Chapter 82: Her Majesty the Empress May Do as She Pleases

“You two have had a hard time as well, following such a mistress. I fear your days have not been easy,” Shen Tangyu remarked, a doll in her hand. She first poached Shen Fuyu’s closest confidantes, isolating her and making her own actions more convenient. “I couldn’t sleep for all the noise earlier. In fact, I heard quite a bit.”

She lifted her hand gently, signaling the two to rise. “By rights, you two came as dowry maids for the fourth sister, and you’re both quite attractive. In this palace, enemies are everywhere. If I were in your place, I would take advantage of my pregnancy to have my own people fill the ranks, to win the emperor’s heart.”

These words struck a chord with Green Tea and White Lotus, and both women were moved.

“It’s a pity our fourth sister is jealous by nature, wanting to monopolize the emperor’s favor. In the end, it’s you who have suffered. If I’d entered the palace then, you could both have become at least Court Ladies by now.”

“It’s only that our fortunes are poor,” the two replied, but their excitement shone in their eyes, betraying their hearts. Following Shen Fuyu offered little hope; why not follow the eldest young lady instead? At least she promised to share the emperor’s favor, unlike Shen Fuyu, who only greeted them with cold sarcasm each day.

With this thought, Green Tea steeled herself and knelt. “Actually… it was Her Highness who took your place. If it weren’t for the need to ward off ill luck, it would have been you in the palace, not Her Highness.”

“Yes…” White Lotus, tugged by Green Tea, knelt as well. “And Her Highness looks down on you so. We, her maids, can hardly bear to watch!”

Feigning shock, Shen Tangyu shook her head. “Since the fourth sister has already seized the opportunity, there is little I can do…”

“You are talented and beautiful, the most accomplished lady in the capital—how could she possibly compare? We are willing to follow you!” Green Tea declared her loyalty at once. To her, betrayal was nothing if it meant becoming one of the emperor’s women.

Seeing this, Shen Tangyu’s gaze turned cold. At last, she had found a promising opening. “In that case, let us see what can be done.”

In the depths of night, Shen Fuyu was sleeping fitfully when a soft voice called her name, causing her to frown and open her eyes. “Who is it?”

Because of her poor sleeping habits, Shen Fuyu had been relegated to a soft couch. She yawned, annoyance prickling her heart. What matter could possibly be so urgent that it couldn’t wait until morning?

“It’s your maid,” Silver Bell whispered.

Tch.

Drowsy with exhaustion, Shen Fuyu blinked, but soon surrendered to sleep again.

“Your Highness,” Silver Bell crept to the side of the couch, her voice hushed. “I was just out relieving myself and saw the eldest young lady enter White Lotus and Green Tea’s room.”

Shen Fuyu opened her eyes in irritation. “You wake me for such trivial matters?”

So what if someone was trying to steal her people? She actually looked forward to Shen Tangyu’s attempts. She had expected something of importance, only to be roused for this!

“Your Highness…” Silver Bell sounded worried.

“Sleep more and meddle less,” Shen Fuyu said, closing her eyes. She didn’t want to hear it.

No matter how anxious Silver Bell grew, Shen Fuyu paid her no further mind.

What to do? Her mistress’s personal maids were about to betray her, yet she seemed utterly unconcerned!

In her dreams, Shen Fuyu slept soundly. She dreamt that everyone was glaring at her in fury, desperate to tear her apart, and she couldn’t help but let out an odd chuckle. How wonderful! Everyone hated her but couldn’t touch her—how delightful!

Morning came as usual, and Qin Zhiyi hurried off. Shen Fuyu always slept until the sun was high. By palace rules, a consort who returned to her family home would not be allowed, but the emperor’s favor made exceptions. After returning to the palace, she was expected to pay respects to the mistress of the harem, the empress, the very next day.

Jing Lanxi had prepared from early morning, waiting for Shen Fuyu to return and pay her respects, eager to reclaim her hold on the imperial harem.

At dawn, Qin Zhiyi attended court—Shen Fuyu slept.

At the hour of the dragon, the consorts gathered to greet the empress—Shen Fuyu slept.

By late morning, the concubines were growing restless. Jing Lanxi’s face grew cold. “What a brazen disregard for palace rules from the Virtuous Consort!”

“Go to Crescent Moon Palace and summon her! I am the empress, she is but a consort—she must come to pay her respects.”

The consorts dared not speak, fearing a repeat of the scene from Shen Fuyu’s second day in the palace.

About the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, the maid returned.

“The people from Crescent Moon Palace said the Virtuous Consort is not yet awake, and ask that Your Majesty make yourself comfortable.” The little maid trembled as she spoke; this was blatant insubordination!

“Is that so?” Jing Lanxi narrowed her eyes, brows knitted. No one had ever dared provoke her thus—Shen Fuyu was the first. “Go again. If she refuses, I will deal with her according to palace law!”

“Wow, she’s really full of herself.”

Shen Fuyu, still in her nightclothes, yawned at her dressing table, not bothering to look up. “She’s just a princess from another country—what’s she so proud of? Why make such a fuss over a morning greeting, acting as if she’s never seen one before? I said I was sleeping, yet she insists I go pay respects. There are limits to making trouble for no reason.”

“Virtuous Consort, mind your conduct! The empress is mistress of the harem—what you’re doing is gross insubordination!”

“I am being insubordinate,” Shen Fuyu replied matter-of-factly. If she couldn’t challenge authority, what else was she to do—grovel? Seeing the maid’s fury, Shen Fuyu smiled. “Does this anger you? My apologies, but I am heavily pregnant. What can your empress possibly do to me?”

Yunjing may have been powerful, but the Great Xun was not weak either. If Qin Zhiyi hadn’t lacked power when he took the throne, he would never have married Jing Lanxi as empress, relying on Yunjing to maintain the balance between nations.

“Then I wish Virtuous Consort would look out for herself,” the palace maid said angrily, bowing stiffly before storming out of Crescent Moon Palace.

Shen Fuyu glanced after her and yawned again.

Really, is that all it takes to upset her? Is this the best the empress’s maids can do?

How dull.

In contrast to Shen Fuyu’s composure, the servants of Crescent Moon Palace were all on edge. In the past, Jing Lanxi had established herself in the harem not only through her noble birth but also her formidable methods.

After two failed attempts to summon her, Jing Lanxi sneered. “It seems some people have forgotten their place and would like to take my position. If Virtuous Consort refuses to pay her respects, I’ll have to go myself and see whether she is truly unwell.”

The concubines exchanged glances. Once, they too had dismissed the foreign empress, but in the end, they had all lost to her. Shen Fuyu was simply too brazen, refusing even to observe the most basic rules of rank and respect!