Volume One, Chapter Five: Honestly, I Think You're Much More Handsome Than He Is!

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Shen Zhi remained indifferent and spoke calmly, “If that’s the case, my sister will be displeased.”
“However, my heart belongs to the Seventh Prince. I hope Your Highness will abandon this thought.”
Having said this, she obediently stood beside Pei Jing and linked her arm with his.
The man beside her stiffened slightly, but unlike last night, he did not angrily push her away.
“Heh, what a sharp tongue you have! I never imagined you would speak so slanderously!” The Empress Dowager was nearly infuriated to the point of fainting.
Pei Huai! He was the one she had personally groomed! The future Crown Prince! The Son of Heaven! How could she tolerate Shen Zhi’s repeated insolence and insults?
“Guards! Drag Shen Zhi out! Give her fifty lashes!”
Shen Zhi stood opposite the Empress Dowager with neither humility nor arrogance. “Empress Dowager, my father is still fighting on the frontier. Do you expect him to rush back at full speed because of this?”
“You!”
The Empress Dowager was so enraged she could hardly breathe; clutching her chest, she pointed a trembling finger at Shen Zhi.
Pei Jing, seeing this, merely tugged her back slightly. “Since the Empress Dowager has met Shen Zhi, we shall take our leave.”
With that, he took her hand and left.
Outside the gate, Pei Jing still held Shen Zhi’s hand in his palm. Puzzled, she asked, “Why are you defending me?”
Wasn’t he supposed to be ruthless, cold, and heartless?
“I can’t stand the Empress Dowager. Besides, if you were beaten on your wedding day, it would be a disgrace to me.”
Such a reasonable explanation left Shen Zhi no room to argue.
He spoke so openly, without the slightest concern about others overhearing.
Suddenly, a cold, mechanical voice rang in Shen Zhi’s mind: [Favorability: -240].
Pei Jing’s favorability toward her had just increased slightly?
After a moment’s thought, she obediently walked beside him again, looking sincerely at his face. “Actually, I think you’re far better than Pei Huai. You’re more handsome and less hypocritical.”
Hearing this, Pei Jing stopped and turned to look at her. “Really? You think he’s hypocritical?”
Not just hypocritical—she found Pei Huai repulsive.
She admitted she acted impulsively today, but the moment she saw them together, she couldn’t convince herself that nothing had happened.

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She lost her reason and struck him...
But toppling Pei Huai was no easy matter. Not only was he a prince commanding powerful forces, but he was also the emperor’s son. Even if he were merely the son of a minor official, being slapped like that would be intolerable.
This would be a long battle; she could not be so impatient.
She intended to wear Pei Huai down slowly.
“Yes, I think he’s utterly disgusting!”
Shen Zhi answered, truly despising him.
Pei Jing said nothing, merely joining her in boarding the carriage.
...
Inside the palace, in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The Empress Dowager sat in her chair, calming her breathing, while Shen Qi massaged her shoulders gently.
“Empress Dowager, that sister really went too far. How could she speak like that?”
Her voice was soft and sweet, but the Empress Dowager snorted coldly, “Hmph! She’s still a legitimate daughter yet not half as obedient as you. Fortunately, she married Jing’er. If she had married Huai’er... I dare not imagine! Such a willful and unruly woman is truly unworthy of my Huai’er!”
Hearing this, Shen Qi felt secretly pleased. “Empress Dowager, I think... we could find another consort for the Seventh Prince.”
“That would not only dampen Shen Zhi’s arrogance, but...”
A smile played at her lips as she whispered into the Empress Dowager’s ear.
A faint smile appeared in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, and her lips curved slightly upward. “Qi’er, you never fail to impress me.”
“Then it shall be so. I will handle it when the time comes.”
Hearing this, Shen Qi smiled appropriately and knelt beside the Empress Dowager, holding her hand.
“Your Majesty, Qi’er and Brother Huai will always be on your side. Rest assured.”
The Empress Dowager nodded knowingly, smiling in understanding. It seemed the second daughter of the Shen family was indeed much cleverer than the eldest, though regrettably a concubine’s child—somewhat unworthy of the empress’s status.
...
Shen Zhi returned and locked herself in her room, bored out of her mind as she stared at the system interface.
Currently, her powers were limited, but the Shen family commanded considerable military forces. In the previous life, before Pei Huai ascended the throne, the emperor had reclaimed part of the Shen family’s army.
The Shen family was powerful and self-important, a lingering thorn in the emperor’s side.
From start to finish, whether Empress Dowager or Emperor, they feared the Shen family’s rebellion!

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Since that was the case, this time she would give them a real rebellion to worry about; otherwise, she would be letting down the Empress Dowager and the emperor’s suspicions.
“Mingzhi, I have a task for you.”
“Yes, Miss. Please give your orders.” Mingzhi nodded respectfully. She trusted this young lady implicitly. In the previous life, Mingzhi was drowned alive by Shen Qi for her sake, yet she never uttered a word of complaint.
“I want you to find some orphans, those who cannot afford food, and those without any support.”
“Be sure to thoroughly investigate their identities and backgrounds. Here is some silver; use it to buy a modest but secluded courtyard and bring them all there.”
Shen Zhi handed her the silver. “Then find me a master—someone skilled in martial arts, an expert.”
“Miss, what are you doing? If we do this, aren’t we building our own military power? That’s a capital offense.” Mingzhi asked, puzzled.
“Don’t question it. I have my reasons. Just do as I say.”
Mingzhi nodded and turned to leave.
Now, Shen Zhi needed to find something to strategize with Pei Jing. This man’s heart was not easily warmed.
She had to think of a way!
Just as Shen Zhi was about to apply some rouge, a noisy commotion erupted outside.
“You lot of dogs! Do you know who I am? How dare you stop me!”
“Princess Zhao, it’s not that we dare to stop you, but the Seventh Prince has ordered that no one is allowed into his study...”
The subordinate outside looked troubled, but the woman they faced was clearly not to be trifled with. Shen Zhi frowned, pushed open the door, and stepped out. Facing her was a lively and coquettish woman dressed in purple, her expression dripping with arrogance and dominance.
Shen Zhi said, “Who are you? Without orders, how dare you barge into the Seventh Prince’s mansion? Do you have no regard for your life?”
The woman paid no heed to Shen Zhi’s words, scanning her up and down before sneering, “So this is the Seventh Prince’s consort? Seeing is believing. You’re nothing special.”
Shen Zhi curled the corner of her mouth, coldly amused in her heart. So, here was another one targeting her. She looked the woman over indifferently and said, “Whether you’re special or not, my status outranks yours.”
“You!” The woman was momentarily silenced, but unwilling to concede, she retorted, “Hmph! You won’t last long as a prince’s consort! Since I’ve arrived at the Seventh Prince’s mansion, I have all the means to make you leave!”