Ch 57: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

The day of the flower appreciation banquet arrived. Shen Yunxuan arrived neither too early nor too late; Consort Li, Consort Chen, and the others were already there, with only the Empress and Consort Shu yet to arrive.

Everyone rose to greet her. Consort Li warmly stepped forward, linked arms with Shen Yunxuan, and led her to a seat. Yuexi glanced at Consort Li, recalling what Zhuang Mama had instructed her: Consort Li and Consort Chen were considered allies, so unless there was a major threat, there was no need to guard against them. Yuexi simply followed closely behind Shen Yunxuan, prepared to protect her at a moment’s notice.

Consort Li pulled a small clip encrusted with delicate gemstones from her pouch, smiling brightly. “Sister, look! Last time, you said Snowball’s fur was too long and covered its eyes, so we could use a little clip to keep it out of the way. I had someone make one! They’re quite skilled—I showed them your drawing and told them it mustn’t make the dog uncomfortable, and they came up with this. Snowball loves it!”

Shen Yunxuan examined it. “The tension is gentle, and they even wrapped it in fabric. It’s quite thoughtful.”

Consort Li teased, “Getting a compliment from you isn’t easy. I’ll reward them again when I get back.”

Consort Chen chuckled lightly. “So this is what you two usually talk about when you get together—interesting, I must admit.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled. “I even painted Snowball and the others. Would you like to compose a poem for them? I’m sure you haven’t written one for cats and dogs before.”

Consort Chen paused, genuinely intrigued. She had indeed never written a poem for pets. “I’ll visit Consort Li’s place to see her pets and your paintings, then carefully consider…”

Before she could finish, Consort Li interjected excitedly, “No need for all that trouble! I brought Snowball with me today. I just had someone take it for a walk.” She pointed behind them. “Look, here it comes now!”

In the distance, one of Consort Li’s maids was carrying a snow-white Pekingese toward them. Shen Yunxuan frowned slightly. “The Empress invited us to enjoy flowers today—why did you bring Snowball along?”

Consort Li replied casually, “Snowball recently learned to jump through hoops. One of the young maids suggested I bring it along to entertain everyone. I thought it’d be nice for Snowball to play outside, so I brought it.”

Having experienced Consort Li’s pet-related mishaps in her previous life, Shen Yunxuan couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Today’s banquet was clearly a trap aimed at her, and now Snowball had conveniently learned a new trick, with a young maid suggesting it be brought along. It was hard not to overthink.

However, sending Snowball back now would be inappropriate and might alert her opponents. She decided to play along and see what they had planned.

In her previous life, Shen Yunxuan had faced many challenges in household scheming, but most of her battles were with Shao Kun. Intrigues within the inner residence were less frequent. However, having raised three sons and two daughters who later married and started their own families, she had seen every kind of underhanded trick in the Shao household.

Cats were often used to scratch faces or scare someone into falling and miscarrying. Dogs were used to bite people or knock them into water. Snakes and mice were simply for pure terror. Typically, animals were driven into a frenzy by special scents.

Seizing an opportunity, Shen Yunxuan whispered to Qingzhi to keep an eye out for any substances that might attract dogs. She also instructed Yuexi to ensure no unknown objects or people came near her.

Both immediately heightened their vigilance. Shen Yunxuan’s recent pregnancy, with the fetus still unsteady, made caution imperative—especially since the recent attempts on her had been so subtle that even Qingzhi’s advanced medical skills barely detected them.

After some more idle chatter, the Empress arrived. Her dignified and gentle demeanor lit up the gathering. She complimented everyone on their beauty, had exquisite refreshments served, and called for musicians to play nearby, filling the event with merriment.

Consort Shu arrived fashionably late, offering a perfunctory greeting and saying with a smile, “Apologies for being late, Your Majesty. I hope you don’t mind?”

The Empress responded warmly, “Of course not. But you don’t look well, Consort Shu. If you’re feeling unwell, perhaps you should summon the imperial physician.”

Consort Shu’s smile faltered, and her grip on her handkerchief tightened. This cursed Empress! Was she cursing her health on purpose? Consort Shu hadn’t slept all night in excitement over the thought of Shen Yunxuan being confined after today. Surely she looked better than the Empress, whose face was caked in thick powder!

She sat down nonchalantly and replied, “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I’m just a little tired from a poor night’s sleep. It’s you who should take care. Managing palace affairs must be exhausting—remember to have your pulse checked regularly to stay in good health.”

To an outsider, it might have seemed like a display of sisterly care, but in truth, Consort Shu was subtly bringing up Shen Yunxuan’s concealed health issues. The Empress, aware of the insinuation, wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip and had orchestrated this banquet in collaboration with Consort Shu.

However, the two women didn’t get along and couldn’t resist provoking each other while still working toward their shared goal: breaking Shen Yunxuan’s exclusive favor.

Their gazes clashed with sparks of animosity, but they quickly turned the conversation to Shen Yunxuan.

Consort Shu smiled and said, “When it comes to health, none of us can compare to Sister Shen. I hear you’ve been farming in Anhe Palace? Digging, planting, and weeding—doesn’t it tire you out? Those are tasks for common laborers, after all.”

Even while steering the topic, Consort Shu didn’t miss the chance to disparage Shen Yunxuan, feeling a deep disdain in her heart.

Unlike other consorts, who were fond of music, chess, painting, embroidery, or other ladylike pursuits, this Consort Shen either read obscure travelogues or spent her time farming. It was even said she had a great appetite—how unbecoming. No wonder she was never favored in her maiden family.

Consort Shu’s gaze swept over Shen Yunxuan’s perfectly proportioned figure, and a wave of envy surged in her chest. She herself gained weight easily and, since entering the palace, had barely eaten a full meal in her efforts to maintain her figure. Yet Shen Yunxuan could eat to her heart’s content without gaining weight and still managed to attract the emperor to dine at Anhe Palace frequently.

She didn’t want to admit it, but she was deeply jealous of Shen Yunxuan and wished she could take her place.

Shen Yunxuan replied with a smile, “With so many imperial physicians tending to the sisters in the palace, who among us isn’t in good health? I could never claim to be superior in that regard. As for farming, I often dream of a beautiful golden rice field, the likes of which I’ve never seen in real life. I thought I’d try planting a small patch for fun.

“There’s even a travelogue that mentions how some crops can be hybridized into new varieties. Since His Majesty permitted me to farm, I naturally wanted to explore it a bit. If Consort Shu is curious, why not join me?”

Consort Shu had just described farming as work for commoners, so there was no way she would lower herself to participate. With a disdainful tone, she replied, “This palace has no interest in such activities. You may enjoy it yourself.”

Shen Yunxuan nodded lightly. “Then I’ll carry on experimenting by myself. Rest assured, sisters, I make sure to clean up thoroughly before meeting with you. I won’t bring any dirt your way.”

Consort Shu’s face darkened, while Consort Li lowered her head and stifled a laugh, pretending to pet her dog. Shen Yunxuan’s words subtly implied that Consort Shu was making trouble for no reason. After all, Shen Yunxuan’s hobbies in her own courtyard had no effect on others, making Consort Shu’s interference seem petty. If farming made Shen Yunxuan a “commoner,” didn’t that make Consort Shu a “small-minded person”?

The Empress noticed the growing tension and smiled faintly, stepping in to redirect the conversation. “Consort Shen’s enjoyment of farming is much like Consort Chen’s love for gardening. Watching the plants thrive must bring you joy. Still, Consort Shen, you don’t need to tend the fields yourself. Leave it to the palace servants. You must take care of your health since you often accompany His Majesty. Don’t overexert yourself and cause him concern.”

Shen Yunxuan responded obediently, “The Empress is absolutely right. I’ll follow your wise advice.”

“Wise advice? Hardly,” the Empress replied with a light laugh. “It’s just casual chatter among sisters. Come, let’s go admire the osmanthus trees over there. They’re in full bloom. You can pick some to take back and perhaps make some osmanthus cakes.” She rose, setting the example, and the others naturally followed.

As Shen Yunxuan stood, she casually flipped her pouch over.

The action appeared so nonchalant that none of the consorts paid it any mind. Those who noticed assumed she was simply tidying her attire. However, Qingzhi discreetly stepped back, left the group, and found a quieter area where she made a subtle hand gesture.

A young eunuch sweeping leaves nearby saw it and quickly made his way to Anhe Palace. It was a prearranged signal: if Shen Yunxuan deemed the situation manageable, she would adapt as needed. But if it seemed too dangerous, she would flip her pouch, prompting the eunuch to inform Shen Anlu, who would find a way to summon the emperor.

Zhuang Mama had specifically recommended Shen Anlu to serve as the chief eunuch of Anhe Palace because he was resourceful, intelligent, and well-connected. Entrusting him with such tasks ensured they were executed flawlessly. Of course, such maneuvers carried risks—one or two instances might go unnoticed, but repeated attempts would surely attract attention.

At that moment, the emperor was reviewing memorials. Noticing Li Defu had just returned after stepping out for some time, he casually asked, “What is it?”

Li Defu lowered his head and replied, “The consorts’ flower appreciation banquet has begun…”

The emperor finished annotating a memorial and glanced at him. “Why are you hesitating? What’s the matter?”

Li Defu smiled cautiously and stepped forward, lowering his voice. “Your servant wasn’t sure if this was worth reporting, but a young eunuch passing by overheard some disagreement. It seems Consort Shu remarked that Consort Shen’s farming is commoner’s work… and the Empress suggested Consort Shen refrain from such activities…”

The ambiguous phrasing could be interpreted in multiple ways, leaving room for personal judgment. Li Defu had concluded the consorts were likely jealous of Shen Yunxuan and ganging up on her.

The emperor paused, his vermillion brush hovering before he set it down and washed his hands. He had been busy with state affairs these past days and hadn’t visited Shen Yunxuan at Anhe Palace. Still, he was well aware that over the past month, he had favored her exclusively, which would inevitably stir resentment among the other consorts.

As for the women of his harem, he felt little affection. Most had entered the palace due to political arrangements when he ascended the throne. He had initially attempted harmonious relations, but two consecutive pregnancies had ended in miscarriage, with the culprits disappearing before their connections could be traced—likely due to meddling from the Empress or Consort Shu.

With no evidence to act upon, he had distanced himself from the harem, focusing instead on stabilizing internal and external affairs. As for an heir, he wasn’t in a rush. If one came, it would be welcome; if not, he would wait until the empire was secure. If necessary, he could always select a capable successor from among his relatives.

Some concubines indirectly sought benefits for their families, which only made him less inclined to visit the inner palace, feeling it was a waste of time.

It wasn’t until Shen Yunxuan entered the palace that he found a rare sense of relaxation in her company. In the nearly two months since her arrival, she had never asked him for favors or sought benefits for her estranged family. Her sole focus seemed to be living a pleasant and carefree life, indulging in hobbies like reading and exploring whimsical travelogues. He couldn’t help but be drawn to her.

When his busy state affairs were done, he too felt fatigued. Sometimes the pressures of governance weighed heavily on him, or the ministers left him fuming. Shen Yunxuan’s Anhe Palace became a sanctuary in this grand palace—a place where he could truly unwind.

Having given everything to his empire, he felt entitled to some personal freedom in his inner court. He visited Anhe Palace whenever he wished and ignored the rest of the inner palace if he didn’t feel like going. Now that Shen Yunxuan was being targeted because of him, he felt compelled to protect her. More than that, he didn’t want anything to dim the bright smile she always carried—a smile that warmed his heart.

Without hesitation, he stood and walked toward the door. “Let’s go join the commotion.”

Li Defu quickly followed, marveling at Shen Yunxuan’s rising favor. The emperor had never attended a flower-viewing banquet before. His presence today would surely fuel even greater jealousy among the other consorts. But the emperor must have considered this and still chose to attend, signaling his firm intention to protect Shen Yunxuan.

Li Defu made a mental note to instruct the palace staff to treat all matters concerning Shen Yunxuan with utmost priority—no negligence would be tolerated.

The emperor himself was already contemplating who to assign to Shen Yunxuan’s side for her protection. He had no intention of forcing himself into evenly distributing his favor among the consorts, which would inevitably bring trouble to Shen Yunxuan. Since he couldn’t always be there to resolve issues, it made sense to entrust someone reliable to keep her safe.

Unconsciously, he had placed Shen Yunxuan under his wing, treating her as family. Until now, only the Empress Dowager and his foster mother had received such consideration from him.

Shen Yunxuan, meanwhile, trusted Zhuang Mama, Shen Anlu, and the others implicitly. If they went to summon the emperor, she believed they would succeed. Watching as the empress and the others gathered under the osmanthus trees, with numerous consorts and their attendants mingling, Shen Yunxuan deliberately lingered behind, pretending to admire the flowers.

Sure enough, before long, Consort Shu turned and called out, “Why are you so slow, Consort Shen? This palace was hoping to have Consort Chen compose a poem. Hurry and join us to listen.”

Consort Chen’s expression grew faintly cold. Though she enjoyed composing poetry, she detested being ordered around. Consort Shu frequently exploited her title to call upon Consort Chen at banquets, forcing her to compose poems on the spot. Under the public eye, Consort Chen had no choice but to comply, though it frustrated her to no end.

Poems written under duress lacked spirit and inspiration. This habit of Consort Shu’s only deepened Consort Chen’s dislike for her.

Shen Yunxuan approached slowly, smiling as she said, “Wouldn’t it be more relaxing to simply enjoy the flowers? Composing poetry requires thought and effort—why not let Consort Chen take a break? Speaking of which, I’ve heard that Consort Shu is skilled in playing the zither. In such a beautiful setting, perhaps you could play a piece to liven things up?”

Consort Shu’s face darkened. As the highest-ranked concubine and the Prime Minister’s daughter, how could she stoop to playing the zither for entertainment? Shen Yunxuan was clearly trying to humiliate her! She clenched her teeth, suppressing her anger, as today’s priority was to expose Shen Yunxuan’s deception, not get sidetracked.

“This palace is not in the mood today. I won’t be playing.”

Consort Chen glanced at Shen Yunxuan with warmth, grateful for her intervention. After this, it would be harder for Consort Shu to demand impromptu poetry at future banquets, especially since Consort Shu herself had refused to entertain the group.

The empress observed their exchange with a serene smile, as though nothing had happened. When Shen Yunxuan moved closer to Consort Li and Consort Li’s attendant, the empress’s round fan stopped in mid-swing.

A maid, who had been assisting Consort Lan, turned and inadvertently stepped toward Shen Yunxuan with a cloak in her arms, seemingly unaware of Shen Yunxuan’s presence behind her.

Before she could collide with Shen Yunxuan, Yuexi quickly wrapped an arm around her mistress’s waist, deftly stepping aside to avoid the collision. The maid continued walking, oblivious to what had almost happened.

Stopping abruptly, the maid’s face turned pale. She knelt before Shen Yunxuan, trembling. “Your Grace, I almost bumped into you. It was my carelessness. Please forgive me.”

The maid appeared terrified, bowing her head repeatedly in panic.

Qingzhi suddenly caught a faint but unusual scent and immediately stepped between the maid and Shen Yunxuan, while Yuexi led Shen Yunxuan to stand behind Consort Lan. Yuexi had noticed that the maid belonged to Consort Lan’s retinue, so positioning Shen Yunxuan behind Consort Lan ensured that any incident would implicate Consort Lan first.

As they settled into position, the dog in Consort Li’s arms began barking wildly. It leapt to the ground and charged at Qingzhi and the maid. Qingzhi pretended to stumble and brushed at her skirt, removing the faint scent clinging to the fabric. The dog shifted its attention and sank its teeth into the maid instead.

The maid let out a bloodcurdling scream, sending waves of panic through the gathered consorts. Consort Li screamed the dog’s name in alarm and attempted to rush forward, but her maidservant restrained her, fearful she might get hurt. The rest of the women scattered, retreating in terror and leaving the maid to her fate.

In her panic, the maid used the cloak to cover her face and tried to flee, but the dog, Snowball, continued chasing her, biting her arms and legs multiple times. Seeing her maid covered in blood, Consort Lan fainted from fright.

The scene descended into chaos. The empress and Consort Shu were escorted to safety, only to notice Shen Yunxuan standing calmly beside them, flanked by Yuexi and Qingzhi. Shen Yunxuan hadn’t suffered even the slightest injury.

The empress, clearly upset, took a step forward and commanded coldly, “Why are you all standing there? Capture that beast and have it put down!”

“No!” Consort Li suddenly dropped to her knees. “Your Majesty, please don’t be angry. Snowball is usually very obedient. I don’t know why it suddenly acted out today. I beg Your Majesty to spare it. I promise to discipline it properly and never let it harm anyone again. I won’t even let it leave Qionghua Palace. Please, Your Majesty, have mercy!”

Shen Yunxuan added, “Snowball often comes to my palace to play. It’s a timid and gentle dog, not prone to such behavior. I urge Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly.”

Realizing her oversight, Consort Li, who had been too worried about Snowball, suddenly froze. Her mind raced back to the moment when the maid had almost collided with Shen Yunxuan. If that had happened, Snowball would likely have bitten Shen Yunxuan instead. A cold shiver ran down her spine.

Shen Yunxuan was currently the emperor’s favorite. If her dog had injured Shen Yunxuan, not only would Snowball have been executed, but the emperor’s wrath might have extended to her other pets—and even to herself. She might even have been accused of intentionally harming Shen Yunxuan.

Tears welled up in Consort Li’s eyes as she looked toward Shen Yunxuan, who met her gaze with a reassuring expression. Gritting her teeth, Consort Li turned to the empress and pleaded, “Someone must have provoked Snowball. Your Majesty, I beg you to uncover the truth and grant me justice.”

The empress furrowed her brow slightly. According to the original plan, the dog was supposed to injure Shen Yunxuan, causing panic. Amid the chaos, a eunuch would kill the dog, and the imperial physician would diagnose Shen Yunxuan, exposing her hidden health issues and her alleged deception of the emperor. Consort Li, out of guilt, would remain silent. The matter of the dog would quietly fade into obscurity.

But now, Shen Yunxuan was unharmed, and the injured party was merely a maid—not someone significant enough to overshadow Consort Li’s position. Moreover, both Shen Yunxuan and Consort Li claimed the dog’s behavior was unusual, leaving the empress with no choice but to order an investigation. This had added an unwelcome complication.

The dog was soon restrained, and the injured maid, trembling and tearful, remained on the ground. The empress sighed and declared, “We must investigate thoroughly.” She then glanced at Shen Yunxuan, intending to suggest summoning the imperial physician to check on her. However, Shen Yunxuan’s rosy complexion and serene demeanor suggested she had not been affected at all.

Fortunately, Consort Lan had fainted, providing an alternative focus. The empress instructed, “The immediate priority is to check on the injured. Summon the imperial physicians. Have them examine Consort Lan, her maid, and Snowball to determine whether it was provoked.”

With one sentence, the empress subtly shifted the blame toward Consort Lan and Consort Li. If anything suspicious were uncovered later, they would bear the brunt of the suspicion.

The gathered concubines exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions betraying their discomfort. When the imperial physicians arrived, they confirmed that Consort Lan had fainted from shock and was otherwise unharmed. The maid, however, had sustained multiple bite wounds. While treatable, her hands would likely bear permanent scars.

The empress then instructed two physicians to examine the dog, while others attended to the concubines. “Since everyone was startled at this flower-viewing banquet, I feel uneasy. Please allow the physicians to check everyone’s condition.”

Shen Yunxuan replied, “There’s no need for me. I’m perfectly fine.”

Her refusal only deepened the empress and Consort Shu’s suspicions. If Shen Yunxuan had nothing to hide, why would she decline a simple examination? The empress insisted, “Everyone should have a peace-of-mind checkup. That way, we can ensure no one has been adversely affected. Consort Shen, please humor me.”

Consort Shu added mockingly, “Consort Shen truly stands out from the rest of us. While we’re all pale with fright, she looks flushed. Perhaps it’s from being too startled, with her blood rushing to her head?”

“What startled her too much?” a deep voice cut through the chatter. The emperor had arrived, his expression dark as his gaze swept over the assembled group. He quickly strode to Shen Yunxuan’s side and took her hand. “What happened? Are you all right?”

The empress and Consort Shu froze, their expressions stiff. The emperor’s direct concern for Shen Yunxuan was evident to everyone present.

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