The palace maids and eunuchs in the courtyard hesitated, clearly at a loss. In the end, not a single one dared to move.
It was not that they were all bold enough to defy their mistress.
Rather... Nanny Ling had specifically warned them last time: if their mistress caused trouble and they servants neither tried to dissuade her nor, worse still, added to the chaos, they would all be sent to the Office of Punishment to learn some proper discipline.
How could they possibly dare act rashly now?
Lady Wu's face flushed crimson. She felt utterly humiliated, her expression turning exceptionally ugly.
Those useless servants! She would dispose of every last one of them later!
Shen Yanshui suddenly laughed.
“What are you laughing at?!” Lady Wu snapped in furious embarrassment.
The corners of Shen Yanshui's eyes lifted slightly, carrying a lofty note of disdain. “I am laughing at this... Before sending people to seize me today, Sister Wu, did you ask His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Lady Wu's expression changed.
Shen Yanshui lifted a hand and deliberately rubbed her waist with affected delicacy. Her brows furrowed faintly, and she wore an indolent, weary look before turning to Lady Wu with a troubled sigh.
“Ah, His Highness has stayed in my chambers every night these past few days. I have been busy attending to him day after day, and now, after standing here only a short while, I can scarcely bear it,” she said, arching a brow. “Please forgive the laughter, Sister Wu.”
Without sparing Lady Wu's green-and-white face a glance, she raised her brows at Chunping, who stood beside her in stunned silence.
“When we return, apply some of that Jade Complexion Cream His Highness rewarded me with yesterday. Ah... if His Highness comes by later, it would never do for him to see how worn out I look.”
Her beauty, her manner, every vivid expression and seductive little lilt in her voice made her the very picture of a favored concubine who could bring down a kingdom.
That brazen, fox-spirit seductress, throwing her weight around!
“You... you!” Lady Wu's lips trembled with rage as she glared at Shen Yanshui, unable for a moment to force out another word.
Shen Yanshui glanced at her and could not help laughing. This was nothing at all, and Lady Wu could not even take it?
Still, being a pampered concubine really did feel rather nice.
“Sister Wu, please do not misunderstand. It is not that I mean to use His Highness to pressure you. But the spectacle you have made today, sending people to seize me and demand an accounting, truly frightened me.” She patted her chest with a look of alarm.
“I am only a lowly Zhaoxun, of humble status. If a Lady Wu wishes to reprimand me, naturally I ought to endure it...”
As she spoke, her eyes slanted upward. “But no matter how lowly I may be, I belong to His Highness the Crown Prince. I am not someone just anyone may lay hands on.”
With that, she ignored Lady Wu's expression and tipped her chin at Chunping. “Let us go. Standing here for so long has exhausted me. When we get back, massage my waist and knead my legs so I can loosen up a little.”
The whole courtyard was silent. Even Little Jade, perched on her shoulder, stared at her with round, bead-black eyes, its tiny head cocked to one side.
Just as Shen Yanshui had finally had her fill of the performance and turned gracefully to leave, she saw a familiar, tall figure standing behind the half-closed door.
Her face instantly stiffened. The haughty, coquettish expression she had put on froze in place.
???!!!
Why was the Crown Prince here? When had he arrived?
As she watched him step out from behind the half-closed door, his face expressionless, Shen Yanshui could not help feeling both embarrassed and uneasy.
How much of that haughty, deliberately spoiled display she had just put on—how much of it had the Crown Prince seen...?
Could it be that her title as his favored concubine was about to come to an end because of this?
Quanfu and Dongyi, waiting at the entrance, had long been as anxious as ants on a hot pan. But with His Highness the Crown Prince standing outside, merely casting them a faint glance, neither of them had dared make a move.
Now that their mistress had finally noticed His Highness, they could at last breathe a small sigh of relief.
Yet when Quanfu recalled the way his mistress had flaunted herself so brazenly before Lady Wu, his heart leapt into his throat again.
At the sight of the Crown Prince, Lady Wu was immediately overjoyed. Her eyes reddened as she approached him with a wounded expression. “Your Highness, you must uphold justice for me!”
A chorus of greetings rose from the people around them as they fell to their knees. “Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Shen Yanshui performed a proper curtsy, looking exceptionally meek and well-behaved. “This concubine greets Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Cui Yu’s gaze lingered briefly on her obedient little face before shifting to Lady Wu, who stood beside her with tears in her eyes. His voice was calm. “What justice does Lady Wu require of me?”
Dressed in a dark crimson robe woven with gold thread, the Crown Prince radiated a chilling authority that made no one dare meet his eyes.
Lady Wu’s expression immediately became one of pitiful fragility as she sobbed, “Your Highness, you must uphold justice for me. Sister Shen has been far too arrogant and overbearing!” At the mention of Shen Yanshui, her voice involuntarily rose.
Shen Yanshui: “...”
Who, exactly, was being arrogant and overbearing here?
And really—why was her luck so terrible? The Crown Prince had happened to catch her red-handed.
Lady Wu continued tearfully, “You did not see it just now, Your Highness. Sister Shen actually ordered your beloved pet parrot to chase after me, pecking and cursing at me. I am carrying your child—I was nearly frightened out of my wits.”
As she wiped at her tears, she said in a deeply aggrieved voice, “I am, after all, a Chenghui, higher in rank than she is, and I carry Your Highness’s child. Yet she dared show me such disrespect...”
Cui Yu looked at her, his voice cool. “Higher in rank than she is?”
Lady Wu froze for a moment, unable to grasp what he meant.
Before she could think further, the Crown Prince said, “Zheng Yuande.”
Cui Yu’s voice turned cold. “Zheng Yuande.”
Zheng Yuande immediately stepped forward and bowed. “This servant is here.”
He cleared his throat, unfurled the scroll of imperial yellow silk, and proclaimed, “Lady Shen, receive the decree—”
Lady Wu: “???”
Her heart gave a sudden lurch, seized by an ominous premonition.
Shen Yanshui, too, was startled. She instinctively lifted her eyes and met the Crown Prince’s dark, jade-black gaze. Quickly, she knelt to receive the decree.
Zheng Yuande’s voice rang through the courtyard:
“...Lady Shen of the Eastern Palace is gentle by nature, dignified in conduct, intelligent and gifted. The loose-leaf volumes and tables she presented are of great benefit to affairs of state and administration, greatly pleasing Us. Therefore, We hereby promote her to the rank of Chenghui, as a mark of reward. Respect this decree—”
Shen Yanshui: “...?!”
Chenghui?
She lifted her head, her eyes wide with astonishment as she looked at the Crown Prince.
Cui Yu lowered his eyes to gaze at her sparkling expression, which was full of surprise and delight. The corner of his brow rose slightly. “Struck dumb?”
“Lady Shen, why aren’t you accepting the decree?” Zheng Yuande reminded her with a smile. His plump, fair face was nearly crinkled into a chrysanthemum by his grin.
Shen Yanshui came back to herself and hurriedly kowtowed. “Your servant accepts the decree. Many thanks for His Majesty’s gracious favor.”
She rose to her feet, still holding the imperial edict in both hands, and felt somewhat dazed.
Had she really just been promoted so effortlessly?
Everyone in the courtyard was instantly stunned, their eyes widening in shock!
Chunping, Quanfu, and the others were even more delighted. They could hardly suppress the smiles spreading across their faces, nor hide the joy in their eyes.
Their mistress had actually… been suddenly elevated in rank and become a Chenghui?
Although being promoted from a Zhaoxun to a Chenghui still meant remaining one of the Crown Prince’s secondary consorts, one only had to look at Lady Wang and Lady Lu, who had already been in the Eastern Palace for several years, to know that without the merit of bearing children, one’s rank would not be raised easily.
Lady Wang had only been granted the title of Liangyuan because of the Crown Princess’s support, as well as giving birth to a young princess.
Now that their mistress had received this happy news, how could they not sincerely rejoice for her?!
Their mistress treated everyone with kindness and tolerance and never took out her frustrations on them. Now that she had become a Chenghui, their days in the palace could only grow better and better.
As for the other palace maids and eunuchs in Begonia Court, when they saw the way Chunping and Quanfu tried—and failed—to hide their joy, their envy was beyond description.
Just look at the people serving Lady Shen—no, Lady Shen, now that she was a Chenghui. Whenever they went out to deliver a message or collect something on their mistress’s behalf, who didn’t treat them with extra respect?
Quanfu and Quanshou in particular—among all the eunuchs living in the Eastern Palace’s rear quarters, who didn’t envy them for being able to serve a mistress like Lady Shen?
Whenever they went out, plenty of people fawned over them and called them “Master.”
They all served others, so why were their fates so different?
Lady Wu’s face went deathly pale.
A Chenghui? Didn’t that mean Shen Yanshui would now stand on equal footing with her?
Cui Yu’s gaze shifted to Lady Wu. His expression remained calm, but his eyes were cold.
“From this day forth, Lady Wu is to copy Buddhist scriptures every day and cultivate her character. She is not to leave her quarters without cause.”
Lady Wu abruptly raised her head and stared at him in disbelief.
Wasn’t this simply house arrest in all but name?
She bit her lip as tears began to fall. In His Highness’s heart, was Shen Yanshui actually more important than the unborn child she carried—the Crown Prince’s own child?
Cui Yu looked at her, his gaze so tranquil that not even the slightest unnecessary emotion could be discerned from it.
“Zheng Yuande, help Lady Wu inside to rest.”
Seeing that the Crown Prince remained utterly unmoved, every trace of color drained from Lady Wu’s face.
She had always believed that carrying an imperial heir gave her confidence and something to rely on. But now…
Her body began to tremble. At last, she understood fear.
Zheng Yuande stepped forward and made an inviting gesture. His tone was still quite courteous. “Lady Wu, please.”
Suddenly, Lady Wu pressed a hand lightly against her belly. Her face turned faintly pale, and a hidden anticipation gleamed in her eyes.
“Your Highness… my stomach hurts…”
Cui Yu glanced at her and said in a deep voice, “Send for the imperial physician.”
Zheng Yuande hurriedly acknowledged the order and immediately gave the instruction.
How had Lady Wu managed to lose her senses so completely? Why insist on crossing swords with Lady Shen? Had she even stopped to consider how much weight she carried in His Highness’s heart?
Listening to the Crown Prince’s distinctly cold voice and watching his expressionless face, Shen Yanshui glanced at Lady Wu’s somewhat pallid complexion and couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
Surely… she hadn’t actually angered Lady Wu into having some sort of attack?
She had only dared to push her a little because Lady Wu had looked surprisingly healthy just now.
Her mind raced. She glanced at the imperial edict clutched in her arms. She absolutely couldn’t let this hard-won chance at a promotion and a better position slip away.
Immediately, she focused a trace of her special ability on Lady Wu’s abdomen. It soon became clear that Lady Wu wasn’t pretending entirely—she simply wasn’t as seriously ill as she made herself appear.
Most likely, two doses of medicine to stabilize the pregnancy would be enough to resolve the matter.
In the end, Zheng Yuande politely but firmly escorted Lady Wu back to her own quarters. Her face was as pale as paper, her eyes rimmed red, and she bit her lip as though she might collapse at any moment.
Unfortunately, the Crown Prince didn’t spare her so much as a second glance.
Shen Yanshui remained where she was, still holding the imperial edict. When the Crown Prince glanced at her and turned to leave, she hurried after him in small steps.
The two of them returned to Lianxin Court. Cui Yu walked straight to the couch and sat down.
Shen Yanshui dismissed the other attendants and even shut the door behind them.
She stole a glance at the Crown Prince’s rather cool expression, then drew a deep breath. Lowering her head, she stood before him and shuffled her feet uneasily, both hands hanging obediently at her sides. She looked so docile that it was almost painful.
Yet she still held on to a sliver of hope.
Blinking, she ventured, “Your Highness… how long were you standing outside just now? You’d only arrived a short while ago, hadn’t you?”
Cui Yu lifted his teacup and took an unhurried sip. Only then did he raise his eyes and cast her a casual glance.
His voice was indifferent. “From when you said, ‘Have you asked the Crown Prince?’”
Shen Yanshui: “…”
The last bit of hope in her heart shattered with a sharp crack.
He had been there from that moment?
Then hadn’t he… heard everything?
Her mind raced through her performance before Lady Wu just now: rubbing her waist, sighing, saying things like “Serving His Highness every day is exhausting,” and “His Highness’s people aren’t for just anyone to lay a hand on”…
She had acted like a spoiled favorite throwing her weight around, bullying others under the Crown Prince’s protection—in short, the very image of a pampered concubine who brought disaster.
Cui Yu watched the wonderfully varied expressions passing across her face. The corner of his brow lifted slightly, but he said nothing.
Shen Yanshui took a deep breath, then suddenly thought of the true culprit behind today’s incident.
She raised her head, instantly regaining her confidence. “Your Highness, today’s matter can’t be blamed entirely on me.”
Cui Yu arched a brow. “Oh?”
Shen Yanshui pouted. “I was perfectly content to remain in my own courtyard when I suddenly heard a commotion next door. I could also hear Little Jade and Lady Wu, so I hurried over to see what was happening.”
“Who could have guessed that Lady Wu would accuse me, without bothering to distinguish right from wrong, of ordering Little Jade to toy with her? She even claimed that I was trying to harm the imperial heir and ordered them to seize me. That was why I…”
Cui Yu’s brow furrowed.
This Lady Wu...
At this point, Shen Yanshui lifted her chin slightly. “No matter what, I am Your Highness the Crown Prince’s woman. How could I let others bully me? Wouldn’t that be a slap in Your Highness’s face? That is why... why I deliberately said those things to provoke her.”
She gave a light cough, then concluded, “I did it all for Your Highness’s dignity.”
Cui Yu came back to himself. Seeing the lively, smug yet faintly guilty expression on her face, he could not help but chuckle. He reached out and drew her into his arms.
Shen Yanshui landed on his lap and looked up, meeting his gaze.
“Your Highness?” She blinked.
Cui Yu looked down at her, his voice low. “So you finally dare to throw your weight around in front of someone other than me.”
Shen Yanshui: “...”
When had she ever thrown her weight around in front of the Crown Prince? She had always been perfectly well-behaved, dutiful, and obedient, all right?
But the Crown Prince’s attitude...
His tolerance for her seemed even greater than she had expected.
She was rather surprised.
The way she had acted just now could be said to have touched upon quite a few things men disliked and found taboo.
In that case, from now on... could she be a little more free—more presumptuous?
She blinked and glanced at the imperial edict lying on the table beside them. At once, her eyes curved into crescents, her smile entirely sincere.
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
Following her gaze, Cui Yu’s brow shifted slightly, but his expression cooled by a fraction.
“You have been wronged,” he said in a low voice.
Shen Yanshui froze. “...?”
Wronged? She was not wronged at all. She had been promoted!
Cui Yu looked at her baffled expression and slowly said, “If these two things had been presented to Father Emperor by any court official, the rewards would have been far greater than this.”
Hearing his words, Shen Yanshui was briefly taken aback.
Cui Yu looked at her. It was only because A-Yan was a woman of the inner household that the only thing they could raise was her rank.
Shen Yanshui understood. Then she smiled, genuinely and without the slightest hint of reluctance. “Your Highness need not feel this way.” She looked at him earnestly. “I am already very happy to have my rank elevated.”
Cui Yu watched her, his lips pressing together.
But Shen Yanshui had thought it through very clearly. Looking across the ancient world, whether in the East or the West, if a woman accomplished anything of merit, the credit was usually attributed to her husband, father, brothers, or clan. Very little ever truly went to the woman herself.
Besides, the loose-leaf booklet and the tables were merely little things she herself used in her daily life.
It was the Crown Prince who had discovered their usefulness, and the Crown Prince who had presented them to the Emperor on her behalf.
In truth, had the Crown Prince claimed the credit for himself, it would have been perfectly ordinary.
In many people’s eyes, what use was merit in a woman’s hands compared with merit in a man’s?
Then, after rewarding her with a few things, she would still have had to thank the Crown Prince according to propriety.
And from another perspective, even if the Crown Prince had submitted them to the Emperor in her name, if the Emperor had been a harsh and ungrateful man, she might not even have received this elevation in rank. He could easily have dismissed her with a few casual gifts.
She had heard that His Majesty had been rather generous toward the women of his harem when he was younger. But in recent years...
Well, in any case, he had gradually become more stingy toward the women in the inner palace.
Naturally, he held the same attitude toward the women in the households of the various princes.
Perhaps even her rank as Chenghui had been secured for her by the Crown Prince himself.
One could not be too greedy. As far as she was concerned, things had already turned out to be an unexpected delight.
He looked at her sparkling eyes and suddenly lifted a hand to pinch her cheek.
“What are you thinking about?”
Shen Yanshui glanced at him, her eyes curving slightly. “Nothing. I just feel... Your Highness treats me so well.” Nestling into his arms, she rubbed her head gently against the hollow of his neck.
