Ashes of the Vermilion Palace: A Power Game in the Inner Court, Everyone Scheming

In the third year of Jinghe under the Great Qi, the first snow blanketed the palace. Hidden currents surged through the six palaces, while the court's schemes played out in shadow and light.

Su Wanci had been in the palace for three months, an orphan from a humble family. With her peerless beauty and gentle demeanor, she alone captured the emperor's favor, reigning supreme among the six palaces and becoming the talk of the realm. To outsiders, she had no family backing or allies at court. She was merely a frail pawn the emperor used to check the great clans and restrain the princes, a delicate vine for the harem to manipulate, destined to wither at any moment.

A suspicious miscarriage left her near death for three days. The entire palace waited for her to pass away, expecting the inner court's balance of power to be reshuffled. The empress watched from the sidelines, hoping to steady her authority amid the turmoil. Consort Shu seized the chance to build momentum and secure the heir's position for her son. The princes lay low and struggled for power, while the commandery princes maneuvered to exploit the situation. Everyone had their own designs, and every step was a calculated move.

But no one knew that her gentleness was a disguise, her weakness a suit of armor. The emperor's favor was nothing more than a bargaining chip she had staked her life on, after years of lying in wait.

When she opened her eyes, the gentle mask was torn away, leaving only the sea of blood and vengeance she had endured for years and the shrewd, step-by-step schemes she had laid. She was never a helpless pawn on someone else's board, but a revenger who had deliberately entered the palace through bloodshed to overturn its order.

From the officials at court to the palace women, every last one was calculating and played their own game. No one was innocent, and no one could escape. Only Prince Jing, Xiao Jingyuan, aloof and withdrawn in the eyes of the world yet powerful enough to sway the court, held command over the capital's elite troops and occupied a high position at court. Yet he willingly remained hidden in the palace's shadows, in silent accord with her, protecting her and helping her break through each trap.

She turned the tide in the harem's deadly contest, wielding herself as a blade to settle old scores. He quietly covered her in the struggle for imperial power, shielding her at every turn.

Behind towering vermilion walls, every corner concealed a conspiracy. There was no warmth in the palace's game of wits.

This time...