Chapter Forty-Nine: You Must Face Reality-After Time-Traveling, the Empress Wins Palace Power Struggles with Her Sharp Tongue(The Watermelon Stolen by Cha)

Gu's face instantly turned grim. Well, this little wretch actually dared to embarrass her in public! Truly, her wings had grown hard—did she think that just because she’d become a consort, she could fly out of her grasp?

"Sister-in-law has gotten muddled. These days, she’s not as clear-minded as Her Highness," Third Lady Yue covered her mouth and laughed softly, "Perhaps she’s been so busy with Mother’s birthday preparations that she forgot—Your Highness, please don’t mind her."

"I’m hardly worried. With Third Aunt around, is there any fear that the tasks Mother neglects will go undone?" Shen Fuyu smiled innocently, "As long as Third Aunt is here, nothing will slip through the cracks in the Shen household."

"You—!" Yue’s eyes widened, the gazes of everyone fell upon her, making her flush with embarrassment. What did Shen Fuyu mean, that she was picking up the work Gu left unfinished? Was she supposed to be Gu’s cleaner, or eating her leftovers? This wretched girl!

Shen Fuyu merely smiled at her—no doubt, she was saying that Yue would be eating whatever Gu left behind. But regardless of whether it was Gu or Yue, neither would lose their virtuous facade in front of everyone. It wasn’t so easy to provoke them into a street brawl; after all, they’d been around for decades and would hardly break decorum over a few taunts.

"Big Sister and Sixth Sister, come take a walk with me. It’s crowded here and a bit stifling," Shen Fuyu said. She would deal with them one by one.

"Let’s bring Seventh Sister along," Shen Moyu pulled Shen Chayu forward, squeezing past Shen Tangyu to join them. "Fourth Sister, you won’t mind, will you?"

"I do mind," Shen Fuyu separated the two girls. "Sixth Sister, do you really think you can decide for me? You say who comes, and that’s it?"

"I…" Shen Moyu’s eyes widened. She was only a concubine’s daughter in the Shen family; how could Shen Fuyu be so smug!

Shen Tangyu gracefully bowed to the ladies and followed Shen Fuyu, unlike Shen Moyu, who would show her temper in public. So many ladies were watching—her own reputation mattered most. If she could earn their praise, her name would spread throughout the capital!

The Shen family was, after all, a top household in Da Xun. The mansion was vast. Leaving the back hall, a covered walkway led to an artificial lake. Early autumn was at its coolest by the water, and many ladies and young misses were enjoying the breeze there.

"Fourth Sister, is it fun in the palace?" Shen Moyu’s eyes sparkled as she clung to Shen Fuyu. "I’d like to see it myself, though I doubt I’ll ever get the chance."

"Most likely you won’t," Shen Fuyu couldn’t help laughing. "Third Uncle is a layabout. If he ever manages any achievements, maybe you could earn a title and enter the palace as you wish. But unfortunately, he’s not capable of anything remarkable."

"So you look down on me?" Shen Moyu pouted, feigning innocence, though inwardly she hated Shen Fuyu even more. How dare this concubine’s daughter mock her!

"Yes," Shen Fuyu nodded, "Sixth Sister, you must face reality."

"You’re not lucky either. When you were little, bridges were fine until you stepped on them and they broke, and dog droppings that everyone avoided, you’d step right into. If you’d been chosen to enter the palace as a bride instead of me, you’d likely have died from a poisoned cup," Shen Fuyu said earnestly. "Sixth Sister, you’re born unlucky. I tell you not to dream for your own good—so you don’t lose more than you gain!"

"I…" Shen Moyu’s eyes flashed with annoyance. She hated when people brought up old stories. "Fourth Sister, you rarely return—shouldn’t we catch up, not dig at me?"

"Why not?" Shen Fuyu blinked, accepting the accusation. If Shen Moyu called it mocking, so be it—she could dig up all her old embarrassments.

"You!"

"Sixth Sister, today is not like the past. Fourth Sister is now Her Highness, with a noble rank, far above us," Shen Tangyu was calmer than Shen Moyu. "Besides, Her Highness means well, reminding you not to hope for what you shouldn’t. Though the Shen family is wealthy, Third Uncle isn’t hardworking, and though you’re a legitimate daughter, it’s hard to marry well."

"Big Sister is right. Few people are as lucky as me, able to leap into the position of Consort," Shen Fuyu patted Shen Tangyu’s hand. "I really am the luckiest. Isn’t that so, Big Sister?"

"Her Highness is absolutely right," Shen Tangyu looked up at Shen Fuyu, "Fortune is not something everyone can have."

Her words were meant for Shen Fuyu, hinting that becoming a consort was no reason for arrogance.

"Speaking of which, there’s still time before the banquet starts. Does Her Highness not wish to see Aunt Wen? She misses you dearly."

"If you have time, Big Sister, perhaps you should find someone to cook a pig’s brain for yourself," Shen Fuyu glanced at her. "You keep trying to break the rules—this won’t do!"

"But since we’re real sisters and speaking privately, I won’t hold it against you. If you said this before the Emperor, you’d be punished, and I wouldn’t want blood at Grandmother’s birthday banquet—inauspicious!"

As soon as she finished, Shen Moyu couldn’t help laughing, "Fourth Sister, your tongue is the sharpest. I could never learn it. Teach me a few tricks—it’d be better than some people always taking themselves too seriously!"

"Why bother learning from me? Sixth Sister, your thick skin is enough. If the people on the frontier had walls as sturdy as yours, they’d be safe every day!" Shen Fuyu gave her a thumbs up. When it came to shamelessness, she truly admired Shen Moyu—whatever was said to her, as long as she could benefit, she’d pretend nothing had happened.

Shen Moyu’s hand on Shen Fuyu’s arm stiffened, and she was frozen in place. Shen Fuyu’s voice was loud; though they were on the bridge, the ladies by the lake could hear clearly. All eyes turned to them. Shen Moyu couldn’t hold back any longer, her reddened eyes overflowed with tears and she burst out crying, "How can you say that about me! You’re just a concubine’s daughter of the Shen family! So what if you lucked into becoming a consort! Without the Shen family, what would you be!"

After all, she was a legitimate daughter of the Shen family!

"Look at you, I was only joking and you’re so upset," Shen Fuyu smiled wickedly, "But if you insist, without the Shen family, I’m still the Emperor’s favored consort. But you—without the Shen family, what are you? Trash? Useless?"