“Since we are so deeply in love, we should naturally share both good times and bad. You will all receive eighty strokes of the cane, so get out of here together,” she said, raising an eyebrow.

She is still the emperor's most favored concubine, so naturally her words carry weight and people obey her.

Moreover, this eunuch had committed numerous evils by relying on the Imperial Concubine, and his current loss of power naturally brought great joy to everyone. Seeing that Shen Wangshu was not just talking casually, but genuinely intended to deal with this eunuch and his close associates, the palace was immediately in an uproar.

Outside the palace, stern-faced guards restrained the eunuch and his companion and dragged them to an open space outside.

Shen Wangshu looked up indifferently and saw through the open palace gate that a row of servants were tied to the ground in the sunlight-drenched open space, wailing and begging for mercy.

"Your Highness?" The timid palace maid in front of her called out softly, as if she shrank her shoulders uneasily when Shen Wangshu's cold eyes fell on her.

"If it weren't for him, you wouldn't be in this sorry state." It was this eunuch who led the Imperial Concubine to see the Emperor's gaze that was specifically directed at this palace maid. Shen Wangshu didn't want to know if this palace maid truly wanted to serve the Emperor or if she was sincere towards him. Saving her was only to avoid adding a fatal charge to her own life, and also for the sake of her innocence in her previous life.

And if the emperor were to actually favor this palace maid, and the maid were willing, then it wouldn't be the concubine, who has never been favored, who would be upset. There's still the emperor's true love lined up ahead of her. A faint, cold smile curled at the corner of her lips as she looked at the palace maid and said, "Of course you should hate him."

The palace maid stared blankly at the cold and dignified woman in palace attire before her. After a moment, a faint blush appeared on her face.

She nodded blankly, then couldn't help but look at the Imperial Concubine.

The Imperial Concubine was truly beautiful, stunningly gorgeous, surpassing all others in beauty. Her eyes seemed to hold a faint icy quality, yet they also evoked a sense of warmth and reliability.

Just looking at the Imperial Concubine made her feel that there was nothing to be afraid of.

“From now on, you will be in charge of serving His Majesty tea.” If this palace maid wants to rise in rank, Shen Wangshu doesn’t mind giving her a hand.

"Please, Your Highness, do not order this servant to serve His Majesty." The palace maid, who was in a daze, seemed to be frightened when she heard these cold words. She hurriedly knelt at Shen Wangshu's feet, her eyes misty as she kowtowed and cried out, "Your Majesty is noble, and this servant is lowly. This servant would not dare to offend Your Majesty's eyes!"

She couldn't help but reach out and grab the Imperial Concubine's cold, luxurious robe. She knew she had overstepped her bounds, but she also had a strange feeling, as if the Imperial Concubine would not punish her for this small disrespect. She kowtowed and said, "This servant only wishes to serve Your Highness the Imperial Concubine."

"Serve me?" Shen Wangshu chuckled.

The little palace maid had just been hit by her teacup, yet she still dared to come closer to her, which amused her. She lowered her head and saw the palace maid timidly look up at her.

"Aren't you afraid of offending my eyes?" she asked jokingly.

"This servant will just stay at a distance and serve Your Highness from behind, and won't come up and get in your way," the palace maid said hesitantly.

"May I have your name?"

"This servant is A-Xiang." The palace maid's eyes immediately brightened, and through those still slightly watery eyes, she looked exceptionally beautiful.

Shen Wangshu looked at the genuine admiration in her eyes, but didn't mind. She found her quite interesting and nodded in agreement.

She seemed genuinely loyal to him, so what was the harm in keeping her by his side? At worst, he would just be receiving a thankless wretch who might steal the emperor's favor or frame him in the future.

But for Shen Wangshu, these were all trivial matters.

Seeing Shen Wangshu nod, the palace maid's pretty young face lit up with endless radiance. Looking at the eunuchs outside and hearing their shrill pleas for mercy, she fidgeted nervously and whispered, "Won't Your Highness find it grating? Perhaps we should gag them?"

She seemed quite happy, having already wiped away the tears on her face. While everyone in the palace was awestruck by Shen Wangshu's coldness, she obliviously busied herself pouring and serving tea to Shen Wangshu. Shen Wangshu hadn't expected this little palace maid to become so bold in the blink of an eye. She took her tea but didn't drink it, her cold eyes fixed on the eunuch in front of the hall.

"I'm afraid of everything, except for things that are harsh to the ear," she said, her eyes lowered.

She waved her hand, and the guards waiting for her orders outside simultaneously raised their heavy clubs and swung them down at the men!

Amidst the flying blood and gore, and the wailing and howling, a faint smile appeared on Shen Wangshu's lips.

Using her as a shield?

It scared the dog out of its wits!