Chapter 10 – The Cost of Playing the Fool

Back at Zhaohua Palace, Shen Qing asked Chunhua to bring a facial mask and began applying it.

Chunhua looked on with concern. “Liangren…”

Shen Qing shook her head. “We can’t afford to offend her, and there’s no need to let word get out.”

It was precisely because she wanted some peace that she had deliberately fainted in Zhongyu Palace. If she had collapsed elsewhere, Consort Yu would truly hold a grudge and ruin her reputation in the future.

Although her rank was low, she was still one of the emperor’s women. If Consort Yu went too far, it wouldn’t look good on the surface. Fainting like that would at least make Consort Yu leave her alone for a while.

As for using her fainting to draw the emperor’s attention to Consort Yu’s persecution and get her punished?

Shen Qing didn’t even need to think about it to know that was impossible.

What was her status, and what was Consort Yu’s?

To put it bluntly—it was out of her league.

Even if she had died today in Consort Yu’s palace, the emperor might at most say a few words about leniency. But afterwards? Consort Yu would still be favored.

That was the reality of the harem.

She never believed that just because she had served the emperor twice, he would develop any feelings for her. Right now, in his eyes, she was nothing more than an amusing plaything in bed. He wouldn’t care about her at all. Compared to Consort Yu, who had a powerful family backing her, she was nothing. Even Shen Qing herself would pick Consort Yu if she had to choose.

Chunhua understood this and comforted her, “In the end, you’re still serving His Majesty. Even if your rank is low now, there’s always the future. Your blessings will come later. Don’t take these things to heart.”

The logic made sense.

But it was still hard to bear.

She had known from the start that she’d have to play the fool. But in her past life, she was the heiress of a hundred-billion-dollar conglomerate, raised with every luxury imaginable. She had never endured such humiliation.

Shen Qing had no choice but to start considering the cost of playing the fool.

Could she really survive two years like this—just serving by looks alone, playing dumb, and floating along as some middling concubine in the harem—without getting killed off by the plot?

She had only served the emperor twice and Consort Yu was already targeting her like this. In the future, it wasn’t like she could stop serving the emperor, nor could she deliberately make him dislike her.

So her thoughts started shifting elsewhere.

She had originally planned to lie low for two years, avoid all the death flags, and then follow the plot when the time came. After all, having foreknowledge of the plot would help her reach a better outcome. But she had arrived too early.

The female lead wouldn’t enter the palace for another two years. There was still over a year to go before anything major happened.

She’d been reborn, but if she had to live like this—suffocated and humiliated every day—was that really living? That was just surviving.

She couldn’t take it anymore. She decided to follow her own instincts. As for the plot, as long as she didn’t veer too far off course, she could still steer it back.

First, she set a small goal: make that damned emperor satisfy her daily needs.

She didn’t want to worry about food, clothing, or warmth. And she didn’t mean just solving these issues in the short term, but on a sustained basis.

So, what did she need to do now? Gain favor. And to do that, she had to seduce the emperor—make herself unforgettable!

To be unforgettable, she had to be fresh.

It was time for a change in strategy.

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Three days later, Xuanyuan Ling selected Shen Qing’s name from the roster.

Eunuch Xiao Chunzi came to inform her. This time, Xuanyuan Ling didn’t come to her palace. Shen Qing was sent to his sleeping quarters instead, still wrapped tightly in that same thick blanket, carried in as before. Xuanyuan Ling was in his usual position.

He was reclining on one hand, a book held in the other, reading intently. When Shen Qing was brought in, the book must’ve been at a particularly good part, because he didn’t acknowledge her at all.

After all, in Xuanyuan Ling’s mind, Shen Qing was an alluring temptress. If he gave her his attention now, he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the book. Better to finish the chapter first.

Left alone in the room, Shen Qing glanced at the cover of the book in his hand.

After thinking it over, she sat up—still wrapped in the blanket, not revealing an inch of skin—only her head poked out.

Hearing movement, Xuanyuan Ling turned to look at her, his expression displeased. Concubines were expected to behave. “What are you doing?”

Shen Qing looked a little embarrassed. “I was just curious what book could capture Your Majesty’s attention so completely.” She covered her mouth with a delicate smile. “Please, continue. I won’t disturb you.”

There was a touch of coquettishness in her tone, but it wasn’t arrogant, nor did it seem like she was actively seeking favor. She didn’t reveal any skin either.

She didn’t look like she was trying to seduce him.

So Xuanyuan Ling didn’t get angry. He simply turned back to his book.

Shen Qing quietly sat off to the side, minding her own business.

When Xuanyuan Ling finally finished, he turned to see the girl sitting there, head tilted and nearly falling asleep.

“Insolence! You dare fall asleep while waiting for Us?” Xuanyuan Ling’s expression was unreadable.

“I didn’t!” Shen Qing sat up immediately. “I wasn’t asleep. I was waiting for Your Majesty.”

She tried to defend herself, showing no real fear—almost as if she trusted him, didn’t see him as someone to be feared.

She looked up at him hopefully. “Have you finished reading?”

Xuanyuan Ling found her obvious hint rather amusing. “Yes, I’ve finished. So?”

Shen Qing blushed, her face burning with embarrassment.

Xuanyuan Ling suddenly recalled—she’d never really taken the initiative before. It was always him who summoned her, and she’d cooperate, but she had never made the first move.

He didn’t feel awkward. In fact, he looked at her with interest, waiting to see what she would do.

Shen Qing seemed so embarrassed she tried to shrink into the blanket, only her eyes visible, looking longingly at him but unwilling to look away. Finally, she extended two snowy white arms.

Just like she had in Zhaohua Palace, she scooted over to Xuanyuan Ling, tugged gently at his sleeve, giving it a soft shake. “I… I don’t know how…”

Xuanyuan Ling’s expression darkened slightly. “Didn’t your nanny teach you?”

“She did.”

“Then serve Us the way she taught you.”

And then—Shen Qing brought out her skills.

This was the third time, after all. She had a better sense of Xuanyuan Ling’s preferences by now. And the result of using those skills?

Xuanyuan Ling found a new kind of thrill.

Of course, Shen Qing still acted clumsy and inexperienced—but sometimes, that kind of awkwardness could drive someone wild.

Once again, Xuanyuan Ling was completely bewitched by her.

He had never seen himself as someone addicted to physical pleasure. Yet, ever since he’d had Shen Qing, not a single other concubine could compare.

It was almost an unhealthy obsession.

Soaking in the bath afterward, even his gaze had darkened.

This time, he deliberately didn’t let Shen Qing assist with his bath. She had already cleaned up, and by all rules, it was time for her to bow and leave. After all, only the empress could remain in the emperor’s sleeping quarters overnight. If the emperor wanted to spend the night, he had to go to the concubine’s palace instead.

Shen Qing was waiting for Xuanyuan Ling to return so she could perform the formal farewell.

But instead, he had someone carry her back directly.

If it were anyone else, Xuanyuan Ling’s sudden coldness would have terrified them.

It was bizarre. Just moments ago, he had been so fiery in bed. And now—this?

Shen Qing thought it over. She hadn’t done anything to anger him during the act, so he must have remembered something afterward that upset him. As long as it wasn’t something she’d done wrong in the moment, the issue shouldn’t be serious.

She didn’t fully understand Xuanyuan Ling’s temperament yet, but she had read the original novel.

The male lead, Xuanyuan Ling, was strict and deeply calculating. On the surface, he seemed indifferent to everything but power. He certainly had self-control when it came to women. Shen Qing had been shocked at first by how obsessed he seemed with her.

But now—it seemed more normal.

After that night, Xuanyuan Ling didn’t summon her again for a whole month.

As if he had forgotten her completely.