Hes not us the reader. He have his own heart n tei always been like that. From the moment he was abandoned. He just accepted it. Its good that we can see tei in a diff colour now by pushing shuraka away n at least know the feelings of that. U want him to belike before? Who just gonna say "its okay he need concubine more"
Btw we should know how concubine or any harem works by now. Getting someone's else smeel is easy n just go meet him for a sec with that strong smell. Then tell tei that he slept with the king. Thats all. Its shuraka fault for not saying anything about him having concubine at the first place. If im there. Imma be thinking whos lying n whos not. N accidentally push him. Its not like he did that on purpose. He just shock.
As someone who watch c-drama that short movie in tiktok, read historical manhua about king n his wives that killing each other for his love. Its easy to see this kind of scheme lmao. Its not odd if its repeating in every manhua i read.. TT trust me. If its not because that male concubine get near just enough to leave those smell on shuraka while shuraka push him away n make him get out, then its might be because the male concubine ask his maid to know what shuraka wear as perfume to make him smell the same as him. Since shuraka said hes been working nonstop then that male.c might go to his work place to ask for sum lol

Tei you need to ask questions okay bfor you react