Chapter Twelve: The Formidable Governess Arrives

Shen Fuyu’s joyful days began anew!

After watching the two maids argue for a while, Shen Fuyu yawned and simply left. Ah, as long as there was anger value, it didn’t matter. Such quarrels happened every few days anyway, and if they didn’t, she could always manufacture one herself.

Still, there were things that aroused her suspicion.

Though what became of those around her was ultimately of little concern to Shen Fuyu, the inconsistencies made her ponder. Why did the Empress Dowager send her and Green Tea childless medicine?

"You there, I'm calling you!" Shen Fuyu beckoned to a palace maid. "Go out and find out what people are saying about us in Crescent Moon Palace these days."

The maid nodded and departed, but almost immediately, Chang Fu arrived, bringing a throng of eunuchs.

"You’re here again? Quite idle, aren’t you?" Shen Fuyu smiled at Chang Fu.

Chang Fu replied with a sycophantic grin, unfazed, "Your Grace, Noble Consort, peace be upon you. I am here by the Emperor’s command to bestow gifts upon you."

With that, he clapped his hands. Several young eunuchs entered in single file, each carrying a tray. A glance revealed silks, jewels, porcelain, and jade—each item of exquisite quality.

"The Emperor bestows these upon Noble Consort, who is dear to him: two bolts of fine silk, a pair of gold peony hairpins, a pair of glass peach blossom hairpins, a pair of butterfly hairpins inlaid with kingfisher feathers, a pair of filigree bracelets, a Ru ware vase, and a jade-carved vase," Chang Fu recited, while the eunuchs placed each item on the table.

Shen Fuyu responded, "Oh."

Chang Fu prompted, "Will you not thank the Emperor?"

"I don’t want to," Shen Fuyu replied crisply.

Chang Fu stood silent. Very well, he would take his leave!

Shen Fuyu eyed the items on the table, a sudden idea sparking. She seized a Ru ware vase and casually hurled it to the ground. The clear sound of breaking porcelain was oddly pleasing.

Before her journey to this world, she would have cherished such things, but now, she preferred the anger value.

Had she behaved like this in her previous life, she would surely have been scolded, but now—ah, no one could touch her!

Smashing, cutting, destroying—Qin Zhiyi would surely be furious, wouldn’t he? Even if the young emperor used her, this was her fee! Shen Fuyu proceeded to throw several more items to the floor, shattering them. She had originally sent the maid to gather rumors, but after Chang Fu’s visit, she understood everything.

Most likely, strange rumors had been spread first—that she was favored by the Emperor, perhaps even Green Tea was favored too—then the young emperor, seeing this rumor’s potential, made it official!

She couldn’t let herself be used for free!

After breaking vases, wrecking jewelry, and cutting up the silks, when the little maid returned, she was startled by the destruction. When asked about the rumors, her report matched Shen Fuyu’s suspicions almost exactly.

This explained why the Empress Dowager sent childless medicine. Having heard the rumors and received Qin Zhiyi’s own confirmation, the Empress Dowager took it as certain that Shen Fuyu was ‘favored’; since she disliked Shen Fuyu, she would ensure there was no imperial heir—childless medicine was the perfect solution.

Unfortunately, Shen Fuyu hadn’t consumed it, but unlucky Green Tea had drunk a whole bowl.

Poor Green Tea, failing to even climb into bed, yet drinking a huge pot of childless medicine!

Marvelous! She must share this news with Green Tea—make her even happier!

After smashing the gifts, Shen Fuyu watched Green Tea lying on her bed in rage, writhing in pain from the medicine. Shen Fuyu laughed twice and left. Not long after, word reached Qin Zhiyi that his gifts had all been destroyed.

The Golden Throne Hall remained quiet—there was no expected fury.

But Shen Fuyu’s anger value was credited.

No wonder he was Emperor—always flawless in outward appearances!

Chang Fu returned again on the morning of the next day. Jing Lanxi, still flustered from yesterday’s confrontation with Shen Fuyu, excused herself from court etiquette for several days. Shen Fuyu paid no mind, living by her own schedule, never caring whether it was dawn or not.

"Mama Zhang, I leave this in your hands," Chang Fu said. Truthfully, he didn’t wish to see the Noble Consort at all. He was a chief eunuch by the Emperor’s side—even the Empress must treat him with some respect. But since Noble Consort entered the palace, he’d only seen her a handful of times, and each time, he’d been berated with no reason—who could endure that?

"Rest assured, Your Grace, everything will be handled," Mama Zhang replied confidently. She was the master of discipline in the palace; from the highest mistresses to the lowest servants, anyone who passed through her hands became docile as sheep.

"Very well, then. The Emperor’s instruction is clear: Noble Consort must be trained to embody the proper demeanor of a palace lady," Chang Fu reiterated, then hurried off with the others, feet almost slipping.

Gone, gone! Crescent Moon Palace was like hell on earth—a second longer would spell disaster!

Mama Zhang surveyed the gathered maids and eunuchs of Crescent Moon Palace, her eyes narrowing. They were all shockingly lazy. With a cold snort, she asked, "Where are the head maids of Crescent Moon Palace?"

Everyone glanced at one another before an older maid stepped forward. "The two head maids are not present..."

"Not present?" Mama Zhang raised her brows. "At this hour, where else could they be if not in Crescent Moon Palace?"

The maid who answered bowed her head. She knew Mama Zhang’s methods—no servant dared slack under her. Originally, she thought being assigned to the new consort in Crescent Moon Palace would be a good posting, but now it was clearly the opposite. "Green Tea was punished yesterday and is recuperating in bed. White Lotus always waits until the mistress awakes before coming."

"Crescent Moon Palace has remarkable rules," Mama Zhang observed, sizing up the staff. Then she commanded, "Lead the way. I want to see what sort of servants dare to be lazier than their mistress!"

"And furthermore, what hour is it? Why has Noble Consort not risen yet?" After just a few steps, Mama Zhang continued, "You—go summon Noble Consort to rise. Even if the Empress has excused court etiquette for all the palaces, it’s long past the hour for rising!"

The maid she named turned pale, about to protest, but Mama Zhang struck her with a ruler, eliciting a cry of pain.

"No crying!" Mama Zhang struck again. "Who are you to pick and choose how you serve your mistress? Have all the rules you learned been fed to the dogs? Go, quickly!"