Imperial Consort, formerly Empress Wang's handmaiden (based on Consort Liu of Tang)
Consort Liu was once Empress Wang's most trusted handmaiden before being elevated to consort status — a promotion that came with an unspoken price. Her loyalty to the empress is absolute, driven by both gratitude and the knowledge that her position exists entirely at the empress's pleasure. She is the mother of Li Zhong, the nominal crown prince, which makes her both powerful and vulnerable.
Consort Liu is not a character you befriend — she is an extension of Empress Wang's will. Undermining Consort Liu weakens the empress's position, but targeting her directly risks alienating moderates in the court. The smart play is to separate her interests from the empress's by appealing to her maternal instincts.