Chapter 83: If You Have the Guts, Come In

“Your Grace! Her Majesty the Empress is heading toward Crescent Moon Palace!”

“What?” Shen Fuyu’s eyes lit up. “Quick, quick, quick!”

It’s showtime, brothers!

“Your Grace, what should we do?” Yinling’s face was full of worry. After all, the Empress was the mistress of the inner palace. If displeased, she could punish the consorts or even execute the palace staff. Yinling was truly anxious.

“Go fetch some red paper for me,” Shen Fuyu said, brimming with excitement. “Hurry up! Stop dawdling!”

Yinling nodded timidly and rushed to fetch paper and brush, trusting that her mistress would surely have a solution.

Shen Fuyu scribbled a mess onto the red paper, then, in high spirits, led a few young eunuchs to paste it right on the main gate of Crescent Moon Palace!

With two loud bangs, they slammed the palace doors shut.

Perfect! Truly her, through and through!

From afar, Jing Lanxi heard the door slamming and quickly urged her bearers to pick up the pace. When she arrived, the doors of Crescent Moon Palace were tightly closed, and on them, in large, crooked characters, was a bold message:

“If you have the guts, come in!”

“…”

Jing Lanxi’s fury shot through the roof. Her hand clenched tightly on the palanquin, her chest heaving with rage. Never in her life had anyone dared provoke her like this. “Well! What an insolent Shen Fuyu! What a virtuous consort! Does she think the imperial palace is her own playground for amusement?”

“Guards! Break down this door for me! The Virtuous Consort dares defy me—seize her at once!”

“Your Majesty, please reconsider!” Shen Fuyu stifled a laugh at the doorway. The Empress had guessed right—if she weren’t here for amusement, who would pull such a stunt? Raising her voice in a deliberately quavering tone, she called out, “But I am carrying His Majesty’s first child! If I’m startled and something happens to the baby, can you bear the blame?”

“Or is it that Her Highness the Princess of Yunjing can’t tolerate her husband’s own child?”

Protected by the door, she had nothing to fear!

Jing Lanxi slammed the armrest in anger. “Even if you are carrying the imperial heir, so what? I am the Empress of Great Xun! Your repeated insubordination and lack of virtue—I shall teach you a proper lesson today!”

“Really? I don’t believe it!” Shen Fuyu, ever the troublemaker, had already placed a chair by the door and was enjoying her breakfast, served by a maid.

“Well, believe it or not, it’s out of your hands now!” Jing Lanxi’s eyes grew icy. Disrespecting the Empress—even with a royal pregnancy—how could that be tolerated?

“Guards! Break down the gates of Crescent Moon Palace!”

“Your Grace, perhaps you should yield and apologize to Her Majesty instead,” Yinling pleaded anxiously. “After all, she is the Empress. Even with your pregnancy, she has the power to punish you, and your reputation would suffer…”

If things went poorly, even the baby might not survive!

“Why so timid? You’re useless,” Shen Fuyu replied calmly, unfazed. On the contrary, she suspected Jing Lanxi was even more furious than last time. How her anger was mounting!

With such gains to be had, who cares about a little offense?

She could offend them one by one!

But for someone like Yinling, it was natural to fear Jing Lanxi. After all, a person who controlled your fate was outside now, pounding furiously on the door, threatening to make you suffer. The outcome could be death, or worse.

Shen Fuyu didn’t think that way. If the worst came, it would be death, but judging by the current situation, even dying wasn’t so easy for her.

How unfortunate, really, to have to let all those who despise her see her living well!

“Oh, the doors are about to break!” Shen Fuyu watched the main gate as if she were a mere spectator, then turned to Yinling and asked, “What do you think I should use for the new doors next time? Gold? Silver? Rosewood? Pear blossom wood?”

Yinling gave her a smile that was on the verge of tears.

Such nonchalance only further enraged Jing Lanxi outside. She immediately ordered the servants to redouble their efforts at the door.

“Your Majesty, please reconsider,” Dong Ling urged quietly, supporting Jing Lanxi’s arm. “This may well be the Virtuous Consort’s ploy. If anything happens to her or the imperial child, it will rouse the fury of Great Xun’s people.”

After all, Jing Lanxi had married for the sake of diplomatic harmony. If the Empress herself caused the death of the Emperor’s child, it would be seen as cutting off the imperial line. No matter the private disputes, once the common folk heard of it, it would be nothing but an outcry against the foreign princess who killed their emperor’s child.

Jing Lanxi clenched her fingers and replied coldly, “I am not so foolish.”

But the Virtuous Consort’s family held great influence in Great Xun. Even if she defied her superiors, as long as the Shen family protected her, any punishment would be insignificant.

“Virtuous Consort! Since you are unwell, I will let this go. You are to remain in seclusion for half a month as punishment. Let this serve as a warning to others!”

Clearly, after this uproar, Jing Lanxi recognized that Shen Fuyu was deliberately provoking her. If she lost her temper and forced a confrontation, no matter the outcome, she would be the one to lose. Jing Lanxi was not so foolish as to fall for such a trap!

“She’s leaving already?” Shen Fuyu blinked in disappointment as she opened the door and watched Jing Lanxi’s retreating figure. In the end, those in power would always sacrifice pride for their interests. What a pity—she hadn’t managed to lure Jing Lanxi inside, and her chance to collect her anger points had slipped away!

“Your Majesty, come again next time! You almost succeeded!” Shen Fuyu called out cheerfully, leaning against the door. But she was not one to give up so easily. “Giving up halfway is a bad habit!”

Jing Lanxi couldn’t physically punish her, so confinement was all she could do. But that was no real problem.

After all, not a single imperial guard outside was a real threat.

But it was different for Jing Lanxi. She sat in her sedan chair, face dark as thunder, her gaze fixed fiercely ahead. What a Virtuous Consort! That shameless, brazen manner was like punching cotton—no matter how hard she tried, it had no effect! Never before had she met such a shameless woman, someone who cared nothing for her own or her family’s reputation!

Nothing would satisfy her but to see that wretched consort dead!

“Tonight, summon His Majesty,” Jing Lanxi commanded suddenly.

Dong Ling was taken aback, then quickly responded with delight, “Yes, Your Majesty!”

Her mistress had finally come to her senses! Wonderful!

But Jing Lanxi felt no joy. She was filled with hate and sorrow. In the end, it was only to deal with a troublesome adversary that she had taken this step.

“Do you think he’ll blame me?” she asked.

“How could he!” Dong Ling replied at once. “Your Majesty is doing exactly what he wishes. How could he blame you?”

But the reassurance was empty, and did nothing to ease Jing Lanxi’s heart.

“I’m hungry,” Shen Fuyu suddenly announced, rubbing her belly.

Yinling hesitated. “The imperial kitchens haven’t brought breakfast yet today…”