Chapter 56 Dedication

"Did you say anything to His Majesty?"

Shen Qingru was the first to turn her head and look at Shen Fu, anger boiling in her eyes.

At this moment, she no longer believed the nonsense that the Emperor loved her and cared about her.

His Majesty has no mercy on her at all!

From noon till now, His Majesty has not said a single word to punish Concubine Shu.

If His Majesty really cared about me, how could he not even say a word to reprimand Concubine Shu!

I am completely dispensable to His Majesty!

Shen Qingru was extremely angry. Shen Fu was a little surprised that Shen Qingru seemed to have come to his senses at this time.

It seems that the disfigurement did leave a mark in her heart.

With a turn of her eyes, Shen Fu sighed in her heart. But he had to open his mouth and say to Shen Qingru: "What can I say to His Majesty?"

"Eldest sister, you should think clearly that I am just a concubine." Chen Fu said, "It is difficult for me to even see the emperor on weekdays, so how can I say anything to him?"

With Shen Qingru's identity, it would be impossible for them to find out that she had been in and out of the Qianqing Palace. Therefore, when Shen Fu lied, she did not even blink an eye.

I'm afraid Shen Qingru has never thought that he had secretly met the Emperor many times behind her back.

"Your Majesty has loved you so much during this period. Do you think that he would not come to see you if you were injured?"

Shen Qingru's suspicion gradually disappeared after hearing what Shen Fu said.

She still has to survive in this harem, even if her appearance is ruined and she loses favor in the future, the Emperor's sympathy is still important.

As long as he grasps the Emperor's mercy, he can survive in this harem in the future.

The hand that was pinching Shen Fu gradually loosened, and Shen Qingru gradually came back to her senses.

"Afu." Her knees softened and she knelt on the ground, her knees seeming to sink deeply into the ground.

"Afu, what do you tell me to do?" Shen Qingru put her hands on her face, and hot tears instantly rolled down her face.

Now that she has lost her beauty, her future life will probably be even more miserable. Only by holding on to Chen Fu tightly will she have a chance to breathe in the future.

"The Emperor will definitely abandon me when he sees this face of mine." Shen Qingru didn't dare to touch her face, but she had looked at it in the bronze mirror countless times.

The beautiful face now had a scar as long as a palm.

Now it's just bleeding, but as time goes by, scabs and scars will form here, and they may even remain on your face forever.

Shen Qingru trembled all over at the thought of this result. She shivered and looked at Shen Fu as if she saw a savior.

"Afu, Afu, save me."

Shen Qingru knelt on the ground, struggling to move towards Shen Fu little by little.

She knelt at Shen Fu's feet, raised her head, and hugged Shen Fu's waist: "Afu, please save me."

Shen Fu lowered her eyes and looked at the person kneeling at her feet. In her previous life, Shen Qingru had always been high and mighty.

He has both the favor of His Majesty and the support of the Shen family.

Shen Qingru climbed up step by step, enjoying favor, honor and disgrace, and had everything he wanted. He was in a very glorious position.

And Shen Fu is the worm in the dark, always hiding in the corner. It was pitch dark, not a single ray of light could be seen.

But at this moment, looking at the person kneeling in front of him. A subtle sense of pleasure rose in Shen Fu's heart.

It turns out that Shen Qingru has come to this day!

A little bit of joy rose in her heart, and Shen Fu's mouth curled up, looking at Shen Qingru with clear and bright eyes: "Eldest sister, how else can I help you?"

She wanted to hear what kind of shameless words Shen Qingru could say!

There was an uncontrollable sneer in Shen Fu's eyes.

Shen Qingru thought she had agreed, and felt relieved. She said excitedly: "I have a plan."

"Afu, you are a concubine and you will be able to participate in the selection in the future. Sooner or later, you will be the emperor's, right?"

Chen Fu had already lost her virginity to His Majesty, so now her chance of taking the old path of talent shows was already blocked.

But now asking Shen Fu to be her substitute again would probably be a daydream.

As long as the scar on her face does not heal, the Emperor will never favor her.

Shen Qingru looked at Shen Fu's face with jealousy and reluctance.

If not, if not for what she has become now, how could such a good thing have happened to Shen Fu?

"What exactly does the eldest sister want to say?" Shen Fu lowered her head.

Shen Qingru shivered for a long time before speaking reluctantly.

Chen Fu was originally just a stand-in in the background, and now that she has been asked to step out in the open, she feels like she has been cut by a knife.

Obviously not necessary.

Shen Qingru sobbed in pain, an idea came to her mind that Shen Fu should have just been watching her shadow in secret, and now the shadow was just about to surface.

Her heart felt like it was being cut by a knife.

Shen Qingru didn't even think about it at this time. If it weren't for her, how could Shen Fu have ended up in this situation today?

But at this moment, she was jealous and her heart was filled with sourness, but she still had to say: "As long as you stay in Changqiu Palace and participate in the selection well, I will definitely help you in the future."

"Help me?" Shen Fu tilted her head.

"How is Eldest Sister going to help me?"

Shen Qingru's heart was beating, but the words she spoke were like a coaxing: "I have been in the palace for many years, and I have the position I have today. It is more than enough for me to help you with a concubine."

His Majesty is extremely stingy regarding the positions of concubines. Shen Qingru has not been in the palace for very long, and it is truly rare for her to have the position she has today.

She looked at Shen's face with a little pride. The tone of her voice was slow and gentle, as if coaxing: "As long as you are obedient and stay in Changqiu Palace, I promise that within two years, I will definitely let you take the position of Wanyi."

Wanyi was of the fourth rank. It took her three or four years to rise from a small beauty to the position of Wanyi.

Chen Fu's appearance and talent far surpassed his own, and she also helped him secretly.

She was confident that within two years, Shen Fu would be able to take the position of Wan Yi.

"Wanyi?" Chen Fu looked at Shen Qingru's confident eyes and said softly, "She is only one level lower than the eldest sister."

Shen Qingru was Wanyi before, and later she became Ronghua because of her service in the emperor's bedchamber.

"Afu, you don't know that His Majesty takes the matter of status very seriously. But don't worry, as long as you and I work together, I will definitely lend you a helping hand."

"No need to replace the eldest sister?" Shen Fu asked deliberately.

Before, Shen Qingru had always wanted to let herself be her substitute in secret, to be her stand-in, and finally even let herself get pregnant on her behalf.

But now, these beautiful fantasies have been shattered one by one.

"No need." Shen Qingru said quickly. "Just stay in Changqiu Palace."

As long as she stayed in Changqiu Palace and Shen Fu was favored, her life would be easy.

Shen Fu knew this truth, and Shen Qingru also knew it.

I just didn't say it accurately.

Shen Fu looked at Shen Qingru's anxious and expectant eyes, secretly mocking her in her heart that she was really squeezing out every last bit of her value.

If you can't be her substitute, then let yourself win her favor. Beneath this beautiful appearance, there is a selfish heart.

Shen Fu felt nauseous.

But facing her gaze, he still nodded: "Whatever the eldest sister says is what it is."

"Then..." Since His Majesty is coming today, I'm afraid he will stay overnight. It’s better to do it today than to wait for another day, so as to take advantage of the fact that His Majesty is still somewhat interested in Shen Fu.

Would it be better to offer Shen Fu right away?

"I'll let you serve me once His Majesty arrives." Shen Qingru patted Shen Fu's palm and said, "Don't worry, I'll definitely ask His Majesty to give you an identity tomorrow."

With a curled mouth, Shen Fu stared at the hand resting on her palm. She pretended to be shy, but if you looked closely, you could see that under her expressionless face, she was full of impatience: “Chen Fu always listens to her eldest sister.”

Shen Fu just finished speaking.

Shen Qingru clenched her palms and then slowly relaxed them, feeling completely relieved.

As long as he can control Chen Fu, he will have a chance to succeed.

"Okay!" Shen Qingru gently patted the back of Shen Fu's hand: "Tonight, my elder sister will present you to His Majesty."

******

His Majesty arrived as promised and arrived at Changqiu Palace just as dusk fell.

The lights in Xiang Guipin's room in the main hall of Changqiu Palace were turned off early.

The news of Shen Ronghua’s disfigurement spread like wildfire, and everyone knew about it. His Majesty did not issue an edict to blame Concubine Shu all day, and thought that she did not take Shen Ronghua seriously.

Who would have known that he would come to Changqiu Palace in person at night.

After hearing the news, Concubine Xiang Guipin smashed countless teacups. As soon as it got dark, she hurriedly asked someone to turn off the lights.

His Majesty would rather go to Shen Ronghua, whose appearance was ruined, than to take another look at his room.

Xiang Guipin didn't know what kind of magic potion Shen Ronghua had given to His Majesty.

But the hatred for Shen Qingru in his heart was like a thorn, and he wished he could get rid of it as soon as possible.

Shen Qingru had no idea what Xiang Guipin was thinking at this time.

As soon as His Majesty came down from the imperial procession, she stood at the gate of Changqiu Palace and began to greet him from afar.

"Your Majesty, your concubine pays homage." Shen Qingru bent her knees and saluted. When she stood up, she did not forget to stretch out her hand and put her fingertips on her cheek.

She was afraid that the Emperor would see her like this.

"My beloved, please stand up." Xiao Yu stretched out his hand to help Shen Qing up. When he noticed her movement, his eyes flashed.

"How is my beloved concubine's face?"

His Majesty's tone was so caring that Shen Qingru raised her head, and the moment her eyes met His Majesty's again, she almost couldn't hold back her tears.

"Your Majesty..." Tears fell from the corners of Shen Qingru's eyes: "I...I thank Your Majesty for your concern."

"It's just... I'm not good." Shen Qingru spread out her hands, allowing the Emperor to catch a glimpse of the mark on her face.

But she didn't dare let the Emperor see it, for fear of causing complete disgust.

A little bit of it showed between the fingers, but he quickly covered it up.

"It's just that my injury was not caused by others, but by others." Shen Qingru knelt down immediately after saying this: "Your Majesty, please help me!"

Shen Qingru had cried so hard today that her eyes were red and she couldn't squeeze out any more tears.

At this moment, she was kneeling on the ground, her whole body weak, her slender waist trembling slightly, she looked so pitiful. She looked at His Majesty with expectation and pleading.

Damn the Concubine!

If it weren't for that whip from Concubine Shu, how would I have ended up in this situation today?

From the moment the whip landed on her cheek, Shen Qingru's hatred for Concubine Shu never faded for the entire day.

Sooner or later, she will make Concubine Shu feel the same way as she does today.

By then, I will definitely pull out her tendons and skin her alive, so that she can also enjoy the pain at this moment!

"Get up." Xiao Yu faced the person on the ground and glanced around him.

Lin An took a glance and immediately stepped forward to help Shen Qingru up.

“Master Shen, you have to take care of yourself.” Lin An knew who His Majesty was really worried about.

When he spoke, his tone was no longer flattering as before, and he just said dutifully: "If you were hurt even a little bit, Your Majesty would be so distressed."

Shen Qingru glanced at His Majesty and her heart instantly sank. It seems like His Majesty is protecting Concubine Shu, and it seems that he will not punish Concubine Shu easily.

Yes, Concubine Shu is the head of a palace and has been favored for many years.

I am just a beautiful girl, and the Empress Shufei can beat me if she wants.

She used so much force with her fingertips that it almost caused bleeding. Shen Qingru looked at the Emperor's expression and finally closed her mouth unwillingly.

When they reached the inner hall, the servants outside all retreated. After Shen Qingru realized that it was wishful thinking to punish Concubine Shu, she completely gave up the idea.

"Your Highness." Shen Qingru raised her hands to cover her face. Thinking of Shen Fu behind her, she felt a little worried.

Chen Fu was behind the house at this time. Unlike every time before when she pretended to be herself, today Chen Fu would serve His Majesty in her own identity.

I don’t know whether His Majesty likes it or not.

Shen Qingru was worried about this and that in her heart, and her anxious face with a scar on it looked particularly scary.

Xiao Yu opened the teacup and took a sip of tea: "What are you thinking about, my beloved concubine?"

Chen Fu came straight here after leaving the Qianqing Palace. He knew all of this.

But he had no idea what the two people talked about in the room.

Xiao Yu thought of Shen Fu's stubborn look before she left, and tapped the table leisurely with his fingertips, wondering if she would regret it later!

"My beloved." Xiao Yu raised his eyebrows and looked at Shen Qingru: "It's getting late, go get ready."

Shen Qingru originally wanted to speak up and ask how to offer someone to His Majesty.

I didn't expect that His Majesty would be so anxious.

Touching the scars on her face, Shen Qingru was still a little dazed.

Your Majesty, are you being too proactive today?

The noise outside the house stopped, but Shen Qingru still hadn't figured it out. At this point, it was not her turn to think too much. She just paid attention to the movements behind her.

He asked quietly, "Where's Chen Fu?"

"It has been delivered to the bed."

The sound of water outside the house gradually faded away, and footsteps were heard.

Xiao Yu walked towards the bed leisurely with big strides.

The sky-blue curtain swayed slightly. Xiao Yu stretched out his hand and created a gap with his bony fingertips.

The bright light from outside the window leaked in through the mosquito net, and the bed was as white as snow.

Before he could see clearly, an arm as white as white as mutton fat stretched out from inside and rested precariously on his arm.

The red lips came close to his ear, and she said charmingly, "Your Majesty..."