Chapter Fifty-Nine: Surely You Haven’t Missed It?

Qin Zhiyi’s brows were tightly knitted. If it weren’t for the presence of outsiders, he would have slapped her with the sole of his shoe. Never mind the custom of keeping numerous wives and concubines—he was a man who valued self-restraint. Loving every woman he met was pure lust, and regardless of the beauties surrounding him, he had never entertained the notion of forcibly accepting sisters as consorts.

“One of you is exhausting enough for me,” Qin Zhiyi pulled her closer, gritting his teeth. “Don’t even think about stuffing irrelevant people by my side.”

“Oh, but Your Majesty is far too vigorous! I’m so delicate, I can hardly endure it!” Shen Fuyu twisted beside him, clearly displeased. “My elder sister is much sturdier—she could handle anything!”

Isn’t the vigorous one you? Listen to the way you play your pipa and then say that! And to utter such bawdy words in broad daylight, in front of an unmarried young lady? Is she some woman from a pleasure house? Qin Zhiyi was so infuriated that he gripped her hand tightly. He had hoped she’d come to smooth things over, but who would have thought she’d arrive only to shatter the scene completely!

“But I don’t want to,” Qin Zhiyi stared hard at Shen Fuyu. In the end, who was rescuing whom here? He bit his lip and said, “I like your fussiness. I have no interest in anyone else.”

“Alright, Your Majesty, it’s as you say.” Shen Fuyu smiled sweetly and planted a kiss on Qin Zhiyi, earning his immediate disgust. Secretly, she was delighted. When she glanced at the bewildered Shen Tangyu, kneeling on the floor, she couldn’t help but mock, “Oh, elder sister, I’m truly sorry. You see, it’s not that I refuse to help you—it’s simply that His Majesty has no interest in you!”

Shen Tangyu kept her head down, seething with resentment, but she couldn’t afford to show it. If she revealed herself now, she’d surely lose. She forced a smile and said, “What are you talking about, Your Highness? I don’t quite understand. But since you’re here, it’s for the best. His Majesty is drunk and unattended—it’s inappropriate for an unmarried girl like me to stay. I’ll take my leave.”

No matter what, she could only insist that she had never harbored such intentions. This contrast would only make Shen Fuyu’s words seem petty and mean-spirited.

“I know well enough. Go,” Qin Zhiyi spoke first. Shen Fuyu, it seemed, treated everyone equally—even her own sister wasn’t spared. But he didn’t want to be caught in the middle any longer; it was best to send her away. “I believe my beloved consort.”

With those words, Shen Tangyu had lost utterly.

All color drained from her face, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. In panic, she bowed and hurried out of the room. On her way back, she nearly stumbled over the ornamental rocks several times, only to be steadied by her maid.

“Miss…” Nonghua helped Shen Tangyu stand, unsure what to say.

“Nonghua, my plan was actually discovered…” Shen Tangyu murmured in disbelief. Her usual tactics had always worked, yet now they had failed. Would the emperor dislike her because of this? “I actually failed…”

“Miss, there’s always another day,” Nonghua hurried to comfort her, seeing how devastated she was. “His Majesty didn’t punish you, did he? Perhaps… Perhaps he’s favoring the Consort because she’s pregnant… Maybe that’s why he’s biased toward her.”

---

“I won’t lose.” She would never lose to Shen Fuyu, that vile woman. Shen Tangyu’s gaze suddenly chilled, her fingers clenched so tightly her palm ached. “Clearly, my old methods won’t work anymore. I’ll have to reconsider. Shen Fuyu might win favor for a time, but can she hold onto it forever?”

She was determined to reclaim it all.

---

“Move aside.”

“I won’t!” Shen Fuyu deliberately snuggled up to Qin Zhiyi, grinning. “Aren’t you drunk? I should keep you company!”

“You seem intent on infuriating me to death.” Qin Zhiyi shoved her away and then asked, “Do I really seem that easy to get drunk to you?”

“Yes.”

“….”

A sense of defeat washed over Qin Zhiyi. The matters he pondered over and over seemed to be instantly clear to Shen Fuyu. No matter how hard he tried, this woman always had a quicker, more effective way to resolve things.

Annoying as she was, he had to admit she was clever and formidable.

“What’s your elder sister really plotting?” Returning to the matter at hand, Qin Zhiyi had used his drink as an excuse to escape here—not to spend time alone with Shen Tangyu.

“Didn’t you see for yourself?” Shen Fuyu’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’re not pretending, are you? My elder sister’s tricks were so obvious—how could you not notice? Surely not?”

“….” He felt thoroughly insulted.

Qin Zhiyi coughed lightly. “I just felt uneasy and asked out of caution.”

“So, do you have any thoughts about my elder sister? For example, bringing her into the harem?” Shen Fuyu’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Qin Zhiyi with a mischievous smile. If Shen Tangyu entered the palace, things would certainly become livelier!

---

So, take her as a consort, dear Emperor!

“No.” Qin Zhiyi looked at her with disdain. “Why must I accept her? Because she’s beautiful? Because she’s talented?”

“Are those reasons not enough?” Shen Fuyu looked at him as though he were a ghost. “Isn’t that what all men like?”

Putting everything else aside, Shen Tangyu was definitely a high-level seductress—beautiful and talented, and never made men feel she was stringing them along. Most of the noble sons willingly fell into Shen Tangyu’s net, dreaming of being caught by her.

“I suspect there’s something wrong with your head.” Qin Zhiyi frowned, stepping back as if avoiding the plague. “Why should I be interested in her? What benefit could she possibly bring me?”

“She could bring benefits to me!” Shen Fuyu clenched her fist, eyes shining. If Shen Tangyu entered the palace, she could spar with her!

Naturally, the benefits were numerous.

For instance, anger points—and more anger points.

Shen Fuyu spoke with such confidence and conviction that Qin Zhiyi almost believed her nonsense. “If I believe you, I must be mad!”

“I’m telling the truth,” Shen Fuyu insisted, her eyes wide.

“Don’t try to fool me.”

Qin Zhiyi was resolute. Shen Fuyu’s words were nothing but lies; he absolutely must not trust her!

“Fine.” Shen Fuyu bit her lip, feeling utterly disappointed. Damn it! The plan to increase the number of sisters in the harem had failed!