Shen Wangshu coldly looked at the eunuch who was being so attentive to him.

Her gaze slowly fell on a small palace maid kneeling on the ground, curled up in a ball, not far away.

This young palace maid was only fourteen or fifteen years old. She was delicate and adorable, with a pair of bright, lovely eyes that, after being washed by tears, gave her a pitiful and endearing look.

Beside her was a broken teacup, and tea leaves were still clinging to her body, clearly indicating that Shen Wangshu had just smashed the teacup on her.

"Wake her up." Shen Wangshu felt no joy at experiencing another cycle of life, only weariness and longing for Prince Wei, Ji Xuan.

She looked at the eunuch, who seemed to be frozen in place beside her, with a listless expression. Then she frowned and looked at the little girl who was cowering in fear. Her cold eyes swept over her and she sneered, "What's wrong? In your eyes, even the words of a noble consort like me don't count?! Help her up!" Seeing the eunuch shrink back, she sneered and tapped her fingers together lightly.

In this life, she was a favored imperial concubine.

She was said to be deeply favored by the emperor, but in reality, it was only in her own mind that she thought so. In the emperor's eyes, the beloved concubine, who was renowned in the harem and the court, was nothing more than a target set up for his beloved woman.

The emperor was too young to rule personally, and the previous dynasty was controlled by a regent. Therefore, he dared not expose his weaknesses, fearing that the woman he truly loved would be murdered. Thus, he elevated the imperial concubine to a high position.

He showered all his favor and rewards upon the Imperial Concubine, making everyone know that she was the emperor's lifeblood, solely to protect the woman he loved.

It's laughable... The Imperial Concubine has been favored in the palace for so many years, yet she has never once served the Emperor's bedchamber, and she's still a virgin.

The emperor remained celibate for his true love, showering her with sweet words, saying that he would only consummate the marriage with her after he had made her empress and they had become a true couple.

This foolish girl actually believed it. She received the emperor's words and knew that he wanted her to be an arrogant and fearless imperial concubine. Therefore, she became domineering in the palace and suppressed all the concubines that the regent had given to the emperor.

But she never considered why, despite all the talk of becoming empress, she was still only a concubine.

The little palace maid in front of him was innocent. That dog emperor was deeply in love with the woman he truly loved, so how could he possibly take a fancy to a mere palace maid? He only glanced at her once and then handed the fate of this lowly palace maid, whose life was as worthless as grass, into the hands of the Imperial Concubine.

The Imperial Concubine was deeply in love with him and extremely jealous. She couldn't even tolerate him glancing at anyone else, so naturally she wouldn't let this palace maid who dared to seduce the Emperor go unpunished. The palace maid's life was worthless, but it could ruin the Imperial Concubine's reputation for kindness and provide her with a huge handle against her. Why wouldn't the Emperor be happy to do that?

I'm afraid the Imperial Concubine never understood why ten strokes of the cane, meant as a minor punishment, would cost this little palace maid her life.

She didn't intend to kill the girl, but the emperor secretly ordered someone to kill her.

Shen Wangshu remembered this passage from the book, and therefore it was particularly clear to him.

This was one of the eighteen major crimes for which the Imperial Concubine was punished and demoted to a palace maid.

The former imperial concubine had certainly made many mistakes, but the emperor's ruthlessness and coldness were even more chilling.

Shen Wangshu would not defend the former imperial concubine, but she would not follow in her footsteps either. She quietly stroked the cold little gold lock on her wrist, feeling both at peace and somewhat sad. For a moment, she was mesmerized by the palace maid in front of her with her pair of bright, clear eyes.

After a long while, she finally calmed down, called the palace maid to her side, and reached out to touch her snow-white cheek.

“Poor thing, still just a child,” she said gently.

This palace maid is innocent; she will save her this once.

"Your Highness the Imperial Concubine?" The eunuch had only ever seen the Imperial Concubine who was radiant and domineering. He had never seen such a gentle Imperial Concubine before.

Even in front of the emperor, the imperial concubine was as passionate as a ball of fire, so intense that she seemed capable of scorching others, unlike the gentle and tender woman she was in.

"Get out!" His voice hurt Shen Wangshu's ears. She realized who this eunuch was, and her face turned cold. She smashed a teacup on his head.

She moved so fast that the eunuch hadn't even reacted before the teacup was on his head. He felt a sharp pain on his head, and blood trickled down his forehead.

"How dare you be so presumptuous, relying on my power!" At least half of the Consort's crimes were committed by this servant who sold them to the Emperor. After the Consort was convicted, this servant transformed into the chief eunuch in the Emperor's presence.

If Shen Wangshu didn't know that this eunuch was sent by the emperor to instigate and monitor her, she would be incredibly foolish. She recalled how this eunuch had previously instigated the Imperial Concubine, making her increasingly smug and disregarding the concubines and officials of the previous dynasty. He stirred up trouble within the palace, incurring the wrath of both heaven and man. When the Imperial Concubine was convicted, not a single person pleaded for her.

They all hated this domineering imperial concubine.

But how many of those things were actually done by the Imperial Concubine herself?

"You dare to be so insolent before me! I'm afraid you'll cause even more trouble if I don't see you!" Seeing the eunuch cry out and fall to her, Shen Wangshu casually examined her delicate hands, painted with bright red nail polish, and said without changing her expression, "According to the rules, you'll receive eighty strokes of the cane. If eighty strokes don't kill you, you'll be kicked out of my palace!"

She suddenly sneered and said, "In my palace, no dog servant would dare to deceive Heaven with his servile heart!" Upon hearing this, someone immediately pleaded for the eunuch, and she immediately smiled.

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