Ch 55: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

When Shen Yunxuan entered the Imperial Study, she felt a surge of excitement. In her previous life, she had never had the chance to step into this place. Thinking of the imperial meals she had eaten, the emperor by her side, and now the Imperial Study, Shen Yunxuan suddenly felt that her rebirth was truly a blessing! She was experiencing a completely different life.

As she stepped forward to greet the emperor, she barely had time to curtsy before he reached out, took her hand, and helped her up. “What were you just looking at?”

The emperor had been waiting for her and noticed how she glanced around the room as soon as she entered.

Shen Yunxuan smiled openly. “I was admiring the Imperial Study. Such opportunities are rare, and I was curious to see what His Majesty’s study looks like.”

“Oh? And what does my consort think of it?” the emperor asked as he led her further inside and sat on a soft chair.

Shen Yunxuan glanced around again, her eyes filled with admiration. “It’s serene and elegant, yet exudes an imposing grandeur. The moment I entered, I felt a sense of calm. It seems almost sinful to play around here—this is a place meant for serious work. Whoever designed it must have put a lot of thought into it.”

The emperor chuckled. He had personally designed the room himself. Wanting to create a focused atmosphere and ensure ministers instinctively felt a sense of respect during their discussions, he had invested much thought into its arrangement. Yet no one had ever commented on its uniqueness—Shen Yunxuan was the first to appreciate and praise it, indirectly complimenting him.

Seeing his reaction, Shen Yunxuan asked in surprise, “Could it be that His Majesty arranged this study?”

The emperor nodded. “Does that surprise you? I heard you arranged your brother’s courtyard, particularly the study, with great care.”

Here it comes! Shen Yunxuan realized the emperor was bringing up matters from before her entry into the palace. She decided to proactively steer the conversation. “That’s right. Mother said she wasn’t sure of my brother’s preferences and was afraid the renovations might not suit him. So I volunteered to take on the task myself.” She smiled, her lips curving. “I took a lot of good things from the family storeroom for my brother’s courtyard. When Mother saw it, she didn’t look pleased at all.”

Recalling that moment, Shen Yunxuan couldn’t help but laugh, covering her lips with a handkerchief. Even her eyes sparkled with amusement.

The emperor was briefly stunned before laughing as well. “You dare to say anything, don’t you? You’re even bold enough to talk about your mother like this in front of me.”

Shen Yunxuan tugged lightly on his sleeve. “His Majesty is kind to me, so I naturally want to show my true self. Otherwise, what if one day His Majesty, feeling generous, decides to bestow favors upon my family? I wouldn’t want them to gain a single benefit!”

For most palace consorts, their natal families were their support and source of pride, tied to their fates. It was unheard of for a consort to openly admit to poor relations with her family, much less state that she didn’t want them to share in her success. Yet Shen Yunxuan had said so plainly.

The emperor, though surprised, found himself understanding her. After all, in his youth, he hadn’t gotten along with his father or brothers either, and he too had disliked them benefiting from his achievements.

Still, considering they had only known each other a few days, wasn’t her candor a little too bold? Unable to resist, he asked, “You think I’m kind to you?”

Shen Yunxuan looked at him and smiled. “Aren’t you? My life is far more comfortable now than it was at home. I’m at ease, free to do the things I enjoy, and happy every day. And since His Majesty even knows about my family affairs, it shows you care for me, doesn’t it?”

Meeting her gaze, the emperor realized she already knew he had investigated her. Since she was being so forthright, he didn’t bother to skirt the issue. “I wanted to understand why your relationship with Minister Shen is so shallow and why he sent you to the palace. I hadn’t expected the matter to involve the Shao family and the second miss.”

His sharp eyes focused on her. “What does my consort think of all this? Do you feel resentment for being forced into the palace?”

Shen Yunxuan met his gaze without flinching, her tone calm and confident. “I was never formally betrothed, and when marriage discussions arose, I entered the palace as per my parents’ wishes. Why would I harbor resentment? As for the Shao family, my grandmother’s intentions were kind. But I’ve never met General Shao, and I was observing mourning rites. How could I have any thoughts about him?”

She noticed the faint curve of the emperor’s lips and suddenly wondered: Was he not upset about her verbal engagement but rather concerned about whether she had feelings for someone else?

Deciding to test him, she added deliberately, “I did secretly inquire about General Shao, but only to learn about his character.”

She watched as the emperor’s faint smile disappeared, his gaze shifting away from her as he picked up his tea. In an apparently casual tone, he asked, “Oh? And what did you find? Did you discover that General Shao is upright and worthy of trust?”

If not for the subtle tension in his grip on the teacup, Shen Yunxuan might have believed his nonchalant demeanor. She almost laughed—there was a distinct note of jealousy in his words. The realization that the emperor might be jealous of her was more than worth the trip!

Not wanting to drag things out, she responded promptly. “General Shao is admirable in many ways, but it seems he already has someone he loves. However, due to her lower status, she can’t enter the Shao family, which is why he agreed to consider marriage proposals.”

The emperor froze mid-sip, his expression one of genuine surprise. He had expected Shen Yunxuan to praise Shao Kun’s character—an obvious truth—or to downplay her feelings for him to avoid angering the emperor. But he had not anticipated that Shao Kun would already have a lover.

Knowing that her betrothed had someone in his heart, no woman would feel anything for him. The emperor glanced at Shen Yunxuan, and sure enough, her expression was calm, with no trace of anger or dissatisfaction. He couldn’t help but ask, “Did you never think of breaking the engagement? Why did your grandmother choose the Shao family for you?”

Shen Yunxuan smiled gently. “My grandmother didn’t know. She only heard that the Shao family were upright people and that their household was peaceful, making it a good choice. As for breaking the engagement, after my grandmother passed, if I didn’t follow her wishes, I would have had to let my mother arrange things. If she could have arranged something good, my grandmother wouldn’t have had to make plans for me despite her illness.

“In the end, it was just about finding a place to live. The general was stationed at the border, so we wouldn’t have met often. The Shao family was small and quiet, with little trouble. At the time, it was already the best option for me.”

Although Shen Yunxuan spoke lightly, the emperor could sense the bitterness beneath her words. She was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Minister of Rites, yet her position in her own family was precarious. A single misstep could have led to ruin, and she had no control over her own fate. She had to carefully navigate her circumstances, choosing the best among less-than-ideal options.

And even then, she was schemed against. Her younger sister stole her engagement, leaving her no choice but to enter the palace at her parents’ orders. If she had married into the Shao family, she would at least have been the household’s legitimate mistress. But in the palace, she was merely a concubine, not even given a title.

The emperor’s grip on his teacup tightened as his throat felt dry. “And entering the palace…”

Before he could finish, Shen Yunxuan looked at him and said, “I was very happy.”

The emperor immediately turned to her. Shen Yunxuan smiled and repeated, “I was very happy to learn they were sending me to the palace. Your Majesty is a wise ruler, fair and just, never swayed by partiality or deceit. By your side, I don’t have to worry about suffering baseless grievances or injustices. And in the palace, they can no longer control me. I’ve truly escaped that family. I’m free now, able to do the things I enjoy.”

She paused, her smile softening. “Especially after meeting Your Majesty, who turned out to be even better than I imagined. Beyond happiness, I feel at ease.”

The emperor thought back to what Li Defu had reported—how Shen Yunxuan had been keeping herself busy every day since entering the palace. He had initially thought she was too carefree, indifferent to the emperor’s favor. But now he realized she was simply savoring her newfound freedom, finally able to live without restraints.

Was being by his side really what made her feel so secure? So much so that she could let down her guard and truly be herself?

Shen Yunxuan gently tugged on his sleeve. “Your Majesty… does this matter bother you?”

The emperor, now certain that there was no one else in her heart, clasped her hand with a smile. “No, I’m not someone so narrow-minded.”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled softly, covering her lips with a handkerchief, her eyes sparkling with laughter. The emperor felt slightly uneasy, as though his innermost thoughts had been laid bare. He cleared his throat and said casually, “Since there is no one you care about in your family anymore, then stay by my side. I promise I won’t let you down.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled. “Thank you, Your Majesty. But I do have someone I care about in my family—my elder brother. We’re twins, and I’ve always hoped he’ll achieve great things.”

The emperor had almost forgotten about Shen Jun, likely because he had been kept away from court and maintained a low profile even after returning to the capital. Now he made a mental note that Shen Jun was the only person Shen Yunxuan cared about outside the palace. He also remembered hearing that Shen Jun had a tutor and was skilled in both literature and martial arts. The emperor decided he would see how Shen Jun performed in the upcoming autumn examinations.

Looking at Shen Yunxuan, the emperor thought to himself: If my consort only cares about one person outside the palace, I’ll find a way to ensure he’s well taken care of. I won’t let her down.

Perhaps it was the resolution of the doubts that had plagued him for the past two days, but the emperor’s mood suddenly lifted. Pulling Shen Yunxuan into his arms, he began to chat leisurely. “What kind of life do you wish for, my dear? Are you satisfied with the way things are in the palace now?”

Leaning lightly against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, Shen Yunxuan smiled. “To have a loving husband, caring elders, loyal servants, adorable children, good food, fine clothes, and peace and health—that would be my favorite kind of life. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, not even a life as an immortal.”

The emperor was momentarily dazed. That had been his ideal life too, once. But he had learned that without striving, there was no survival, and had hardened himself in pursuit of the supreme throne.

Most of the consorts around him had their own agendas—either for themselves or for their families. None had cared about who he was as a person; they only cared about him as the emperor. What he had once yearned for had become unattainable, so he stopped yearning altogether.

But now, Shen Yunxuan’s wish was something he could fulfill. He could give her everything she wanted. She had said she was happy to enter the palace because of his fairness, his refusal to play favorites or believe falsehoods—because of who he was as a person. He could tell her words were sincere. If he were a lesser man, no matter his status as emperor, she wouldn’t have entered the palace willingly.

The emperor pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his heart softening. Perhaps they could be a different kind of emperor and consort. At least for now, Shen Yunxuan held a special place in his heart.

The emperor had been on the throne for three years. Though some policies still faced resistance, in certain areas, he now had the freedom to act as he pleased without interference from the ministers. For instance, when it came to favoring someone in the palace, the ministers had no say.

After that conversation, the issue of Shen Yunxuan’s prior engagement was put to rest. From then on, the emperor visited Anhe Palace every two or three days to dine with Shen Yunxuan, play chess, paint, and spend late nights together behind the curtains. Their relationship grew closer, resembling that of a deeply affectionate couple. Within the serene confines of Anhe Palace, they enjoyed a joyful and carefree life, and the emperor never visited any other consorts.

A month passed, and Shen Yunxuan became universally recognized as the emperor’s favorite consort. Every servant in the palace knew that she was the sole favored consort in the dynasty and made sure to serve her with the utmost care, not daring to slack off.

Consort Shu, meanwhile, had broken countless items in frustration. Her face grew darker with each passing day, and during morning greetings, she no longer bothered to maintain appearances. She kept a cold expression toward Shen Yunxuan and often made snide remarks or criticized her. Yet Shen Yunxuan always deflected her barbs with grace, which only infuriated Shufei further. To her, Shen Yunxuan’s indifference was a clear sign that she didn’t even consider Consort Shu a worthy rival.

One day, upon hearing that the emperor had gone to Anhe Palace again, Consort Shu smashed a mirror in fury. “Twelve days! The emperor has visited the inner palace twelve times this month, and every single visit was to Consort Shen! How on earth does she enchant him so completely?”

The palace servants turned pale at her outburst and hurried to placate her. “Your Highness, please calm down. His Majesty is wise and just—how could he be bewitched by her? Perhaps it’s just a fleeting novelty…”

Consort Shu slammed the table. “A fleeting novelty? Then why doesn’t he find anyone else novel? In the past, the emperor only visited the inner palace three to five times a month, and some months he wouldn’t visit me at all. Yet that vixen Consort Shen has lured him twelve times in a single month! That wretch!”

The servants, seeing her descending into incoherent rage, could only step outside to guard the door and prevent anyone from overhearing. They then returned to calm her down.

After regaining her composure, Consort Shu’s eyes gleamed with malice. In a chilling voice, she said, “Send a message to my family. Have them investigate Consort Shen thoroughly. She may guard Anhe Palace like an impenetrable fortress, but the Shen family is unlikely to be as secure. If they uncover any weaknesses, report to me immediately.”

She hadn’t managed to compete with the empress and lost the position of empress. Even so, she was still the leading consort in the harem and paid no deference to the empress, enjoying considerable prestige. But now, was she to let Shen Yunxuan rise above her? That would make her the laughingstock of the palace!

Her servants quickly obeyed. Consort Shen was indeed slippery and difficult to pin down, with the emperor and the empress dowager favoring her. No one dared to act recklessly against her. On top of that, even Consort Li and Consort Chen had allied themselves with Consort Shen. With Consort Shen now a rival to Consort Shu in terms of influence, Consort Shu could no longer bear it and had to rely on her family to uncover any dirt on Consort Shen before she became unstoppable.

Meanwhile, the empress was also discussing Shen Yunxuan with her nanny. Just hearing her name made the empress irritated. In the past, the emperor treated all consorts equally, and she could maintain her dignity without worrying about them. But now, with the emperor’s overwhelming favor for Shen Yunxuan, how could she possibly tolerate it?

She couldn’t let anyone give birth to the emperor’s firstborn son before her. The future crown prince must be her child!

The nanny asked cautiously, “Does Your Majesty have a plan? The last agent was discovered. Should we send another?”

The empress replied coldly, “No rush. Consort Shen is currently the emperor’s favorite. If we act against her and fail, we’ll lose the emperor’s trust, and it won’t be worth the risk. Consort Shu has already set her sights on Consort Shen; she’ll take action soon enough. Let them fight each other. I only need to fan the flames at the right moment. There’s no need to get directly involved.”

The nanny agreed, adding, “Your Majesty is wise to stay above it all. The most important thing now is to produce an heir as soon as possible.”

The empress’s mouth turned bitter. In the past, the emperor would visit her chambers twice a month, likely to conceive a legitimate heir. She had taken countless medicinal tonics, yet three years had passed with no child. If none of the other consorts had pregnancies, it might have been bearable. But both Consort Chen and Consort Li had shown signs of pregnancy before she intervened to prevent them from giving birth.

Now, the emperor didn’t even visit her anymore. Had he given up hope for a legitimate heir from her entirely? Could his favor toward Consort Shen mean he hoped for her to bear the firstborn prince?

The empress clenched the prayer beads in her hand tightly. Her grandfather had passed, and her family’s influence could no longer rival Consort Shu’s. Consort Shu often treated her with open disrespect. If Consort Shen gave birth to the emperor’s firstborn, it would add yet another rival who wouldn’t defer to her authority. How could she maintain her position as empress then? Where would her dignity go? She could not allow Shen Yunxuan to bear a child!

After a long silence, the empress said, “Send something laced with a little extra to Anhe Palace. Be cautious.”

The nanny’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly nodded and left to carry out the order. It wasn’t the first time they had done such things, but every time it was a high-risk endeavor. If they were discovered, it would spell disaster.

Meanwhile, the person they were targeting, Shen Yunxuan, was engrossed in studying rice plants. The emperor, familiar with her habits, walked directly into her study at Anhe Palace and said with amusement, “Still looking at rice? Have you learned anything new?”

Shen Yunxuan shook her head regretfully. “No. These rice plants aren’t the same as the ones I dreamed about.”

The emperor walked up behind her and encircled her with his arms. “It was just a dream. Perhaps it’s because you’ve been thinking about food so much that it seeped into your dreams.”

“Then why is this dream so vivid, so clear? It must have some special significance,” Shen Yunxuan said with a touch of frustration. “It’s just a pity I don’t know anything about farming or how to grow crops.”

The emperor picked up a stalk of rice from the table and took her hand. “What’s so difficult about that? If you’re curious, I’ll have someone skilled in farming come and plant it for you to see.”

Shen Yunxuan’s face lit up with joy. “Really? In Anhe Palace? Is that allowed?”

“This is your place. Of course, it’s allowed,” the emperor replied. Then his eyes fell on a few books on the table, and he asked in surprise, “Were these transcribed?”

Shen Yunxuan nodded and pointed to the bookshelf. “There are many more over there—thirty volumes in total. I just finished them today. Your Majesty, may I send these transcriptions to my brother at the Shen household?”

“Of course. I’ll have someone deliver them tomorrow,” the emperor said, immediately understanding her intention. Some of these books weren’t available outside the palace, and Shen Yunxuan must have started having them copied as soon as she entered the palace to give them to her brother. He was impressed by the close bond between the twins, even after years of separation, and couldn’t help feeling a pang of envy. He himself had never shared such affection with his own siblings.

Moreover, it was clear that the books were only for Shen Jun, with no mention of Shen Ming or Shen Yu. Shen Yunxuan had clearly drawn a firm line between her brother and the rest of the family. The emperor decided to send his own trusted people to deliver the items, ensuring that no one in the Shen family would dare mistreat Shen Jun.

The next day, Li Defu’s apprentice led a group to the Shen household to deliver the books, and Shen Yunxuan sent Zhuang Mama along to oversee the delivery. In addition to the books, there were fine jade pendants, jade crowns, and luxurious fabrics. The emperor also added several rare books and a set of exquisite scholarly tools.

Shen Xiuyuan had spent the past month feeling like he was in hot water. Every minor mistake in his work, no matter how small, was met with scolding from the emperor, leaving him harried and humiliated. He couldn’t shake the sense that some great disaster was looming over him.

So when he heard that palace servants had arrived with gifts on behalf of Consort Shen, he was overjoyed. The emperor’s close eunuchs personally delivering rewards for Shen Yunxuan clearly indicated that she was favored. Perhaps this meant the emperor would stop reprimanding him.

Hastily, Shen Xiuyuan led the household out to greet the delivery. But to his surprise, the three large chests of gifts contained nothing for him or the family—they were all for Shen Jun.

Shen Jun bowed in the direction of the palace, thanking the emperor and Shen Yunxuan for their generosity, before having the chests carried back to his quarters at Purple Bamboo Pavilion.

Shen Yunrong, eager to learn how Shen Yunxuan was faring in the palace, quickly spoke up. “Brother, it’s rare for Sister… Her Grace, to send things home. Why not open the chests and let everyone see what Her Grace has gifted?”

She didn’t believe that Shen Yunxuan could truly be favored, but since even Li Defu’s apprentice had been sent, she needed to gather any information she could.

Shen Jun exchanged a glance with Zhuang Mama, who gave a subtle nod. Without much care, Shen Jun instructed the servants to open the chests for everyone to see.

Li Defu’s apprentice stepped forward and explained, “These books are rare volumes personally chosen by Consort Shen from the Wen Yuan Pavilion, a token of her regard for the eldest young master. His Majesty has also added a few unique copies as rewards…”

He went on to describe each item, specifying which ones were selected by Shen Yunxuan and which were bestowed by the emperor. Shen Xiuyuan grew more and more elated as he listened. For Shen Yunxuan to have received so many treasures in just over a month clearly showed she was highly favored. The emperor’s gesture of personally adding gifts and sending his eunuch to deliver them further demonstrated his regard for Shen Yunxuan.

The Shen family was about to produce a favored consort!

Madam Liu, Shen Ming, and Shen Yu all wore complicated expressions. They hadn’t thought much about Shen Yunxuan after she left, but now that they knew she was thriving, an inexplicable unease filled their hearts. They didn’t know whether to hope for her continued favor or for her fall from grace.

As for Shen Yunrong, she could no longer maintain her composure. Wasn’t the emperor supposed to be indifferent to women? How could he possibly be favoring Shen Yunxuan to the point of rewarding Shen Jun and sending trusted aides to deliver gifts?

Moreover, wasn’t the emperor said to look down on the Shen family? His frequent scolding of Shen Xiuyuan seemed to prove that. So why was he showering Shen Yunxuan with such attention?

Could Shen Yunxuan really be so lucky, destined to be loved whether by Shao Kun or the emperor? That was impossible! Fate could be changed. After all, hadn’t she taken Shao Kun for herself?

Wait—perhaps the emperor was only pretending to favor Shen Yunxuan to lull Shen Xiuyuan into complacency so he could catch him in a greater mistake. That must be it. The emperor was merely putting on an act. Once he dealt with Shen Xiuyuan, Shen Yunxuan’s good days would come to an end.

Even as she comforted herself with this thought, deep down she knew it was flawed. In her past life, she had never been treated with such affection, and she was well aware that her reasoning didn’t hold water. She couldn’t sit still. She hadn’t sent Shen Yunxuan to the palace for her to live a life of luxury. She had to find a way to send a message to the palace.

If she couldn’t deal with Shen Yunxuan herself, others could. Conveniently, she had just received an invitation from the chancellor’s residence. She would think carefully about how to leak some information.

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