Chapter 38 Who Did She Go to See the Lanterns With?

Words : 1511 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Who Did She Go to See the Lanterns With?Shen Yunxi snatched the note. On it, written in red rouge, were two lines: ——The Crown Princess Consort’s nightgown is so comfortable to wear, and her bed so cozy to sleep in. The handwriting was delicate and graceful, unmistakably a woman’s. Shen Yunxi’s hands trembled. This is... Who left her such a note?! Could it be someone snuck into her bedchamber while she was away at Shengguo Temple?! As if afraid she wouldn’t know, they even left a note on purpose! This was an overt provocation! Among all the women bold enough to challenge her like this, it could only be that vixen from outside the palace! To think the Crown Prince actually brought her into the Eastern Palace, into her very bedchamber! While she was painstakingly copying Buddhist scriptures, that wretched woman had worn her gown, slept on her bed, and made love with the Crown Prince! Shen Yunxi’s face darkened visibly, as though a shadow had been cast over her countenance. She clenched the note tightly, her facial muscles beginning to twitch with rage. "Wretched woman... wretched woman!" Every palace maid and eunuch in the hall collapsed to their knees, trembling, clueless as to what had transpired. Shen Yunxi’s expression turned hideously twisted as she suddenly stood up and angrily tore the note to shreds. The thought that even the rouge and cosmetics on her dressing table might have been used by that wretched woman filled her with uncontrollable fury. In a fit of rage, she swiped every bottle and container off the table. Ornate boxes brimming with pearl hairpins and jewelry crashed to the ground, and for a moment, the chamber was filled with the clattering sound of rolling pearls. Her breathing rough and labored, Shen Yunxi rushed to her wardrobe. She started yanking out one lavish garment after another, flinging them onto the ground. Not content with just that, she viciously stomped on them for good measure. Sёarᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The thought that her clothes had been worn by her rival made her feel sick to her stomach. Her eyes reddened, and her voice turned hoarse: "Throw them away for me! Throw all these clothes out!" The palace attendants scrambled to comply. Shen Yunxi hurried over to her canopy bed, yanking the plush pillows and embroidered blankets off in disgust, tossing them onto the floor. She furiously ripped at the bed drapes, her face contorted and twisted: "Take everything out and burn it, burn all of it! Don’t leave a single piece behind! Replace everything in this bedchamber with new items!" The room was quickly turned into a chaotic mess as the palace attendants, terrified, followed her every command with utmost haste. Lianxin stepped in to console her: "Your Grace, please don’t get agitated. The more she tries to provoke you, the more we must refrain from losing our composure. She’s nothing more than a plaything in bed. She’ll never surpass you. Today is the Qixi Festival; you should adorn yourself and calmly await His Highness’ visit." "Get out of my way!" Shen Yunxi shoved her aside and screamed hysterically, "Ahhh! Ahhhhhh! Wretched woman! Wretched woman!! WRETCHED WOMAN!!! How can such a detestable woman exist in this world?! Once I catch her, I will skin her alive, gouge out her eyes, and make her wish for death over life! Ahhhhhhh——!!" Lu Ying appeared by the beaded curtain, only to find Shen Yunxi stomping and raging in madness. His eyes reflected nothing but indifference and cold detachment. Such occurrences were by no means unfamiliar. Whenever he occasionally favored other concubines, Shen Yunxi would fly into this kind of hysterical fit. And afterward, the concubine he had favored would mysteriously die by the following day. But he and Shen Yunxi were no ordinary husband and wife; they were the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort, the future Emperor and Empress of the Great Zhou. How could they drown in trivial matters of love and hate? With a frosty expression, Lu Ying left for Qianqing Palace alone, where the Emperor was drinking wine and admiring the moon alongside Noble Consort Zhang. Despite being thirty-five years old, Noble Consort Zhang retained her charms and was the Emperor’s favorite in the harem. Their son, Lu Zhengliu, was also present—a young man with jet-black hair, red lips, a golden hairpin, and crimson robes. Dashing and suave, he had already been bestowed the title of Prince Shen at a very young age. After Lu Ying paid his respects, he recalled that when he was Lu Zhengliu’s age, his mother had already passed away, and his maternal family was separated by vast mountains and rivers. There was no one in court to speak for him, though he was a legitimate son, he was neither granted a noble title nor even the position of Crown Prince. His current status as Crown Prince was something he had fought to seize with his own hands. He had taken it from the grasp of Shen Yinning’s lover. As he pondered this, he heard Noble Consort Zhang ask with a smile, "Today is the Qixi Festival. Why hasn’t the Crown Princess Consort accompanied His Highness?" Lu Ying replied indifferently, "The Crown Princess Consort made a small mistake and is presently confined to the Eastern Palace." "She’s just a young lady, prone to petty mistakes. There’s no need to go so far as to confine her over it," Noble Consort Zhang said with a warm, maternal smile. "The Crown Prince is too strict with her. It’s a festival today; she should be allowed to join the festivities." Her kind demeanor extended to all the princes and princesses, earning her high regard within the palace. Even Shen Yunxi liked to stay close to Noble Consort Zhang, as she never sternly enforced palace rules nor criticized her manners and decorum. Yet with her own son, Noble Consort Zhang held rigorous expectations. Thus, Lu Zhengliu grew up excelling in both scholarly and martial pursuits. Despite his youth, he had already faced trials at the border and remained untouched by the decadent airs of a pampered noble. Lu Ying responded, "You need not concern yourself, Noble Consort." "What tone is that?!" Emperor Lu Yu scolded with displeasure. "You should address Noble Consort Zhang as Mother Consort!" "Your Majesty..." Noble Consort Zhang quickly interceded, "It’s a holiday today, why lose your temper? The Crown Prince is still young; a little defiance is perfectly normal. Please don’t push him too hard. We’re all family, connected by blood and kinship. I don’t mind titles or formalities. As long as the Crown Prince is happy, that is enough for me." "You, always indulging the children!" Lu Yu dotingly tapped Noble Consort Zhang’s forehead. "The Crown Prince is already twenty! When I was his age, I had several sons! He’s nothing like me at that age—so immature!" Noble Consort Zhang picked up a grape, peeled it, and held it to his lips. "Your Majesty is wise and unmatched; naturally, no one can measure up to you." Lu Yu, his mood lifted, gazed at her radiant, charming face and smiled as he ate the grape. He even licked her fingertips lightly. Noble Consort Zhang’s cheeks flushed slightly as she cast him a shy yet admonishing look. "Your Majesty, behaving so improperly in front of the children!" Lu Yu chuckled, pulling her hand into his embrace. "What’s improper about the Emperor and his beloved consort being deeply in love and perfectly harmonious?" "Your Majesty..." Noble Consort Zhang cautiously glanced at Lu Ying’s expression. "’Deeply in love’ and ’perfectly harmonious’ are phrases meant to describe a wedded couple’s affection. I am but your consort and dare not misuse such words." "If I say we are deeply in love, then we are deeply in love!" Lu Yu sneered, turning his gaze toward Lu Ying. "I am the Emperor—who dares to object?!" Lu Ying remained expressionless. He understood Noble Consort Zhang’s schemes. She aspired to become Empress, but her lowly origin made her an objectionable choice to the court ministers. Thus, she had set her sights on securing the Crown Prince’s position for Lu Zhengliu instead. She believed that in Yong Country, Emperor Lu Yu held absolute power. But little did she know that the balance of power in court had already tilted toward him in secret. Although Lu Yu sat on the throne as Emperor, the one who truly decided who would occupy it was none other than himself, Lu Ying. Noble Consort Zhang and Lu Zhengliu were nothing more than laughable figures in his eyes. Twiddling a teacup in his hand, Lu Ying found no joy in the palace and, under the pretext of changing clothes, left Qianqing Palace. Lu Ying went to the Gao Family residence, only to be informed by Nanny Chen that Shen Yinning had gone out to view the lanterns. Lu Ying’s face remained impassive. "Who did she go with?"

Chapter 38 Who Did She Go to See the Lanterns With?

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