A middle-aged emperor, childless, was blessed with a beautiful and pregnant concubine who entered th

In early autumn, the maple forest outside Hanshan Temple is ablaze with color, a fiery red expanse.

The quiet and ancient temple's back courtyard, guest rooms, and side rooms.

Zhou Mingyi, dressed in a plain blue dress that had been half-undone, revealing her fair shoulders, had a flushed face and bright eyes. She was being pinned down by a tall and burly man.

The moonlight poured down, falling on the two of them.

The man had handsome features, a sharp jawline, and a pair of deep, blood-red eyes.

"You were arranged by...your mother?"

His voice was hoarse, as if he was trying his best to suppress something.

The woman was terrified, and tears instantly filled her eyes.

Emperor Qianwu frowned slightly. Why is he so delicate?

He simply asked, "Why are you crying?"

The woman before me was unexpectedly stunning.

Under the moonlight, her figure was exquisite and graceful, her skin was as white as jade, her face was small and delicate, her nose was exquisite and straight, and her bright red lips were like red cherries inviting people to pick them.

Her dark hair was spread out on the simple couch, emitting a faint fragrance.

This woman is so beautiful she seems unreal.

Therefore, Emperor Qianwu was puzzled and hesitant.

Where did the Empress Dowager find such a woman?

The middle-aged monarch was not a lustful man, but he couldn't help but develop a slight possessiveness towards her.

Such stunning beauty, who else in the world is worthy of possessing her besides him?

He never expected that the Empress Dowager would be so eager for quick success and instant benefits, and that she would even poison him in order to achieve her goal.

Emperor Qianwu's expression was as dark as an abyss. Regardless of his intentions, this move had indeed gone too far.

He became emperor at a young age, and now it has been twenty years.

But time has been exceptionally kind to him; he shows no signs of aging whatsoever, and instead grows increasingly imposing and authoritative, exuding an aura of authority without needing to be angry.

Zhou Mingyi's face was flushed and her eyes were alluring and dreamy, and only then did Emperor Qianwu realize that something was wrong.

If his mother could drug him, she could certainly drug this woman too…

That's it.

"I'll ask you one more time: did you do this willingly?"

Zhou Mingyi let out a soft moan, her slender, snow-white fingers gripping the man's collar tightly—a gesture that was clearly a silent invitation.

Emperor Qianwu could no longer tolerate it.

With a "rip," the woman's clothes were completely removed.

Autumn deepens outside the ancient temple, but spring is in full bloom inside the side rooms...

But in a corner unseen by Emperor Qianwu, Zhou Mingyi's lips curled slightly upwards.

Brother, please wait a little longer!

Mingyi will be able to rescue you soon!

Zhou Mingyi lost both her parents and had only one older brother; the two depended on each other for survival.

The elder brother, Zhou Mingchong, was handsome, had a refined literary talent, and was exceptionally gifted.

In his youth, he was willing to give up his future just to earn a living for her.

How could Zhou Mingyi bear to do this?

She was exceptionally intelligent at a young age. Not only did she teach herself embroidery, but she was also incredibly lucky to save an old embroiderer and receive her lifelong skills.

Her embroidery quickly gained her some fame, and with hard work, supporting her family was not a problem.

At her request, her brother returned to the academy to study.

Zhou Mingchong lived up to expectations; he was a natural scholar and quickly distinguished himself after returning to the academy.

However, on the day he achieved the third-highest rank in the imperial examination, he caught the eye of Princess Chaoyang, who detained him in the palace and forced him to become her male concubine.

Zhou Mingyi had been missing for many days and did not know the reason. He only heard that someone had behaved improperly in front of the emperor.

She was naturally shocked.

My elder brother is a man of refined literary talent and exceptional ability.

Talented people are naturally somewhat arrogant, and if they speak out for justice, it is not impossible for them to anger the emperor.

Zhou Mingyi had no time to think further and immediately went to her fiancé Cen Shaoyuan for help.

Her marriage to Cen Shaoyuan was arranged by their elders, but her family had fallen on hard times and her parents had passed away. She was unsure whether the Cen family would still accept the marriage.

But she had no choice but to try anything, even if it seemed hopeless.

When Cen Shaoyuan first saw her appearance, he was immediately astonished.

Not only did he readily agree to help her, but he also took her in and let her wait at his residence.

Zhou Mingyi never expected that instead of helping her, he would offer her to the Crown Prince.

Zhou Mingyi was trapped in the Eastern Palace and had no control over her own destiny.

Initially, the Crown Prince promised her that he would rescue her brother from Princess Chaoyang.

She believed it.

As a result, after the crown prince grew tired of her body and appearance, he gave her away to someone else as if she were a plaything.

The Crown Princess took the opportunity to slander her, accusing her of defiling the Eastern Palace, and beat her half to death with sticks.

In her final moments, she had someone drag her to the city gate.

Zhou Mingyi saw her brother skinned alive and stuffed with straw, then hung above the city gate.

The Crown Princess's people said that it was her brother's good fortune that Princess Chaoyang had taken a liking to him.

As a result, her brother didn't know what was good for him and deserved his retribution.

Zhou Mingyi shed a tear of blood, desperately crawled to her brother's side, and then smashed her head against the city wall, dying instantly.

……

Unexpectedly, when I opened my eyes again, I was back at the starting point.

Zhou Mingyi was filled with resentment, resenting that she wasn't smart enough.

She resented Cen Shaoyuan for using her as a bargaining chip to curry favor with the Crown Prince.

She hated the Crown Prince for his philandering and heartlessness, and hated the Crown Princess even more for her viciousness.

But if we're talking about the people we hate the most, it's naturally Princess Chaoyang and the current emperor.

Princess Chaoyang was born of noble birth and was the emperor's only child. Wasn't her brother also her only brother?

After being reborn, Zhou Mingyi obtained a system.

The system told her that if she entered the palace and gave birth to the emperor's child, so that Princess Chaoyang would no longer be the emperor's only child, she could rescue her brother and avenge herself and her brother in her previous life!

Without a second thought, Zhou Mingyi immediately bound herself to the system.

She'd do anything to get revenge!

The emperor doted on Princess Chaoyang so much that even though she acted dissolutely and absurdly, forcing any young and handsome man she fancied to enter her palace as a male concubine, he never severely punished her.

It was simply because she was his only child in this life.

The current emperor, Emperor Qianwu, has been childless for many years, with only Princess Chaoyang as his biological daughter.

As for the crown prince, he was an adopted son from the imperial clan.

The father and son were not on good terms, nor were they on good terms.

If she can give birth to a prince, Princess Chaoyang will no longer be the only one.

At that time, she will be nothing more than an insignificant princess.

Her child could very well inherit the throne.

She was no longer a discarded pawn that could be easily abandoned, no longer a plaything that could be manipulated at will.

She must rescue her brother and kill Princess Chaoyang!

She also wants to take revenge on the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, to avenge her past life!

Once she gives birth to the emperor's biological son, the so-called crown prince and crown princess, she won't need to lift a finger; the emperor will definitely clear the obstacles for her son.

There were also emperors who indulged their own daughters in forcibly taking their ministers' property...

If she ever gains power, she will personally deal with him to avenge the deep-seated hatred from her past life!

As for flattering the emperor, Zhou Mingyi didn't care at all.

Any sacrifice is worthwhile as long as revenge can be achieved. People are not afraid of being used, but of not having any value to be used.

Zhou Mingyi used the system to adjust her physical condition to its best.

She was exquisitely beautiful, with fair skin and a delicate figure, her black hair flowing like a waterfall, and her eyes as clear as autumn water.

Her natural beauty was already exceptional, and with the system's additional adjustments, she had reached perfection.

In her previous life, when she was in the Eastern Palace, she heard that the emperor had slept with a woman at Hanshan Temple outside the city and brought her back to the palace, where he favored her for a period of time.

Zhou Mingyi followed the same procedure, taking the woman's place and being personally sent to the dragon bed by the Empress Dowager.

……

Inside a simple and solemn side room of Hanshan Temple, the Empress Dowager, dressed in understated attire, was devoutly worshipping Buddha.

About half an hour later, the Empress Dowager opened her eyes.

Although time has left some marks on her face, it is clear that she was a beauty in her youth.

"Zhu Lan, what time is it?"

The Empress Dowager's personal maid immediately stepped forward and reported to the Empress Dowager that it was already past 7 PM.

The Empress Dowager nodded slightly.

"On the Emperor's side..."

Aunt Zhulan had served the Empress Dowager for many years and was a calm and composed person.

She lowered her eyes slightly. "It's done."

The Empress Dowager finally showed a hint of joy.

But then something occurred to me.

"Will the Emperor be angry with me for doing this?"