Agree, Imperial Concubine, aren't we all concubines? Since we are all concubines, why do we have to care so much
"Imperial edict! By the will of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims that the daughter of the Shen family is of noble character, gentle and virtuous, and is hereby appointed as the first-rank virtuous concubine. You are to enter the palace on an auspicious day. I decree this!"
Shen Qingwan sat upright on the big bed in Changle Palace, waiting quietly for the emperor.
"Empress, it's already past midnight." Lianyun reminded quietly.
The West Wing was filled with bright red candles. On the mahogany round table were exquisite delicacies, as well as rice cakes and snacks. The wine glasses were wrapped with red silk threads.
The candlelight made Shen Qingwan's slightly made-up face look more charming, and her brows were filled with calmness and composure.
The girl curled her red lips slightly and said calmly: "It's late, close the door and go to bed."
The tone was a little more sad.
"The emperor hasn't come yet, Your Majesty, I'll send someone to check on him." Lianyun didn't dare to breathe, fearing that Shen Qingwan would be sad, so she had to make the suggestion carefully.
Shen Qingwan raised her slender hand, "No need. It's so late, the emperor hasn't come yet, maybe he's resting somewhere else, Lianyun, help me go to bed, we don't have to wait."
Lianyun did not move forward and remained standing where she was.
Once you enter the palace, it's like entering a deep ocean. The girl who was once so innocent, kind and lively seems to have turned into an adult overnight. This feeling makes people feel suffocated.
Shen Qingwan sighed quietly, for her past self and for her future self.
There were countless bones of beautiful women buried in the palace walls and the harem. But I couldn't escape fate and resist the emperor's order.
Just as Shen Qingwan was preparing to wash up, a bright yellow figure slowly walked in.
"emperor."
Lianyun then knelt down and saluted.
Isn't he not coming
The veil had already been lifted by Shen Qingwan. The emperor exuded a faint scent of ambergris. He stared straight at Shen Qingwan, as if he wanted to stare a hole through her.
"I am rude, Your Majesty, please forgive me."
After a long while, the emperor slowly spoke, "General Shen's daughter is indeed different from other women."
This sentence, which showed no emotion, made the hairs of the people around them stand up instantly, but Shen Qingwan's face was calm as water.
She was calm and said calmly, "Your Majesty is too kind."
"Xianfei!"
Fu Yuheng shouted coldly, and the servants in the hall fell to their knees.
"People in the capital say that General Shen gave birth to an extremely intelligent daughter. In my opinion, Concubine Xian does not seem to be very smart."
Shen Qingwan smiled, nodded slightly, and remained silent.
"Then you should know that according to etiquette, when a concubine of the first rank or above enters the palace, I must stay in her palace that night?"
Shen Qingwan smiled softly when she heard this, "I know that the emperor does not want to stay here tonight."
"presumptuous!"
Fu Yuheng's calmness finally disappeared from his eyes. He looked at Shen Qingwan and said word by word, "Shen Qingwan, if it weren't for your father, I wouldn't even look at you."
How could she not know
General Shen's daughter was a first-rank concubine when she first entered the palace. How glorious! But if she could choose, she would give up this status and choose to stay with her ideal husband forever. But in the end, she was just a weak little woman, just a pawn in the mutual control between the family and the emperor.
What should she do
If he gave up this identity, he would also have to sacrifice the lives of the 178 members of the Shen family. If he gave up this family, how far could he escape
"It's all my fault. I made the emperor unhappy." Shen Qingwan immediately knelt down, nodded slightly, and continued: "It's just that I can't help myself."
Fu Yuheng sneered and looked down at Shen Qingwan who was kneeling on the marble floor.
"I can't help myself?" He laughed. "What a good phrase. You mean I forced you to do it?"
Shen Qingwan kowtowed, "I have absolutely no such intention."
What should she do? Entering the palace is not right, and not entering the palace is not right either. Will everything be better if she dies
"Shen Qingwan, the position of Consort Xian was obtained by your father. If that's the case, don't blame me for being rude to you! You should know that you forced me to do all this. If you dare to do anything weird, don't blame me for being ruthless to you!"
Fu Yuheng gritted her teeth. She had reserved the position of Concubine Xian for Concubine Qi, but just because of Shen Tianao's words, she had to take her daughter into the palace.
There was no other way. He was a general in the capital, holding hundreds of thousands of troops. Without Shen Tianao, this country would not be able to survive. He clenched his fists and swore in his heart that one day, he would have to make the final decision on this country.
Shen Qingwan was stunned for a moment, and hadn't reacted yet. Dad forced him
Daddy clearly told me that it was the emperor's order and I couldn't disobey it, and there was nothing he could do. How could it be that he was my daddy
"What does the emperor mean by this?" Shen Qingwan raised her head, bewildered. "My father would never do this. Besides, the emperor is the supreme ruler, how could he be threatened by others?"
Fu Yuheng leaned over and clamped Shen Qingwan's chin fiercely, and said coldly: "Xianfei, Xianfei, why is it? You don't have to pretend to be confused. If you don't believe it, why don't you ask your father? You may not understand."
After saying that, he pushed her aside harshly.
He glanced at the silk cloth on the bed and said with disgust: "I will not favor you tonight, and I will not sleep with you in the same bed for ten years. However, you still have to put on enough drama."
After he finished speaking, he pulled out the dagger from his body, pulled Shen Qingwan to the edge of the bed, and pressed her hand on the silk cloth. With a "ss", blood flowed down Shen Qingwan's fingers and dripped onto the white silk cloth, like a lotus from hell.
"Tomorrow morning, remember to send this silk cloth to the Cining Palace!"
When Shen Qingwan reacted, she just smiled sadly. How pathetic!
Fu Yuheng was about to leave, but was stopped by Shen Qingwan, "Are you leaving before you've finished your performance? It would be a waste of effort."
She bandaged the wound with a piece of cloth and said, "Your Majesty can leave Changle Palace right now, but there will be rumors tomorrow that your Majesty did not stay in Changle Palace tonight. There are many people in the palace and the Majesty is not unaware of this."
Fu Yuheng paused slightly and then turned back.
"Shen Qingwan, are you threatening me?"
Shen Qingwan lowered her eyebrows and said: "I dare not, but what I said is the truth. The emperor sleeps in the bed, I..."
Before she could finish her words, Fu Yuheng interrupted her, "I am not used to sleeping without someone watching over me. You will kneel down and keep watch today."
Shen Qingwan looked at Fu Yuheng in shock. He actually hated her so much that he treated her like a maid
A tear rolled down her cheeks, but she couldn't allow herself to be sentimental. Since she had entered the palace and was a concubine, there was nothing to resent.
This is my fate.
Shen Qingwan nodded, "Yes."
Fu Yuheng was startled at first, then he glanced at Shen Qingwan who was already kneeling obediently on the ground, and got on the bed.
This woman...
"If the emperor falls asleep, I will turn off the lights."
Fu Yuheng didn't say anything, listening to Shen Qingwan's gentle footsteps, but his heart couldn't calm down for a long time. She didn't make a fuss, unlike other women. In the dark, Shen Qingwan's face couldn't be seen clearly, and Fu Yuheng didn't know what he felt in his heart.