Chapter 3: The Emperor Has Summoned You

Xuan Yuanling rubbed his fingers, looking down at Shen Qing with a half-smile, half-smirk as he watched her secretly shift her feet—moving a little, stopping a little, not daring to make any big movements. Her small face was a bit contorted.

“You may rise.”

Shen Qing lowered her head when she heard this, but didn’t get up. Xuan Yuanling narrowed his eyes, and Shen Qing immediately lifted her head, panic written all over her face. “This concubine’s legs are numb—I can’t stand up on my own.”

She had wanted to move earlier, but now her legs truly were numb. Every movement sent prickles like ants crawling up her limbs. It wasn’t as easy as just getting up.

Xuan Yuanling cast a glance at Chunhua, who hurried forward to help her. It took some effort, but Shen Qing finally staggered to her feet. Xuan Yuanling rose, clearly intending to leave, so Shen Qing had no choice but to kneel again with a thud.

What else could she do? She had to respectfully send off the Emperor.

It wasn’t until Xuan Yuanling had walked far away that Shen Qing finally stood again. Chunhua, visibly frightened, said, “My lady, is the Emperor angry?”

“Most likely not,” Shen Qing replied, feeling that just now the Emperor had simply found it amusing to watch her kneel. In her heart, she cursed the perverse Emperor thoroughly—but what could she do? He was the Emperor, after all.

Then again, maybe it was a form of punishment?

Even she had to admit it all felt too coincidental—every time she went out, she ran into the Emperor. Perhaps Xuan Yuanling thought she had come to the Imperial Garden deliberately to stage a “chance” encounter. That scene just now might’ve held hints of probing and warning.

But no matter what, she had behaved very properly just now. It was truly a coincidence. As the Emperor, there was no need for him to waste anger on her.

Xuan Yuanling walked off without so much as a glance back. He casually asked Zhao Hai, the head eunuch beside him, “Of the newly entered ones, is she the only one who hasn’t attended the bedchamber?”

Zhao Hai immediately replied, “Yes.”

His thoughts took a quick turn—so the Emperor really remembered this person. Otherwise, how could he recall that among the newly admitted concubines, only this Shen Liangren hadn’t yet shared the bed? But then again, Zhao Hai understood.

With looks like hers, it made perfect sense that the Emperor remembered her.

Even as a eunuch, Zhao Hai vividly recalled the stunning sight she had made upon her entry into the palace.

She was truly breathtaking—a beauty that once seen, could not be forgotten.

After all, within the current harem, the Empress had never been favored. Consort Yu had enjoyed the Emperor’s attention to its peak, but she had recently grown too arrogant, and the Emperor had begun to cool toward her. The other two consorts were of average appearance. The few newly entered ones hadn’t shown much potential yet. But if the Emperor was keeping Shen Liangren in mind, maybe—just maybe—she had a shot at favor.

While walking, Xuan Yuanling said, “Have her attend tonight.”

Zhao Hai immediately acknowledged the order.

Shen Qing’s knees ached from kneeling, so naturally she had no desire to keep strolling in the Imperial Garden. Supported by Chunhua, she returned to Zhaohua Palace. When Qiulu saw her in that state, she was startled. “My lady, what happened?”

Chunhua recounted their encounter with Xuan Yuanling. Qiulu fetched some ointment and applied it to Shen Qing’s knees. What had been red earlier was now bruised with a hint of purple—it looked truly pitiful.

Once Shen Qing was resting inside, Qiulu pulled Chunhua aside to whisper privately, “Our lady—she’s got the looks, and we thought she’d be favored. But now it seems she’s already annoyed the Emperor. What future is there for Zhaohua Palace?”

Chunhua was startled by this. “My lady said the Emperor wasn’t angry. You shouldn’t say things like that—it wouldn’t be good if she heard.”

Qiulu said, “She’s resting now with her injured leg. She won’t hear us.”

Chunhua frowned. “Still, don’t say such things. Our lady treats us kindly. If she’s summoned to serve the Emperor, things will improve. Don’t overthink it.”

But Qiulu felt uneasy. She had assumed that with Shen Qing’s beauty, she’d at least win some favor. Yet it seemed the Emperor didn’t care much for looks. If things continued this lukewarm way, Shen Qing would likely be neglected. Had she known this, Qiulu would have preferred to be assigned to another mistress. At least she wouldn’t be living in such a lowly state now.

She had noticed—the new palace ladies serving under favored mistresses had already received rewards and carried themselves differently in public. Only their mistress was poor. Since entering the palace, she hadn’t received a single gift.

Shen Qing, resting inside, had noticed the flicker of disdain on Qiulu’s face after Chunhua described their encounter. Shen Qing hadn’t missed it.

There were always palace maids aiming to climb higher. Right now, she only had two by her side—Chunhua and Qiulu. Chunhua tended to her more and was diligent. Qiulu, on the other hand, rarely waited on her and clearly preferred to slack off. Now she was starting to show disdain—clearly not a loyal servant.

Shen Qing merely thought about it and said nothing. She understood that if someone wanted to climb up, there was no stopping them.

As noon approached, it was Chunhua who went to fetch lunch again. Qiulu made herself even scarcer. Shen Qing pretended not to notice. After eating, she was planning to take a nap when a eunuch from the Department of Servants suddenly arrived.

Chunhua was still in a daze as she saw off the eunuch who had delivered the message. When she came back, she was both shocked and delighted. “My lady! The Emperor really isn’t angry with you. Look—he’s summoned you to serve him tonight!”

Hearing this, Shen Qing smiled too, though deep down she still felt rather pitiful. Under normal circumstances, such a eunuch bringing glad tidings should be rewarded. But she was simply too poor.

“Well, that’s good news. It’s just—my knees look a little unsightly.”

Chunhua glanced at her knees and saw that the bruises had worsened. They looked quite miserable.

“Oh no! What should we do? Should I apply some powder to cover them?”

They’d be bathing later anyway. What was the point of covering them?

Shen Qing sighed in her heart. “Let it be. Surely the Emperor won’t be staring at my knees.”

She had to stay optimistic.

Hearing she’d be attending the Emperor tonight, Shen Qing’s feelings were complicated—but only for a moment. She had long since prepared herself. If she had to serve, then so be it. What else could she do? She wasn’t fortunate enough to avoid the Emperor and still live peacefully in the palace. So she might as well accept it.

At the appointed hour, a eunuch came to fetch her. Then she was taken to the Hot Spring Palace for a bath. It was Shen Qing’s first experience serving the Emperor. She felt like a pig being prepared for slaughter—cleaned, wrapped up, and carried away. The eunuchs from the Department of Servants were swift and efficient, and before she knew it, Shen Qing had been placed on the Dragon Bed.