There she was, sitting on my couch. Hürrem. 

"Get out of my room!" I barked. "Who gave you permission to enter?"

She looked over her nails as I continued to stare. This was making me mad already. Her arrogance and air she carried over to my rooms and dare sit on my couch, I was on the verge of fighting her with my own fists.

"Aysel, Feride, get the guards to take her out. The order of Zevki Sultan."

Hürrem rolled her eyes. "I have but only a few things to say to you Zevki, it won't take long."

"Spit it out then," I yell at her. Hürrem inhaled deeply, then exhaled. 

"I just wanted to warn you, Zevki. You have been picking a fight with the wrong person. If we ally together now, we can go against the person who is the real problem here."

I snorted. "And who would that be?"

"Mahidevran," Hürrem declared in all seriousness, "Mahidevran is a threat to the well being of the dynasty, and is a harm to all she gazes upon. We must protect the Sultan and his family at all costs."

I narrowed my eyes at her. Only a fool would think someone as weak as Mahidevran would be a genuine problem, especially with a snake like Hürrem in the room. No, this was her trying to set me into a trap, so that she could get rid of both Mahidevran and I at the same time. 

"No thank you, Hürrem. I have to care for my children at this time, if you wish to engage with Mahidevran and cause problems, go right ahead, but you have a similar situation as us, and must care for Mehmed first."

She scoffed, not expecting to hear that from me. "Since when did you become such a mother hen? Don't you know that's the job of the Valide Sultan?"

"Since I realized the true meaning of my role here. Raising successful dynasty members to make our Empire's strongest days just ahead."

"But-" Hürrem began protesting, but I lifted my palm up to signify to her to be silent.

"Leave my rooms before I have you thrown out."

Hürrem got off my coach, huffed, and marched out of my rooms. 

"I could almost see the steam rising from her nose." Aysel laughed. I stroked the edge of my chin softly.

"We mustn't get ahead of ourselves however. She is plotting something, so we must as well."

"Like what?" Feride asks. "Should we too, try and trick her into doing something?"

"She mentions the Valide so often," I begin. "Always in a worse way than the previous. So why can't we stage an event in which Hürrem causes such a problem with the Valide she must be thrown out?"

"Good idea, my Sultana, but how do you intend we do that?"

"We need a spy, but one to also pretend she is spying for Hürrem." 

"But why would she want that?"

"Hürrem will receive an 'accidental note' in which we disclose I will be getting spies. Hürrem will want to have her own spies. So then we bring some candidates of our own girls." I explain.

"So brilliant!" Feride clapped her hands and looked to Aysel. "Who should we choose, Aysel?"

"I say we do Vera Hatun."

"Vera Hatun?" I repeat. "Who is she?"

"A Jewish girl I believe, very witty, she has a nice looking face suitable for Hürrem, and is very quick about things."

"Well then what are you waiting for, bring her to me." I order.

Feride bows her head and heads out to grab Vera Hatun, and momentarily she comes in, bowing.

"My Sultana, what could I do for you?" Vera Hatun asks.

"You shall be my spy for Hürrem Sultan."

I explained my whole plan to her. She gasped a few times but nodded along.

"So do you understand the task I am offering you to do? It has many risks, and if you fail there will be consequences."

"Yes my Sultana, I believe I have what it takes to succeed in this task." Vera boldly affirms. "I wish to achieve your goals and make you satisfied."

"Wonderful. And you of course understand, everything you do, and Hürrem does, should be reported to me via Feride."

"Sultana, wouldn't it be wiser to pass along through another person? What if we are caught?" Feride asks worriedly. "We wouldn't want to jeopardize your plans."

"Unless you genuinely fear for your safety and being caught at every moment, I have more fate in you to do the task as is than any woman who I don't really know."

Feride nods. "As you say, my Sultana."

I clasp my hands together. "So that is business then. I wish you, Aysel, to write a letter and slip it around Hürrem no later than in one hour. As for Vera, we shall prepare you for the task ahead."

My servants nod and get to business, along with Vera, so I stay back, trying to relax until Nigar Kalfa comes in.

"Sultana," She bows. "How are you?"

"Very good, Nigar." I smile. "Is there something important you need to inform me of, or do you just want to talk?"

Nigar Kalfa sits down besides me. "Now I don't want to interfere too much, but I overhead Hürrem has a plot to get rid of you."

I wave my hand. "Oh yes, I already know. It's just Hürrem being silly, she told me earlier."

"Sultana, it's not the one she told you of earlier. It's another one, that'll likely be very effective."

"Oh?" I ask, genuinely curious. "Tell me."

"She intends to say that you were breaking harem rules and meeting with a man. She wants to stage a moment for you to be outside, and speak to some random agha dressed as a civilian man."

"That won't ever work."

"You are very clever Sultana I know, but I just wanted to inform you that Hürrem is planning such a trickery."

"Thank you Nigar."

I tapped my chin and think. I have to find a way to get rid of Hürrem myself, but how?

Wait, a light goes off in my head. What if I use her plan against her? Vera could trick her into thinking she will catch me, but really, Hürrem will get in big trouble.

"Nigar," I smile. "I have an idea."