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Morning sunlight poured over the vast Imperial Palace of Tianzhou.
The weather was pleasant, neither too warm nor too cold. Gentle spring winds drifted through the palace grounds, carrying the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers from the imperial gardens.
Cherry blossoms swayed gracefully overhead.
Pink petals occasionally drifted from the trees, spinning through the air before settling upon stone pathways like scattered pieces of silk.
The palace appeared peaceful.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Yet beneath that beauty, rumors traveled faster than the wind.
And rumors could be far crueler than swords.
Shen Yunxi walked quietly along one of the palace pathways.
His pale robes moved gently with each step while sunlight danced across the embroidered patterns near his sleeves.
Beside him walked Mei Lian.
The maid carried a small basket and chatted happily as usual.
"The weather today is wonderful."
She looked up at the sky.
"If only every day could be like this."
Shen glanced toward her and smiled faintly.
Mei immediately pointed.
"There."
"You smiled again."
Shen instantly looked away.
The maid narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You're still smiling more than usual these days."
The male concubine pretended not to hear.
Mei snorted.
"Fine."
"I'll figure it out eventually."
The two continued walking.
Several palace servants passed by.
As usual, they bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Young Master Shen."
Shen nodded politely in return.
However-
Not every servant remained respectful once they thought he was out of earshot.
A little farther ahead stood two young palace maids carrying folded fabrics.
They had not noticed Shen Yunxi approaching.
Nor had they noticed Mei Lian.
The two maids spoke quietly.
Yet not quietly enough.
"I heard something yesterday."
"What?"
The first maid lowered her voice.
"It's about that mute concubine."
The second maid immediately became interested.
"Really?"
The first maid nodded eagerly.
"They said that someone from western garden was there that night."
"So?"
"So she saw him."
The second maid leaned closer.
"Saw what?"
The maid smirked.
"She saw Concubine Shen Yunxi with His Majesty."
The second maid gasped.
"No way."
"Yes."
"They were alone together at night."
The first maid lowered her voice even more dramatically.
"I heard he's trying to gain the Emperor's favor."
"What?"
The second maid widened her eyes.
"A mute?"
The first maid shrugged.
"Beauty can still be used."
The second maid covered her mouth.
"I heard the Emperor never pays attention to any of the concubines."
"Exactly."
"That's why everyone is talking."
The first maid snickered.
"Perhaps he found a new way to attract attention."
The second maid laughed softly.
"Maybe."
Neither noticed that Mei Lian had heard every single word.
The maid's face darkened immediately.
"What nonsense!"
She nearly marched toward them.
"How dare they-"
Before she could take another step-
A gentle hand stopped her.
Mei froze.
Shen Yunxi shook his head.
The concern in his eyes was obvious.
Mei stared at him.
"But Young Master-"
Shen simply shook his head again.
The maid clenched her fists.
Those rumors were unfair.
Cruel.
And completely untrue.
Yet Shen Yunxi merely offered her a small reassuring smile.
As if telling her it wasn't worth it.
Mei sighed heavily.
"You're too kind."
The two maids eventually disappeared around a corner, still gossiping.
Shen lowered his gaze.
The words had hurt.
Even if he refused to show it.
Several minutes later.
The atmosphere changed.
A familiar voice echoed across the pathway.
"Well, well."
Shen froze.
Mei immediately frowned.
Ahead stood Royal Consort Ning Xue.
Behind her stood Zhao Liyue.
Han Yurong.
Fang Xinyi.
All four women wore expensive robes decorated with precious jewels.
Yet none of their beautiful appearances could hide the hostility in their eyes.
Ning Xue smiled.
But it was not a pleasant smile.
"Look who we found."
The other concubines laughed softly.
Zhao Liyue crossed her arms.
"So the rumors are true."
Han Yurong sneered.
"You really are shameless."
Shen remained silent.
Fang Xinyi stepped forward.
"I didn't think someone like you would have such ambition."
Ning Xue slowly approached.
The servants nearby immediately became nervous.
Everyone knew trouble was coming.
The Royal Consort stopped only a few steps away.
Her gaze swept over Shen Yunxi from head to toe.
Disgust filled her eyes.
"How dare you spend time with His Majesty?"
Her voice was sharp.
"Do you truly think your face makes you special?"
Zhao Liyue scoffed.
"A mute trying to seduce the Emperor."
Han Yurong laughed.
"How pathetic."
Fang Xinyi added coldly,
"You should know your place."
The insults continued.
One after another.
Like arrows.
"You're nothing."
"A decoration."
"A toy."
"A mute."
The surrounding servants began whispering among themselves.
The rumors from earlier spread even faster.
Some believed them.
Some didn't.
But all of them watched.
Shen Yunxi lowered his gaze.
His hands trembled slightly beneath his sleeves.
Old wounds stirred within his chest.
Memories of childhood.
Memories of being unwanted.
Memories of being treated like something less than human.
Mei immediately stepped forward.
"Enough."
The maid spread her arms protectively.
"My master has done nothing wrong."
Ning Xue's expression darkened.
"And who gave a servant permission to speak?"
Mei glared.
"He hasn't harmed anyone."
Han Yurong laughed.
"Listen to her."
Fang Xinyi rolled her eyes.
"Even servants have become arrogant."
Then suddenly-
Zhao Liyue stepped forward.
And slapped Shen Yunxi.
The sound echoed loudly.
Shen stumbled backward.
Pain burned across his cheek.
The servants gasped.
Mei froze.
Ning Xue smiled coldly.
"You're just a nobody here."
Zhao Liyue sneered.
"The Princess isn't here anymore."
Han Yurong crossed her arms.
"No one will protect you."
The women laughed.
Cruel.
Mocking.
Heartless.
Mei rushed toward Shen.
"Young Master!"
She quickly helped steady him.
The sight only irritated Ning Xue further.
The Royal Consort stepped forward.
"Move."
Mei refused.
"No."
Ning Xue's eyes narrowed.
"You dare disobey me?"
The maid swallowed.
But stood her ground.
"My master has done nothing wrong."
For a brief moment-
Silence.
Then-
Ning Xue suddenly shoved Mei aside with her foot.
The maid cried out and fell onto the stone pathway.
Shen immediately reached toward her.
The Royal Consort raised her hand again.
Ready to strike.
Ready to humiliate him further.
Then-
A cold voice interrupted everything.
"What is happening here?"
Silence.
Instant silence.
Everyone froze.
Every servant immediately dropped to their knees.
The color drained from Ning Xue's face.
Shen slowly turned.
Standing at the end of the pathway was Emperor Xiao Zhenyu.
Behind him stood several guards.
And General Liang Fengxiao.
The Emperor's expression was terrifyingly cold.
Far colder than usual.
His gaze slowly swept across the scene.
The frightened servants.
The fallen maid.
Shen Yunxi's reddened cheek.
And the raised hand of Ning Xue.
The atmosphere instantly became suffocating.
No one dared breathe.
No one dared speak.
Zhenyu's eyes finally landed on Shen Yunxi.
For a brief moment-
Something dark flickered within them.
Not anger toward Shen.
But anger for him.
The Emperor took one step forward.
Then another.
His voice remained calm.
Yet somehow that calmness felt far more frightening than shouting.
"I asked a question."
The entire pathway seemed to freeze beneath his gaze.
And for the first time-
The Royal Consort and the three concubines realized they may have gone too far.
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(End of Chapter 29)