The first few months as a concubine flew by quickly for Dawa. Life in the palace left little worry for safety or illness.

She was, however, bored on most days. She couldn’t do much of anything without her servants fretting. If she wanted to do her favourite pastimes like horse riding, falconry or archery, the trip would need to be planned days in advance to account for security.

It’s not like I’ve not be assassinated before…In fact, I handled myself pretty well. Ahhh, I need to move around or I’ll lose my skills…

Dawa sat under the pagoda outside her palace, drinking tea and munching on some snacks. Her bodyguard and head servant, Bortu was nearby watching vigilantly.

“Bortu, is there any way I can enjoy my hobbies without anyone worrying about me?” Dawa sighed while taking a bite of her shaobing.

“My apologies Priestess, there are none,” Bortu answered.

The servants that came with Dawa still address her ‘Priestess’ as she was still a high-ranked member of Taban society. Dawa begged them to cease and call her ‘Concubine Li’ as per regulations but they defied the request. This caused quite the scene when Dawa was to greet the Empress for the first time.

That morning, Dawa took her place behind the two imperial concubines to pay respects to the Empress. Bortu was with her and called her ‘Priestess’, asking if she would like some tea or snacks. At once, the woman in front of Dawa turned and smirked at both of them.

“You must be the new concubine am I right?” She spoke sweetly.

“Indeed, I am,” Dawa replied politely.

“I’ll let you off this time but discipline your servants. They should call you by your title. I don’t care who you were before you came here but, in the harem, you are a concubine, not anything else.” The woman dropped her sweetness a little and had a slightly sharp edge to her voice.

The 5 or so women in the room turned and all attention was on the two of them.

Dawa sighed inwardly.

Why did you guys not obey my request to call me Concubine Li?? This is what happened when you think you are still in Yhur…However, I need to assert my strength. I can’t let these women think they’re better than me just because I’m foreign-born.

“Sister is very kind to point it out. However, I am alright with my servants calling me ‘Priestess’.” Dawa looked to the right, “The Empress is arriving, we should bow.”

Dawa immediately kowtowed to the ground to the Empress that entered the receiving chamber of her palace, totally missing the numerous glares she received from the other women on the floor with her.

One didn’t need spiritual energy to sense the utter dislike directed towards them.

Ever since that day, a few members of the harem started to play a few ‘pranks’ on Dawa. However, Dawa’s high cultivation allowed her to anticipate the tricks and avoid them or make them backfire altogether.

Sometimes, she got lucky and the prank backfired in front of the Empress. Sometimes, she felt that heaven was granting her a wish when the prank backfired in front of the Emperor himself. Interestingly, whenever the Emperor was in the vicinity, Dawa swore she saw a small smile underneath his stony façade.

When the harem realised that petty tricks won’t work on her, they turned to gossip.

Dawa could care less for her reputation. She came from a tiny tribe in the Western Plains, what reputation was there to be had??? She knew she was a lowly woman of low rank, not likely to win the Emperor’s favour.

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Besides, she had a feeling the Emperor wouldn’t be swayed by silly remarks. Even though she only met him face-to-face twice, she had a feeling he knew what to believe and what to tune out.

The Empress though was another story. She couldn’t tell for sure if she had a good head on her shoulders. The Emperor may have allowed her in but it was the Empress that determined how good her stay in the harem was.

As such, while she put down any pranks that may harm or inconvenience her, she didn’t break any rules. Who knows who will be watching? It could be anyone but heaven forbid it could be Imperial Concubine Lan, the woman who chastised her for not disciplining Bortu on the first day of greeting the Empress.

That woman was of higher rank than Dawa but felt threatened by her for some reason. Once again, Dawa could care less about her but knew her boundaries.

Which is why on this very lovely autumn day, Dawa is sitting idly having tea. No horse-riding, no archery, no falconry, and no cultivation.

Speaking of cultivation…

Dawa noticed that the cultivation of all the concubines and even the Empress was very low. No wonder those who disliked her turned to pranks instead of duels. She thought it was too common to be a coincidence and did a little digging. To her surprise, she learnt that the Emperor’s consort and concubines had to be of low cultivation as a woman of high cultivation would have the potential to assassinate the Emperor.

Another thing to add to a series of strange events — Dawa was not to be in the imperial harem in the first place.

Dawa drank her tea slowly while deep in thought.

First, there was no entourage to greet me. Then, there was a delay in my departure because suddenly I was to have an entourage consisting of Taban tribe people. Then, there was a delay in the Emperor receiving me. Then, the assassination attempt and now this.

Suddenly, Dawa put down her teacup with a slightly loud sound.

“Priestess?” Bortu asked.

“It’s nothing,” Dawa replied quickly.

I wasn’t meant to be here at all…If that’s the case, there must be a reason for my presence in the capital if I was brought here as a concubine. I have a sneaking suspicion that it has to do with that mysterious group that the Emperor is obsessed about. I have to speak to Minister Hao!

Dawa’s face fell.

Or not…That isn’t my business. I’m no longer a free woman who can do whatever she wants. I have to maintain the balance of power in the harem. Being nice to the Empress and keeping my distance from the concubines who are not fond of me. Oh, but I have to cultivate again. It seems the best time to do so will be late at night. Even though I can’t investigate my own assassination, my skills have to remain sharp if it were to happen again.

Dawa had a new-found sense of purpose — keeping a favourable position in the harem to help her tribe and cultivating while keeping an eye out for strange events.

She ate her shaobing happily, without a care in the world.

Emperor’s Study — Phoenix Palace

Zi Renshu was looking over imperial manifests, occasionally looking up to watch a young woman sitting under a pagoda eat shaobing like a hamster.

He chuckled. She isn’t an elegant eater but there was something about her expression that draws his attention.

He heard the rustling of footsteps and Head Eunuch Lu’s voice rang out, “Your Majesty, the Empress wishes to see you.”

“Enter” He replied curtly without looking up from his desk.

A few moments of silence then the rustling of heavy clothing, “Empress Yi greets Your Majesty.”

He looked up. There stood a woman in her late teens to early twenties. She had dark raven hair, bright eyes and pale skin; a natural beauty. In addition, she was known for being patient yet firm, perfect for holding onto the Empress position.

“You may rise.” Zi Renshu spoke.

“Shi.” Empress Yi stood up to her full height.

“How is she settling in?” Zi Renshi turned back to his papers.

“I can sense her spirit but she is mostly quiet, only speaking when she knows she’s been blatantly wronged. She is following the rules so far.” Empress Yi reported.

Zi Renshu thought for a long while and the silence became too much for Empress Yi.

“I think she knows she wasn’t meant to be here.” She spoke softly.

“Doesn’t matter. Continue to look after her.” Zi Renshu replied quickly.

“But Your Majesty, it’s only a matter of time before she realises why she is really here. We’ve underestimated her intelligence. She may be not worldly but she isn’t stupid. I don’t know how long I can keep —”

“Are you questioning me?! What right do you have to criticise my actions?!” Zi Renshu snapped.

Empress Yi balked but she kept on talking, “We are one under heaven and earth. There is no wrong for me to wonder what you are thinking.”

Zi Renshu didn’t want to hear any of it, “We are nothing more than allies. We benefit from each other; nothing more, nothing less. Now leave.”

Empress Yi opened her mouth, then closed it before bowing and leaving the study.

Once Empress Yi was out of earshot, Zi Renshu covered his eyes with his hands while supporting his head.

Forgive me, my Empress.