After being reborn, the empress only wanted to seduce the emperor and seize the empress's posit

Chapter 49 The Queen's Longing
On her way to Chang Le Palace, Qingming walked around but couldn't find the Emperor, so she had no choice but to go to Chang Le Palace.

"Xiao Quanzi"

When Qingming saw Zhao Gonggong's apprentice, Xiao Quanzi, she quickly ran up to him.

"What happened to Sister Qingming?"

When Xiao Quanzi heard someone calling him, he was a little impatient, but when he saw that it was Qingming, his smile immediately lit up.

"Is the Emperor inside?" Qingming peeked out and asked in a low voice.

"Yes, Sister Qingming, is there anything I can help you with?"

"No, I'm leaving now." Qingming thought it was better to avoid trouble and turned to leave.

Xiao Quanzi was a little puzzled, but didn't ask any further questions: "Take care, Sister Qingming."

"kindness"

After Qingming left, Eunuch Zhao heard the noise, picked up his whisk, and quietly came out to ask, "Who were you talking to?"

“Master, it’s Sister Qingming, who serves the Empress,” Xiao Quanzi answered truthfully.

"What is Miss Qingming here for? Did she say?"

Xiao Quanzi shook his head: "No."

"Alright, let's go in and serve His Majesty his meal first. We can talk about the rest later."

"Yes, Master"

Qingming returned to Changchun Palace. As she walked through the corridor, before even stepping into the main hall, she heard Consort Yan's clear and melodious voice: "Qingming, you're finally back. Have you seen the Emperor?"

She walked in quietly and saw Consort Yan sitting next to Lu Jingning, her face full of expectation and her eyes sparkling.

Qingming sighed inwardly, slowly approached, and whispered, "Consort Yan, His Majesty... is in the Consort's palace."

Consort Yan's smile froze instantly, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes. She gently twisted the handkerchief in her hand, a shallow dimple appearing at the corner of her lips, but hiding a bit of bitterness: "Is that so... then let's just leave it at that, and tell the Emperor tomorrow."

Seeing this, the Empress gently stood up, walked slowly to Consort Yan's side, patted her shoulder and back lightly, and spoke softly to her.

"Don't worry too much about it, Yi Yan. The Emperor is bound to be concerned about the princess's illness. There's no rush to tell him tomorrow; it'll be a good surprise for him."

(Note: Consort Yan's name is Zheng Yiyan)

Consort Yan forced a smile, curtsied, and said, "Thank you for your comfort, Your Majesty. I am feeling a little sleepy, so I will take my leave now."

The Empress watched her departing figure and said softly, "Be careful on your way back, and have the imperial physician come to check your pulse frequently."

Consort Yan stopped, turned her head slightly, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes, and replied softly, "This concubine understands, thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

After saying that, she continued walking, her figure gradually disappearing at the end of the corridor.

After leaving Changchun Palace, Consort Yan gently stroked her belly and said to Li'er beside her, "Unlike the Imperial Concubine, I don't have the support of my maternal family, nor do I have the Emperor's favor like Consort Lu. I'm afraid no one will care about my child after it's born."

"Pah, pah, pah!" Seeing Consort Yan's sorrowful expression, Li'er quickly comforted her, "How could that be, Consort? You are carrying His Majesty's first child since his ascension to the throne. His Majesty only has one eldest princess. You are overthinking it."

At this point, Consort Yan became somewhat frightened and grabbed Pear's hand: "What if someone tries to steal my child?"

"No, Your Highness. According to the rules, concubines who become pregnant can be promoted. At that time, you will be a concubine and will be able to raise your own child."

Hearing Li'er's words of comfort, Consort Yan's expression softened slightly, but her brows remained furrowed, and her eyes held a lingering worry: "I hope so." Li'er carefully supported her, her steps light, as if afraid that Consort Yan might fall.

Inside Changchun Palace, the Empress leaned lightly on her phoenix chair, a faint smile on her lips, yet a hint of sorrow lingered in her eyes.

She slowly reached out her hand, her fingertips gently tracing the flowers beside her.

"What's wrong, Your Highness?" Lu Jingning asked softly.

The Empress twirled the prayer beads in her hand, a wry smile appearing on her face: "I'm happy for Consort Yan, but I'm also a little envious."

"Why should Your Majesty be envious? You are the Empress, blessed by Heaven. You will have children sooner or later; it's just that the time is not yet right." Lu Jingning took a sweet pastry and handed it to the Empress.

The Queen accepted the candy, put it to her lips, and the sweetness spread through her mouth, improving her mood considerably.

Looking at Lu Jingning, she thought of an old friend and said with tenderness in her eyes, "Jingning is truly always there to share my burdens."

"It is my honor to share Your Majesty's burdens."

The Empress gently beckoned Qingming forward and whispered a few instructions.

Qingming accepted the order and left, returning shortly with an exquisite brocade box: "Your Highness, this servant has brought it for you."

The Empress took the brocade box and slowly opened it. A mutton-fat jade bracelet came into view, with a soft luster and a light violet color.

She smiled at Lu Jingning and said gently, "Jingning, this jade bracelet is a precious item that was presented as tribute by a foreign country a few years ago. I have kept it all this time, and I will give it to you today."

As she spoke, the Empress gently picked up the jade bracelet, walked to Lu Jingning's side, and personally put it on her wrist: "Indeed, a beautiful woman deserves beautiful jade."

Lu Jingning looked down at the jade bracelet on her wrist, her eyes sparkling with surprise and gratitude, and said softly, "Thank you for your gift, Your Majesty. I will cherish it."

The Empress gently rubbed her temples, her voice tinged with weariness: "I'm a little tired."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jingning quickly stood up, curtsied, and said in a gentle voice, "Then this concubine will not disturb Your Majesty's rest any longer and will take her leave now."

The Empress nodded slightly, a warm smile on her face: "Yes, you should go back and rest early too."

"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty," Lu Jingning replied, turning and slowly leaving the hall.

"Qingming, help me to my bedchamber."

Qingming stepped forward and carefully helped the Empress into the inner palace.

After the Empress slowly sat down on the bed, Qingming asked softly, "Your Majesty, why did you give that precious jade bracelet, a tribute from a foreign land, to Consort Lu? That jade bracelet is violet in color; there are probably only three or four like it in the entire palace."

The Empress smiled slightly, her gaze deep and penetrating: "I see that Jingning is of pure heart and kind nature, and that we get along well. Why not give her the jade bracelet? Besides, she looks so much like Ning'er, even their names are similar. I've felt a sense of familiarity with her since the first moment I saw her."

Seeing this, Qingming's tone became even gentler: "Your Majesty, you're saying these things again. Are you thinking of her again?"

The Empress's eyes reddened slightly, tinged with a faint sadness and reluctance.

She nodded slightly, her gaze piercing through the layers of beaded curtains, seemingly looking towards a distant past: "Over the years, I've thought of her every moment, of her smile, her voice, everything about her, but sadly, she'll never come back."

Qingming held the Empress's hand tenderly and gently comforted her, "Your Majesty, the deceased is gone. Please take good care of yourself."

The Empress closed her eyes, and tears silently slid down her cheeks, dripping onto the delicate handkerchief like morning dew falling on flower petals, carrying endless sorrow and longing.

(End of this chapter)