Chapter Thirty-Three: Heart's Intent
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Cold Frost Court
Everything in the room had once again been smashed to pieces. The maids, led by Silver Vermilion, knelt on the floor, trembling in silence.
Only after Lu Yuan Shuang had vented her fury did Silver Vermilion summon the courage to speak. “Your Highness and the Prince are deeply enamored of each other at present. Why ruin your relationship with him over a mere maid...?”
Lu Yuan Shuang shot her a vicious glare. “In my own courtyard, right in front of me, she dared to seduce the Prince. Who knows how wanton she is behind my back? And you expect me, the Prince’s Side Consort, to swallow my anger and endure such a shameless slut?”
Her gaze fell upon Silver Vermilion. As though struck by a sudden thought, she lifted the girl’s chin. “Or is it that you wish to serve the Prince as well?”
“I would never dare.” Silver Vermilion hurriedly kowtowed in terror. She continued until her forehead was covered in blood, and only then did Lu Yuan Shuang impatiently order her to rise.
Having followed such a mistress, Silver Vermilion suffered inwardly, yet she could not refrain from offering advice. “The Prince has always treated people with kindness. The cleansing punishment was truly terrifying. It is understandable that he could not accept it at once.”
Lu Yuan Shuang let out a cold laugh. “You lowly maids have all taken advantage of the Prince’s soft heart. That is why you act without restraint. In my opinion, you should all be beaten and punished harshly. Only then will you learn your place.”
Silver Vermilion gave a bitter smile and did not dare say more. In the past, when the Side Consort had not enjoyed the Prince’s favor, she would imitate Miss Cui and put on an appearance of generosity.
Ever since she had gained the Prince’s exclusive affection, however, her true nature had been laid bare. Before the Prince, she was sweetness itself; to the servants beneath her, she left them with nothing but grievances they could not voice.
Silver Vermilion was the maid who had accompanied the Side Consort from her maiden home. Over the past few days, she had heard people openly and secretly expressing their hope that the Princess Consort would enter the residence soon. It was not difficult to imagine how thoroughly the Side Consort had lost the household’s goodwill.
When Lu Yuan Shuang saw that Silver Vermilion had fallen silent, the frustration in her heart only deepened. She sneered, “Now even you dare show me an attitude.”
“I would never dare.” Silver Vermilion’s eyes shifted. She moved forward on her knees until she reached Lu Yuan Shuang. “I was only thinking that Su Ye is already dead, and the matter has passed. Once the Prince has thought things through, he will naturally return to Your Highness’s side.”
Seeing Lu Yuan Shuang’s expression soften somewhat, Silver Vermilion dared to continue. “In this servant’s humble opinion, the most important thing for Your Highness now is to bear the Prince an heir as soon as possible.”
Seeing that Lu Yuan Shuang was about to lose her temper again, Silver Vermilion quickly finished what she had to say. “Your Highness must not forget the promise the Empress Dowager once made to the Parasol Tree Court. Besides, the late emperor’s mourning period is nearly over, and the woman in the Parasol Tree Court was sent here by the Cui family in the first place. Once the Cui woman enters the residence, I fear Your Highness’s position will become even more difficult.”
Lu Yuan Shuang suppressed her anger. “You are right. Cui Xiwen may be excused, for she at least comes from the prestigious Qinghe Cui clan. But Shen, a woman of base registered status, actually wishes to stand on equal footing with me?”
“Keep a close watch on her courtyard. I will never allow that bastard to crawl out of her womb. Every time Cousin goes to see her, send her a dose of medicine. Even if you have to force it down her throat, make sure she swallows it.”
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“Yes.” Only after Silver Vermilion readily agreed did Lu Yuan Shuang feel somewhat appeased.
Silence filled the room. After an unknown length of time, Lu Yuan Shuang suddenly said, “The Empress Dowager refuses to let me marry Cousin openly as his Princess Consort, yet she still wants to raise Shen, a woman of base status, to stand on equal footing with me. Tell me, what use is an aunt like her?”
“Your Highness!” Silver Vermilion interrupted her sharply, her eyes wide with alarm.
She could only feel that after receiving the Prince’s favor for several days, the Side Consort’s temper had grown increasingly reckless. She had even dared to utter such treasonous words.
Lu Yuan Shuang, however, showed no concern. “What are you afraid of? My aunt is busy in the palace trying to ascend the throne. Do you really think she can become Emperor? Fighting her own son for the throne—what an absurdity!”
Parasol Tree Court
Shen Tubai awoke from her sleep. The moment she opened her eyes, she found herself looking at Spring Cicada’s broad, delighted grin.
“What has happened to me?” Shen Tubai asked, pretending not to know as she glanced toward Li Tinghan standing behind her.
“You are with child. How could you be so careless? You caught a chill and did not even realize it?” Li Tinghan stepped forward and took her hand, appearing just as excited.
Shen Tubai slowly curved her lips into a smile and cautiously touched her belly. Yet before long, her brows drew together once more.
“What is it?” Influenced by her expression, Li Tinghan’s movements also became exceedingly careful.
Shen Tubai leaned weakly against his shoulder. “I am frightened. I am still so young, yet I am already going to become a mother.”
Only then did Li Tinghan remember that Shen Tubai would not turn seventeen until the year after next. Though women generally married at around her age, she was indeed still too young.
Shen Tubai pressed her head more tightly against his neck. “I am even more afraid that Your Highness will no longer like me.”
Li Tinghan could not help finding this amusing and hurried to reassure her. “How could that be?”
Shen Tubai did not rush to answer. She merely looked at him with reddened eyes. “Have you not thought of me even once during these days? Otherwise, why would you not have come to see me?”
Li Tinghan was speechless. What Lu Yuan Shuang had said that day had shaken him deeply. Yet it would not be true to say that Lu Yuan Shuang had occupied his thoughts exclusively during these days.
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It was simply that his cousin was too domineering. She grew angry whenever he so much as looked at another woman. At first, Li Tinghan had found the possessiveness rather gratifying.
As time passed, however, he began to feel as though he could hardly breathe. Even so, he could not bring himself to resent her. After all, his cousin was only too deeply in love with him.
But the cleansing punishment had been excessively cruel, crossing the limits of what he could tolerate. He hoped she would take this opportunity to reflect upon herself.
Then again, apart from his cousin, there was probably no one else in the entire inner residence who would love him so fiercely. With that thought, Li Tinghan looked down at Shen Tubai in his arms, and his spirits sank somewhat.
“Rest well.” Li Tinghan patted her hand and rose, intending to leave.
“Are you going to abandon me too, Your Highness?” Shen Tubai stared at him without blinking as tears slipped from the corners of her eyes.
Her expression was so heartbroken that it seemed Li Tinghan had done something unforgivable to her.
Just as Li Tinghan’s heart softened and he was about to stay, Shen Tubai suddenly turned away. “Please go, Your Highness. It is my fault. When I first entered the residence, the governess taught me that I must not compete for favor. It is not fitting for a concubine to do such a thing...”
Her voice was threaded with sobs, and every word overflowed with reluctance. Li Tinghan wanted to remain, yet he could not help suspecting that she was trying to sow discord against the Side Consort.
Shen Tubai hugged her knees and curled herself into a ball. “It is my fault. I was born to a lowly status; even my own parents would cast me aside. Your Highness is a noble scion of the imperial house, destined to possess every beauty beneath the heavens. How could I presume to force you to choose me?”
“It is my fault for wanting to keep Your Highness all to myself. But I truly envy the Side Consort. She can openly reveal her feelings to you, while I do not even dare look at you.”
Shen Tubai’s body trembled faintly, as though she were in unbearable pain. “I am afraid that once I see you, Your Highness will tell me that you never wish to see me again in this life.”
“How could that be?”
Li Tinghan could bear it no longer and gathered her into his arms.
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