Chapter Seventy-Four: Are You Lacking Hands or Wits?

"Then you take care of it," Shen Fuyu said, casting a glance at Shen Tangyu, who was hiding behind Qin Zhiqing. She thought to herself, this woman certainly has skills—she can seduce or enslave the prince as easily as flipping her hand.

Yet, in the end, Shen Fuyu was the one benefiting.

The prince’s anger was no small thing either!

Qin Zhiqing could hardly believe it. Did Shen Fuyu truly think that, just because the emperor doted on her, she could do as she pleased without consequence?

"Your Highness, perhaps we should let this go," Shen Tangyu interjected, adding fuel to the fire. "Fourth Sister has always been this way. She means no real harm."

"Exactly! What ill intent could I possibly have? Even my eldest sister says so, so Your Highness shouldn't doubt it," Shen Fuyu chimed in, nodding along, ever the expert at pushing her luck.

Her smiling, squinting face could hardly be described by the word "brazen."

Qin Zhiqing had never encountered a woman so shameless. He was nearly speechless with rage, but seeing the redness in Shen Tangyu's eyes, he ground his teeth and spat, "You are truly shameless!"

"Oh my, though you are my little brother-in-law, you shouldn't praise me so effusively, should you? Men and women should maintain their distance, after all. This isn't proper," Shen Fuyu said, waving her hand and giving a coy smile.

"Fourth Sister, enough!" Shen Tangyu stepped between them, tears streaming down her face. "It's all my fault. The prince was only worried about me..."

"If you know it's your fault, why are you still standing here? Are you here to trouble others?" Shen Fuyu cut her off mercilessly.

"I..."

Shen Tangyu clenched her teeth in secret, inwardly cursing this sharp-tongued vixen. "Yes, it's my fault. Please, Fourth Sister, don’t be angry. All the blame is mine..."

"What have you done wrong?" Qin Zhiqing pulled her behind him. "I already told you, this isn't your fault. She was wrong to leave you there. Why must you humble yourself like this!"

"Your Highness!" Shen Tangyu shook her head. "If only you and my sister would stop being angry, I'm willing to take all the blame. I just beg you both not to quarrel because of me."

"You..."

"You're just too kind! She’s as vicious as a snake, yet you still protect her! Let me protect you instead!" Shen Fuyu suddenly pinched her voice and snatched Qin Zhiqing’s lines, just as the two, caught up in their own drama, turned with fury. Shen Fuyu, sitting in her chair, protested, "How nauseating."

"You!" Qin Zhiqing had never been so blatantly insulted. He was a prince—who dared not show him utmost respect? And here was a mere consort, Shen Fuyu, behaving so outrageously.

Shen Fuyu blinked, thinking that today she was truly witnessing the classic plot of an old-fashioned Mary Sue novel. Still, she had to admit Shen Tangyu had her methods; she could turn a reasonable man into a lovesick fool. She wondered how Prince Jing would react when he learned that Shen Tangyu only aimed to enter the palace and become an empress.

"Oh my, is the prince angry? Raging for the sake of beauty?" Shen Fuyu's tone turned mocking. "Tsk, tsk, what an eye-opener! Truly, Eldest Sister is irresistible—before she's even married, she can have men wrapped around her finger. But tell me, you’re already seventeen, the capital is so safe, do you lack legs or brains? Can't you go home on your own? Why must someone escort you?"

"After the New Year, you'll be eighteen—a grown woman still playing the innocent before the prince. Do you really think you’re thirteen or fourteen? I’m embarrassed on your behalf!"

"Enough!" Qin Zhiqing drew the sobbing Shen Tangyu behind him. "No matter what, she is a hundred times better than a woman like you!"

"And so what?" Shen Fuyu replied indifferently. "The emperor happens to like me just the way I am. If you have a problem, go tell him—let’s see who he favors more!"

Watching the man and woman in front of her fume with barely contained rage, Shen Fuyu idly played with her nails. Sorry, but as the favored consort, she could do as she pleased!

Ah, these two were really seething.

"Don’t be so angry. You can’t lay a hand on me, can you?" Seeing their anger levels rise, Shen Fuyu was in high spirits and tried to console them. "Why get so worked up? I’m not even angry that you’re both being insubordinate, yet you’re the ones losing your temper."

Qin Zhiqing’s face was flushed with rage, and even Shen Tangyu looked ashen. They were accustomed to mingling with aristocrats—even the most unruly among them weren’t as arrogant as Shen Fuyu!

Besides, it was clearly Shen Fuyu’s fault—why, in the end, were they the ones being blamed? What twisted logic was this?

But no matter how formidable the two usually were, how could they possibly match Shen Fuyu, the old hand at verbal sparring who had honed her skills for centuries? From marketplace shouting matches to online arguments, from obvious barbs to subtle mockery, she had mastered them all!

The more their faces darkened, the brighter Shen Fuyu’s smile became—she was blatantly laughing at them!

The standoff continued, though in truth only Qin Zhiqing and Shen Tangyu remained tense; Shen Fuyu had long since started eating again.

"Still upset?" Shen Fuyu asked after a few more bites. "Why not sit down and eat with me? You’ll need your strength to stay angry!"

As the fury in their eyes threatened to ignite, Shen Fuyu calmly popped a pastry into her mouth.

"It’s not that I’m hoarding the food—my child can’t go hungry," she said solemnly, making excuses for herself. "Surely, Prince Jing wouldn’t want the emperor’s heir to starve, would he?"

"It’s just a small matter. No need to fuss with me. Aren’t you two being a tad petty?"

Her matter-of-fact attitude left Qin Zhiqing fuming. He burst out, "I’ve never met a woman as arrogant and shameless as you! You are utterly unworthy of your position!"

"Your Highness..." Shen Tangyu, standing cautiously behind him, lowered her head and bit her lip. Even with Prince Jing present, Shen Fuyu remained as detestable and willful as ever—she truly wished she could flay her alive to vent her anger!

Still, her goal had been achieved. Though she hadn’t won this round, what mattered was that Prince Jing believed her. Shen Fuyu’s reputation was already the subject of public outrage. No matter how much the emperor favored her, he couldn’t shield her forever. She would simply wait for the day Shen Fuyu, drunk on her own success, would fall from grace!

"Come with me," Qin Zhiqing said, pulling Shen Tangyu away, guilt weighing heavily on him. "It’s my failing—I never imagined my royal brother could be bewitched by such a woman!"

"How could this be your fault, Your Highness? I’m the one who’s lacking," Shen Tangyu sighed softly, determined to carry on with her performance.