Chapter 56 – Got Slapped

In the following days, Xuanyuan Ling didn’t summon anyone to attend to him in bed. The concubines in the harem were all watching closely, curious about what exactly the Emperor intended to do with Concubine Shen.

But they waited and waited, only to see Xuanyuan Ling going to visit the First Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Princess. On top of being occupied with matters at hand, another three days passed just like that.

After those three days, the Emperor again summoned Concubine Shen—but there was no response from her end. Nor did the Emperor summon any other concubines. The situation had reached an impasse.

Xiao Chunzi asked, “Master, what do you think His Majesty really feels about Concubine Shen?”

Xiao Chunzi hadn’t gone in to report that day, but he did notice that even though Concubine Shen had received a reward, as long as the Imperial Physician was still attending to her daily, the green signboard couldn’t be displayed. Without the signboard, she couldn’t be summoned by the Emperor. The concubines simply thought she’d lost her mind. Even the attending eunuchs and maids couldn’t make sense of it.

Wang De didn’t give a direct answer. In the palace, everyone tries to guess the Emperor’s thoughts—but they’re not easy to guess. Judging from what happened that day, he figured… probably not. It seemed like the two were locked in a standoff. As a mere servant, Wang De truly didn’t understand it. Was it really possible for the Emperor to be at odds with a mere liangren? Of course, this wasn’t something one should speak about carelessly. In this palace, there are some things that can be said, and others that absolutely cannot.

The Department of Attendants was watching. The Empress was watching too. She had originally planned to reprimand Shen Qing thoroughly the next time she attended to the Emperor. But after the Emperor declared she was ill, and no further developments occurred, she couldn’t very well act. If the Emperor said she was ill, then she was ill. The Empress had no grounds to discipline her.

Truth be told, the Empress found it utterly disheartening to be used as an object by a man. But this was the palace. If the Emperor wanted things this way, then even if a concubine were left broken, she would still have to kneel and express her gratitude.

In the end, she concluded, “Still too young. A few days of favor and she already doesn’t know her place. Let her be.”

It was just a pity. If Shen Qing really lost the Emperor’s favor, then going forward, she would have to rely on the unborn child in Lady Fang’s belly. That would be riskier.

The Empress was still hesitating. Should she make a move or not?

While the Empress temporarily decided not to do anything to Shen Qing, others in the harem couldn’t sit still any longer.

And naturally, it had to be Noble Lady Lin.

Noble Lady Lin had believed since the autumn hunt that it was Shen Qing who sabotaged her spot. She had harbored resentment ever since. When Shen Qing returned to the palace, carried in by attendants, Lin was delighted to hear that she had been tormented by the Emperor to such an extent.

Same old reasoning: if he truly cared about her, he wouldn’t have treated her like that. Clearly, the Emperor was just using her like an object. And now, this object dared to slap the Emperor in the face not once, but repeatedly.

Noble Lady Lin sneered in her heart, already plotting revenge. And what better opportunity than now?

She didn’t believe Shen Qing could ever rise again!

So while everyone else was still waiting and watching, by the third day, Noble Lady Lin had already decided that Shen Qing would never recover her standing.

She personally paid Shen Qing a visit, and no one could dissuade her.

Her maids could only console themselves: with Shen Qing falling from favor like this, there probably wouldn’t be any consequences. It shouldn’t matter too much.

Noble Lady Lin made straight for Zhaohua Palace. But when she got there and asked around, she was surprised to learn Shen Qing wasn’t even in her residence. This woman who had humiliated the Emperor actually had the leisure to go for a stroll in the Imperial Garden?

Not afraid of trouble in the least, Noble Lady Lin deliberately went to the Imperial Garden as well.

So Shen Qing ran right into Noble Lady Lin.

When Lin saw her, she immediately smiled—a mocking, sarcastic smile she didn’t even try to hide. Walking up to Shen Qing, she said, “Oh my, isn’t this Concubine Shen? Didn’t I hear your health was so poor that you couldn’t even serve the Emperor? How come you’re out here strolling around then? Do you know what it means to deceive the monarch?”

Hearing this, Shen Qing thought: At least she’s improved a bit. While she still lacked situational awareness—coming to cause trouble while everyone else was still watching from the sidelines—at least she knew to use the accusation of deceiving the Emperor.

Shen Qing replied calmly, “Then perhaps Your Ladyship should go report me directly to the Emperor?”

It was a matter the Emperor clearly understood. If Lin dared to accuse her before him, then perhaps her brain really was the size of a soybean.

But Shen Qing hadn’t anticipated that while some people might be mentally slow, they made up for it physically. Noble Lady Lin had been verbally put in her place by Shen Qing once before and didn’t even dare go to the Empress to ask for a spot in the autumn hunt. Now, provoked again by a single line from Shen Qing, she lashed out.

Without warning, she lunged forward and slapped Shen Qing hard across the face.

Even Chunhua didn’t have time to intervene. Shen Qing only felt a burning pain on her cheek as her entire face was knocked sideways.