Chapter 75: I Can't Be the Only One to Enjoy This

“It was my own failure, Your Highness. When His Majesty fell gravely ill, I should have gone to bring him luck, but at that time I was attacked in secret. By the time I realized what had happened, my fourth sister was already the Virtuous Consort.” Shen Tangyu forced a bitter smile and went on, “Please don’t take my words to heart, Your Highness. I was only speaking offhand.”

“My fourth sister has led a hard life since childhood, always envying me, the legitimate daughter, who gets whatever she wants. I have no wish to compete with her for anything.”

Qin Zhiqing sighed softly, surprised to learn there was such a story behind the matter of bringing luck for the Emperor. Shen Fuyu truly is a woman undeserving of her position!

“Rest assured, as long as I am here, I will never let you suffer injustice,” Qin Zhiqing declared resolutely. “Tomorrow, I shall report to the Emperor and ask him to uphold justice for you.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Shen Tangyu mustered a smile, allowing Qin Zhiqing to send her back home. Yet as soon as she boarded the carriage, her face darkened. Upholding justice—how nice it sounded! In the end, she would still be led around by the nose by that wretched Shen Fuyu!

If not for Prince Jing’s status, Shen Tangyu wouldn’t even bother to use him.

In just two days, she would enter the palace. Shen Tangyu tried to calm herself—let Shen Fuyu be pleased for now!

“Fourth sister, perhaps you shouldn’t take so much. It wouldn’t be good to overeat.”

“I know my limits,” Shen Fuyu replied with a smile, accepting the tea. “Eighth sister, are you finished?”

“Yes.” Shen Liyu nodded. “Fourth sister…”

“If you have something to ask, just say it.” Shen Fuyu’s attitude toward Shen Liyu was rather generous.

Shen Liyu hesitated. “I heard His Majesty and Prince Jing are quite close. If Prince Jing says something in court tomorrow…”

“Such talk has never ceased since I entered the palace,” Shen Fuyu replied, sipping her tea as she rose. “Let’s go.”

After a few steps, Shen Fuyu suddenly added, “You’re a calm person, eighth sister. You should know that sometimes, living in this world, you need not care so much. You want a good marriage, but the wealthier and more prominent the family, the more such gossip there will be. Paying heed to the opinions of outsiders only leads to greater loss.”

“I understand, thank you for your guidance, fourth sister.” Shen Liyu’s gaze grew respectful. What fourth sister wanted was surely different from eldest sister; thus, in the face of the same matter, eldest sister grew angry, while fourth sister remained unperturbed.

After the sisters’ outing, Shen Tangyu had suffered a great humiliation, returning home in Prince Jing’s carriage. There was no need to ask—something must have happened.

“Tang’er.”

---

“Mother…” After suffering all day, Shen Tangyu finally saw Lady Gu and could no longer hold back her tears. “I can’t bear it anymore! Why must she torment me so?”

Lady Gu, after hearing what happened, looked grim herself, holding and comforting Shen Tangyu. “Be patient, Tang’er. Now is not the time to act rashly.”

“I understand, but I wish I could tear that wretch to pieces!”

“When you rise above others, you can do as you please,” Lady Gu soothed her. “By the way, Prince Jing sent you home today after your quarrel with that little wretch?”

“Prince Jing is the Emperor’s only surviving brother. If my daughter could become his princess, it wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Mother, that’s not what I want,” Shen Tangyu replied irritably. “He’s just a leisurely prince—no matter how respected, he’ll still be beneath that wretch in the end! I want to enter the palace. His Majesty will surely value me. My birth is better than hers. In time, I will be made an Imperial Noble Consort and crush her beneath my feet!”

---

Everyone knew Shen Tangyu had suffered a grievance, and malicious gazes were cast upon Shen Fuyu. Such days of public resentment…

Truly delightful!

Shen Fuyu was as happy as a little sparrow. If only her secret space wasn’t a secret, she’d pull in all those who hated her and show off wildly!

Look! So much has grown!

Thanks to everyone’s efforts, she alone enjoyed the sweetest rewards!

Oh, she almost felt embarrassed!

Thinking it over, Shen Fuyu decided she couldn’t rejoice alone. She needed someone to share her happiness.

“Sixth sister, do your knees hurt? I’ve come to visit you!” Shen Fuyu pushed open the door.

Based on the medicine’s dosage, Shen Moyu should have recovered last night. With the old matron watching, she dared not feign illness or slack off. Now, after kneeling in the family shrine for a day and a night, she was already on the verge of collapse.

“Why are you here? To laugh at me?” Shen Moyu slumped to the floor, managing a weak smile. “I never imagined I’d end up like this.”

---

“Fourth sister, you’re here to mock me, aren’t you? I failed to drug my own sister, was caught by my mother, and now I’m punished to kneel here. Even the chance to enter the palace with you has gone to eighth sister.”

“Oh, you overthink things. Honestly, I never intended to take you with me,” Shen Fuyu corrected her, perfectly serious.

“It doesn’t matter anymore.” After several days of setbacks, Shen Moyu didn’t even care when Shen Fuyu provoked her.

“Don’t say that. You mustn’t be apathetic,” Shen Fuyu leaned closer. “Honestly, your methods were just too foolish. Who did you bribe? My own silly maid—of course it would all come out!”

Shen Moyu gritted her teeth and glared coldly at Shen Fuyu. “Have you seen enough?”

“Not at all.” Shen Fuyu blinked, smiling mischievously. “Your knees must hurt, right?”

“No pain could compare to what I feel inside—ah!”

Mid-sentence, a rare scream escaped her lips. Shen Fuyu had produced a small hammer-like object from nowhere and struck Shen Moyu’s knee!

“You!” Shen Moyu, furious, stared at her with wide eyes.

“That’s better.” Shen Fuyu nodded in satisfaction. How could she lose her fighting spirit? Let her hate!

“By the way, when we went out today, eldest sister managed to charm Prince Jing. He personally brought her home. It was I who created the opportunity for them!” Shen Fuyu clapped her hands as if she’d just remembered, speaking to Shen Moyu with excitement. “Prince Jing is now infatuated with her. Sixth sister, what do you think of my matchmaking skills?”

“You! You’re a heartless viper!” Shen Moyu finally couldn’t contain herself, shouting loudly. “You did it on purpose!”

Prince Jing was talented and gentle, a dream for many young women—Shen Moyu was no exception.

“You should address me as Virtuous Consort,” Shen Fuyu said with relish, picking up the little hammer and knocking her knee again.