Chapter 71 – 71 70 Bitten by a Dog

Chapter 71: Chapter 70: Bitten by a Dog Chapter 71: Chapter 70: Bitten by a Dog Shen Haisheng and Madam Shen exchanged a glance, not even sure whether their own sister had shared the emperor’s bed?

Shen Mingzhu’s complexion turned somewhat unsightly.

You don’t know whether I’ve shared his bed?

Haven’t you only had the honor a few times yourself?

What’s there to show off about?

In the past, she would have slapped her across the face already, letting Shen Chuwei remember her place as a concubine born daughter.

But now, Shen Chuwei’s status was higher than hers, so she had to endure.

No wonder Shen Chuwei was surprised; she had always thought that, other than her, everyone else in the East Palace had shared the emperor’s bed.

Now it seemed, she wasn’t the only one who hadn’t truly done so…

Shen Mingzhu covered up her embarrassment with a low response, “His Highness is busy with state affairs every day, and there are many women in the East Palace–how could he remember such things?”

Shen Chuwei nodded in agreement, then lowered her head to continue eating her chicken leg.

After finishing it, she picked up an abalone and began eating it from her bowl.

As for the turn-by-turn advice from Shen Haisheng and Madam Shen, Shen Chuwei would respond to each mouthful with a word, much to the couple’s aggravation.

Chun Xi, standing by, listened in.

Several times she almost couldn’t help bursting out laughing.

Her master’s way of thinking was unique, not something ordinary people could follow.

Yet when all is said and done, trying to leverage the fact that the master is favored to help Shen Mingzhu, all their insinuations were for Shen Mingzhu, without a single thought for the welfare of their master.

After having her fill, Shen Chuwei contentedly laid down her eating utensils and wiped her mouth with the wet handkerchief Chun Xi handed her.

The other four people at the table, having not eaten much, were instead filled with frustration.

After the meal was cleared, the maids brought in pastries and tea.

Shen Chuwei, having just eaten and feeling the food to be greasy, picked up the teacup in front of her and took a sip.

Madam Shen stared at Shen Chuwei for a good while and realized that ever since she entered the palace, Shen Chuwei seemed like a different person.

Back at the Shen Residence, Shen Chuwei wouldn’t have dared to eat and drink so carelessly–let alone sit before them drinking tea, she had to be cautious even when speaking.

It was all because she now had His Highness to rely on that she dared be so arrogant.

Although Madam Shen was dissatisfied at heart, she dared not show it.

Shen Chuwei was no longer a country maid from the backwoods.

Madam Shen pulled Shen Mingzhu aside for a private conversation.

“We really shouldn’t have let Shen Chuwei enter the palace with you.

I never imagined such a young girl could be so scheming–stealing your favor is one thing, but she also wants to kick you aside.” Madam Shen now regretted it so much, her guts were green with it.

Shen Mingzhu clenched her handkerchief.

“Mother, it’s too late to talk about this now.

Shen Chuwei is currently in favor and has even been promoted to Lady.

His Highness is completely bewitched by her.”

“So what do we do now?

We can’t just let a concubine born daughter climb over your head, as the legitimate daughter?” Madam Shen fumed at the thought of Shen Chuwei’s smug expression just now.

Shen Mingzhu was unwilling to let a concubine’s daughter live better than herself.

She gritted her teeth and whispered a few words into Madam Shen’s ear.

Madam Shen nodded in agreement.

Shen Chuwei had the habit of taking a nap after lunch, and after eating her fill, she felt somewhat drowsy.

A pity that this place was the Shen Residence, not Xiyun Pavilion–she couldn’t just lie down and sleep as she pleased.

Unable to sleep, she had Chun Xi accompany her for a stroll in the yard to wake up.

The Shen Residence was large, with a sizeable back garden.

They hadn’t walked far when suddenly, they heard the sound of a dog barking.

Chun Xi was terrified of dogs.

Upon hearing the barking, she grabbed Shen Chuwei’s hand.

Soon after, they saw a dog leap out from the bushes.

The dog was entirely black, large in size, with sharp teeth bared, looking quite fierce.

Shen Chuwei watched the dog not far away and recalled from the original owner’s memory that this dog belonged to Shen Tingfeng, the legitimate eldest son of Lord Shen.

It was known to have bitten people before.

Seeing such a large dog, Chun Xi clutched Shen Chuwei’s arm in terror.

“Little mistress, be careful.

That dog is very fierce.”

“Little mistress, be careful.” Little Rabbit and Little Guizi stepped out from behind and protected Shen Chuwei.

The black dog sprinted into the crowd, its mouth open and incessantly barking until it reached Shen Chuwei’s front and suddenly stopped in its tracks.

Chun Xi, panicking, ordered, “Quickly chase that dog away.

What if it harmsthe little mistress?

How could that be good?”

“It’s alright, it’s just a dog.” After comforting Chun Xi, Shen Chuwei pushed past Little Guizi and Little Rabbit and walked out from between them.

Little Rabbit, seeing Shen Chuwei step out from behind, voiced his concern.

“Little mistress, that dog is very vicious.”

“It’s fine.” Shen Chuwei walked toward the black dog and crouched down in front of it.

The black dog barked loudly, pacing back and forth, showing an extremely restless demeanor.

Everyone witnessing this scene broke out in a cold sweat.

Shen Mingzhu saw this and felt nervous, inside she couldn’t help but urge the black dog to scratch Shen Chuwei’s face–to see how she’d compete for favor then.

Just as everyone expected the black dog to pounce on Shen Chuwei, something unexpected happened.

The black dog, which had been agitatedly restless, suddenly calmed down, sat on the ground with its front paws, opened its mouth to let its tongue loll out, and started wagging its tail.

Only then did Shen Chuwei stand up and say to Chun Xi, “Let’s go.

We’ll stroll somewhere else.”

Chun Xi glanced at the black dog in surprise–it had gone from frighteningly fierce to remarkably docile.

Shen Mingzhu, seeing Shen Chuwei leave unharmed, felt some resentment.

She turned to Shen Tingfeng, questioning dissatisfiedly, “Brother, has your dog gone stupid?”

Shen Tingfeng was also baffled, “How would I know?

It’s usually fierce, definitely would go bite strangers.

Why did it become docile today?”

The two emerged from behind the rockery and came directly to the black dog.

Unable to hold back, Shen Mingzhu cursed, “Stupid dog, what use is keeping you?”

The black dog, which had been sitting, suddenly stood up and pounced on Shen Mingzhu.

It bit onto her leg and wouldn’t let go.

Shen Mingzhu was wearing a green dress that day, and soon her calf was bleeding from the dog’s bite, staining her skirt red.

Shen Mingzhu, terrified, shook her leg frantically.

“You beast, let go of me!

It hurts so much!”

Seeing this, Shen Tingfeng drew his whip and lashed the black dog fiercely.

“You brute, let go!”

The black dog, struck harshly with the whip, immediately let go of Shen Mingzhu and turned to pounce on Shen Tingfeng, biting the hand that held the whip.

Shen Chuwei hadn’t gone far when she heard screams.

Turning back, she saw the black dog tussling with Shen Tingfeng.

Chun Xi and the others, upon witnessing this, were frightened.

This incident happened so suddenly, no one could have expected the black dog, usually so tame before Shen Tingfeng, to suddenly become berserk.

By the time everyone reacted, both Shen Mingzhu and Shen Tingfeng had been bitten by the black dog.

Servants rushed forward to intervene, and it took a while to rescue the two from the dog’s jaws.

After the commotion, a doctor was called to treat the injured siblings.

Shen Mingzhu cried pitifully.

Shen Tingfeng wasn’t much better off.

Madam Shen was heartbroken to see her children bitten by a dog–she cried so hard she could barely catch her breath.

The room was in chaos.

Shen Haisheng alternated between worrying over his children’s injuries and consoling his wife.

Outside the door, Chun Xi observed the crowded room; Madam Shen’s crying was so tragic, one might think it was a funeral.