Chapter Seventy-Six: How Brazen She Is

"Ah!"

Ah... that intoxicating scream!

Shen Fuyu was in high spirits, watching young Shen Moyu seemingly sink into the brooding, rebellious pains of adolescence—no matter how she taunted her with words, the girl just locked herself in her own world, unperturbed.

How could such a situation be allowed?

Time to escalate things physically.

And perhaps, in passing, cure the child of her darkened temperament.

Shen Moyu had been kneeling for a day and a night; her knees throbbed with an excruciating pain, making every movement a challenge. Now, with Shen Fuyu tapping her knees with a small hammer, it was unbearable.

"Shen Fuyu! You wretched woman! Ah! I'll kill you! I swear I'll kill you!"

Writhing on the ground in pain, Shen Moyu tried to lash out, but Shen Fuyu dodged like an eel—just as she thought she had her, Shen Fuyu would slip away, always out of reach!

Rage flared in Shen Moyu’s chest, her breathing ragged, and the pain in her knees brought sweat to her brow. Ultimately, she could do nothing but roll and crawl away, desperately trying to evade Shen Fuyu's merciless little hammer.

"Ah!" Shen Fuyu finally let out a long, contented sigh, gazing at Shen Moyu curled on the floor clutching her knees. Her mood soared.

No mere word like "satisfaction" could do justice to this feeling!

The child must despise her by now!

After a few more curses from Shen Moyu, Shen Fuyu stretched lazily, closed the door, and left without a backward glance.

But after all, this commotion had taken place in the ancestral hall—a sacred place, the heart of the family. Women held little status here; even the punishment of kneeling was to be done on the cold stone floor, let alone brawling in such a hallowed space.

"Your Grace, the Matron requests your presence," said the old nurse, flanked by two maids, blocking Shen Fuyu’s path just as she was heading off to sleep.

"What makes her think she has the face to summon me?" Shen Fuyu retorted without a second thought. Did these people really take her for one of their own, just because she'd deigned to act in their family farce for two days?

How could the noble Consort Xian humble herself to visit some matron of the house?

That would be quite out of order!

The old nurse was clearly unprepared for such words, her mouth opening and closing before she finally managed, "But the Matron is your grandmother, Your Grace."

"And I am the Emperor's consort," Shen Fuyu replied, striding past without a pause. "The bond of sovereign and subject outweighs that of father and son. You’d best advise the Matron not to breach decorum."

Truth be told, she simply didn't want to see the old woman—she was planning to return to the palace tomorrow. Giving her that jade Buddha was already more courtesy than she deserved; she wouldn't tolerate the old woman putting on the airs of a senior.

She had never considered the old matron her grandmother—it wasn't as if she truly was.

Such words left the nurse fuming, but there was nothing she could do. Shen Fuyu had married out—she was now the Emperor’s woman, no longer a mere daughter of the Shen family.

When the old matron heard of Shen Fuyu’s response, she nearly smashed her rice bowl in a fit of rage, struggling to catch her breath. "Well! Well! What an ungrateful wretch, to speak such treacherous words!"

"Please, Matron, calm yourself."

"What is there to be angry about? She’s grown wings and wants to fly, forgetting that without the Shen family, she would be nothing. Ungrateful wretch!"

But though she cursed, there was nothing she could do. If Shen Fuyu suffered the slightest grievance in the Shen household today, and returned to whisper in the Emperor’s ear tomorrow, the day after the whole affair would be out, and there would be no end of people targeting the Shen family.

No matter how bitter the taste, the Shen family would have to swallow it.

"If I can't punish her, I can certainly punish someone else!" the old matron huffed. "To have raised such an ingrate—clearly it’s Concubine Wen’s fault. To cause a commotion in the ancestral hall—how outrageous! Twenty strokes and lock her in the woodshed for a few days!"

The old nurse nodded. "Consort Xian always favored Concubine Wen most; it's only fitting the Matron start with her."

This news, carried by those with vested interests, soon reached Shen Fuyu.

"Tch, the Matron is really something," Shen Fuyu shook her head, unconcerned. They wouldn’t dare take Concubine Wen’s life; as long as she lived, as a mere concubine, the Shen family could deal with her as they pleased.

Had it been another, perhaps she might have felt a sliver of sympathy.

But not her—she was heartless.

Let them deal their punishments as they would—she would eat her fruit, indifferent to the world outside, caring only for her own mounting fury.

When it became clear Shen Fuyu cared not at all, the old matron fumed through the night, cursing her as an ungrateful wolf for hours on end.

But Shen Fuyu cared nothing for such words. Having gained her fill of fury, she would have delighted in storming to the old matron’s side and slapping her, just to compound her anger. As for Concubine Wen—silenced by Shen Fuyu’s concoction, then inexplicably beaten and locked in the woodshed—she wept all the harder, and her resentment toward Shen Fuyu only deepened.

“No need to pack so much; going to the palace, it’s only to assist Fourth Sister. The simpler, the better.”

Elsewhere, Shen Liyu’s two maids were helping her pack, but as they began to fill a third trunk, she stopped them.

“Yes, miss,” Xiyu, the lead maid, set down her work and leaned in. “You’ll be following Consort Xian to the palace tomorrow. Please take care, miss. We cannot accompany you—be careful.”

“With Fourth Sister’s favor, others will have to show me respect,” said Shen Liyu. “No need for more words—just stay quiet in the manor and wait.”

“The Shen family has no further use for me; without Fourth Sister’s support, what future would I have?” Shen Liyu said quietly. “You saw the scene earlier—the Matron was furious.”

“But I fear the Matron has forgotten—she never cared much for us illegitimate daughters. When the Shen family truly rose above the others, it was just as Fourth Sister entered the palace.” Shen Liyu sighed. “Fourth Sister brought the Shen family great benefits, but did you see the Matron give it any thought? That jade Buddha for her birthday was so precious, yet the Matron set it aside without a second glance.”

Never had the Matron truly considered them, these daughters of lesser rank, but at the slightest mistake, it was “unfilial,” “ungrateful,” “a waste of her kindness.”

Precisely because of this, Shen Liyu was determined to marry well, to rise as Fourth Sister had, so that none would dare speak ill of her.

Compared to Shen Liyu’s modest packing, Shen Tangyu’s luggage was far more extravagant; Lady Gu had packed six or seven trunks and was still worried it wasn’t enough.

“Mother, these clothes and jewels are all small things. Your daughter’s natural beauty shines with or without them.”