Forced to Vie for Favor, She Becomes the Harem’s Ultimate Schemer

Xu Lanshan transmigrates into the body of a lowly palace maid in the Da Wen Dynasty, inheriting a situation of dire peril. The original host, Lanshan, was a timid servant to Song Meiren, a fifth-rank Beauty in the harem. Lanshan’s downfall began when Emperor Yuanyong casually praised her exceptionally beautiful hands during a visit to Song Meiren’s quarters. Consumed by jealousy and already resentful of the Emperor’s recent neglect, Song Meiren, incited by her sharp-tongued maid Su Ying, subjected the original Lanshan to brutal torture. Su Ying claimed the maid harbored improper ambitions to climb into the Emperor’s bed, leading Song Meiren to order her hands stomped and beaten until they were mangled and infected. Deprived of food and medical care, the original host died from a high fever, allowing Xu Lanshan to take over her body.

Upon awakening in pain and despair, Xu Lanshan is bound to a Palace Intrigue System. The system, voiced by an obsequious young boy, promises assistance in navigating harem politics, offering rewards for completing missions and threatening erasure for failure. The ultimate goal is to become Empress or win the Emperor’s exclusive love. Xu Lanshan, a former corporate worker accustomed to cutthroat environments, accepts her fate pragmatically. She demands the system heal her injuries immediately, restoring her hands to their former perfection. The system agrees, and Xu Lanshan prepares for her first mission: to encounter the Emperor that night and leave a favorable impression.

Understanding the dangers of curfew and the improbability of a random meeting, Xu Lanshan devises a plan. She positions herself in a peach grove, using the moonlight and falling blossoms to create a picturesque scene. When Emperor Yuanyong arrives for a quiet stroll, he discovers her praying beneath the trees. Her display of vulnerability and beauty captivates him. She feigns fear and grievance, claiming she wandered out to miss her mother and pray for peach blossoms, which her mother loved. The Emperor, recognizing the injustice inflicted upon her by Song Meiren, feels a surge of protective pity. He pardons her, orders food from the Imperial Kitchen, and instructs Eunuch Dong to escort her back, effectively claiming her protection.

Back at Yongchun Palace, Song Meiren and Su Ying are stunned by Eunuch Dong’s visit and his warning to treat Lanshan well. Their shock deepens when they see her hands are fully healed. Song Meiren’s jealousy turns to rage, but she is restrained by the Emperor’s explicit protection. Su Ying suggests poisoning Lanshan or causing an accident, but Song Meiren refuses, fearing the Emperor’s wrath and the risk of discovery by the Imperial Forest Army. Instead, she bides her time, vowing to watch how long Lanshan’s favor lasts.

Xu Lanshan is promoted to the seventh-rank Changzai and granted residence in Cuiyin Pavilion. She is summoned to the Emperor’s quarters that very night. During their encounter, she balances demureness with playful charm, satisfying the Emperor both physically and emotionally. He finds her company refreshing compared to the stiff and nervous concubines he usually entertains. Afterward, he gifts her precious jadeite bracelets and orders further rewards, signaling his serious intent.

The next morning, Xu Lanshan attends the morning greeting at Fengwu Palace. She arrives early, keeping her beauty subdued to avoid immediate hostility. The other concubines, particularly Noble Lady Deng and Jiang Meiren, mock her rise from maid to mistress, accusing her of betrayal. Xu Lanshan remains silent and composed, enduring their scorn. The arrival of high-ranking Consorts, including the ambitious Consort Lian, shifts the atmosphere. Consort Lian, resentful of the Empress’s appointment, eyes Xu Lanshan with suspicion, viewing any new favorite as a potential tool or threat. Xu Lanshan faces the complex web of harem politics, knowing that her survival depends on maintaining the Emperor’s favor while navigating the jealousy of powerful rivals.

As her status solidifies, Xu Lanshan receives her next mission: to secure three nights of imperial favor within eleven days. She recognizes that her position is precarious. The Imperial Kitchen’s attempt to serve her food with strong odors before her night with the Emperor suggests sabotage by unseen enemies. She correctly deduces that Song Meiren lacks the influence for such a plot, pointing to higher-ranking consorts. Xu Lanshan adapts, maintaining her low profile while strategically building alliances, such as her courteous relationship with Eunuch Dong. She understands that in the palace, favor is fleeting, and her only path to safety is to rise higher, ultimately aiming for the throne as dictated by the system.