strictlysupreme Chapter 29 Establishing Authority in the Palace
Chapter 29 Establishing Authority in the Palace
Thirty strokes of the cane nearly killed Ying'er, and she could no longer stay in the palace. Shen Li asked the nanny to send her back and replace her with someone else.
After Shen Li left, Consort Zheng's lips never left her mouth.
"Did you see her pale face? Even the most talented woman in the capital is nothing special." Consort Zheng finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling refreshed both physically and mentally.
Su Mei chimed in, "Her little tricks are no match for Her Majesty. If she doesn't know what's good for her, we'll beat her too."
"Hit her?" Consort Zheng scoffed. "Do you believe that if I hit her today, I'll be drowned in the spittle of the censors tomorrow?"
"She has that much influence?"
"The Shen family has presided over the imperial examinations for two generations for decades, and their students and former officials are all over the court. Openly confronting them will not only not bring any advantage, but may even lead to losses." Zheng Gui was also worried when he mentioned the Shen family, and couldn't help but rub his forehead.
"But now that she's in the palace, I won't let her leave so easily." She snorted and asked, "Have you taken care of everything below?"
"Everything has been confessed." Su Mei said, then laughed triumphantly again: "Those maids and servants know how to deal with people."
Consort Zheng raised the corners of her lips: "I want to see just how much she can endure."
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
The side hall where Shen Li lived was quite nice. Not long after she arrived, people from the Imperial Household Department delivered a complete set of paintbrushes, paints, and paper. Since it was for Consort Zheng's painting, all the materials were of the highest quality.
She stood in front of the desk and tried to pick up a brush. Consort Zheng was indeed a beauty who could inspire painters. If she was in a good mood, she might be able to paint a decent picture.
"Madam Gu, lunch is served." A palace maid came over.
Shen Li put down her paintbrush and walked over to see four plates of vegetarian dishes and a bowl of soup on the dining table. She remembered these dishes clearly; they were not only bland but also very unpalatable.
In her previous life, in order not to make things worse and put the Crown Prince in a difficult position, she endured this kind of food for a whole month. Coupled with being urged to paint day and night, even her iron body became weak and she almost fell ill.
"Is this what you eat in your palace?" She stood by the table, her pale, colorless gaze fixed on the two of them.
The two women felt an inexplicable sense of oppression. The older palace maid replied coldly, "With the Empress Dowager's birthday approaching, the Consort is practicing frugality in her palace. Does Madam find this inappropriate?"
Shen Li raised an eyebrow, setting a trap for her.
"Whether it's appropriate or not is a matter for your own palace, but I don't eat this. To be frugal... I'll give it to you." Shen Li looked at her leisurely: "Don't waste it."
The palace maid's expression changed as she looked at the dishes, and she immediately asked, "What does Madam mean by this? Is she dissatisfied with the meal prepared by the Imperial Concubine?"
"You're the one who eats the food, and it's up to you to decide whether you're satisfied or not." Shen Li pulled her down to sit, placing her hands on her shoulders, and said, "I will explain the reason to His Majesty later."
The palace maid's face paled. She noticed that Shen Li wasn't referring to the Imperial Concubine, but to His Majesty.
Perhaps other noblewomen would exaggerate the danger of appealing to the emperor, but Shen Li definitely has the ability to do so.
The old tutor of the Shen family was His Majesty's teacher, Minister Shen was His Majesty's study companion, and Shen Li was someone His Majesty watched grow up. Even some of the unfavored princes and princesses did not see His Majesty as many times as Shen Li.
His Majesty will surely come to the Consort's palace later. If Shen Li says anything in front of the Emperor, it will be a disaster for a lowly palace maid like her.
The palace maid weighed her options for a moment, and then almost immediately picked up her chopsticks.
Shen Li kept her hands on her shoulders and looked up at another, younger palace maid.
"Madam, what are your orders?" The little palace maid was so frightened that she knelt down. Who said this lady was bookworm? Her imposing manner was no less than that of any master in the palace.
"It's alright, I'm going out to get something to eat. My maid will help take care of things when she arrives." Shen Li said, placing a small gold ingot on the table and smiling at her, "Thank you for your trouble."
The palace maids were stunned when they saw the gold ingot. That gold ingot was at least ten taels. It was just given away casually as a reward, even though it was neither a New Year nor a festival and there was no happy occasion.
I'd heard that wealthy and powerful families didn't value money, but I never imagined they were this extravagant—even more generous than the imperial concubine!
"Yes, this servant will certainly take good care of you." The palace maid's voice trembled, but this time it was out of joy.
Shen Li walked out of the side hall with satisfaction and headed out of Anhua Palace alone. The palace maids and eunuchs looked at her with surprise when they saw her coming out alone.
Shen Li smiled and greeted all the gazes, appearing to be in a very good mood.
The palace maids and eunuchs looked at each other in bewilderment. This woman's leisurely demeanor was as if she were strolling in her own backyard. They just didn't know where she was going.