After Transmigrating Into A Eunuch, I Became Famous In The Harem - Chapter 48

Consort Shu never imagined things would escalate to this point.

She couldn’t believe the Empress, Noble Consort, and Consort Zhen would actually intervene on behalf of this lowly servant! Weren’t they arguing over the same servant just moments ago?

Panic gripped her heart, her legs trembling with fear, yet she refused to yield. She was the most favored woman in the Imperial Harem. How could she be humiliated like this?

She turned to look at her elder sister, Consort Liang. Seeing her nod, she knew her savior was on the way.

Who in the Imperial Harem wields greater power than the Emperor? she thought.

But she had miscalculated.

While none could rival the Emperor’s authority, survival in the palace wasn’t about raw power. It was about navigating the intricate web of alliances and loyalties.

Concubine Lan, observing from the sidelines, maintained her innocent and spirited demeanor, but inwardly she sneered.

Does Consort Shu truly believe summoning someone will turn the tide?

The three Imperial Consorts were not to be trifled with. Apart from those with addled minds, like Consort Liang, all the other concubines had long since submitted to their authority. Everyone knew that obeying them was the key to a comfortable life in the Imperial Harem.

Indeed, the “savior” Consort Shu and Consort Liang had secretly summoned was none other than the Emperor himself.

As the announcement of the Emperor’s arrival echoed through the hall, all the imperial concubines rose from their seats and knelt, bowing in respectful welcome.

Liang Fujun gave Shao Yin a meaningful look, signaling her to kneel behind the chair’s shadow, head lowered, forbidden from looking at the Emperor.

The Emperor strode forward and took the seat where the Empress had previously sat, forcing her to sit beside him.

The other concubines had already risen and returned to their places, leaving only Consort Shu still kneeling on the ground.
A cold wind swept in with the Emperor, dispersing the warmth from the brazier and seemingly stripping Consort Shu of her resolve. Her kneeling figure, now as pliant as a willow branch, subtly adjusted itself into the most alluring posture to face the Emperor.

Seeing his beloved consort, whom he had favored just last night, now kneeling in Kunning Palace, the Emperor’s heart swelled with tenderness. He turned a frosty gaze to Guan Zhixian beside him. “What is the meaning of this? Is this how the Empress manages the Imperial Harem? If we favor one person, and the Empress punishes another, how can there ever be peace in the harem?”

He instinctively assumed the Empress was driven by jealousy, which had prompted her to act in such a way.

The Empress let out a cold laugh, unwilling to engage further with the Emperor. He was always so stubborn and unreasonable, convinced of his own logic. But was his logic truly valid?

Consort Shu remained prostrated on the floor, her delicate frame bowed low. Though the Emperor hadn’t yet ordered her to rise, a secret satisfaction already filled her heart.

Even if the Empress wished to punish her, what could she do? As long as she maintained the Emperor’s favor, she would always have a place in the Imperial Harem. Not even the Empress could challenge that.

The unwritten law of the harem was simple: those favored by the Emperor ruled the harem.

She lifted her head, determined to prove her position in the Emperor’s heart surpassed even that of the presumptuous eunuch who dared to scheme against the harem’s order, dreaming of becoming the Emperor’s favored consort.

Her eyes widened deliberately, feigning vulnerability and fear, tears glistening on the verge of spilling. “Your Majesty,” she whimpered, “it was all my fault. I acted improperly in the Empress’s chambers. I shouldn’t have reprimanded Eunuch Shao.”

Even the name “Eunuch Shao,” spoken in her soft, velvety voice, seemed to lose its harshness.

For a fleeting moment, the Emperor recalled that person.

He looked at Consort Shu before him, but the feeling was no longer the same.

Though Consort Shu possessed a delicate appearance, she lacked that heart-stirring compassion that made one want to protect her.

His gaze immediately sought out that little girl who had been absent from his side for several months.
Finally, he spotted her behind the Noble Consort—a slender yet upright figure, her head bowed in humility.

She stood there, somehow different from the others.

The Emperor finally understood why he had been so fond of the newly arrived Consort Shu last night.

She really did resemble Shao Yin a little.

Today was a good opportunity.

The Emperor turned to Guan Zhixian. “Empress, since the Noble Consort can’t manage this servant, I’ll take him back and discipline him myself.”

“A servant is still a servant. How could I let Consort Shu suffer because of one servant?”

The Empress maintained her dignified composure, her serene smile unshaken. Yet beneath her sleeve, her fingers were tightly clenched into her palm.

She looked at Consort Shu with a smile, her gaze calm and composed, yet carrying a thousand invisible blades, each one piercing Consort Shu’s heart.

Guan Zhixian spoke softly. “Your Majesty need not concern himself with this matter. You already bear the heavy burden of governing the realm. Leave the affairs of the Imperial Harem to me; I will handle them entirely.”

The Emperor’s expression turned frosty as he turned to the graceful Noble Consort. “Noble Consort, you took this servant from me, claiming you would train him properly. How has he become so useless, even to the point of bullying a consort?”

Liang Fujun rose gracefully to curtsy. “Your Majesty, it was not Shao Yin bullying Consort Shu. Consort Shu overturned a hot water pot, intending to scald me. Shao Yin merely shielded me from the scalding water; I don’t even know if he was burned himself.”

“Consort Shu has only recently entered the palace and hasn’t yet grown accustomed to the customs. She inadvertently offended the Empress, who is now explaining the palace rules to her and has made her kneel to listen.”

Liang Fujun’s words were laced with falsehoods, but who would dare expose her here?

Not even Consort Shu or Consort Liang dared to contradict her.

Listening to this, Shao Yin felt a chill run down her spine.
She had thought she had escaped the Imperial Harem, but now it seemed the Emperor still harbored designs on bringing her back.

Shao Yin had no desire to become the Emperor’s favored eunuch, nor did she wish to be restored to her feminine form after being favored, becoming a part of this harem, and being forced to curry favor with the Emperor for the sake of her Original Host’s brother’s future.

She wished the boiling water had splashed across her face, disfiguring her and erasing the Emperor’s lingering obsession with her.

Consort Zhen was also seething with anger.

“This was a game between the three of us—what does the Emperor have to do with it?”

Shao Yin was clearly a virgin, barely of age. Though it was unclear why she had disguised herself as a eunuch to enter the palace, it was obvious she had no desire to serve the Emperor.

Having spent years in the Imperial Harem, Consort Zhen knew all too well the hardships of palace life. Though she’d only known Shao Yin a short time, and the girl had angered her just yesterday, she’d only wanted to teach her a lesson with a gentle rebuke, not push her into the Emperor’s favor to suffer.

Across from the Noble Consort, Consort Shu watched as Shao Yin’s hand was scalded by boiling water. For a fleeting moment, she seemed to see the back of Shao Yin’s hand turning red.

The culprit now stood there, feigning innocence and fragility.

Had she been away from the palace for so long, failing to discipline these two sisters, that they’d forgotten she was no longer someone to be trifled with?

While the Empress and Noble Consort’s gazes were intimidating, Consort Zhen’s gaze struck Consort Shu with sudden panic.

She regretted everything.

She shouldn’t have provoked Consort Zhen. She shouldn’t have been so reckless.

Consort Zhen, however, turned away from the pleading look in Consort Shu’s eyes and focused on the three women seated together in the concubines’ corner.

Sensing Consort Zhen’s gaze, Concubine Lan lowered her head, a flicker of amusement crossing her eyes.

Does Consort Shu truly believe she’s won just because the Emperor has come?

She nearly laughed out loud.

Her elder sister, Consort Zhen, wasn’t someone who held a grudge lightly.

Though she appeared gentle, she was, in truth, ruthless.

In that instant, Yang Yuzhen suddenly stood up, shooting the Empress a reproachful glare. In a soft, gentle voice, she said, “Your Majesty the Empress, His Majesty has rarely found time to visit Kunning Palace and meet with us sisters. How could you possibly punish another consort now and dampen His Majesty’s spirits?”

The Emperor’s expression visibly softened at her words.

Consort Zhen was always the most considerate and gentle, knowing exactly what he desired.

He had originally planned to favor her today; it had indeed been quite some time since he last favored her.

Yet unexpectedly, Consort Zhen had suddenly called forward three young beauties.

These three beauties had been seated in the farthest corner, merely paying their customary respects to the Empress today. They had been secretly watching the three Imperial Consorts “compete for favor and jealousy” when Consort Shu unexpectedly interfered.

They never imagined their own opportunity would arise.

The fathers of these three beauties held mid-level sixth-rank positions in the court. They had been in the Imperial Harem for two years, but with so many consorts, it was difficult to receive any real favor. If they could conceive a child, not only would their fathers’ careers advance, but their own lives in the harem would also improve significantly.

“Why are you three still standing there? Don’t you see the Emperor is already angry? Hurry up and go before him to smooth things over.” Yang Yuzhen’s gentle gaze met that of the three beauties. The meaning in her eyes was clear.

Consort Zhen was urging them to seize the opportunity. If they could win the Emperor’s favor today and conceive an imperial heir, they would never need to scheme again.

These three hadn’t always possessed such delicate demeanors. Yang Yuzhen had recognized Consort Shu’s impending entry into the palace and had carefully cultivated them into the fragile beauties they now appeared to be.

At least, that’s how they appeared on the surface.

As expected, the Emperor’s attention was drawn to the three women.

Kneeling on the ground, Consort Shu couldn’t believe Consort Zhen had orchestrated this deception. By having her three beauties disguised in this manner, wasn’t she openly vying for the Emperor’s favor?

Yang Yuzhen glanced at Consort Shu, a glint flashing in her gentle eyes. Though her words were directed at the three beauties, her meaning was clear: “Didn’t you rehearse a dance? Wouldn’t you like to perform it for His Majesty? Today is your chance. Make sure to delight His Majesty—it’s our duty as imperial concubines.”

Yang Yuzhen’s words chilled Consort Shu to the bone.

She knew Yang Yuzhen was doing this deliberately.

She understood that Yang Yuzhen’s plan wasn’t to steal the Emperor’s affection from her today. But the fact that she had prepared these three beauties proved she had been planning this for a long time.

Now, Yang Yuzhen wasn’t just warning Consort Shu; she was teaching her a lesson. She wouldn’t threaten her with words; she would act directly, stripping Consort Shu of the very affection she cherished most.

Consort Shu and Consort Liang were truly foolish and naive. The Emperor’s philandering ways and sentimental nature were no secret among the ladies of the Imperial Harem.

Any concubine who tried to capture the Emperor’s heart was simply deluding themselves.

Even those three young beauties understood this clearly. They weren’t after the Emperor’s heart or affection; they only wanted a child. With a child, they and their families could scheme and manipulate their way to power.

The Emperor’s affection? It was as cheap and fleeting as a passing breeze.

As the music began, the three beauties danced gracefully within the hall, their sleeves swirling through the air.

Consort Zhen’s expression softened again as she glanced at the Empress and Noble Consort, a hint of smugness in her eyes.

Reprimanding Consort Shu and the others… that’s a job for someone with experience like me.

This time, she had won.

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