Chapter 15 – Beauty Wang Falls into a Trap

At first, no one noticed that the food served to Shen Qing had improved. But as luck would have it, one of Beauty Wang’s palace maids happened to see someone delivering food to Zhaohua Palace and noticed it.

Because Beauty Wang already harbored resentment toward Shen Qing, the maid reported the matter to her.

Beauty Wang had always felt stifled by Shen Qing—ever since that day when the Emperor, with both of them standing before him, pointed to Shen Qing for bed service. It had felt like a slap across her face.

Now Shen Qing, just a minor consort with no promotion in rank, was already being served higher-quality meals?

All just because she had served the Emperor a few more times?

The more she thought about it, the more bitter she felt.

This is what it meant to fall out of favor.

Even as she resented Shen Qing, she had no way to deal with her. And that only made her obsess even more over how, on that day in the Imperial Garden, the Emperor had looked at Shen Qing instead of her. What if he had looked at her instead? Would she have been the one selected for bed service?

With that thought, a fierce desire surged within her—she wanted the Emperor’s favor, more than she ever had before.

But the Emperor rarely came to the harem. How could she gain his favor like this? How long would she have to wait for him to turn her tag?

Beauty Wang grew increasingly dejected. At that moment, one of her palace maids spoke softly, “My Lady, perhaps you should pay a visit to Consort Yu.”

“What?”

The maid, Ding Xiang, replied, “The main seat of Qingyun Palace, where you now reside, belongs to Consort Ru. But she is not favored.”

Not only was Consort Ru not favored, Consort Chun wasn’t much better. Both women had served Emperor Xuanyuan Ling for many years and had deep seniority, which earned them the rank of Consort. Of course, their noble families played a part too, but neither held favor in the Emperor’s eyes.

In any case, the Emperor seldom visited the harem. Consort Ru rarely saw him in a whole year, and her Qingyun Palace remained cold and quiet.

But Consort Yu’s Zhongyu Palace was a different story.

“Consort Yu is pregnant and can’t serve the Emperor right now. She probably lacks someone to help secure his attention. If My Lady offers her allegiance, then when the Emperor visits Consort Yu often, you’ll naturally have the chance to see him too.”

Beauty Wang was tempted.

Yes, a child!

Noble Lady Fang had said that unless Shen Qing had a child, she wouldn’t be promoted.

But if she had a child, Shen Qing would never be able to surpass her!

But in order to have a child, she needed to see the Emperor!

Right now, she was desperate for an opportunity. If Consort Ru couldn’t give her one, she’d go to Consort Yu.

Consort Yu was resting during her pregnancy when Beauty Wang suddenly came to visit and stated her intentions. Her expression darkened.

Consort Yu might not be able to serve the Emperor, but aside from the child she carried, she already had two others. Her status in the harem was unparalleled. And now this plain-looking Beauty Wang wanted to latch onto her to gain favor?

What a joke!

Consort Yu gave Beauty Wang a harsh scolding.

And then Consort Ru also heard about Beauty Wang’s visit to Consort Yu.

“So she thinks my little temple isn’t good enough for her anymore?” Consort Ru laughed on the surface, but there wasn’t a trace of mirth in her eyes. “She’s so desperate for favor, yet didn’t come ask me—I could’ve given her what she wanted.”

Leaving her own palace to join Consort Yu was like a resounding slap in the face.

Now that she had such a person living in her own palace, Consort Ru was deeply irritated. After so many years in the palace, did she really have no tricks up her sleeve? Did Beauty Wang really think she could humiliate her so openly and get away with it?

Consort Ru glanced at her eunuch, Xiao Shunzi. “That filthy item we found earlier in Pingniang’s chamber—on the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet, have someone slip it into Beauty Wang’s wine.”

Xiao Shunzi replied, “Understood.” He paused. “But if this disrupts the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration…”

Consort Ru gave a scornful smile. “Just a minor beauty—she’s not capable of causing such a stir. When the time comes, guide her toward the patrolling guards. I want to see just how eager she is to seek a man’s favor.”

Meanwhile, Shen Qing also heard from Chunhua that the Crown Prince’s birthday was approaching.

The birthday celebration of the Crown Prince was a big deal in the palace.

Although he wasn’t the heir by birth, he was the eldest son. And this year he was turning six—already the only prince enrolled in the Imperial Academy. His status was indeed elevated.

On the day of the celebration, the harem was abuzz with activity.

Shen Qing arrived early. She wasn’t one for the grandeur of someone like Consort Yu, so she didn’t expect to see her arrive so early either.

It had been a while since Shen Qing last saw Consort Yu. Her belly was now visibly rounded. When she caught sight of Shen Qing, she merely cast her a casual glance. Shen Qing respectfully lowered her head and bowed as usual, no different than before.

In public settings, even Consort Yu wasn’t foolish enough to cause trouble.

Soon the other women of the harem arrived one after another. Emperor Xuanyuan Ling still had state affairs to attend to, so while he was supposed to attend, he would arrive last. The Empress would preside over the event in the meantime.

It was Shen Qing’s first time seeing the Crown Prince. At six years old, he already looked quite mature and stood beside his birth mother, Consort Shun. Shen Qing took a few glances and thought the child’s eyes and brows didn’t resemble the Emperor much, but his nose and mouth bore some resemblance. That made her study him a few more times.

When Xuanyuan Ling finally arrived, the banquet formally began.

Shen Qing, as usual, sat at the lowest position. Everything was conducted according to birthday banquet protocol. She had no role to play; she was just there to observe.

Once the festivities died down, the meal began. Though the banquet food was fairly standard, Shen Qing had nothing else to do, so she busied herself with eating to pass the time.

Xuanyuan Ling happened to glance over and saw Shen Qing pick something up, chew it, then pick up a second bite of the same dish and eat again. After chewing for a while, she must have realized she was focused on one dish too long, so she looked around at others and started trying new dishes.

It was… rather amusing.

But Xuanyuan Ling only gave her one look before turning his attention elsewhere. He sipped his wine, and the other consorts around him naturally had to join in.

Most of the consorts only touched their lips to the wine.

But not Beauty Wang.

She had been frustrated for some time now. She drank cup after cup as if trying to drown her sorrows, her eyes drifting again and again toward the high seat where Xuanyuan Ling sat.

The more she looked, the more aggrieved she felt—yet the wine burned hotter and hotter in her body.