Chapter Twenty: A Warm Welcome to His Majesty!

Qin Zhiyi nearly tossed the entire stack of consort tokens in a fit of fury. Now, anything concerning Shen Fuyu inexplicably set his temper ablaze!

"You get out too!" Qin Zhiyi almost wanted to kick Changfu out. Did anyone ever take his angry words seriously? Wasn't he about to join forces with Shen Fuyu regardless? Being emperor truly felt like the most humiliating job in the world!

He eyed the pile of consort tokens, rage simmering in his chest, and with a grand sweep of his hand declared, "Take them away. Replace every token with Virtuous Consort's!"

"Changfu!"

"At your service!" Changfu, having just endured a kick, scrambled up from the floor. Ever since Virtuous Consort arrived, his duties had only grown more arduous. Hurriedly returning, he forced a smile and asked, "Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

"Go to Crescent Moon Palace," Qin Zhiyi commanded.

And at Crescent Moon Palace, it was evident preparations had already been made.

A dozen large red lanterns were hung in a neat row at the palace entrance. A massive red banner, fashioned from spring festival paper, was unfurled across the main doors, bold calligraphy proclaiming: "A Warm Welcome to His Majesty, Gracing Virtuous Consort's Crescent Moon Palace!"

Palace attendants stood in two rows at the entrance, each holding a bouquet aloft, shaking them with both hands.

"Welcome, welcome, a most hearty welcome!"

Every face was alight with well-practiced smiles.

Qin Zhiyi's vision was keen; he spotted the spectacle from afar and halted in his tracks on the spot.

"I'm not going to Crescent Moon Palace. Go to—" Qin Zhiyi hesitated. But truly, there was nowhere else to go. Every consort in the palace hailed from noble or official families, and now, diverting to any other residence would be equally inappropriate. "Forget it. We'll go in."

Damn Shen Fuyu!

She had never done a single thing properly!

"Oh my! The Emperor has arrived!"

Shen Fuyu had just received a bounty of rage points. Now, beaming like a butterfly, she practically flitted out. Seeing Qin Zhiyi's stormy expression only made her smile brighter. In a few quick steps, she was by his side, grinning as she pressed close. "Your Majesty, we've waited for you so long! Please, come in! Allow this humble consort to serve you well!"

Qin Zhiyi: "..."

Upright as he was, he had never set foot in a brothel, yet now he felt as if he had stepped into one.

"Yinling, quickly pour tea for His Majesty!" With White Lotus and Green Tea both bedridden, the one now serving by Shen Fuyu's side was Yinling, the maid who had roused her earlier. Yinling, compared to the others, was dull but steady—neither outstanding nor problematic—and so Shen Fuyu rarely tormented her.

Of course, Shen Fuyu's mere presence was torment enough.

Qin Zhiyi sat down, feeling as if he were sitting on needles.

This uneasy premonition had haunted him ever since he saw the ostentatious display at Crescent Moon Palace.

"Your Majesty, what would you like to hear?" Shen Fuyu, dressed in pink, a pipa cradled in her jade-like hands, sat smiling sweetly across from him. Incense curled from the burner, lending the chamber a faintly enchanting air.

Looking at Shen Fuyu’s expectant face, Qin Zhiyi couldn't help but relax a little. Perhaps the Grand Diviner was right—Shen Fuyu was simply odd, not malicious.

"Play something you're good at," Qin Zhiyi said, sipping tea with a hint of a smile. "I never knew you could play the pipa. I’d only heard the eldest daughter of the Shen family was famed for her beauty and talent with the zither. Now I see—"

The same sweet, blossoming smile, the same expensive-looking pipa, the same Shen Fuyu.

Where others coaxed music from the pipa, this wretch summoned the spirits of the damned!

Could such sounds truly come from a pipa? Even a pig trotting across its strings would make sweeter music!

Shen Fuyu stood, drawing closer to him with her pipa. Within the jagged cacophony, he could barely discern the melody of "Ambush from Ten Sides," but this was no "Ambush from Ten Sides"—this was the Ten Halls of Hell!

"Stay away from me!"

He should never have been deceived by those innocent, hopeful eyes!

Shen Fuyu, still grinning, plucked the pipa and edged even nearer, pretending not to hear: "Your Majesty, how does it sound?"

"It's awful!" Qin Zhiyi pressed one hand to her shoulder, trying to push her away, but she wouldn't budge! In desperation, he used both hands. "Keep your distance!"

"I can't hear you!" Shen Fuyu played all the more energetically, delighted to see his rage points soar. "Your Majesty, say it again, is my playing beautiful?"

"Get out!" Qin Zhiyi’s face was turning red with frustration. Why wouldn’t this wretch move?

The entire Crescent Moon Palace echoed with Shen Fuyu’s deadly pipa. Yinling, holding the teapot, dared not enter, while Changfu stood numbly outside, consoling Yinling with a pat on the shoulder, "Best to leave the mistress’s affairs alone, miss."

Most of the palace attendants wore the same ashen look.

Since His Majesty's ascension, this was the first time he had favored a consort. Such a first was significant; if it was their mistress, even the lowest servant would bask in reflected glory. However...

Staring at the ludicrous lanterns, the absurd banner, and hearing that fatal pipa, they understood—even if the mistress was favored, it didn’t mean the servants could hold their heads high.

For truly, their mistress had no redeeming qualities to boast of.

Yet, the attendants of Crescent Moon Palace were better off than some. The ones truly suffering were the two still convalescing. Already wounded, both were fiercely ambitious, and now the double blow of physical and spiritual pain was almost unbearable.

Shen Fuyu played the pipa for Qin Zhiyi the entire night. Only when it was finally time to sleep, and seeing Qin Zhiyi approaching numbness, did Shen Fuyu decide to show mercy—lest he develop immunity and her tactic lose its power next time.

"Your Majesty, did you enjoy it?" Shen Fuyu asked once more.

Qin Zhiyi glanced at her and replied, "I do not wish to answer you."

"Then shall I play again for you tomorrow?" Shen Fuyu smiled.

"No."

"Very well." Shen Fuyu stripped down to her undershirt and slipped into bed. "Then I won't play anymore. Sleep well, Your Majesty."

If no pipa, then perhaps a suona for His Majesty tomorrow.

She sprawled out comfortably, winking at Qin Zhiyi.

Her look seemed to say, "Come, Your Majesty! Come favor me! Hehehe!"

Facing Shen Fuyu, Qin Zhiyi’s expression darkened. He felt no worldly desire for this woman!

To share a bed with someone like her—Qin Zhiyi found the thought unbearable. Doing his utmost to avoid contact, he finally lay down, letting out a long sigh of relief.