Chapter 68: Standing Someone Up for Fun

Aunt Wen opened her mouth, seemingly startled by Shen Fuyu’s attitude, then began to sit on the floor and scream hysterically, “I carried you for ten months! How can you be so heartless!”

Damn, she’s loud.

Shen Fuyu took a pill from her space and pressed it straight into Aunt Wen’s mouth. Aunt Wen struggled for a moment, but when she tried to speak again, not a single sound came out. She stared at Shen Fuyu in disbelief.

“Aunt, keep quiet now. Don’t forget your place,” Shen Fuyu shook her head. The Shen family truly was rotten to the core; even now, after she’d become a mistress in the palace, they still treated her like the little illegitimate daughter she once was. “This medicine will keep you silent for a few days. Take the time to reflect. In any case, I will not help you. You’d better think of a way to save my utterly useless brother yourself.”

Thankfully, she wasn’t the original Shen Fuyu, or she’d be driven mad by this family.

Without feelings, life is so much easier!

The furnishings in the room had been knocked over by Aunt Wen. She desperately opened her mouth, but not a word could escape. Tears streamed down her face, yet Shen Fuyu never once looked back. Despair engulfed Aunt Wen, and after struggling for a long time, she curled up in the corner, motionless, as though deeply wounded. She sat there, lost, all through the night, unable to recover.

“Your Grace, the carriage is ready.” After leaving Aunt Wen’s chamber, Shen Fuyu was stopped by a servant from Mrs. Gu’s household. “The eldest and eighth young ladies are waiting for you at the front gate.”

“Ah…” She had almost forgotten; before visiting Aunt Wen, she had just chosen the people to bring into the palace and promised to go out for a walk. Tsk…

Shen Fuyu frowned slightly, raked her fingers through her hair, and said, “No, I’m tired. I won’t go out today. Tell them to go back and rest.”

It was rare that Shen Tangyu gave her so much face; in the past, inviting her out was never so easy. Today, feeling pleased, she’d let her down for fun!

With the afternoon sun beating down, Shen Fuyu swiftly returned to her courtyard to rest. Meanwhile, when the maid hurried to report to Shen Tangyu, both Shen Tangyu and Shen Liyu had already been standing under the sun for nearly half an hour.

Upon hearing the maid’s words, Shen Liyu lowered her head slightly and said, “Elder Sister, since Her Grace is not in the mood, I’ll take my leave.”

---

Shen Tangyu’s face darkened, the sun making her dizzy. Supported by her maid, she returned to her own small courtyard, her expression icy as she smashed a porcelain vase on the floor. “Wretch!”

“Miss, don’t be angry.” Nonghua, startled, hurriedly knelt to clean up the shards, trying to comfort her. “Why bother with someone like her?”

Shen Tangyu gritted her teeth in hatred. She understood the reasoning but couldn’t accept Shen Fuyu’s behavior. Not only was she lacking self-awareness, she repeatedly provoked her. Shen Tangyu was the most outstanding daughter of the Shen family; surely, the family would support her over Shen Fuyu. How could that wretch repeatedly treat her this way?

“In the end, it’s just momentary triumph.” Nonghua carefully gathered the fragments, speaking softly. “Miss, think about it: she’s just an illegitimate daughter who suddenly soared to become a phoenix. It’s only natural she’s proud now. Knowing she snatched your place and tasted the sweetness, she’ll never willingly return it. But you are the legitimate daughter; she can’t compete with you. All she can do is play these petty tricks to make you angry.”

“Such little tricks are all she’s capable of.” Shen Tangyu’s face remained stern. Though she knew it was trivial, these insignificant matters pierced her like a thorn, not serious yet deeply vexing. “Ultimately, she still has to bring me into the palace. No matter how much she hates me, when I win the emperor’s favor, she’ll have to speak for me before Father, saying those shameless things. She’ll have to obey Father’s wishes and beg the emperor to bring me in.”

“So Miss needn’t be so angry. The more indifferent you are, the greater the blow to such a ridiculous clown!”

At this thought, Shen Tangyu forced a smile, but her heart remained cold. She could endure, but she would never forget what had happened. One day, she would personally rid herself of Shen Fuyu, that wretch!

“Your Grace, is it really wise to leave the eldest young lady waiting like this?”

“She thinks I’m just playing games, but the real clown is her!” Enjoying her pastries, Shen Fuyu smiled, her eyes curving in delight as she checked her anger points. Today had been a bountiful harvest!

Shen Tangyu was truly satisfying: patient, vengeful, and cruel. The more venomous she was, the more anger points she collected. Even if she grovelled, Shen Fuyu would drag her into the palace.

Bending for five measures of anger points? A trivial matter!

But her eighth sister was another story—so young, yet calm in the face of honor and disgrace. Remarkable.

“These pastries are quite good. Send a portion to the eighth sister as well,” Shen Fuyu pointed to the plate before her. “She stood under the sun for so long, and it’s hot today. Have the kitchen send some sour plum soup along with it.”

---

“Your Grace, you’re in a good mood today. You never cared so much for the eighth young lady before!” Bai Lian knelt to accept the task, casually remarking.

“My affairs are none of your business,” Shen Fuyu glanced at her. So stupid, yet wanting to discuss future plans? As if!

Bai Lian retreated awkwardly, following orders to deliver pastries and sour plum soup. Unfortunately, her thoughts were plain to see; upon reaching Shen Liyu, she placed the items with a haughty air and left at once.

“What is this? Does she think she’s superior just because she’s following the Virtuous Consort into the palace?” Shen Liyu’s maid, Xiyu, looked at the food box in anger. “Miss, I’ll throw these things out right now!”

“These are from Fourth Sister. If you throw them out, what will she think?” Shen Liyu took the box herself: a bowl of sour plum soup and a plate of pastries. She said nothing more and began to eat.

“But Miss! Perhaps Bai Lian did this on the Virtuous Consort’s orders, deliberately acting this way!” Xiyu protested. “You’re a legitimate daughter; how could they treat you like this!”

“There’s no need to fuss. Such things are best kept behind closed doors. Bai Lian has always had that temperament. You’ve clashed with her more than once; why get so worked up?” Shen Liyu glanced at the pastries, then asked, “They only sent them to me? What about Elder Sister?”

“I suppose it was only for you… I’ll go find out.”

“No need; surely no one else received them.” Shen Liyu stopped Xiyu. “Fourth Sister is honoring me, seeking to draw closer. I certainly won’t let the opportunity slip by.”