In the third year of the Shengyuan era, Shen Yuan, daughter of a low-ranking sixth-grade official, entered the imperial palace because her face bore an uncanny resemblance to the late empress.
Without favor or influence, she lived alone in the remote Lanyue Pavilion, and everyone laughed at her as a pawn for others to manipulate.
But she never cared to compete for the emperor's favor. She only knew how to play the game of hearts.
Using human nature as bait and the harem's power struggles as her board, she coolly watched the four consorts fight, turning their strength against them and advancing one careful step at a time.
When Consort Shu tried to win her over, she politely declined. When Consort De plotted against her, she dismantled the scheme. When Consort Xian put pressure on her, she defused it.
Without shedding a drop of blood or deploying a single soldier, she turned every hunter who thought they had the whole game under control into a pawn in her hands.
When the alliance of the four consorts collapsed and the palace intrigues came to an end, everyone finally realized that
The woman who had always stood smiling in the corner had long since taken control of every piece on the harem's board and secured the highest seat.
"I do not compete for favor. I simply let them fight among themselves.
I use their blades as pieces and reap the rewards. The harem is a world of its own, and this has always been a gamble played with people's hearts."
