Deep within the palace, how could she, as a concubine, dare to engage in sexual relations with a grown prince?

When Shan Xiu was pinned down by Hong Shi, she was so scared that she could hardly breathe. She begged and cried, but Hong Shi still left in the end, only telling her before he left not to regret it.

Then Hongshi had some fresh young palace maids?

Shan Xiu felt that she... was starting to regret it.

Since the emperor refuses to touch her anyway, why should she stay by his side?

Even if it's just for a moment of pleasure, no one will know...

Shan Xiu gradually convinced herself, but... but she still couldn't see Hong Shi.

She couldn't sleep at night. She would sit under the back window, hugging her knees, waiting for the hooting of an owl, but nothing happened.

"Waaah..." Shan Xiu couldn't help but cry again. She pushed open the window, ignoring the cold wind blowing in her face, and couldn't help but make a wish to the bright moon in the sky—to see Hongshi again!

She will bravely tell him that this time, she is willing!

On this same day, Consort Qi was granted the title of a new concubine. Although the rank was low, it had been many years since the Emperor had added any new concubines to his entourage, from the Prince's residence to the palace.

Everyone was curious. Even Consort Song and Consort Wu, who rarely went out, went to Zhongcui Palace for a look. It would have seemed out of place for Consort Hua not to go.

Shan Xiuqiang mustered her spirits and applied several layers of powder to cover up her haggard face, but when she arrived at Zhongcui Palace, she unexpectedly ran into Hongshi!

She watched helplessly as the person she had been longing for stood there, chatting and laughing with Madam Li, and suddenly she couldn't walk anymore.

"Master? Master?" Wanxia reminded them, which startled the mother and child not far away.

Upon seeing her, Lady Li couldn't help but snort coldly and said with a smile, "Consort Hua really has quite the airs."

Even the Empress has come, yet she only arrives now. She's truly... arrogant because she's favored!

Hongshi remained silent, only watching Shanxiu quietly.

Shan Xiu almost wanted to rush over and hug Hong Shi, but she couldn't. Her throat itched slightly, and she coughed a few times, covering her lips. Wanxia smiled and said, "Please forgive her, Consort Qi. With the weather getting cold, the Imperial Concubine's old ailment has flared up, and she rarely gets out of bed these days."

"Heh, I didn't see the Imperial Concubine like this a while ago..." Lady Li wanted to say something sarcastic, but Hongshi couldn't help but tug at her sleeve and whisper, "Don't say anything!"

Li choked, and Hongshi stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Shan Xiu: "How is Consort Hua's health? Has the imperial physician been summoned to examine her?"

Dan Xiu was pulled away from the formality by Wanxia, ​​and murmured something. Wanxia said, "Thank you for asking, Third Prince. The imperial physician has seen me, and I am taking the medicine."

"That's good. The weather is getting colder and colder. Please take care of yourself, Mother Consort Hua." Hongshi bowed again and then said to Madam Li, "Mother, I will go back now."

"Hey, you're leaving already? Didn't we agree to stay for lunch? Hongshi..." Madam Li chased after her as she went out. Shan Xiu coughed twice and then saw the newly appointed concubine timidly bow to her: "This servant greets Consort Hua."

"Get up, we're sisters, there's no need for this," Shan Xiu said calmly, but only after Xiang agreed to get up did she realize, "You—"

Xiang was startled and was about to curtsy again when Shan Xiu shouted, "Lift your face!"

"This servant..." Xiang Ying raised her face halfway with a flickering expression. Shan Xiu looked at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

She said, "I remember now, you..." She paused, then suddenly remembered something, her eyes widening instantly, "You, you all!"

In an instant, Shan Xiu felt as if a wad of cotton was stuffed in her chest, making it hard for her to breathe, and her body trembled violently.

She remembered hearing someone say that Consort Qi was really audacious, having found two palace maids from somewhere who looked somewhat similar to the two imperial consorts.

At the time, she only listened and didn't take it to heart. Later, when she learned that Hongshi had asked Consort Qi for a palace maid, she didn't think of this matter. But now, upon seeing this lady, Shan Xiu understood...

It wasn't that the one who looked like her wasn't granted a title by the emperor, but rather that the one who was taken away by Hongshi, and who went off to be intimate with him!

Dan Xiu swayed twice, almost falling over, but Wanxia quickly caught her. After frowning, she said to Consort Xiang, "Consort Xiang, please forgive me. Her Highness the Imperial Concubine has been unwell lately. This servant will accompany Her Highness back now."

"Okay..." Consort Xiang hadn't adapted to her new identity yet. She nervously saw Consort Hua off as she left the palace, only to run into Consort Qi who was returning. She became even more frightened, lowering her head and shrugging her shoulders as she stood to the side.

"Who are you putting on this act for?" Li sneered. "Now that you're the Emperor's consort, get ready."

"This servant, this servant..." Consort Xiang shrank back, not daring to say anything. Madam Li snorted and went into the room to call the head palace maid: "Go and teach Consort Xiang how to serve Your Majesty, so that she won't embarrass me later."

Xiang, trembling slightly, was led away by the head palace maid. On the other side, Shan Xiu, also trembling, was dragged to the bed by Wanxia.

Wanxia frowned and glanced at her, but still summoned the imperial physician. However, the physician couldn't figure out what was wrong either, only saying that she seemed to be emotionally and mentally distressed, and that she had encountered some sad event.

"You're so upset about the Emperor bestowing a title upon a concubine?" After seeing the imperial physician off, Wanxia returned to look at Shanxiu with a puzzled expression. After thinking for a moment, she still comforted her, "Your Highness is an old hand by the Emperor's side. There's no need to argue with those young people. Just be a good Consort. Your good days are yet to come."

After saying that, Wanxia insisted on helping Shanxiu wash up and change her clothes, then put her back on the bed before going outside to rest.

Dan Xiu lay in bed, covered with a blanket, looking at the curtains with tears streaming down her face.

Good days? Where are her good days anymore?

What does Hongshi like about her? Isn't it just her face? But now that Hongshi has already gotten that palace maid, why would he come back to find her?

From then on, she had no good days left. She would wither away like a flower in the harem, never to be cared for again...

She can't even be a real woman!

Dan Xiu cried until midnight, vaguely hearing the familiar hooting of an owl, but she thought it was her hallucination and didn't dare to believe it. She didn't get up, but a moment later she heard the sound of the window opening.

With tears streaming down her face, she struggled to her feet and saw the familiar eunuch in his uniform approaching her.

Hongshi laughed and said, "Why don't you close the windows when you sleep? Aren't you afraid a thief will come in?"

Shan Xiu just stared at him blankly. After a moment, she suddenly jumped up, trembling all over, and rushed over to hug Hong Shi's waist.

She cried, feeling utterly wronged: "I thought you'd never come again..."

“…How could I bear to?” Hongshi lowered his head and sniffed Shan Xiu’s hair, revealing a smug smile.