Chapter 247 They were originally the same kind of people

A crisp slapping sound echoed through the silent hall, carrying a desperate resolve to perish together.

Emperor Liu Sheng's face was turned slightly by the blow; five clear finger marks quickly appeared on his fair, handsome face. A burning pain radiated from his cheek, but he did not get angry; he didn't even furrow his brow.

He just stood there quietly, slowly turning his face back, his pair of pitch-black eyes still looking at Consort Shu with calm, waveless intensity.

This silence was more unsettling than thunderous rage.

Consort Shu was panting heavily, her chest heaving violently.

She herself hadn't expected that she would actually strike him.

Looking at the bright red palm print on Emperor Liu Sheng's face, what flashed through her heart was not satisfaction, but a deeper, more profound fear.

Would he kill her?

Given his temperament and the methods of the Western Depot, making her disappear silently from this palace would be as easy as turning over his hand.

However, Emperor Liu Sheng did not.

He only looked at her, his gaze so deep it seemed as if it would suck her soul in.

Time seemed to have frozen.

The sound of the wind outside the hall and the occasional "crackle" of the candles inside became exceptionally clear.

Consort Shu could hear her own frantic heartbeat, each beat heavier than the last, pounding against her eardrums.

She looked at Emperor Liu Sheng's face—a face she had once found handsome, but now only felt was evil and strange—her heart in turmoil.

She could see no anger or murderous intent in his eyes, only... a kind of near-cruel playfulness.

He was like a skilled hunter, not in a hurry to kill the prey, but enjoying the sight of the prey struggling in despair.

"Your Highness, is your anger gone?"

After a long while, Emperor Liu Sheng finally spoke, his voice still flat, as if the person who had just been slapped was not him.

He even raised his hand, using his fingertips to gently touch his burning cheek, a faint, almost imperceptible curve tugging at the corners of his mouth.

This nonchalant demeanor caused the slight resolve that had just risen in Consort Shu to instantly crumble.

She realized that her resistance, in his eyes, was nothing more than a harmless child's game.

"Your Highness's slap was well-deserved," Emperor Liu Sheng continued, with no hint of sarcasm in his tone. "At least it lets this servant know that Your Highness still has spirit, and is not just a clay Bodhisattva to be manipulated by others."

He paused, his tone shifting abruptly, and his eyes becoming sharp. "However, this servant does not have much time. Once the Hour of the Rat passes and the palace gates are locked, if this servant is still found in Jingren Palace, it will be a capital crime for both of us."

His voice lowered a few degrees, carrying an unquestionable urgency. "At tomorrow's morning court, that old dog Prime Minister Su Yuandao will inevitably bring out the plan he has long prepared and seize the opportunity to attack. There is only tonight left for Master Chen. If Your Highness feels that this servant's conditions are too harsh, you are free to seek help elsewhere."

"Of course, Your Highness could also cry out for help now, call the Imperial Guards, and have this 'traitorous' eunuch taken down."

He spread his hands, appearing ready to accept his fate. "It's just that, if that happens, Master Chen's fate tomorrow will likely be... far worse than just being forced into retirement."

Every word was like a precise hammer, shattering the last bit of luck in Consort Shu's heart.

Yes, what other choice did she have?

Seek help elsewhere?

Among all the civil and military officials, besides the Su Faction, the rest were just fence-sitters who only cared about self-preservation.

Who had the ability and the willingness to offend the rising Prime Minister Su Yuandao for the sake of the Chen family at such a critical juncture?

Cry out for help? Make a scene?

Emperor Liu Sheng would certainly die, but the crime of privately summoning the Commander of the Western Depot into her bedchamber late at night would be enough to ruin her completely.

The Emperor is suspicious by nature. Once he suspects her of colluding with an outside official, let alone protecting her foster father, she and her son Emperor Zhao Heng would likely be cast into the Cold Palace, with no hope of ever recovering.

Emperor Liu Sheng had blocked all paths.

She was like someone pushed to the edge of a cliff, with a bottomless abyss in front and a vicious wolf closing in from behind.

She looked at Emperor Liu Sheng, the man who had personally forced her into this desperate situation.

His face still bore the finger marks she had left, yet he acted as if nothing had happened, as if everything was under his control.

Was it for her son Emperor Zhao Heng, or for that ridiculous dignity?

In Consort Shu's mind, the smug face of Imperial Noble Consort Su Waner flashed by.

She could imagine how, once her foster father fell, Imperial Noble Consort Su Waner would run wild in the harem, finding all sorts of ways to torment both her and her son.

Emperor Zhao Tuo already favored Imperial Noble Consort Su Waner greatly, and with the power of Prime Minister Su Yuandao, at that time, even the Emperor would likely no longer protect her.

Emperor Zhao Heng was still so young... He could not be without her, his mother, to protect him.

And she could not lose her position as Imperial Noble Consort.

She had grown accustomed to this life of luxury and being above others; she could not imagine being cast into the Cold Palace, living a life worse than a pig or a dog.

Dignity... how much is dignity worth?

In this deep palace, surviving and living well was what mattered most.

Emperor Liu Sheng was right; they were always the same kind of people.

To climb higher, to survive, any means could be used.

Her recommending Consort Chu to secure favor was one such act, and cooperating with Emperor Liu Sheng to deal with Imperial Noble Consort Su Waner was another. Now, it was just one more transaction.

A transaction... made with her body.

Having realized this, the overwhelming hatred and humiliation in Consort Shu's heart, like receding seawater, slowly subsided.

In its place was a numb and sorrowful resignation.

She slowly closed her eyes, and two lines of clear tears finally could not be controlled, sliding down her cheeks.

The tears were ice-cold.

"You... come here."

Her voice was as light as a wisp of smoke, carrying a trace of broken trembling.

A flash of imperceptible triumph crossed Emperor Liu Sheng's eyes.

He knew that this proud mermaid had finally retracted all her sharp spines and submitted to him.

He stepped forward slowly, returning to the soft couch.

Consort Shu opened her eyes, looking at him through teary eyes. Her gaze was extremely complex: there was resignation, unwillingness, humiliation, and a trace of... reliance that even she herself had not noticed.

"You... must keep your word." She bit her lip, stating her final condition.

"Naturally." Emperor Liu Sheng's reply was crisp and decisive.

Having received his assurance, Consort Shu felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She raised her slightly trembling hands and began to undo the buttons of her palace gown.

The intricate palace gown now felt like a heavy burden, pressing down on her until she couldn't breathe. Her fingers were clumsy and stiff; she fumbled for a long time but couldn't even undo the first button.

Emperor Liu Sheng watched her, a flash of burning heat in his eyes. He did not give her another chance.

He leaned down abruptly and grabbed her collar.

"Rip—"

The magnificent silk tore in response.

Consort Shu gasped in surprise, subconsciously trying to cover herself with her hands.

But it was already too late.

Emperor Liu Sheng's breathing became heavy. He had waited for this day for far, far too long.

He was no Liuxia Hui, nor was he any kind of gentleman.

He was a man who had been repressed for too long.

Before Consort Shu could react from her shock, Emperor Liu Sheng had already pressed his body against hers, pinning her heavily onto the soft couch.

The brocade curtains fell, covering the spring scenery in the room.

Only the flickering candlelight remained, casting the silhouettes of the two intertwined figures onto the curtains, constantly shifting and stretching, as if in a wild dance of light and shadow.