Chapter 85: Hand It Over!

“I am being sarcastic, so what? Are you angry?” Shen Fuyu’s lips curled, her eyes arched with delight, revealing a row of pearly teeth. “Well, I do apologize then, but you really did bring it upon yourself, didn’t you?”

“Go ahead and keep playing the victim here. No matter how pitiful you act, what can you do to me?” This time, Shen Fuyu genuinely intended to leave for the Imperial Kitchen, chuckling twice along the way. “No one can stand up for you, hahaha…”

Ah! How delightful, how utterly satisfying!

Shen Fuyu was practically skipping with joy, her steps light and exuberant. Her level of wrath had climbed from forty-one to almost halfway through forty-two—splendid indeed!

Especially seeing Shen Tangyu, flustered and mortified, as if her face had been stripped raw—what a sight to behold!

But after only a few steps, Shen Fuyu sensed something was amiss; her wrath level suddenly dropped. She hurried back and, sure enough, discovered that Shen Tangyu was using the opportunity to curry favor and build connections.

She dismantled it immediately!

Climbing up the ranks? Don’t even think about it. Let her stew at the bottom, seething with hatred!

Of course, Shen Fuyu hadn’t forgotten her original objective. Before word could reach Jing Lanxi, she swiftly dragged Qin Shihuang along to raid the Imperial Kitchen, returning with a bounty.

For instance, the bird’s nest soup and donkey-hide gelatin prepared for the Empress Dowager.

Or the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall delicacy, also for the Empress Dowager.

Or several exclusive dishes meant for Jing Lanxi, the Empress.

Or the special slimming meal the Virtuous Consort had specifically ordered from the kitchen.

Or the nourishing soup prepared for the Wise Consort.

She took them all!

Such is the simple joy of returning triumphant, laden with spoils! She even nabbed quite a few delicious treats on the way back.

Qin Shihuang helped her, pulling a little cart brimming with their prizes.

“Your Highness, you can’t do this! I truly can’t bear the blame! I was merely following orders! Please, have mercy and let me go! I’ll deliver the food to Crescent Moon Palace right away!”

Behind them trailed a steward from the kitchen, his face swollen from a beating.

The kitchen staff were miserable—the steward had been beaten so badly, something they’d never anticipated.

In the palace, it wasn’t unusual for a consort who had lost favor or been confined to suffer mistreatment. Besides, they were only following the Empress’s orders by temporarily withholding food from Crescent Moon Palace—they never intended to starve anyone.

But the Virtuous Consort was truly unpredictable! She stormed in, beat them up, and seized the meals meant for everyone else!

Among them were dishes specially prepared for the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and other consorts!

Shen Fuyu returned laden with spoils, having managed to offend nearly everyone in the palace, her mood thoroughly uplifted. Of course, she didn’t forget her matchmaking mission for her beloved dog, heading with Qin Shihuang toward Dewdrop Palace.

“How about this one?” Shen Fuyu asked.

“Woof!” Qin Shihuang wagged his tail in approval.

Taking advantage of the deserted hallway, Shen Fuyu handed all the food to Qin Shihuang, then made a mad dash, grabbing the little female dog and clamping her mouth shut: “Elbow! Back to the palace!”

“Someone help! Someone has stolen Consort Hui’s beloved dog!”

Just like that, Shen Fuyu, with a small female dog tucked in her arms and Qin Shihuang pulling a cart full of food, made a hasty, triumphant return to her palace, closing the doors just in time before the next wave of guards arrived.

Yinling stared in astonishment. “Your Highness, your child…”

“Isn’t everything fine?” Shen Fuyu patted her slightly rounded belly. “Want to feel? The imperial heir is perfectly healthy!”

“If he can’t withstand a little turbulence, would he even be worthy of being my son?” Shen Fuyu lied without a flicker of hesitation.

Yinling: …

It sounded reasonable, so she believed her.

“All right, let’s eat.” Shen Fuyu graciously and generously invited everyone. Under her lead, the palace attendants were forced to divide up the dishes that were never meant for them.

But after such chaos, everyone was starving. With the enticing aroma filling the air, they couldn’t help themselves and devoured everything ravenously.

Let the sky fall—there were others to bear the consequences. The mistress had caused the trouble; what could they do?

Shen Fuyu thoughtfully prepared a meal for Shen Liyu, and left a bowl of chewed bones at Shen Tangyu’s door.

Yes, simpering sycophants deserve nothing better.

As for Qin Shihuang, he needed no invitation—after devouring several pieces of meat, he was now chasing Consort Hui’s little female dog all over Crescent Moon Palace.

Consort Hui’s little dog had been raised while Shen Fuyu was away from the palace for a few days—after all, it was rumored that His Majesty adored the Virtuous Consort’s dog.

After the meal, Shen Fuyu carefully erased all traces, gathering up the bowls and chopsticks. The bowl of bones at Shen Tangyu’s door was kicked over and left there; Shen Fuyu ignored it, collected the dishes, and stowed all the stolen goods away in her secret space.

She timed it perfectly—just as she finished, the Empress Dowager and Jing Lanxi arrived one after the other.

This time, Shen Fuyu welcomed them with a beaming smile.

“Your subject greets the Empress Dowager and the Empress.” She was so demure and obedient, it was almost unrecognizable.

“Virtuous Consort.”

“I am here,” Shen Fuyu replied obediently, looking up. “Has Your Majesty come seeking me for some matter? I’ve just been placed under house arrest by the Empress and am reflecting on my conduct.”

Who would believe such a thing!

The Empress Dowager and Jing Lanxi’s faces darkened.

“Empress, you speak,” the Empress Dowager said. Although she was here for this very matter, she was unwilling to broach the subject of the stolen meals herself, so she handed the trouble to the Empress.

Jing Lanxi’s gaze turned icy as she accused, “Virtuous Consort, you have defied authority, assaulted the palace guards, and even caused chaos in the Imperial Kitchen, seizing others’ meals. You are utterly lawless!”

“From whence does Your Majesty make such accusations?” Shen Fuyu blinked innocently. “From the moment you confined me here, I haven’t set foot outside Crescent Moon Palace.”

“Your Majesty mustn’t make groundless accusations. My attitude may have been poor just now, but that was only because I wasn’t feeling well enough to pay my respects. You have already confined me; what more do you wish to do?” She even put on a pitiful, aggrieved face.

“I never imagined you could twist black into white with just a few words!” Jing Lanxi’s brow knit in frustration. “Do you think I have no proof?”

“Your Majesty’s word alone isn’t enough to convince me,” Shen Fuyu replied, blinking. Turning black into white was child’s play. Thank you for the compliment. After all, in this era there were no surveillance cameras, and eyewitnesses hardly counted—especially in the palace, where bribing maids and eunuchs was simple enough. Only physical evidence could be considered ironclad.

Shen Fuyu was, of course, ready to exploit such loopholes.

“You defied me, and when I confined you for reflection, you assaulted the guards and forced your way out. Not only that, you stirred up chaos in the Imperial Kitchen and seized others’ meals. I have brought witnesses, and as for physical evidence, a search will reveal everything!” Jing Lanxi signaled, and a dozen palace attendants surged in to search the palace. Jing Lanxi sneered, “Virtuous Consort, there is still time to confess. The Empress Dowager and I can show leniency for the sake of your pregnancy!”