to make room, their smiles tight and eyes calculating.

"Lady Bai," Lady Zhen began, her voice dripping with false warmth, "we were just discussing the Emperor’s recent decree on virtue. Surely, as a scholar’s daughter, you have some thoughts to share?"

Bai Yu resisted the urge to groan. Why is it always about virtue?

"Virtue is... complicated," Bai Yu said slowly, her mind racing. "It’s like... embroidery. Too many threads, and it becomes a mess. Too few, and it’s unfinished."

The group exchanged confused glances. Chun’er, watching from a distance, nearly dropped the fan she was holding in an effort to stifle her laughter.

Lady Zhen’s smile grew tighter. "How... insightful. And what virtue do you think the Emperor values most?"

"Patience," Bai Yu replied confidently. "Patience is the foundation of all virtues. Without it, even the strongest ruler can lose their way."

Lady Zhen’s eyes narrowed. "How profound. Perhaps you should teach us more about patience, Lady Bai. After all, you must have a great deal of it to endure life in the countryside."

The insult was clear, but Bai Yu simply smiled. "Indeed, Lady Zhen. And patience is also what I rely on to endure long conversations."

The group fell silent, their expressions frozen in shock. Chun’er, unable to hold back, coughed loudly to cover her laughter.

Lady Zhen forced a laugh. "You’re quite amusing, Lady Bai."

"I try," Bai Yu said cheerfully, bowing slightly. "Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must tend to my embroidery. I’m working on a masterpiece involving a goat and a cherry blossom tree."

Lady Zhen blinked, clearly at a loss for words. Bai Yu took the opportunity to retreat, dragging Chun’er with her.

"Miss, that was brilliant!" Chun’er said once they were out of earshot. "You handled her perfectly!"

"I handled her by confusing her," Bai Yu muttered. "It’s a temporary victory. She’ll come at me harder next time."

Lady Ning appeared from behind a pillar, grinning. "Not bad, Lady Bai. Not bad at all. You might actually survive this place."

"I’m not trying to survive," Bai Yu replied. "I’m trying to stay invisible."

"Then maybe stop talking about goats and cherry blossoms," Lady Ning teased. "You’re anything but ordinary."

Bai Yu sighed. "I didn’t ask to stand out. If I could blend into the walls, I would."

"Careful, Lady Bai," Lady Ning said, her tone turning serious. "Blending in can make you a target too. Sometimes, standing out is the safest option."

Bai Yu frowned, her mind turning over Lady Ning’s words. She had a lot to learn about survival in the palace, but one thing was certain: the harem was far more dangerous than she had imagined.

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