Just a Wet Nurse, Just a Plaything? Everyone Wept After My Death - Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Although Xiao Jingheng had ordered the Northern Compound renovated and a fur cloak made for Shen Yingyue, such sudden and overwhelming favor often brought even fiercer storms in its wake within the imperial harem.

Several days later, the skies were clear for once.

According to palace rules, newly appointed concubines had to visit the Imperial Household Department to verify the specifications for their name plaques. With no way to avoid the errand, Shen Yingyue left the Northern Compound with the palace maid called Cui’er.

To avoid attracting attention, she deliberately chose the most secluded path through the Imperial Garden.

But some people simply could not be avoided.

“Well, well. Isn’t this our newly appointed Second Attendant Shen?”

As she reached a flower-lined path paved with cobblestones, a shrill, cutting voice suddenly rang out.

Shen Yingyue stopped and looked up.

Noble Lady Li sat in the pavilion ahead, surrounded by attendants and clutching a hand warmer. She wore a brilliant crabapple-red palace gown today, with her hair covered in pearls and jade. The look she gave Shen Yingyue was like a poisoned blade.

Of all the people she could have run into.

Shen Yingyue drew a deep breath, stepped forward, and dipped into a respectful curtsy.

“Greetings, Noble Lady Li. May you enjoy lasting peace and good fortune.”

“Good fortune?”

Noble Lady Li sneered. She slowly rose and approached Shen Yingyue, circling her once as the jealous fire in her eyes threatened to erupt.

“Just look at that figure and that pretty face. You may be dressed in such delicate pink, but no matter how I look at you, I can still smell the stench of breast milk you can’t wash away.”

The palace maids and eunuchs around them burst into laughter.

Shen Yingyue kept her head lowered, her expression unchanged. “If Noble Lady Li has no further orders, I must report to the Imperial Household Department. Please excuse me.”

“Stop! Who gave you permission to leave?”

Noble Lady Li barked and moved to block her path.

“Lady Shen, have you forgotten the order of rank in my presence? Is the Imperial Garden somewhere a woman like you may wander at will? Your ill fortune has spoiled my mood while I was admiring the flowers. What punishment do you deserve?”

She was plainly looking for an excuse to torment her.

Shen Yingyue knew there would be no peaceful end to this encounter, so she simply knelt. “I acknowledge my fault and ask Noble Lady Li to punish me.”

“Since you know you were wrong, I ought to teach you a lesson you won’t forget.”

Noble Lady Li pointed at the rough cobblestone path beneath her feet, its stones jutting up in sharp, uneven ridges. A cruel smile curved her lips.

“This path is called the Lotus-Bloom Path. Nothing tempers one’s character better.

“Since you come from such humble origins, kneel here and reflect on your mistakes. You may rise when the sun sets.”

It was only just past noon. Sunset was still at least four hours away.

Worse, the winter cobblestones were as cold and hard as iron. If she knelt on them for four hours, her legs would be ruined.

“Noble Lady Li…” Shen Yingyue began.

“What? Are you unwilling?” Noble Lady Li’s gaze sharpened. “Or do you mean to use the Emperor to pressure me? Don’t forget, the official on the spot holds more sway than the sovereign far away. The Emperor is discussing affairs of state at court and cannot save you now!”

Shen Yingyue gritted her teeth and said nothing more.

She slowly straightened her back and lowered herself onto the icy, unyielding cobblestones.

The sharp stones immediately dug into the flesh around her kneecaps. Excruciating pain shot through her nerves and straight to her head. Shen Yingyue let out a muffled grunt, but she forced her spine straight and remained silent.

A bitter wind howled around her. Though the sun was out, it offered no warmth at all.

An hour passed.

Then two.

Shen Yingyue’s face grew paler and paler. Cold sweat covered her forehead, and her legs had long since gone numb, leaving only the crushing agony of bones being ground to pieces. Her body swayed precariously, as if she might faint at any moment.

“Sister Shen!”

Just then, a startled cry came from nearby.

Su Wan, First Attendant Su, happened to be passing with a basket of medicine in her hand. When she saw Shen Yingyue kneeling on the ground, barely able to remain upright, all color drained from her face. Throwing caution aside, she rushed over.

“Why are you kneeling here? Your legs will be ruined in this cold!”

Su Wan reached out to help Shen Yingyue, but Noble Lady Li stopped her with a sharp shout.
“First Attendant Su, I am disciplining an unruly concubine. Do you intend to interfere as well?”

The sight of Noble Lady Li made Su Wan shrink back in fear. But when she saw Shen Yingyue’s agony, she summoned her courage, dropped to her knees, and kowtowed in supplication.

“Noble Lady Li, please show mercy!

“Second Attendant Shen still has to care for the Ninth Prince. If she ruins her health from kneeling, it may be difficult to explain matters to the Emperor. Please, for the sake of our sisterhood, spare her this once!”

“Sisterhood? Who is her sister? And who would call someone from a shabby background like yours a sister?”

The mention of the Emperor struck Noble Lady Li where it hurt, sending her temper soaring. As she looked down at Su Wan kneeling humbly at her feet and pleading for mercy, all the malice inside her erupted at once.

“You think you’re worthy of lecturing me? Get out of my way!”

Noble Lady Li raised one platform-shod foot and kicked Su Wan viciously in the shoulder.

“Ah!”

Su Wan was too frail to withstand the blow. She toppled backward, slamming her forehead against the sharp edge of a Taihu rock beside the path.

Thud!

Blood gushed from the wound, streaming down Su Wan’s deathly pale cheek and staining the remaining snow crimson.

“Sister Su!”

Shen Yingyue, who had endured everything in silence until now, saw what happened. Her pupils contracted, and a heartrending cry tore from her throat.

Ignoring the excruciating pain in her knees, she scrambled over on all fours and gathered the blood-covered Su Wan into her arms.

“Sister Su! Are you all right? Don’t scare me…”

Su Wan pressed a hand to her forehead, blood seeping between her fingers. She shook her head weakly. “I’m… I’m fine…”

The blood on the ground startled Noble Lady Li as well, but she quickly resumed her arrogant demeanor to conceal her panic.

“Hmph. Why put on such an act when you’re this frail? I barely touched you. What rotten luck!”

She flicked her handkerchief and, unable to entirely hide her unease, ordered the palace servants behind her, “Let’s go! The sight of these two shabby sisters makes me sick!”

“Stop.”

An icy voice came from behind her.

Noble Lady Li halted and looked back.

Shen Yingyue was still kneeling on the ground, cradling the injured Su Wan in her arms. Slowly, she raised her head. The face that was usually lowered in meek submission was now covered in frost.

And those eyes…

All the forbearance and submission from moments ago had vanished. Nothing remained but naked, bone-chilling hatred. She was like a she-wolf driven into a corner, staring down her prey.

Her gaze remained locked on Noble Lady Li as she enunciated every word.

“First Attendant Su and I will remember the ‘favor’ Noble Lady Li bestowed upon us today for the rest of our lives.”

Noble Lady Li’s heart lurched beneath that stare, and an inexplicable chill ran through her. But she quickly steadied herself and gave a cold snort.

“Good. Make sure you remember it and learn to behave. Otherwise, next time, you’ll be the one bleeding!”

With that, she hurried away with her entourage, her retreat looking almost flustered.

Silence returned to the Imperial Garden.

Shen Yingyue took out a handkerchief and pressed it against the wound on Su Wan’s forehead with trembling hands. At last, her tears spilled over.

“Why… Why would you do something so foolish…?”

Su Wan forced a smile and took her hand. “In this palace, we’re… moss. And moss can’t survive unless it clings together…”

Shen Yingyue looked at the grisly wound on Su Wan’s forehead, then lowered her gaze to her own knees, already grotesquely swollen and oozing blood.

She closed her eyes and forced the overwhelming hatred back into the depths of her heart, bit by bit, forging it into the hardest armor.

“Sister Su, don’t worry.”

She whispered into Su Wan’s ear, her voice as cold as the winter wind.

“Your blood will not have been shed in vain.

“I will remember this debt Noble Lady Li owes us.

“One day, I will make her kneel before us and swallow… every last stone on this ground!”