Samaya was so deep in her thoughts that the walk back to Yongyagong seemed to be over in a flash.

  The moment Samaya stepped into her residence, the atmosphere shifted. Despite the few maids and servants, her residence was always lively. She did not realize that it was far livelier than usual until all sounds ceased.

  She finally focused her gaze and mind … and saw what was probably a dozen maids standing in the main hall.

  The maids who waited for her in the main hall turned toward her, their faces a mixture of fear, gratitude, and determination. Samaya could recognize a few faces here and there but most of them were unknown. Their usual reserved demeanor was replaced by something far more deliberate and intense. As one, they bowed before her in unison.

  “What is all this?”

  “My lady.” Su stepped forward. “They wished to speak to you.”

  “To me? For what reason?”

  Su shook her head. “They refuse to say so. They have requested a private audience.”

  Samaya frowned and looked at the women who were now looking at her anxiously. They were right to be anxious. Even though she was not high in the ranking, she was still a Consort. To ask for an audience with her so suddenly was something out of protocol and usually frowned upon. Heck, malicious or arrogant concubines might even punish them for it. The fact that they were risking it meant that it was important to them.

  She sighed and gave a small nod. “Very well. Take them to the parlor. I shall greet them once I have changed out of these clothes.”

  Su gave a small nod and followed her into the residence while Yu and Min led the maids to the - admittedly small - parlor.

  Samaya was not sure how long it took, but she estimated it was around 15 minutes. She quickly changed out of her heavy clothes and put on simpler, lighter robes, the style she usually preferred within her residence, after she washed over the basin. Now devoid of her makeup and heavy ornaments, she made her way to the parlor.

  The maids bowed down as she entered. Although the room was a bit crowded with all the maids, they made sure to keep a space open for her in the middle, where a table was located.

  She walked to the table and sat down on one of the chairs, before turning to the maids.

  “Well?” She asked, her voice not unkind but not particularly warm or soft. “To what do I owe this visit?”

  “Lady Qing,” one of the older maids began hesitantly, her hands clenched tightly against the fabric of her plain robes, “we have come to thank you.”

  Samaya frowned, confusion flickering across her carefully composed features. “Thank me? For what?”

  The older maid faltered, her mouth opening and closing as if the words refused to come. Finally, a younger maid stepped forward, her voice steadier but tinged with something that bordered on anger. “For what you did to Kang Yanxin.”

  Samaya kept her face carefully blank except for raising one eyebrow. “What are you talking about?” She asked, injecting a small amount of confusion in her voice. “I did nothing.”

  “We did not intend to imply…” the younger maid started but then trailed off, biting her lip.

  The older maid hesitated, her hands trembling as she wrung them together. Her voice, when she finally spoke, was laced with anguish. “Kang Yanxin … he’s a monster. Many of us have suffered at his hands. He and some of his friends.” Her voice broke on the last word, and tears began to spill down her cheeks, tracing glistening lines across her face.

  It seemed she just ripped it off like a band-aid.

  “To harm us,” another maid interrupted, her tone bitter and trembling with barely contained fury. “To destroy us. He used his power and position to do unspeakable things, knowing that no one would believe us if we ever dared to speak out.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  The older maid, the de facto leader of the ragtag group, nodded gravely. “And if we did speak, what would it change? At best, we’d be dismissed and branded as liars or damaged goods. At worst…” Her voice trailed off, but the implication was clear.

  Samaya felt the weight of their words like a physical blow. She remained silent for a moment, her chest tightening as a familiar rage rose in her heart. A part of her wanted to scream, to unleash the fury that burned in her veins, but she knew better than to let it show. Her expression hardened, and she forced herself to take a slow, steadying breath.

  So Rin was not the only one.

  “Why didn’t you come forward before?” she asked softly, her voice low but sharp with both compassion and frustration. Her gaze moved across the room, meeting the eyes of each maid who dared to look up at her.

  The maids exchanged nervous glances, their eyes filled with shame and fear. Finally, the younger maid spoke again, her voice trembling. “Because no one would listen. Even if they did, what could they do? We’re just servants, Lady Qing. If we spoke, we’d be cast out or worse. No man would marry us. Our families would disown us. We belong to the Emperor, and the Kang family could frame it as betraying the Emperor by us seducing him.”

  “Who else other than you knows?”

  “Some of the maids, especially the ones around the Kang household. And some of our friends. But not many. We … did not let it spread, for fear of retribution.”

  The others nodded. “We found each other through shared friends… and eventually, we learned to detect the signs.”

  Samaya’s fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to suppress the surge of rage rising within her.

  “How on earth did he manage to do all this right under the nose of the Emperor?” She growled.

  “He had the protection of his sister, who is very close to the Imperial Consort. The Imperial Consort… she has secret meetings with some of her father’s supporters sometimes, he knows ways to sneak in and out.”

  And ways to get his friends in and out, too.

  “And I suppose the Imperial Consort knew?”

  The maids glanced at each other.

  “We … do not know.”

  “But you suspect.”

  They were silent.

  Samaya exhaled. “I hope you know that there is nothing I can do about the Imperial Consort. It took everything for me to fight against the Kang family, and even that fight took Rin. It would be my word against hers and that… would not be enough.”

  The older maid bowed her head, tears pooling in her eyes. “We understand, Lady Qing. You have already done so much. You need not do anything more.”

  “I have done nothing,” she repeated. “What I have attempted will probably end in failure.”

  “Of course,” the older maid said, her voice reassuring. “What you have attempted is more than enough.”

  It seemed the word about Kang coming for her head for brutalizing her son had already spread, and they were inclined to believe the rumors. Well, it did not matter what they believed. Kang had no way to prove it. And without proof, the Emperor would not - could not - punish the mother of the only existing heir to the throne.

  One of the younger maids stepped forward hesitantly, her hands trembling as she reached out. “Is there anything we can do for you, Lady Qing? Anything at all? We’re not powerful, but we’ll stand by you. After all you’ve done … and for a mere maid… ” Her voice broke, and she looked down, overwhelmed.

  Samaya shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. “No. This is my fight. I won’t put any of you in harm’s way. I have learned my lesson with Rin. I can protect myself. You can’t. Stay out of sight and keep your heads low.”

  The maids looked at each other, their faces a mixture of gratitude and guilt. One by one, they bowed deeply, their voices breaking as they spoke. “Thank you, Lady Qing. For standing up to them. For giving us hope.”

  As they filed out of the room, their expressions solemn but lighter than before, Samaya remained standing in the middle of her chambers. The weight of their gratitude and trust pressed down on her, heavier than any accusation or threat she had faced in the court.

  Her gaze drifted to the window, where the soft light of the setting sun bathed the palace grounds in a golden glow. She crossed the room slowly, her movements deliberate, and rested her hands on the windowsill.

  Outside, the palace seemed tranquil, the distant hum of activity almost soothing. But Samaya knew better. Beneath the veneer of peace, the storm brewed. Minister Kang would not rest until he had destroyed her.

  This is not over, she thought, her jaw tightening. I am not going to rest until that entire family is ruined.

  The maids’ words echoed in her mind, each revelation sharpening her resolve. Kang Yanxin had long been enabled by his father and sister. And the Imperial Consort herself. She had taken care of Kang Yanxin. But that was not enough. She would break the back of that damn family. Their power and privilege had shielded them for years, but cracks were beginning to show. The audaciously public accusation against her was proof of their desperation.

  Samaya’s mind raced with thoughts of strategy. The Emperor seemed to already be looking for ways to get rid of the Kangs and weaken the Prime Minister. If she could find some way, some direction for the Emperor to go toward, she could expedite the process of their collapse.

  Her hand clenched into a fist as she turned away from the window. The storm was far from over, but Samaya was ready to face it head-on.

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