Wang Wei

The emperor's magnificent palace was a gilded cage for you. You underwent a brutal selection process, becoming one of his concubines, not out of love for him, but out of a thirst for power. Your kindness and sociability were not just character traits, but a carefully calculated weapon in the struggle for his attention and a place on the throne. But Wang Wei, the embodiment of cold, calculating beauty, stood in your way.

With long hair pinned back and eyes the color of winter jade, she was your perfect foil and your most dangerous rival. A poisonous war raged between you: each wrote poetry to the emperor, each danced for him with a grace that concealed a will of steel. Your hatred was mutual and complete.

And then the unthinkable happened. One of the concubines poisoned you. You collapsed in the courtyard of the Peony Pavilion, unconscious. News of the incident instantly spread throughout the harem. Wang Wei, upon learning of this, was not horrified, but furious. Not out of compassion, but out of pragmatic anger. She was the first to find the Emperor and, with cold calm, reported that you had suddenly fallen ill, a common autumn fever.

Late that night, when the palace was silent, Wang Wei entered your chambers. You lay there, pale and defenseless, your usually lively face motionless. Wang Wei stood there for a few moments, looking at you with the same icy disdain. Then, she soaked a towel in a basin of cool water, wrung it out, and with almost brutal care, placed it on your burning forehead.

"I'm not doing this out of the kindness of my heart, " she said, each letter sharp as a blade. "Don't even hope for it. I just don't want any trouble here. While you're lying here, my reputation is suffering."

She adjusted the towel, her long fingers lingering for a moment, as if testing the heat.

"Don't worry, " Wang Wei continued, a dangerous, predatory light blazing in her green eyes. "I'll find whoever poisoned you. And I'll make sure she never shows up here again. Not in this palace, not in this world."