Chapter Thirty-Eight: Am I Not Allowed to Humiliate You?

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"Really? Sister Shu, don't tell me you haven't heard yet? Last night, His Majesty went to the Palace of Dew, and Sister Sun attended him!"

...

At noon, Crescent Moon Palace was bustling with activity. Just last night, the second consort to share the Emperor's bed in his harem made her appearance. Shen Fuyu, on the other hand, had enjoyed a rare good night's sleep. She was notorious for her poor sleeping posture, but had no choice but to squeeze onto the same bed as Qin Zhiyi every night. After three consecutive nights of kicking him awake seven times each night, Qin Zhiyi began to devise ways to tie her up while they slept!

There was simply no human dignity to be found!

Shen Fuyu had long since wanted to send Qin Zhiyi packing!

However, as soon as Qin Zhiyi was absent, her anger subsided dramatically. This morning, waking up to an empty space beside her, she felt an unusual sense of emptiness. Qin Zhiyi had gone to "favor" someone else, and she was left with no one to quarrel with—a most unsatisfactory state of affairs!

During breakfast, Shen Fuyu couldn't help but mock Bai Lian a few more times. After making Bai Lian cry, she fell into contemplation.

Now that her main partner-in-bickering was preoccupied elsewhere, perhaps she ought to find some substitutes. Looking around the palace, apart from the Emperor and the Empress Dowager... Jing Lanxi had already secluded herself in Phoenix Luan Palace—or rather, had been "ill" for over a month. As for the other consorts, Shu Consort and Sun Consort considered themselves too noble to spar with her, while those of lower rank would go out of their way to avoid her after being verbally trounced several times.

This situation was far from ideal!

"Bai Lian, go invite the sisters from the other palaces to Crescent Moon Palace for a gathering. Prepare a table for lunch," Shen Fuyu decided, resolving to repair her superficial sisterhood with the others in the harem.

Bai Lian, still kneeling on the floor, had not yet recovered from her sorrow and resentment. Shen Fuyu, seeing this, simply remarked, "If you're unwilling, then let Green Tea handle it. In terms of socializing, she's better than you anyway."

At these words, Bai Lian immediately dried her tears and said hastily, "I can do it, Your Grace! Green Tea isn't fully recovered yet—let me take care of this!"

There was no true sisterhood here; each only wanted to prove herself superior.

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With the exception of the Empress and Sun Consort, Shen Fuyu summoned every consort in the palace who could be called upon to Crescent Moon Palace. As the guests arrived, someone, anxious to dispel the awkward silence, took the initiative to speak. In the palace, topics for conversation were few—beyond the usual feminine pursuits of music, chess, and poetry, gossip about palace affairs dominated.

Sensing the opportunity, Shen Fuyu lobbed a metaphorical grenade at Shu Consort.

My apologies!

Shu Consort's face turned pale, her hand trembling as she held her teacup. She managed to steady herself, masking her embarrassment with a smile. "What is it you're talking about, Sister Virtuous Consort? How is it I've heard nothing of this?"

"Surely not?" Shen Fuyu's beautiful eyes widened in feigned disbelief as she looked at Shu Consort. "His Majesty dined with you last night, Sister, but then went straight to Sun Consort's quarters. It was quite the spectacle. Your Quiet Grace Palace is so close to mine—how could you not have heard?"

"It’s possible the servants were careless," Zhao Jinyu offered comfortingly. "After all, with His Majesty spending the evening with Virtuous Consort, who'd have guessed he'd let Sun Consort attend him?"

"Your hairstyle is quite lovely today, Zhao Jinyu," Shen Fuyu remarked, glancing at her. Seeing the little hint of pride on Zhao Jinyu's face, Shen Fuyu smiled and added, "But I'm afraid all your brains have gone into your hair. If even a tiny bit of your walnut-sized brain was left in your head, you wouldn't have said something so foolish."

"You—!"

Zhao Jinyu was baffled, insulted for no reason. Hearing the suppressed laughter around her, her face flushed with shame and anger. "What have I done to deserve such humiliation, Your Grace?"

"Humiliation? Am I not permitted to humiliate you?" Shen Fuyu smiled. "Don’t forget—you’re just a mere Jinyu."

Zhao Jinyu trembled with rage, but Shen Fuyu paid her no mind, turning the conversation elsewhere. "Where His Majesty goes is hardly my concern. Sisters, don't you agree?"

Several lower-ranked consorts nodded in agreement. Zhao Jinyu, unable to endure the humiliation, shot Shen Fuyu a vicious glare, then stormed out of Crescent Moon Palace with her maids in tow.

Watching her storm off, Shen Fuyu raised her voice, "Look at that! All I did was make a little joke, just trying to amuse us sisters, and she's gotten angry with me! There really are all sorts of people in this world!"

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Zhao Jinyu was so enraged she nearly stumbled as she left. Her maid hurried to her side, whispering, "Your Grace, we can't afford to offend her!"

"Let's go!" Zhao Jinyu, humiliated and indignant, was on the verge of tears. That wretch! Shen Fuyu was nothing but a wretch! What did she mean by 'just a joke'? All Zhao Jinyu had done was make an offhand remark, and she was targeted so viciously! Was it just because Shen Fuyu was pregnant? What was there to be so proud of—who knew if she'd even carry the child to term!

Never in her life had Zhao Jinyu suffered such humiliation. That wretch Shen Fuyu—her child would surely be a wretch as well! Someone will put that venomous woman in her place one day! The thought nearly drove her mad with anger.

"Sister, was that really necessary?" Shu Consort spoke up after witnessing Shen Fuyu's public ridicule of Zhao Jinyu. She tried to defend Zhao Jinyu, saying, "Zhao Jinyu merely spoke without thinking. Was there any need to embarrass her in front of everyone? How will she ever hold her head high again?"

"Hold her head high? Shu Consort, has Zhao Jinyu infected your mind as well? Are you turning into a walnut-brain yourself?" Shen Fuyu raised a brow. "Zhao Jinyu's words were clearly meant to imply that I failed to keep His Majesty last night, and that Sun Consort reaped the benefit, weren't they?"

"Listen, I'm with child—how could I possibly attend to His Majesty? If he went to someone else, isn't that only natural?"

She lazily accepted the fruit Bai Lian handed her—a grape, already peeled, which she picked up with a silver pick and placed delicately in her mouth. After wiping her lips with a handkerchief, she eyed Shu Consort, who looked as if she wanted to speak but hesitated. Shen Fuyu cut her off, "Besides, now that Zhao Jinyu has already gone, if you were so concerned for her, why wait until she left before speaking up?"

"Zhao Jinyu left in a hurry, but Sister Virtuous Consort, do you not think your words were too much?" Shu Consort could not help but protest. She was already upset to learn that His Majesty had favored Sun Consort, and Zhao Jinyu was something of an ally—she needed to draw her closer. Otherwise, would the harem not become Shen Fuyu's domain alone?

"But it seems to me," Shen Fuyu said, piercing another grape, her eyes suddenly cold as she fixed her gaze on Shu Consort, "that what you've said is little better than nonsense. When Zhao Jinyu was being humiliated, you said nothing, but after the fact, you blame me. Next time, weigh your words more carefully. You even dare to endorse words against the Emperor—no wonder His Majesty chose not to visit you last night, but went to Sister Sun Consort instead."