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In the past few days, Feng Moheng had been visiting Ninglan Courtyard almost daily.
Shen Yuling saw through his intentions with absolute clarity—his actions were deliberate.
On the first day, Shen Yuling had specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare a nourishing fish soup. However, Liu Jingyi, using the excuse of being unwell, snatched it away for herself.
On the second day, the manor’s tailor carefully crafted several new garments according to Shen Yuling’s measurements.
Yet, before she could even see them, one of Liu Jingyi’s maids rushed over and picked out the finest pieces for her mistress.
On the third day, Princess Xihe received two bolts of rare pearl gauze from His Majesty. She kept one for herself and instructed Feng Moheng to bring the other back for the Princess Consort—Shen Yuling.
But midway, Liu Jingyi intercepted it, and Shen Yuling didn’t even get to touch the pearl gauze.
After days of this, Xi Tong was nearly bursting with frustration.
“Consort Liu is going too far! You are the rightful mistress of this manor, the Princess Consort, yet she brazenly steals what belongs to you!”
Shen Yuling leaned against the soft couch, looking despondent, her gaze empty as if lost in thought.
Yet, the words that left her lips were entirely at odds with her expression.
This demeanor—melancholy and fragile—was merely a performance for certain people to see.
“Feng Moheng must be quite pleased with himself lately, considering how Liu Jingyi is fighting over him so desperately,” she remarked, her tone laced with mockery.
“He doesn’t seem to find it exhausting—coming home every day, making endless promises to Liu Jingyi, then turning around to appease me at Ninglan Courtyard. Does he truly think he can have it both ways?”
Xi Tong listened from the side, her face full of confusion.
Blinking innocently, she asked, “How did Feng Moheng change his heart so quickly? Could it be that, Master, you’re just too beautiful and have bewitched him completely?”
Shen Yuling extended a slender finger and lightly tapped Xi Tong’s forehead.
She chided softly, “You’re always saying such silly things. He’s clearly using me—can’t you see that?”
“But it doesn’t matter. For now, I’ll just keep pretending to be heartbroken.”
Shen Yuling narrowed her eyes slightly.
“I remember that in three days, Feng Moheng will be taking Liu Jingyi and me out to admire the flowers.”
“When the time comes, make sure the Shen family’s guards are well-disguised. At the right moment, have them ‘assassinate’ Feng Moheng.”
“Let’s see what choice his so-called beloved Liu Jingyi makes when faced with danger.”
Shen Yuling’s lips curved upward into a meaningful smile.
“And all the while, he believes that I do not love him—yet I will be the one willing to risk my life to save him.”
Xi Tong was momentarily speechless.
“…All of them?” she repeated, her tone unreadable.
Shen Yuling nodded earnestly. “Yes. Every single one.”
For a brief moment, silence filled the room. Then, Shen Yuling let out a light chuckle, her fingers gently tapping against the armrest.
“Interesting,” she murmured, a glimmer of amusement flickering in her eyes.
The night was deep and tranquil, the moon casting a serene glow.
Shen Yuling once again arrived at the opulent Yaohua Palace.
She stepped gracefully into the chamber and settled onto the luxurious bed. This time, she could finally take a proper look at the grandeur of this palace.
Walls adorned with cinnabar plaster exuded a faint, lingering fragrance.
Golden bricks paved the floor, shimmering brilliantly under the light.
The roof, covered in yellow glazed tiles, gleamed with the radiance of exquisite craftsmanship.
A bronze-gilded dome crowned the palace, its golden brilliance radiating in the dim light.
Delicate silk gauze curtains, embroidered with intricate patterns, hung gracefully, sheer and translucent.
As the wind stirred, the curtains fluttered like flowing robes in a celestial dance.
This palace was truly a masterpiece of grandeur—ornate and magnificent, with exquisitely carved beams and painted rafters.
As it was still early spring, the night air carried a lingering chill.
Fortunately, the room was warmed by fragrant silver charcoal—an elite offering within the palace. As it burned, it released a faint, delicate fragrance that lingered in the air.
As she surveyed the room, her gaze fell upon the various rare and exquisite ornaments adorning the space. Each piece was crafted with unparalleled artistry, their intricate designs a testament to masterful craftsmanship.
Even though Shen Yuling had been accustomed to luxury since childhood, she couldn’t help but reveal a hint of astonishment in her eyes at this moment.
Wealth and splendor truly had a way of mesmerizing the heart.
As the evening drum of the Xu hour echoed faintly in the distance, the night deepened.
After finishing his dinner at Weiyang Palace, Quan Minghe finally arrived at Yaohua Palace.
The moment he stepped into the bedchamber, his imposing presence instantly captured Shen Yuling’s gaze, holding it firmly in place.
He was clad in a regal purple robe embroidered with gilded patterns.
Black dragon motifs coiled across the fabric, as if ready to break free from the garment, soaring into the sky with the winds and clouds at their command—an undeniable display of dominance.
Atop his head rested a gemstone-encrusted coronet, glistening like a cascade of stars.
Quan Minghe strode forward with an air of divine majesty, exuding an innate nobility.
His overwhelming presence, which could command the world with a single glance, was so striking that it almost eclipsed his unparalleled handsomeness.
At first, Shen Yuling had only thought of using Quan Minghe as a means to achieve her vengeance.
But now, her heart was out of rhythm.
For some inexplicable reason…
She suddenly wanted to win the heart of this emotionless male protagonist, the kind typically found in men’s fiction.
Shen Yuling felt her heart pounding wildly.
Powerful and strikingly handsome—he merely wanted an innocent little white rabbit. Well, wasn’t that a role she could play?
After all, this was her life. Apart from vengeance, what else was there?
Wealth, power, and men—she wanted them all!
The palace maid, Lan Ying, who was attending to her nearby, quickly whispered a reminder, “Your Highness, His Majesty has arrived. You must pay your respects.”
Snapping back to reality, Shen Yuling swiftly stepped down from the bed and gracefully walked toward Quan Minghe.
As she approached, she imitated the gestures she had observed before, slightly bending her knees in a curtsy.
“Greetings to Your Majesty.”
However, having never been formally taught the palace etiquette, her posture was incorrect.
The depth of her curtsy was incorrect, and the positioning of her hands was also off.
In the Qian Dynasty, the etiquette practiced by noble families and imperial relatives differed from that of the palace.
After all, the emperor’s residence had to be distinct in every way, emphasizing its unparalleled prestige.
The palace etiquette was exceedingly strict, with even the simplest curtsy carrying intricate nuances. Every movement embodied deference and submission to the sovereign.
If a minister’s family members were to enter the palace, they would first undergo meticulous instruction from senior palace attendants. This ensured their conduct met the strict regulations, preventing any breach of decorum.
However, it was evident that Shen Yuling had sneaked into the palace in secret, so naturally, there was no one to instruct her on these courtly etiquettes.
Quan Minghe frowned slightly before waving his hand.
His tone remained fairly gentle as he said, “For now, you don’t need to observe these formalities. Once you officially enter the palace, I will have the etiquette madams teach you the rules of the court.”
Quan Minghe walked past Shen Yuling and made his way to the couch.
Lifting the hem of his robe slightly, he sat down with ease, his every movement exuding the composure and grace befitting an emperor.
Shen Yuling followed suit, stepping forward gracefully before slowly taking a seat beside him.
“Your Majesty, why have you summoned me to the palace tonight?”
Quan Minghe lifted his gaze slightly, his expression calm.
“Bai Hua sent word that it seems you were being mistreated at the Residence of Prince Lingyang?”
Shen Yuling stubbornly lifted her chin. “Impossible. I am the Princess Consort of Lingyang, with the Shen family backing me. Who would dare bully me?”
Stubborn.
Quan Minghe merely raised an eyebrow but did not expose her lie.
He said lightly, “It seems you don’t need the pearl gauze I brought, then.”
Turning his head slightly toward the door, he called out, “Li Ming, take the palace dress made of pearl gauze and give it to Zhaoyi Liu. Didn’t she just ask about it today?”
“Pearl gauze?”
Shen Yuling had always loved beauty. Normally, no matter how Liu Jingyi openly or secretly competed with her for other things, she never took it too seriously.
But pearl gauze—she had never even seen it in all her years in this world, for it was a tribute item.
“Your Majesty… do you know everything?”
Shen Yuling fell silent for a moment, as if recalling something, and a hint of sadness crossed her face.
“When I was still at home, my father and mother cherished me dearly. Whenever there was something good, they would give it all to me without hesitation.”
“But ever since I married into the Residence of Prince Lingyang… the Prince… he doesn’t like me. And Liu Jingyi… she targets me at every turn, making things difficult for me in every matter.”
Quan Minghe’s expression remained unchanged, showing no sign of emotion.
His tone was just as indifferent as before.
“If you’ve been wronged, why didn’t you say so?”
Shen Yuling pressed her lips together, her delicate face taut with seriousness.
“Because… it’s humiliating. It’s disgraceful.”
She was, after all, the esteemed eldest daughter of the Shen family. How could she let others know that she was being bullied by a mere concubine?
If word got out, it wouldn’t just be her own dignity at stake—her entire family’s honor would be tarnished as well.
For these noble aristocratic families, losing one’s head was less terrifying than losing face.
At first, after hearing her words, Quan Minghe had almost felt a genuine pang of sympathy for her.
But who could have expected that Shen Yuling would suddenly turn her head, pointing at the pearl gauze fabric?
“Your Majesty, if I wear a dress made of pearl gauze, I can hide all my disgrace. By then, you will see the most beautiful version of Shen Yuling.”
She turned back to look at him, her enchanting fox-like eyes blinking playfully.
“Does Your Majesty want to see?”
Quan Minghe’s usually composed expression almost faltered, but fortunately, he had always been adept at keeping his emotions unreadable.
She cleared her throat lightly, masking the laughter that nearly escaped.
“You certainly have a clever plan.”
Quan Minghe lifted his chin slightly, and Li Ming immediately understood the silent command.
He handed the delicately crafted pearl snow gossamer robe, made from the finest pearl gauze, to Lan Ying.
Quan Minghe said, “Go and change into it.”
Shen Yuling responded softly and then rose gracefully, walking toward the inner chamber behind the screen.
Lan Ying carried the dress and followed behind into the inner chamber.
“Your Ladyship, the pearl snow gossamer robe was originally meant to be bestowed upon Zhaoyi Liu. However, after Bai Hua entered the palace today to report on your situation, His Majesty immediately had the dress sent to Yaohua Palace instead.”
A smile adorned Lan Ying’s face as she spoke, clearly delighted for her mistress.
“This shows that His Majesty must truly favor you.”
From now on, Shen Jieyu was the one she would be serving—her future was entirely tied to Shen Jieyu’s rise.
The more favor Shen Jieyu received from His Majesty, the happier Lan Ying naturally felt.
Shen Yuling gently traced her fingers over the exquisitely crafted palace gown. Though a faint smile graced her lips, it never reached her eyes.
Affection like that of a pet was nothing to boast about.
Very well, then. Let’s see if she could truly capture the heart of an emperor.