TCCRMMAICSTA Chapter 23

Yu Wanwan, who had been struggling for her life, heard the voice and was so overwhelmed that her eyes turned red with excitement.

 

【Wuwuwu, Auntie Empress Dowager has finally come to save me.】

 

【My eyes are leaking tears. Carrying Auntie’s banner was definitely the right choice.】

 

She cried out loudly, “Empress Dowager, please save your servant’s pathetic life!”

 

“Let go of Yu Wanfu,” the Empress Dowager bellowed as she strode into the hall.

 

At that moment, Shufei, who had been reclining on the soft couch, couldn’t sit still anymore. She quickly got up.

 

“Your servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager.” Shufei said with a smooth voice.

 

The Empress Dowager ignored her greeting and went straight to Yu Wanwan’s side. After glancing at him to confirm he wasn’t injured, she let out a sigh of relief.

 

“Get up.”

 

Upon hearing this, Yu Wanwan quickly scrambled to her feet, while Shufei, too, stood up. But the Empress Dowager’s angry voice cut through the air again.

 

“Did I tell you to get up?”

 

Shufei was dumbfounded. The Empress Dowager was taking her anger out on her for the sake of a mere eunuch?

 

With an innocent expression, Shufei responded, “Empress Dowager, I’m newly pregnant, and in these first three months, my body is fragile. The imperial physician advised bed rest.”

 

Yu Wanwan thought: 【Auntie Empress Dowager, better to believe there are ghosts in this world than to trust a word out of Shufei’s lying mouth!】

 

【Just moments ago, she was cursing me with full strength—she could give birth to a Nezha if she wanted. Fragile like Lin Daiyu? Please.】

 

 

T/N: When Yu Wanwan says Shufei could “give birth to a Nezha,” she’s mocking her for pretending to be weak. Nezha is a strong, rebellious figure from Chinese mythology, so he’s sarcastically saying that “She’s pretending to be weak, but she’s actually strong enough to handle anything.”

 

Yu Wanwan is mocking Shufei by comparing her to Lin Daiyu, a famous character from Dream of the Red Chamber known for being fragile and weak. Shufei is pretending to be weak due to her pregnancy, but Yu Wanwan knows she’s faking it. 

 

The Empress Dowager glanced coldly at Shufei’s belly and then scoffed, “If this child is so weak, then even if it’s born, it’ll be sickly. The royal family has no need for such heirs.”

 

Shufei’s face turned as pale as a sheet. “No… no… You’ve misunderstood, Empress Dowager. It’s just a little weak in these first three months.”

 

Without responding, the Empress Dowager walked straight over to the couch and sat down.

 

“Yu Wanfu, tell me what happened.”

 

The Empress Dowager’s demeanour was resolute, clearly ready to stand up for Yu Wanfu no matter what. She thought: Although I haven’t been involved in palace matters, I know very well what kind of women these concubines are.

 

Shufei usually plays her petty games and schemes against other women, and I’ve turned a blind eye because, after all, I also fought my way through the palace’s struggles. But! She dared to target my precious Yu Wanfu.

 

What’s Yu Wanfu done wrong? He’s just a eunuch. If Shufei can’t even tolerate him, then I absolutely cannot tolerate her.

 

Besides… the more I look at Yu Wanfu, the more he reminds me of an old acquaintance. That person didn’t have a son, and I haven’t heard from him in many years…

 

In short, Shufei picking a fight with Yu Wanfu is the same as picking a fight with me.

 

Yu Wanwan’s eyes twinkled like stars as he recounted the whole series of events.

 

After hearing him out, the Empress Dowager shot a cold glance at Shufei. “You’re very idle, aren’t you?”

 

Just three words, and Shufei was suddenly on high alert as if facing a formidable enemy.

 

“This servant…..I..”

 

Yu Wanwan internally: 【Wuwuwu… Auntie Empress Dowager is so cool, she’s the kind of woman who could flip her bike into a ditch and still stand up pulling a perfect 6!】

 

T/N “Pulling a perfect 6” (拉完美6) means doing something exceptionally well or flawlessly in Chinese slang. It’s basically like “slay” Lol

 

【 This scheming b*tch Shufei is way too jealous. All I did was help the Empress get favoured for one day, and look at how desperate she is. Big thumbs down!】

 

【And here she is plotting against me, while the Emperor’s already planning to send a team to get rid of the baby in her belly.】

 

The Empress Dowager, hearing this, smiled knowingly. Yu Wanfu really is sharp! He even knows that the Emperor can’t tolerate Shufei’s pregnancy. It seems he must have the Emperor’s trust—just as she expected from someone she favours.

 

Shufei’s entire body went cold hearing this. How could this be? Yesterday, after the Imperial Physician confirmed her pregnancy, the Emperor even rewarded her with plenty of gifts. How could he be plotting to get rid of her child?

 

Her maternal family has no political or military power; she climbed to this position all on her own. The Emperor has no reason to be wary of her…

 

But these words came straight from Yu Wanfu’s thoughts, and lately, he’s been serving not only the Emperor but several other concubines as well. This news is likely true!

 

Panicking, she turned to Yu Wanwan: “Eunuch Yu, this is all a misunderstanding! I listened to Guimomo’s slander. They say pregnancy makes you foolish for three years, and I’ve just gotten pregnant and already my brain’s muddled.”

 

T/N: 一孕傻三年 yī yùn shǎ sān nián, a traditional saying in Chinese culture meaning pregnancy can make a woman scatterbrained for years after

 

She quickly added, “Granny Gui has been spreading lies in the palace, slandering Eunuch Yu. Drag her out and give her a yizhanghong! ”

 

T/N: 一丈红 yī zhàng hóng, a traditional punishment in ancient Chinese palaces where the victim was beaten on the buttocks with a long staff

 

Hearing this, Yu Wanwan couldn’t help but be impressed. Just a moment ago, Guimomo wanted to give Xiao Qing a yizhanghong , and now that same punishment is falling on her own head.

 

Granny Gui, who was Shufei’s right-hand woman just seconds ago , has now become the scapegoat for Shufei to escape blame. This palace is truly a battlefield.

 

【I, Wanwan…really need to tread carefully here.】

 

Shufei was intensely focused, waiting for Yu Wanfu to speak more. Come on, Yu Wanfu, tell me why the Emperor has it out for me. Can I keep this child or not?

 

She was utterly terrified. If the Emperor is truly determined to get rid of her baby, there’s no way she’ll be able to pin the blame on anyone else. This child was doomed to be lost.

 

Seeing that Granny Gui was dealt with and Shufei had admitted fault, the Empress Dowager calmly stood up and said, “If you’re pregnant with the imperial heir, then stay quiet for a while. That’s the only advice I’ll give you.”

 

“If you’re really so bored, copy some Buddhist scriptures to calm your mind.”

Shufei nodded repeatedly, “Yes, Empress Dowager.”

 

Because of Yu Wanwan’s words, Shufei’s tone and attitude became much more restrained, with none of the arrogance and conceit from earlier.

 

Yu Wanwan silently shook her head when she saw this: 【Truly, pitiful people always have something detestable about them.】

 

【 Do you still not understand why the Emperor can’t tolerate you?】

 

【You’re sharp when it comes to scheming against other women, but now your mind can’t even process this situation.】

 

【The Emperor doesn’t want you or your child because you’ve got too many thoughts swirling around—more than a sieve has holes. You schemed so much that you made the Emperor despise you!】

 

【Think about it. How many people have you plotted against? You even used the Emperor as a pawn in your plans! Aren’t you treating the Emperor like a fool?】

 

Upon hearing this, Shufei collapsed to the ground, grief-stricken.

 

So… this was the reason all along.

 

No wonder, even after confirming her pregnancy, the Emperor hadn’t come to see her, only sending some rewards.

 

She clenched her fists: This consort worked so hard to climb to the rank of consort, I cannot just be discarded by the Emperor like this.

 

I don’t regret targeting Yu Wanfu today, because… if he hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have known the Emperor’s true thoughts. But now what do I do?

 

As she saw Yu Wanfu about to leave Shuyi Palace with the Empress Dowager, Shufei hurriedly called out, “Eunuch Yu, wait!”

 

Yu Wanwan immediately stopped and turned back: “What orders does Shufei have for this servant?”

 

【If this old fox doesn’t offer me some compensation for my mental distress, I swear I’ll be livid.】

 

Shufei quickly followed up, “Today’s events were my fault. I’ll give you some silver as compensation.”

 

She then ordered someone to fetch the silver.

 

Yu Wanwan immediately expressed gratitude: “Your Highness was simply misled by wicked people. This servant thanks you for your generosity.”

 

【Ah, now this is more like it. Knowing when to admit your mistakes—there’s still some hope for you.】

 

Even the Empress Dowager looked at Shufei in surprise. Shufei was notorious for never admitting her wrongs, always finding ways to shift the blame onto others.

 

Though Shufei’s face remained calm, inside she was on the verge of breaking down.

 

Yu Wanfu, say something ! After admitting my fault, what should I do to make the Emperor abandon his idea of ​​getting rid of the child in my womb?

 

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