Chapter 103: Even a Dog Wouldn't Do This

She was very good at holding grudges—she clearly remembered who did what, when someone got angry, and all those details she calculated precisely.

Yet, when it came to matters concerning herself, she was always so indifferent.

“It’s not that I want it this way,” Shen Fuyu said helplessly. She didn’t want to forget, but honestly, aside from things that affected her anger level, she just couldn’t remember other details. Sometimes, her mind just needed a break to clear out the clutter, so it wouldn’t slow down her thinking. “Besides, Your Majesty, don’t say it like you care that much about me. I can’t get used to it!”

In her previous life, she had been nothing but a nobody in the Shen family. Who would bother celebrating a birthday for a concubine’s daughter? Only when she came of age the previous year did they barely manage to hold a small celebration with a few guests.

“I’ve never really had a proper birthday,” Shen Fuyu mused. She didn’t think it mattered much. With her current anger level, birthdays were insignificant—one day passed the same as another. “So please don’t bother about remembering it. It’s exhausting.”

“Tch!”

Qin Zhiyi nearly wanted to pry open her head to see what was inside. So, it was his warm affection meeting her cold indifference?

He had been planning to throw her a birthday banquet, but all his efforts were abruptly dashed!

Why was this woman so infuriating?

“Eh?” Sensing Qin Zhiyi’s rising anger, Shen Fuyu suddenly shifted from her indifferent demeanor, acting coquettishly with sparkling eyes. “Could it be that Your Majesty cares so much for me that you want to hold a birthday banquet? Really?”

Not this again!

Qin Zhiyi grabbed her face firmly. “I feel like whatever I do around you is wrong! Why are you so annoying?”

“No worries, I just like seeing Your Majesty annoyed with me!” Shen Fuyu pouted slightly, as if she had just received a gift and wasn’t about to refuse such a blessing!

He shouldn’t have brought it up!

“As for the birthday banquet...” Shen Fuyu thought for a moment. “Having one is fine, but Your Majesty, you mustn’t hold one for anyone else!”

She wanted everyone else to be jealous of her!

“You are still under house arrest, and Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. It’s not suitable to throw a big event. You’ll handle it as you see fit. If you need anything, ask Consort Shu for help,” Qin Zhiyi said, seeing the gleam of jealousy in Shen Fuyu’s eyes. If she was petty, it was understandable—she had tried to send women into his service before. But if she wasn’t, then why did she constantly make enemies? No one in the palace liked her.

“Fine.” Shen Fuyu generously let Qin Zhiyi off the hook. Her birthday was just a few days away anyway; she might as well add some work for Consort Shu!

“By the way, what did you do to Consort Shu?” Qin Zhiyi was curious seeing her so cheerful today. What had this woman done to cause Consort Shu such distress?

Shen Fuyu pursed her lips. “Nothing much. I just ran over while she was reviewing the accounts and kindly helped her destroy those error-ridden ledgers.”

“?”

Even a dog wouldn’t do such a thing!

Those were ledgers—not some scandalous documents!

At that moment, Consort Shu came out of Crescent Moon Palace in tears. Having been humiliated repeatedly, she was on the verge of breaking down in public!

“Your Highness, the urgent matter is how to handle those ledgers!” Qiu Ying supported Consort Shu, still composed. “Things have come to this. We must not make the situation worse!”

The emperor’s favor could be fought for again, but once she lost control over the inner palace, it would be impossible to regain!

Consort Shu knew this but was unwilling to swallow her bitterness. Should she just keep silent?

Her face twisted with resentment, her eyes dark and menacing, she looked truly frightening!

“Woof woof!”

As they walked back from the imperial garden, a dog suddenly dashed straight at Consort Shu. Furious at being attacked by an animal, she didn’t hesitate to kick it fiercely!

“Beast! How dare you obstruct me!” Consort Shu was still unsatisfied and kicked the white dog several more times. The poor dog whimpered and lay dying on the ground.

This outburst brought her some relief. Glancing at the dog, her eyes turned cold. “This beast—I remember it belongs to Consort Hui, right?”

The two senior maids rarely saw Consort Shu so furious and waited for her command before speaking. “Yes, Your Highness. We heard Consort Hui got a dog from the imperial kennels after seeing Consort Xian raise one the emperor likes...”

Few in the palace kept dogs. Consort Hui’s dog was especially beautiful, wearing a golden collar made just for it. Anyone could tell it belonged to Consort Hui.

“Again, it’s related to Consort Xian... Fine, use this beast,” Consort Shu said viciously. “Take it back to Jingrou Palace quietly. You know what to do.”

The maids nodded. The ledgers needed a scapegoat. Using one of her subordinates would be too obvious; Consort Shu herself might be blamed for carelessness. But a mad animal bursting in, knocking things over or hurting someone... that was a perfect excuse.

Consort Shu gouged several bloody scratches on her arm with her nails. Since Consort Hui had been admitted to the emperor’s bedchamber, their fake sisterhood had vanished without a trace. She wouldn’t be merciful now after what Consort Hui did to her in the imperial court!

...

“Consort Hui, the Empress Dowager requests your presence at Shou’an Palace.”

At Ninglu Palace, the chief eunuch Lu Hai personally delivered the message.

Consort Hui was embroidering a sachet, preparing to follow the Empress and Consort Xian’s example by presenting gifts to the emperor.

“Allow me to prepare,” Consort Hui said with a start. Why was the Empress Dowager summoning her now? A bad premonition crept into her heart.

“Please hurry,” Lu Hai said coldly, confirming her suspicions.

After tidying herself up briefly inside the inner hall, Consort Hui suddenly realized something was wrong. She hurriedly asked, “Where is Shengxue?”

“Shengxue hasn’t returned yet—probably still outside playing.”

Consort Hui had never paid much attention to the dog. Even when it was taken away before, it always came back. The emperor never cared about it anyway.

Upon arriving at Shou’an Palace, she saw Shengxue barely alive and Consort Shu kneeling on the ground, weeping uncontrollably. Consort Hui’s heart sank, but she maintained her composure and respectfully greeted, “I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. I hope Consort Shu is well.”

“Consort Hui, is this wretched beast yours?” The Empress Dowager’s expression was grim as she questioned her sternly.

Consort Hui panicked and knelt down. “Yes, Your Majesty. I kept it to pass the time. I don’t know if it offended anyone. It’s entirely my fault!”