Chapter 13 This Palace Must See Who You Really Are

Words : 1518 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 13: Chapter 13 This Palace Must See Who You Really AreShen Yunxi had started preparing this grand hall several days in advance. Besides the traditional Dragon Boat Festival decorations such as mugwort and colorful ribbons, she had personally coordinated the menu and choice of fine wines with the Imperial Kitchen. She had resolved to lead the Eastern Palace concubines this evening in hosting a harmonious and joyous Dragon Boat Festival for Lu Ying, fully showcasing her virtues as the Crown Princess Consort—graceful, kind, gentle, and understanding. At the moment, she sat at the seat of honor, lightly caressing her teacup while casting disdainful glances at those chattering beauties below. Each of them was dressed ostentatiously, their laughter as showy as peacocks flaunting their feathers! Eyesores. Utterly insufferable eyesores! If not for the need to display her magnanimity, she would never have allowed these women to celebrate with the Crown Prince. She dearly wished to kill them all, so they'd stop coveting the Crown Prince! Seconds ticked by with the sound of the water clock, and the night outside the hall deepened fully. A torrential downpour began, rain lashing against the panes, while the flickering candlelight made the hall's interior feel a few degrees colder. The feast tables were piled high like mountains with dumplings, fine wine, and gourmet dishes. Yet Lu Ying continued to delay his return. The palace maids had already reheated the food again and again, to the point where the steamed dumplings nearly fell apart, and the fish, shrimp, and crabs had long lost their freshly-cooked flavor. After waiting for far too long, the Eastern Palace concubines' earlier excitement and anticipation faded, their chatter gradually quieting down. Shen Yunxi's expression grew darker and more unsightly with each passing moment. She had thought that the Crown Prince was merely having a brief exchange with his officials and would return shortly. But how much time had passed already! She demanded, "What hour is it?" Lianxin replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, it is nearly the hour of Yin." "The hour of Yin already..." Shen Yunxi anxiously stared into the rain-soaked night beyond the hall. "Why hasn't His Highness returned yet!" Lianxin tried to console her, "Perhaps the officials below requested the Crown Prince to indulge in some drinking, delaying things temporarily. It's not uncommon for something like this to happen." "A bunch of shameless, gluttonous wine barrels!" Shen Yunxi cursed. "Don't they realize what day it is? A whole gaggle of insufferable men, endlessly clinging to His Highness for what?!" Noticing the late hour, and some concubines already nodding off, Shen Yunxi impatiently waved her hand. "Disperse, all of you." She returned to her sleeping quarters but felt no trace of sleepiness. Gazing out at the incessantly falling rain, she clung onto a faint strand of hope as she asked, "Do you think His Highness will return tonight?" Lian Ye smiled faintly and replied, "Your Highness, have you forgotten? His Highness promised you he'd accompany you tonight. Perhaps he's simply tied up at the banquet and has been delayed. Men, after all, often linger when drinking and socializing. Once he sobers up, he'll likely return very soon." Shen Yunxi's eyes gradually lit up. "Yes, he promised me he would keep me company. He's never been one to break his word. He definitely won't let me down. Quickly, instruct the palace attendants to prepare hot water. I must bathe, change, and dress!" She took a bath, applied scented creams all over her body, ensuring every inch of her skin exuded an alluring fragrance. Changing into a carmine red ruqun dress, she then sat before her dressing table, meticulously adorning herself. Combing her hair, applying powder, painting her brows, adorning herself with forehead jewelry... Overflowing with the elation of soon sharing an enchanting night with her beloved, she didn't skip a single step. Only after an entire hour had passed did she feel satisfied with her preparations. Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, lavishly adorned with jewels and ornaments to exude delicate elegance and noble opulence, she mused, "They say wealth nourishes beauty. I didn't believe it before, but now I do. Three years ago, where would I have had the privilege to wear such phoenix-and-pearl hairpins or embroidered gowns with dragon-and-peony motifs?" She stroked her cheek and asked Lianxin, "Tell me, between myself and my elder sister of yesteryear, who is more beautiful?" Lianxin recalled Shen Yinning's breathtaking features and graceful figure from the past. Even as a fellow woman, she couldn't help but remember her vividly, unable to forget the Capital's most celebrated beauty of those days. The title wasn't given lightly. Despite the Crown Princess Consort's meticulous efforts in dressing up, in the face of absolute beauty, her charms could only pale in comparison. However, under Shen Yunxi's domineering gaze, Lianxin dared not voice her true thoughts. Instead, she respectfully replied, "Your Highness must be joking. How could that wretched woman, Shen Yinning, ever compare to you? Back then, it was only because Your Highness was younger and hadn't grown into your full bloom yet that she seemed more attractive. But now, without a doubt, Your Highness far surpasses her." This response brought Shen Yunxi great satisfaction. She picked up an enamel porcelain box full of fragrant powder and carefully dusted it over her neck. When the Crown Prince kissed her, he would surely be enchanted by her scent. She instructed the palace attendants to lay out the newly embroidered beddings featuring a mandarin duck motif, prepare nourishing soup and hot water for after the event, and even replaced the candles with festive red ones. Like a bride on her wedding night, she sat by the bed, her eyes brimming with anticipation and her cheeks flushed. The candles burned through the entire night. Shen Yunxi waited eagerly for Lu Ying's return to the palace. Yet even as the rain ceased and the first pale light of dawn broke over the east, she didn't see him return. Her once-immaculate makeup had become smeared and cracked, making her appear terribly disheveled. Leaning against the doorway of her bedchamber, her eye twitched uncontrollably as she muttered curses under her breath, "It must've been one of those gluttonous officials who offered beauties to His Highness, making him reluctant to return to the palace! If I find out who it was, I'll have their fathers and brothers stripped of their ranks!" "Your Highness! This servant has news!" Lian Ye gasped, hurriedly running back, breathless. "The Crown Prince did not spend the night drinking with his colleagues. He stayed at the Shen Garden!" "What?!" Shen Yunxi's voice shot up, her expression darkening like the bottom of a pot. "It must be that wretched woman seducing the Crown Prince again, keeping him from returning to celebrate with me! I haven't even gone after her for her previous offenses, yet she dares to act so brazenly! If I don't skin her alive today, she won't understand the severity of crossing me! Someone, prepare the carriage. We're going to the Shen Garden!" Shen Yunxi's carriage arrived at Shen Garden in the early morning. Gui Quan and De Sun had been dozing under the eaves of the veranda and were startled awake when Shen Yunxi's nanny shoved them aside before they had a chance to announce her arrival. Shen Yunxi stormed in, throwing open the bedchamber doors with force. "Your Highness!" Searᴄh the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The spring canopy curtains hung low. Half-burned red candles sat on the table, and the room was thick with the provocative and overpowering scent of musk. Shen Yunxi wasn't an inexperienced maiden—she knew well what such a scent implied. Her face turned ghastly pale, her eyes fixated on the draped bed canopy, her voice trembling. "Your Highness... You promised me, promised you'd spend last night with me for the festival. And yet, you... you..." The commotion stirred the occupants of the bed awake. Shen Yinning fluttered her long lashes open, a mocking and disdainful glint flashing across her gaze as she heard Shen Yunxi's clamorous outburst. She stretched out her arms to hook them languidly around Lu Ying's shoulders. As the silk quilt slid down, her flawless, ivory skin revealed traces of crimson marks scattered all over. "Your Highness... mmm..." In a hoarse, sultry voice, she let out a coy sound that was enough to make anyone blush and their heart race. Outside the bed canopy, Shen Yunxi failed to discern at once that the woman was Shen Yinning. Her chest heaved violently as disbelief and fury coursed through her. "You vile woman! How dare you commit such a shameless act with His Highness right in front of me?! Let's see who you really are!" Without a second thought, she charged forward and yanked back the bed canopy.

Chapter 13 This Palace Must See Who You Really Are

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