Chapter 171: A Show of Power

When Concubine Shu sent out an invitation, everyone in the harem had to give her some face. Even if Shen Fu didn't want to go, she couldn't refuse.

As soon as they got down in the morning, everyone in Yong'an Hall began to prepare.

Zi Su helped Chen Fu put on her clothes, and whispered in her ear, "I heard that the Imperial Concubine suddenly had a headache and couldn't go."

Chen Fu sat in front of the bronze mirror, her eyes light as she spoke: "Today's banquet is unusual in itself, and I had expected that the Imperial Concubine would not go."

This is a post written by Concubine Shu herself. It seems there is a lot of meaning in it.

Concubine Rong was obviously too lazy to get involved in this mess and simply claimed to be sick.

Shen Fu laughed.

"It would be fine if Concubine Rong didn't go, but I have heard another piece of news."

"My dear, you may not know that His Majesty slept alone last night."

When Chen Fu heard this, she couldn't help but look up at Zi Su.

She dressed up very carefully today.

In the past she dressed too plainly, but these few times she changed her makeup, which is rare. The woman's face was powdered, making her already delicate face even more attractive.

A jade hairpin with plum blossom pattern was inserted diagonally on her long black hair, which slightly raised the corners of her eyes, adding a bit of charm to her already pure and elegant face.

Zi Su took a breath, covered her mouth, and repeated, "No concubines were summoned to Yuqing Palace last night."

Xiao Songzi has repeatedly made great achievements in front of the young lady, so Zi Su naturally doesn't want to be outdone. Zi Su could naturally find out the news that could be found in other palaces.

When she got the news, she immediately flattered Shen Fu and asked for credit: "I heard that His Majesty was in Yuqing Palace reviewing memorials all night last night, and he went hunting in the mountains with General Wang early this morning."

It is autumn now and the mountains are getting colder. I am afraid that we will have to set off for the palace in a few days.

His Majesty has been too busy recently, so he has taken some time off these days.

"The following are some Arabian horses presented to you. Your Majesty, this is not hunting, it's clearly riding a horse." Shen Fu knew a thing or two about this matter.

At that time, His Majesty asked her if she wanted to go with him, but Shen Fu's legs were so sore that she couldn't even stand, so she naturally refused.

But if she had known at that time that Concubine Shu was going to send an invitation to her to enjoy the flowers, Chen Fu would have agreed immediately without hesitation.

The palace maid picked out several earrings for her, but Chen Fu shook her head and put them down. Finally, Chen Fu personally picked out a pair of earrings inlaid with South China pearls from the jewelry box.

"Wear this."

"My lady." Zi Su asked the maidservants to step aside and personally stepped forward to bend down and put it on Chen Fu: "Does this look a little simple?"

Although South Pearls are beautiful things, the beads are only the size of a thumb, which seems not grand enough.

These earrings don’t look luxurious, and considering Chen Fu’s current status, they are a bit shabby.

"Today is Concubine Shu's place, why should I recruit so many people?" Chen Fu glanced at the bronze mirror in front of her and shook her head.

The southern pearl was round and white, and as Shen Fu swayed slightly, it shone on the earlobe.

Against her snow-white skin, her complexion looks even whiter and more delicate.

Zi Su swallowed all the words in her heart in an instant: "It looks good!"

No matter how precious the pearl is, it cannot compare to the young lady's face.

But Zi Su was still a little hesitant: "Today, except for Concubine Rong, everyone else is going, even Shen Ronghua is going."

Zi Su hated Shen Qingru the most, and she kept persuading her: "Your Majesty has rewarded you with so many jewels, you might as well wear a few more, so that those people can have a look!"

“You!”

Chen Fu raised her hand and nodded towards Zi Su intimately, then she began to carefully select from the box of jewelry.

All the items in this box were gifts from His Majesty, and they are all great treasures.

Chen Fu took a look and pointed at the peony gold hairpin: "This is it."

Zi Su happily took out her hairpin and immediately put it on Chen Fu.

The wind is strong in the mountains, so bring a cloak before going out.

Chen Fu specially picked one embroidered with peony flowers. The deep red peony flowers embroidered on the silk made her look elegant and luxurious.

As she lowered her head, the peony hairpin on her head swayed slightly.

Zi Su followed behind, looking at the young lady's exquisite outfit, the more she looked, the more she felt something was wrong.

The young lady is wearing a golden hairpin with a peony pattern on her head, and her cape is also embroidered with peony patterns.

She is indeed delicate and pretty, but everyone in the palace knows that Concubine Shu loves peonies.

Most of her precious jewelry and the patterns on her skirts were embroidered with peonies.

Concubine Shu was overbearing. She would not allow others to wear it if she wore it herself. Besides, Concubine Shu was indeed very eye-catching, so she looked better in it than ordinary people.

As time went by, in order not to provoke her, no one in the entire harem except Concubine Shu used peony patterns. Over time, it became the exclusive use of Concubine Shu.

Now... Zi Su followed behind, looking at the hairpin with peony flowers on the young lady's head.

A face full of confusion.

The young lady has forgotten that we went to Concubine Shu’s place today. Isn't it a clear slap in the face of Concubine Shu that the young lady is going there dressed like this?

Zi Su was in a daze the whole way, and didn't come to her senses until she arrived at Concubine Shu's palace.

The sedan chair stopped, and Chen Fu looked at the three words "Fengming Palace" in front of her for a long time before she looked away.

"Your Majesty really dotes on Concubine Shu."

Fengming Palace.

Not to mention anything else, just the word "Phoenix" alone has brought her the favor of too many people.

Since ancient times, the emperor has been called a dragon and the queen has been called a phoenix.

There is no empress in the court now, and there is a Rong Guifei above Shufei. But even so, the word "Phoenix" is not a simple favor that can be enjoyed.

It is hard to tell how great the favor of Concubine Shu was before just by listening to others.

But facing the plaque in front of her, Shen Fu could see from it some of the great favor that His Majesty had shown to Concubine Shu.

"My lady." Seeing that Shen Fu didn't speak for a long time, Zi Su hurried forward and looked at her with concern.

"Nothing." Shen Fu came back to her senses and shook her head at Zi Su.

She knew that Concubine Shu was favored before she entered the palace, and she didn't just find out today.

Besides, the favor in this palace is like Feng Shui, which is unpredictable.

It's your turn today, and it's her turn tomorrow. There are so many women in the palace. If she goes to her place today for His Majesty, and looks at someone else tomorrow, Chen Fu will be jealous.

Doesn't this mean we should just stop living like this?

Chen Fu placed her palm on the back of Zi Su's hand and patted it gently, then raised her hand to adjust the peony gold hairpin on her head.

"Let's go."

Many people had already come to Fengming Palace, and there was laughter and joy when Chen Fu walked over.

Only when the eunuch who led the way shouted, "Concubine Shen is here," did the joyful laughter gradually subside.

Many people came today. After all, Concubine Shu gave the order, and except for Concubine Rong, almost all the concubines in Yuquan Mountain have come.

No matter what everyone felt in their hearts, they all looked happy and tried to curry favor with Concubine Shu.

But when his eyes fell on Shen Fu, he couldn't even force out a fake smile.

She is so brave!

This is the first sentence that comes to mind for everyone who sees Chen Fu.

"What's wrong?" Empress Shufei was surrounded by the crowd, so naturally she heard the eunuch's report early in the morning.

But she deliberately didn't look back, and was planning to give Shen Fu a warning.

Seeing that something was wrong on everyone's faces, she turned back suspiciously.

As soon as Concubine Shu's eyes fell on Shen Fu, her face turned completely dark.

Shen Fu's outfit today is exactly the same as hers. Concubine Shu raised her hand to hold the peony hairpin on her head, her eyes falling on Shen Fu's cloak embroidered with peony flowers.

The hand in the sleeve clenched instantly: "Jieyu Shen..."

Empress Shufei gritted her teeth, and these three words seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth.

"Your concubine greets Her Majesty Shufei." Chen Fu pretended to be unaware of the look that Shufei had on her as if she wanted to eat her. She lowered her head deliberately and walked forward in a delicate manner.

"It's windy outside, so I'm a little late. Please forgive me, Madam Shufei."

Chen Fu's voice was so tender and gentle that water could be squeezed out of it. Facing Empress Shufei, she was neither humble nor arrogant, and had a bright smile on her face.

But everyone looked at Chen Fu, then looked at Concubine Shu, and for a moment they didn't know who to look at.

The two people's attire today was so similar, even the golden hairpins made of peony flowers on their heads were exactly the same.

Shufei was bold and eye-catching, while Chen Fu was even more charming and beautiful.

Now that the two of them are dressed so similarly, it is hard to take your eyes off them for a while.

Then it was Concubine Shu who came to her senses first.

She looked at Shen Fu deeply with cold eyes, and her meaningful gaze fell on the golden hairpin on Shen Fu's head: "Jieyu Shen's outfit today looks very familiar."

"Really?" Chen Fu's eyes were innocent, and she deliberately stretched out her hand to press the golden hairpin on her head: "It was given by His Majesty, and I don't know either."

The coldness on Concubine Shu's face froze visibly, and she almost couldn't maintain her expression.

Chen Fu raised her eyes, her gaze fell on Concubine Shu's face, and added lightly:

"Hey, it's somewhat similar to the hairpin on Concubine Shu's head."

Shen Fu's words were like a fuse, almost completely setting off Concubine Shu.

She stood there stiffly, her fingertips clenched tightly, so hard that she could almost hear the bones cracking:

"Really?"

Concubine Shu sneered and raised her hand to pull off the golden peony hairpin on her head.

Throw it to the ground with force in front of everyone.

The golden peony hairpin fell to the ground and deformed, then rolled down to Shen Fu's feet with two thuds.

"How dare you take out such a cheap thing and let it bother me." Concubine Shu sneered and in front of Chen Fu, she raised her foot and crushed the peony gold hairpin with force.

Chen Fu looked at the golden hairpin that fell in front of her eyes, and then looked at Concubine Shu's face that looked meaningful.

She raised her chin slightly, and despite Concubine Shu's angry look, Shen Fu remained motionless.

*********

Concubine Shu threw away the golden hairpin on her head, and it was obvious that she didn't want to wear the skirt embroidered with peony patterns anymore. She went back to her room and undressed again in anger.

Only one yard was left for everyone to enjoy the flowers.

After a while, a palace maid about ten years old was dragged out of the hall, pressed on a bench and beaten with a stick.

"Shufei is killing the chicken to scare the monkeys." Chen Fu was sitting on a chair drinking tea. She didn't know when Concubine Zhou came over.

He leaned close to her and whispered, "That little palace maid probably beat you up just to show you that she was mad at you for wearing the same hairpin as her."

Zhou Shuyun said as she glanced up at Chen Fu's head.

She had underestimated Shen Fu before, thinking that she was just trying to attract His Majesty with her looks and figure, but now it seems that Concubine Shen is not lacking in courage.

Even though she knew that the banquet that Concubine Shu invited her to was the Hongmen Banquet, she still had the courage to come. Not only that, she came and was dressed the same as Concubine Shu.

She blatantly wore the same golden peony hairpin as Concubine Shu, which made Concubine Shu so angry that she almost ascended to heaven.

Look, before he could use any tricks on Shen Fu, he was so angry that he went back to his room to change clothes.

"You, you really are brave." Zhou Shuyun leaned close to Shen Fu, her tone full of smiles.

Chen Fu withdrew her gaze from the little palace maid in the yard, turned back and gently curled her lips at Lady Zhou:

"She's furious."

The reason she came to Fenming Palace today was to attend the Hongmen Banquet, so Chen Fu naturally had to be on her toes.

If Concubine Shu wanted to harm her, she would definitely fight back. Her action was just a small prank to piss off Concubine Shu.

But this is just the beginning, and I don’t know what Concubine Shu’s methods are. Shen Fu's heart was always hanging.

The yard was filled with the sound of hitting boards all the time.

The palace maid was beaten so hard that she screamed and cried. Later on, she couldn't even utter a word to beg for mercy.

When he was dragged away, he was covered in blood, his eyes were closed, and it was unknown whether he was alive or not.

Chen Fu held the teacup and glanced at Xiao Songzi: “Don’t let anyone die.”

Xiao Songzi bent down and followed immediately while no one was paying attention.

Concubine Shu's tactic of killing the chicken to scare the monkey was effective. After the miserable plight of the little palace maid was revealed, even Concubine Wang, who was usually the most talkative, dared not speak a word.

He sat obediently in the chair, his body trembling slightly.

Chen Fu held the teacup and looked at them one by one: Concubine Xiang, Hu Wanyi, Concubine Wang, and Shen Qingru.

Compared with Shen Qingru's previous state, she is obviously radiant today. Her belly was bulging and she was dressed in a rather seductive way.

Seeing Shen Fu's gaze, Shen Qingru raised the teacup and smiled at her.

I don’t know if Shen Fu was seeing things, but she always felt that Shen Qingru’s profile at this moment looked very much like Aunt Cui.

Shen Fu tightened her grip and looked away imperceptibly.

But when he turned around and caught a glimpse of the beautiful Ying sitting at the end, his gaze paused.

This one is here too?

The beautiful Ying was sitting at the back. She was dressed very low-key today, with thick makeup on her pretty face.

He sat huddled at the back, but his eyes were filled with excitement.

Seeing Chen Fu looking at her, Ying Meiren smiled at Chen Fu, with a look of pride between her eyebrows.

What is this person so proud of?

Chen Fu paused holding the teacup. His Majesty had not even seen Lady Ying since the last time.

I heard that her face was scratched by the teacup and it almost left a scar. People were sent all over the mountains to look for doctors, and they spent all day trying to find a way to avoid leaving scars.

It has come to this, and this beautiful Ying hasn't forgotten to join in the fun?

Shen Fu's eyes flashed, and she had a bad feeling in her heart.