Chapter Thirty-Three: No Way? Oh Dear, How Embarrassing

Yinling took the items, glancing at Shen Fuyu’s languid, uninterested demeanor. She quickly smiled and said, “Would Your Grace like to see them? I’ve never seen these before!”

“If you like them, you may choose two to take with you,” Shen Fuyu replied, her smile faint. In front of Dongling, she picked a hairpin and tossed it into Yinling’s hands. Seeing Yinling’s momentary confusion, and then noticing Dongling’s face darken slightly, Shen Fuyu felt delighted. “Not bad, the color suits you well. Keep it and wear it.”

Dongling was momentarily stunned. Upon first meeting this Lady Virtue in Phoenix Luan Palace, she’d known that Shen Fuyu was fearless and rebellious, but she hadn’t expected her to so blatantly disregard the Empress. The Empress had gifted these items to Shen Fuyu, yet Shen Fuyu, in Dongling’s presence, bestowed them upon her servant—wasn’t this a direct affront to the Empress?

“Your Grace is truly generous to us servants,” Dongling said, though she would never voice her true thoughts aloud.

“Listen to you, Dongling. Doesn’t the Empress treat you well?” Shen Fuyu smiled at her. “Forgive my foolish questions. Dongling, you’ve served the Empress closely since childhood, and accompanied her when she married into Great Xun years ago. She must trust you most. How could she not love you?”

“Yes, the Empress values me, and I serve her loyally,” Dongling replied, lowering her head. “But I was surprised to see Your Grace give such a valuable hairpin to a maid. You’ve never worn it yourself, yet you’re willing to gift it away.”

“What, is your Empress so stingy? You, the chief maid of Phoenix Luan Palace, aren’t allowed to wear precious jewelry?” Shen Fuyu easily caught Dongling’s meaning—it was a tactful reminder that the hairpin was a gift from the Empress. But so what? Shen Fuyu had always found such warnings laughable. “That can’t be. Isn’t the Empress supposed to treat you the best?”

“Of course not. But the hairpin belongs to my mistress. According to palace rules, even if Your Grace gifts it to us, we cannot wear it,” Dongling replied softly. “I only meant to remind you, nothing more.”

“It doesn’t matter. You’re a servant now, but you won’t be forever. At twenty-five, you’ll leave the palace, and then you can wear it—how nice to have lovely jewelry tucked away,” Shen Fuyu said, acting as if she hadn’t heard Dongling’s words. Then a realization struck her. “Ah, Dongling, forgive me, I forgot you came here with the Empress. You’ll never have the chance to leave and marry. I’m with child now, and my words are careless. Don’t take it to heart.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Dongling bit her lip and curtsied to Shen Fuyu. “If there’s nothing more, I won’t disturb Your Grace’s rest. I’ll take my leave.”

“It’s fine. Even if you can’t marry, as long as the Empress treats you well, you should be content,” Shen Fuyu said, adding one last jab before Dongling left. “Remember to thank the Empress for her gifts on my behalf. I’m not well enough to do so myself.”

Dongling bowed, her eyes reddened as she departed. The inability to marry was a thorn in her heart. She had sacrificed her own future for the Empress, but when she compared Shen Fuyu’s treatment of Yinling to the Empress’s treatment of herself, could it truly be called kindness?

Just a few steps from Phoenix Luan Palace, Dongling quickly wiped away her tears. She couldn’t dwell on these thoughts—who knew if Shen Fuyu’s words weren’t meant to sow discord? She was the Empress’s confidante; how could she let such words sway her?

The more she tried to convince herself, the more anger roiled within her. Shen Fuyu claimed innocence, yet deliberately stabbed at her heart. Such generosity was wasted. Shen Fuyu had none of the decorum of a noble lady—so arrogant and reckless. If she bore a prince, it would surely threaten the Empress’s position. The distant mountains and rivers of Yun Jing, Great Xun rising steadily, and that esteemed official had long since sent secret instructions for the Empress to secure her standing here, yet the Empress stubbornly refused...

“Back already?”

Jing Lanxi didn’t lift her eyes, absorbed in the book she held.

“I have returned,” Dongling said, bowing to her. “Your Grace, Lady Virtue is with child.”

“Mm.” Jing Lanxi seemed unconcerned. “You delivered your gifts, yes?”

“All delivered. But...” Dongling bit her lip. “Your Grace, Lady Virtue is truly insolent, disregarding you entirely! Before I’d even left, she gave the hairpin you bestowed upon her to her maid, just like that...”

“She’s insolent—you knew as much the first day you met her,” Jing Lanxi set aside her book. “But she’s becoming brazen. Now that I sit as Empress, I cannot allow anyone to provoke me. Qin Zhiyi must be impatient—he wants to turn against Yun Jing and is eager to find someone to threaten my position. Have you fully investigated Shen Fuyu’s background?”

“Our people have uncovered everything,” Dongling nodded, seeing Jing Lanxi’s fighting spirit rekindled. She quickly recounted all she knew. “Lady Virtue was chosen at random for a marriage to boost fortune, a concubine’s daughter who was never valued by the Shen family. Years ago, she was sent to the countryside due to illness, only recalled as she neared adulthood. Soon after her coming-of-age, she suffered a near-drowning; since then her temperament changed drastically, leading to who she is now.”

“The less valued, the easier to handle. If I recall, the Shen family has a cherished legitimate daughter? Shen Tangyu?”

Dongling nodded. “Yes. Had the emperor not been poisoned, Shen Tangyu would have been the one sent into the palace.”

“Qin Zhiyi wants to use Shen Fuyu to curry favor with the Shen family and stabilize the court. Then I’ll use Shen Tangyu to ruin it all,” Jing Lanxi’s smile turned ferocious. She would never allow anyone to threaten herself or Yun Jing. Shen Fuyu... she had underestimated her!

“Your Grace, you must not let her bear the emperor’s eldest son,” Dongling hinted, “Great Xun prizes heirs. If you were to bear the legitimate eldest son and establish him as Crown Prince, whatever others attempt would be futile. It would not be in vain that you married into this land.”

“Leave.”

Jing Lanxi’s gaze turned icy. Children—always children! Why should she bear Qin Zhiyi’s child? Just to be outdone by that wretched Shen Fuyu? Must she sacrifice herself thus?