Chapter 63 – To Hell with Playing the Servant

In truth, Wen Qiu was feeling anxious too. Ever since Consort Yu had her change of heart, she’d been quietly raising her child in the Zhongyu Palace. Over these past peaceful days, Wen Qiu had come to understand that His Majesty simply disliked Consort Yu making too much of a spectacle in the harem. Sure enough, only after she kept a low profile for a while did the Emperor finally visit again.

But who would’ve thought that just one visit would cause such a mess? Thinking about Consort Yu now, Wen Qiu could only reason that since Shen Qing had already fallen out of favor, the Emperor surely wouldn’t want to upset Consort Yu again.

Knowing that someone was blocking their way, Wen Qiu didn’t waste time—she stuffed a pouch of silver into each person’s hand. “Our mistress wants to summon Companion Shen.”

Consort Yu was still a consort after all—ordinary palace staff wouldn’t dare offend her, especially when there were benefits involved.

Xiao Quanzi, who was outside in the courtyard, saw everything. How could he not recognize Wen Qiu? He immediately ran to inform Chunhua.

Chunhua, hearing this, hurriedly told Shen Qing.

Shen Qing frowned, thinking, She’s fallen out of favor now—what is Consort Yu suddenly summoning her for?

Ever since the incident with Noble Lady Shen, Consort Yu had behaved herself. Hadn’t she been quietly raising her child all this time? Even when she was favored, she hadn’t come making trouble for Shen Qing in ages—at most she just glared at her. So what was this about today?

Even with her sharp thinking, Shen Qing couldn’t have guessed that Xuanyuan Ling had brought trouble upon her just by dreaming.

She truly couldn’t make sense of it.

But when Wen Qiu entered the hall, her words were blunt and cold: “Companion Shen, please come with me. Her Ladyship requests your presence.”

Shen Qing immediately sensed that something was off. “Madam Wen Qiu, I’m currently under confinement. His Majesty explicitly said I’m not to leave without his written decree.”

“Is Companion Shen hoping to use this confinement to manipulate Her Ladyship?” Wen Qiu snapped. As if a single sentence from Shen Qing would be enough to dismiss her?

Shen Qing noticed that the guards outside had already let them through. Xuanyuan Ling had sealed off Zhaohua Palace under the pretense of punishment—but really, it was to prevent anyone from barging in. He had never ordered them to protect her. Under Consort Yu’s intimidating reputation, the eunuchs stationed there didn’t dare intervene. Indeed, for a consort like Yu, dealing with someone of Shen Qing’s low rank was child’s play.

Such was the miserable fate of a woman of low status.

Shen Qing had no choice but to follow. As she exited Zhaohua Palace, she took note of the eunuchs standing guard. In her heart, she felt a bit more at ease—someone would surely report this to Xuanyuan Ling.

And she was right. Since the Emperor had placed her under confinement, if she was suddenly removed from the palace, someone would have to report it. But those guards didn’t dare openly offend Consort Yu.

They figured she’d scold the girl a bit and send her back—after all, Companion Shen had already fallen out of favor. Without knowing the full picture, if they reported the matter too hastily, they’d only offend Consort Yu. Better to delay. Once she had vented her anger, they could report it—then it wouldn’t seem like they were hiding anything.

In reality, punishments in the harem followed a limited number of methods. The guards figured nothing serious would happen.

Chunhua and Fang Yun, seeing that no one was reporting it, were anxious to the point of burning up. Being dragged out like this—it couldn’t be for anything good. The guards weren’t worried, but they certainly were.

At that moment, Xiao Quanzi spoke up: “I may not officially be part of Zhaohua Palace, just a sweeping eunuch, but I can leave. I’ll go report this right away.”

The guards, seeing someone willing to risk offending Consort Yu, were relieved. If Xiao Quanzi was going to report it, then at least Consort Yu couldn’t blame them.

As Shen Qing was taken out of Zhaohua Palace and escorted to Zhongyu Palace, Wen Qiu kept staring at her like a hawk. Along the way, Shen Qing still couldn’t figure out what kind of madness had overtaken Consort Yu this time.

But when Shen Qing stepped into Zhongyu Palace, she realized—Consort Yu had gone completely mad.

The moment Consort Yu saw Shen Qing being brought in, her eyes turned blood-red with fury. The jealousy she couldn’t suppress made it hard for her even to breathe.

Though Shen Qing was supposed to be under confinement, her complexion was excellent.

In that moment, Consort Yu was convinced her suspicion had been right all along.

The Emperor was secretly having someone care for Shen Qing. Otherwise, how could a confined woman look so well?

Gnashing her teeth, Consort Yu barked to the servants already waiting nearby, “Hit her! Beat her for me!”

Shen Qing frowned. “If Your Ladyship wishes to punish me, surely there must be a reason?”

This demon woman still dared to argue?

Consort Yu didn’t want to hear a single word. Just seeing Shen Qing’s face brought to mind the way Xuanyuan Ling had softly uttered her name, “Shen Qing.” It made her blood boil with unbearable pain. The Emperor must’ve been seduced by this little vixen! Yes, she must have seduced him! Otherwise why would he treat her like this?

She growled, “What are you all standing around for? Hit her!”

Shen Qing hadn’t expected Consort Yu to go this far. The moment she gave the order, two men with paddles rushed forward—clearly prepared in advance.

She already had two eunuchs at her back, servants of Consort Yu. As soon as the order was given, they grabbed her by the arms. Shen Qing had no idea why Consort Yu had suddenly gone insane. Watching the paddle come down, she struggled—but the first strike landed squarely on her stomach.

A sharp, piercing pain exploded from her abdomen, making her double over.

The next strike followed immediately—aimed once again at her belly.

Shen Qing couldn’t dodge. The pain robbed her of strength in her legs. Seeing her collapse, the eunuchs simply let go, letting her fall limp to the floor. The paddle then struck her waist, her back.

Curled up on the ground, Shen Qing trembled as they beat her, the metallic tang of blood filling her mouth as she bit down to stop herself from crying out.

Her heart was filled with hatred.

For no reason at all, Consort Yu could beat her like this. Just because she had low status, just because she had no powerful family backing her outside the palace—she could be treated like this, without even needing a reason.

She had played the submissive servant to Consort Yu many times before. And still, it hadn’t saved her from being humiliated like this.

To hell with playing the servant!

They were going to beat her to death—then she might as well make it count!

Shen Qing forced herself up, eyes locked on Consort Yu, calculating the perfect moment.

Just now she’d been pinned down, but now, thinking she was too weak to fight back, they’d let go.

Consort Yu sat not far away, watching with glee as Shen Qing was beaten. Her face glowed with malicious satisfaction.

Enduring the pain, Shen Qing seized the opportunity—suddenly propping herself up with both hands and lunging forward with all her might, straight at Consort Yu.

Everyone was caught off guard. The two paddle-wielders froze.

In a flash, Shen Qing tackled Consort Yu and clutched her neck with both hands. Then she slapped her across the face, over and over.

“Ahhh!” Wen Qiu screamed. “Pull her off! Get her off, now!”

She rushed to drag Shen Qing away, but Shen Qing had already made up her mind to die. Every inch of her body throbbed with agony, but she endured it. No matter how they pulled, she clung to Consort Yu’s throat.

And in that moment, Consort Yu witnessed something that would haunt her for the rest of her life—something that would jolt her awake in nightmares.

Shen Qing spat a mouthful of blood at her and sneered, her expression feral and terrifying:
“If I die, you’re coming down with me.”