Chapter 72: Consort Shen’s Plan

The servants in Fengyi Palace naturally went to report to the Empress. These past few days, the Empress had been completely at a loss over who had given Shen Qing the contraceptive medicine. She was already feeling stifled, when Jin Zhi came in from outside and said, “Your Majesty, Consort Shen requests an audience.”

“What is she here for?” The Empress had no mood for anything at the moment.

Now that Shen Qing had returned to Zhaohua Palace, the Empress had enjoyed a brief moment of satisfaction from seeing Consort Yu frustrated. But it also meant her own time was running out. The Emperor was still waiting for results from her side.

Jin Zhi said, “This servant saw that Consort Shen didn’t look well, but she insisted on requesting an audience with Your Majesty. She didn’t say what it was about—only that it was important. She hasn’t been doing well lately, and this servant thought, if it weren’t something important, she wouldn’t dare come seek Your Majesty directly.”

Indeed, the Empress had once directly exposed Consort Shen for trying to use her to suppress Consort Yu. Under normal circumstances, who would have the nerve to show up again after that?

The Empress thought for a moment. “Let her in.”

And so, Consort Shen was invited into Fengyi Palace. The Empress received her in the inner hall. The moment Consort Shen saw the Empress, she dropped to her knees with a thud and performed a deep formal bow.

Normally, consorts meeting the Empress in an informal setting weren’t required to perform such elaborate rites, but Consort Shen respectfully kowtowed three times.

As the saying goes, there’s no need to speak in riddles among the intelligent. The Empress simply looked at her and asked, “What are you doing, Consort Shen?”

“I am willing to serve Your Majesty,” Consort Shen stated plainly, catching the Empress off guard.

Jin Zhi immediately dismissed the attendants. For a moment, the room filled with an uneasy tension.

The Empress’s thoughts raced, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Do you know what you’re saying?”

Consort Shen took a deep breath and replied without hesitation. She had already made up her mind. “I no longer wish to be tormented like this in the palace. I want to have a child.” She raised her head. “That child, I am willing to let Your Majesty raise.”

A sharp glint flashed in the Empress’s eyes, but then she smiled. “Rise, Consort Shen.”

Despite the Empress’s smile, Consort Shen didn’t feel the slightest relief. She had put everything on the line today, exposing her understanding of the Empress’s desire to raise someone else’s child.

Back when Shen Qing and Beauty Qiao had that encounter outside Fengyi Palace, and the Empress had clearly sided with Shen Qing, Consort Shen had already sensed the truth. She had realized then that the Empress couldn’t possibly favor Shen Qing without some reason.

Given that the Empress had no children of her own, and Shen Qing was favored by the Emperor, if Shen Qing became pregnant, her child would very likely be raised in the Empress’s palace.

Or, even more simply, Shen Qing’s low status could be exploited. If she died, the Empress could raise the child without any worries.

After all, Beauty Fang’s status didn’t allow the Empress to raise her child.

This was why Consort Shen had held herself back for so long and never sought out the Empress—she didn’t want to be separated from her child. She wanted to live, even if it meant living a hard life.

But now, she had made her decision.

Letting the Empress raise the child would be difficult, but life could get better. Bearing the title of the Emperor’s child’s birth mother would ensure she wouldn’t be forgotten. And if the Emperor remembered her, she might one day bear another child.

“I don’t want to go on like this. I beg Your Majesty to help me. I will never let Your Majesty down!”

Though the Empress was not favored by the Emperor, she ruled the inner palace. As long as she was willing to help her—like arranging for her to attend hunts and summer retreats—opportunities would arise. Right now, what Consort Shen lacked most was opportunity. Even if she had to flatter or dance to gain favor, someone needed to give her the chance. Without that, she’d simply rot in the harem.

The Empress remained composed and unhurried. “Consort Shen, you are clever, so I won’t speak in circles. I do want a child. But you are already a Consort.”

Once a Consort gave birth, she would be promoted to Pin (a higher rank). The Empress would no longer have the right to take the child. And now that Consort Shen had laid everything bare, it was obvious she wasn’t looking to die.

The Empress narrowed her eyes. “How can I trust you won’t keep the child for yourself once you’re pregnant and favored?”

That was the issue—using someone without leverage was always a risk.

Sure enough, the worst-case scenario had come to pass.

Consort Shen felt bitter. One wrong step, and now everything was falling apart. If she hadn’t been exposed for scheming against Consort Yu earlier, the Empress would never be so high-handed now.

How could she not understand? The Empress was desperate for a child to secure her position. Yet even now, she was so cautious she would rather pass up a clear opportunity.

The Empress didn’t dare touch Beauty Fang’s child, and even with Consort Shen offering herself, she was being rejected.

The sarcasm in Consort Shen’s heart was intense, but she knew the moment she offered herself, she had already lowered herself to the dust. There was no going back.

Consort Shen said firmly, “I can swear. Even if I’m promoted to Pin, I will still let Your Majesty raise the child. I will show Your Majesty my sincerity.”

Her words were resolute.

The Empress merely feigned indifference. “Very well. Then I shall wait.”

When Consort Shen left Fengyi Palace, the sky outside was beginning to darken. The clouds on the horizon burned crimson with the setting sun, casting a blood-red hue in Consort Shen’s eyes.

She exhaled slowly, then took her first step westward—her first step on this path she had chosen.

Inside Fengyi Palace, the Empress watched her leave. She sat and sipped her tea, Jin Zhi attending at her side. After a while, the Empress set down her teacup and smiled faintly at Jin Zhi. “What do you think of Consort Shen?”

Jin Zhi replied, “This servant believes there’s no harm in accepting her. She came to you of her own accord—surely she wouldn’t dare betray Your Majesty in the end. And since we can’t find out who gave Noble Consort Xi the contraceptive medicine, if Your Majesty openly accepts Consort Shen, the Emperor will naturally understand your intentions. Perhaps…”

Now that the Emperor knew the Empress wanted a child, and considering how caring she’d been toward Shen Qing before, he might deduce that the Empress had hoped for Shen Qing’s child. Then he would stop suspecting that the Empress had secretly given Shen Qing the contraceptive medicine. Though the Emperor might still be displeased with her for coveting another’s child, that was still better than being accused of such a sinister deed.

With Consort Shen’s offer, the Empress’s urgent predicament might be resolved.

Of course, the Empress had considered all this.

But—

Her lips curved, though her eyes remained cold. “What she said just now was probably true. But how can I trust someone with no leverage over them?”

Jin Zhi understood. “Does Your Majesty mean… Consort Shen will have to prove herself?”

The Empress narrowed her eyes. “Let’s wait and see. She knows my intent, and I don’t favor Consort Yu. She’s suffered at Consort Yu’s hands all this time. Since there’s enmity, I’m quite looking forward to seeing what kind of surprise she’ll deliver me.”

In contrast to the tense and tangled atmosphere around Consort Shen and the quiet undercurrents flowing through the Empress’s palace, Shen Qing, having received so many gifts today, continued to rest and recover from her injuries.

And so she spent another ten days recuperating.

Finally, her body visibly improved. After lying in bed for so long, she could finally take a walk outside.