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"Although it’s a pity, on the other hand, it’s not bad that both Concubines were scratched and disfigured. They strut around every day as if they are Concubines." Lady Tao finished talking and continued to drink her tea.

Early the next morning, Concubine Xu arrived at the Xiaoxiang Pavilion with a folding fan covering her face and a handkerchief in her hand, and she promptly relayed the important news to Shen Chuwei.

"Lady Shen, yesterday Concubine Xue’s face was scratched by a cat, and it seems there’s a danger of disfigurement."

Upon hearing these words, Shen Chuwei guessed that the cat from yesterday was released by Xueyan on purpose, its claws deliberately smeared with poison, the intent was clear.

The cat’s target was her, but it ended up scratching Concubine Xu.

The poison she applied wasn’t easy to cure, indeed there was the risk of facial decay.

Shen Chuwei stared at Concubine Xu’s face for a while, then asked, "Does it hurt?"

Concubine Xu shook her head, "Not much pain, just a bit itchy. I’d scratch if I weren’t afraid of disfigurement."

Yesterday, Shen Chuwei had warned her not to scratch the wound, no matter how itchy, or she would face disfigurement.

Shen Chuwei said, "Itchiness indicates that the wound is healing, just endure it for a few days and it will be better."

"As long as it doesn’t disfigure, I can bear with it." Women love beauty, and Concubine Xu loves it even more. She wouldn’t want to live if she were disfigured.

"I asked Little Guizi to pick some cherries, eating something can divert your attention." Shen Chuwei led Concubine Xu to sit down at the round table under the tree, which was laid with fresh cherries and pastries.

Though confined, they had no worries about food and drink.

Lady Tao received the message as well and hurried over. After hearing from Shen Chuwei that Concubine Xu was not seriously harmed, she finally felt relieved.

"Why do I feel that Concubine Xue is somewhat foolish? Lady Shen is locked up now, and it’s being rumored that Lady Shen is completely out of favor. Yet Concubine Xue still spends effort to deal with Lady Shen," Lady Tao wondered aloud.

Concubine Xu speculated, "Perhaps Concubine Xue cannot bear to see Lady Shen being prettier than her, and wants to ruin her."

Lady Tao nodded her head, "That possibility cannot be ruled out."

In order to divert Concubine Xu’s attention, the four of them ended up playing the card game Fight the Landlord.

Except for Shen Chuwei, Concubine Xu, Lady Tao, and Chun Xi’s faces were all covered with paper notes.

In the end, Shen Chuwei, being overtired, said, "I can’t hold up any longer, have Little Rabbit replace me."

Concubine Xu couldn’t help but tease, "Why are you so sleepy? You’re even sleepier than before."

"Maybe it’s because of the summer. No more talking, I’m going to sleep for a while." Shen Chuwei made her way to let Little Rabbit take her place and soon fell asleep in the rattan chair.

In the past, the four of them would often play Fight the Landlord together to relieve tension and entertain themselves, and Little Rabbit, who had watched, had learned a bit as well.

Once Little Rabbit joined the game, the three of them turned the situation around, sticking paper notes all over Little Rabbit’s face.

Concubine Xu had her focus entirely on the cards due to Fight the Landlord, her attention was on the game and winning or losing.

And all of this was being observed by a man in black, hidden in the tree.

The man in black had been monitoring every move of Shen Chuwei these past few days,

and only when back in Yixiang Hall did her attention return to her cheeks.

She couldn’t help but want to scratch them constantly.

Especially when lying in bed trying to sleep, feeling hot and itchy, she couldn’t focus on sleeping at all.

She simply got out of bed, came to the table, and poured herself a glass of water to drink.

The man in black silently leaped in from the outside window and sat down directly at the table.

He poured himself a cup of cool tea with polished movements as if he were in his own home.

Previously, Concubine Xu would have been terrified upon the sudden visits of the man in black, but now having grown accustomed to them, she wasn’t surprised to see him and continued to drink her tea composedly.

The man in black lifted the teacup, his gaze falling on Concubine Xu’s face, where a white bandage concealed the wound.

Concubine Xu stepped forward to save Shen Chuwei and was injured as a result.

It indeed surprised him,

In the Imperial Palace, friendships and family ties are the most insincere.

From his observation, the relationship between Concubine Xu and Shen Chuwei was not bad and truly sincere.

"Your face, how is it?"

Concubine Xu lifted her chin, "Are you here to laugh at me? If so, you’ll be disappointed, Lady Shen said I wouldn’t be disfigured."

"It was merely a casual inquiry." The man in black took a sip of tea, "I am here to ask what Lady Shen did to the cat yesterday to make it so obedient?"

"How would I know? I was scared stiff at the time." Concubine Xu was still frightened when she thought about it.

The man in black said coldly, "Really ignorant, what’s the use of you?"

Concubine Xu was drinking tea when she heard this and coughed violently in fright.

Was this a signal to silence her for good?

She hurriedly explained, "I answer every question I can, how can you say I’m useless? What answer could I give to things I don’t know about? Can’t you be reasonable?"

The man in black, with one leg crossed over the other, looked at Concubine Xu with a smile that was not quite a smile, "I’m not a good person, why should I talk sense?"

Refusing to give up, Concubine Xu argued with reason, "But I did help you, and even if I’m no longer of any use, we should part on good terms, shouldn’t we?"

The man in black laughed out loud, propped himself up from the round table and stood up, his eyes cold and devilishly charming as he drew close to her, pausing between each word, "You may not realize that I’ve killed countless people, and if you don’t behave, killing you will be as simple as crushing an ant. "

Concubine Xu was terrified, struggling to swallow, "Couldn’t you spare my life in light of the help I’ve given you? I’m only seventeen years old, I haven’t seen the outside world yet, I haven’t met my Prince Charming, I still don’t understand what love is, to die so young would be so regretful!"

The man in black couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing this, "Look at your ambitions."

It wasn’t until the man in black had left through the window that Concubine Xu realized he was just trying to frighten her by acting tough, using her for entertainment!

She quietly cursed in her heart, if you manage to scare me again, I might as well take your surname!

*

Shen Chuwei had been asleep all morning until Chun Xi woke her up.

"Miss, what would you like for lunch? Do you want Braised Pork?"

Shen Chuwei shook her head, "No, I feel like having Sour and Spicy Potato Shreds and Chili Tofu."

"All right." Chun Xi happily went to prepare lunch.

The lunch from the Imperial Kitchen was still delivered by that tall little eunuch. When the meal was placed on the dining table,

Four-Happiness Meatballs, Venison, Crystal Pork Knuckle, Braised Pork...

Shen Chuwei was shocked at the sight of the lunch spread.

"Is the sun rising from the west today? This meal is almost comparable to the Empress’s."

"Miss, please enjoy your meal with peace of mind." The man in black bowed and smiled lightly; in fact, he had swapped these dishes from someone else–

Shen Chuwei glanced at the little eunuch, who appeared guilt-ridden as he lowered his head. She wasn’t worried about him poisoning the food or anything.

With such a lavish meal provided by the Imperial Kitchen, there was no reason not to eat.

Picking up her chopsticks, Shen Chuwei finished the Four-Happiness Meatballs and looked eagerly at the Crystal Pork Knuckle, feeling a craving as she hadn’t eaten it for some time.

She bit into the Crystal Pork Knuckle and felt a violent churn in her stomach, gagged a few times, and stood up to run to the trash can to vomit.

Chun Xi patted Shen Chuwei’s back in a soothing manner, "Miss, are you all right?"

Seeing this, the little rabbit stepped forward, grabbed the little eunuch, and demanded, "Tell us, what did you put in the food?"