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

Shi Liu naturally begged for mercy.

Seeing Zhou Mingyi's lively appearance, the Empress Dowager was even more pleased.

Her gaze naturally fell on Zhou Mingyi's abdomen.

Currently, she is less than two months pregnant, so naturally there is no sign of it.

But the Empress Dowager was pleased to see that Zhou Mingyi could eat and drink well.

It seemed as if one could already see her lower abdomen bulging.

Inside, the Xie family's new life was being nurtured, and the new hope for the mother and son was being expressed.

"I've eaten and drunk my fill, so I'm going to rest now. You young people can have some conversation."

That being said, for the Empress Dowager, Consort Zhen's health is of utmost importance right now. In front of Zhou Mingyi, she said to Zhu Lan beside her:

"Zhulan, you stay with Consort Zhen."

"Anyone who dares to bully her is going against me."

Pomegranate and wax apple exchanged a glance, both with joy on their faces.

Aunt Zhulan lowered her eyes. "Yes, this servant understands."

The Empress Dowager smiled and said to Zhou Mingyi, "I am old and my health is not good. I will go and rest for a while."

Zhou Mingyi nodded, "Your Majesty, please go and rest."

The Empress Dowager glanced at Zhou Mingyi, whose mouth was dripping with oil, and then turned and left with satisfaction.

The Empress Dowager now resides in the East Annex Hall of Weiyang Palace.

Originally, as the Empress Dowager, she should naturally reside in the main hall, but since Zhou Mingyi was pregnant, the Empress Dowager, out of concern for her health, did not allow her to move.

An empress dowager of a country was willing to live in a side hall of the concubines' palace.

Some people were gossiping behind her back that if Consort Zhen's pregnancy was fake, she would surely die a horrible death!

Many people were secretly watching, hoping that Zhou Mingyi would fall from her high place.

Zhou Mingyi remained unmoved.

She sat and continued eating her shrimp dumplings.

He chatted casually with the system.

"Host, don't worry. After taking the fake pregnancy pill, all the symptoms will be exactly the same as a real pregnancy. Even a modern ultrasound can detect the gestational sac."

Zhou Mingyi took a bite of the shrimp dumpling. "Mmm."

System: "You're lucky. You ate a fake pregnancy pill and ended up pregnant with twins."

Zhou Mingyi finally showed some interest. "Twins?"

False pregnancy can even result in twins?

The system sensed Zhou Mingyi's doubts and immediately said seriously:

"We are a legitimate system, and everything is genuine. Even if it's a fake pregnancy, it has to be genuine."

Zhou Mingyi: "Mm."

System: "Don't you have any doubts at all?"

Zhou Mingyi drank another bowl of chicken soup. "Didn't you say that everything would be just like a real pregnancy? Even if the baby is miscarried, there would be a piece of flesh that looks like flesh, so that no one would find out and my body would not be damaged in any way?"

System: "...Yes."

Zhou Mingyi: "Mm."

system:……

Even Aunt Zhulan was shocked by the way she ate.

As the most composed and respected aunt in the palace, Aunt Zhulan couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, please be more composed."

She considered for a moment, then said, "Childbirth is like walking through the gates of hell; it is extremely dangerous."

"I know that some women may have a better appetite after becoming pregnant, but if you eat too much and the fetus becomes too big, you will suffer."

Zhou Mingyi knew that she meant well, so she obediently replied, "Mingyi understands your good intentions, Granny."

She patted her lower abdomen and said, "You see, even though I eat a lot now, my lower abdomen isn't bulging at all, and I haven't gained weight. When my belly gets bigger in the future, I'll eat less."

Aunt Zhulan: ...

Consort Zhen is good in every way, except for her childlike nature.

However, Zhou Mingyi's actions actually improved Aunt Zhulan's impression of her.

She only says these playful things because she is close to me.

She looked helpless. "Your Majesty, please remember this."

Zhou Mingyi drank another bowl of sweet soup before patting her stomach contentedly.

There was no other way; she had taken the system's fake pregnancy pills and was carrying twins, which made her appetite exceptionally strong.

With the specially made pills from the system, she wasn't afraid of gaining weight.

But to outsiders, it's not that simple.

Zhu Lan often complained to the Empress Dowager in private.

The Empress Dowager was also somewhat worried.

"She's young, so naturally she's a bit willful. Madam Zhou passed away early, and there's no one around to teach her. You should give her some guidance in the future and not let her continue to be so willful."

Zhu Lan looked down at her nose, and then at her heart, knowing that the Empress Dowager had taken Consort Zhen to heart.

If the Empress Dowager did not care about Consort Zhen, then to her, Consort Zhen was nothing more than the womb that would give birth to her future grandchildren.

Just like Consort Chen, if someone is sensible, they will be rewarded with some gifts and given some power in the palace. It's a very precise way of handling things.

If someone doesn't know what's good for them, just ignore them.

I'm not afraid of what trouble she might cause.

Zhu Lan replied, "Yes, I understand. I will remember to remind Consort Zhen at all times."

……

After Zhou Mingyi finished her meal, the Empress Dowager had already returned to the East Annex Hall. Zhou Mingyi was then escorted by Shiliu and Lianwu, one on each side, to the front hall of the main hall.

Yun Meiren and Liu Zhaoyi were already getting impatient with their stares.

Zhou Mingyi ate her fill and was very satisfied.

Although it won't make you fat, it will make you feel full.

As she walked out, touching her round belly, Liu Zhaoyi's eyes immediately fell on her.

She couldn't help but frown.

But then he thought about it again, and his expression became even more determined.

This Consort Zhen is definitely up to something behind Emperor Qianwu's back!

How could someone who is more than a month pregnant have such a big belly?

She couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips into a smile, her expression one of pity.

She stood up before Consort Yun, saying, "It's been a while since I've seen Consort Zhen. Your Highness is truly blessed."

Consort Liu remained calm.

Zhou Mingyi nodded as well.

Yun Meiren hurriedly stood up, her gaze immediately falling on Zhou Mingyi's head.

Then his face showed disappointment; his hair was still so thick...

But thinking about it, it makes sense. Since Consort Song has already hanged herself, naturally no one would poison Consort Zhen anymore...

I just don't know if the medicine from Consort Chen's place has any effect on causing hair loss...

However, since the Empress Dowager has moved to Weiyang Palace, it's unlikely that Consort Chen would have the courage to do so...

Yun Meiren felt that every time she came to see Zhenfei, she was just asking for trouble.

However, it is said that pregnancy can cause a haggard appearance and hair loss after childbirth?

Yun Meiren expressed her great anticipation.

However, judging from the current situation, Consort Zhen's complexion is not only rosy and radiant, but even her hair looks completely unchanged...

Whether it was just her imagination or not, Yun Meiren felt that her hair seemed to have become thicker...

Yun Meiren was so angry that she didn't want to talk to Zhou Mingyi anymore.

"Now that Consort Zhen is well, we can rest assured."

"I have other matters to attend to in my palace, so I will take my leave now."

Shuang'er and Lu'er: ?

No, they thought that Consort Yun came to Weiyang Palace to catch up with Consort Zhen.

As a result, Consort Zhen made a brief appearance, and now her own beauty was about to leave?

Can you really form a relationship just by exchanging a few words?

Lu'er couldn't help but say, "My beauty, Consort Zhen is very popular now. You two used to be so close, even though you haven't been in touch for a while. Now that she's pregnant, it's the perfect time to deepen your relationship. Why don't you stay and spend more time with her?"

Yun Meiren: "Precisely because Consort Zhen is so popular, I must keep my distance."

"What's the point of chasing after her? She might not even remember the good things I did for her."

After she finished speaking, Lu'er was about to say that the beauty's condition had been quite good lately, and that it wasn't so abnormal.

Then Yun Meiren said, "Tell me, how does Consort Zhen's hairstyle compare to mine today?"

Lulu: ...

She knew it!

The beauty contest of Yun Meiren, though late, has finally arrived.

When Yun Meiren saw that her two personal maids did not speak, she stopped abruptly and frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"Lu'er, Shuang'er, you've followed me for so many years, haven't I treated you well?"

Lu'er and Shuang'er exchanged a quick glance, then looked at each other's heads, which were covered with hairpins, and silently lowered their heads without saying a word.

Fortunately, Yun Meiren did not realize anything was wrong.

"Tell me the truth, is my hair more beautiful, or Consort Zhen's?"

Lulu: ...

Shuang'er: ...

Yun Meiren's expression darkened. "Why are you all so quiet?"

"Don't worry, as long as you tell the truth, I won't be angry."

The more Yun Meiren said this, the more frightened Lu'er and Shuang'er became. Yun Meiren said the same thing when she ordered people to pluck their hair.

Yun Meiren pointed at Lu'er, "You speak."

Lu'er's face turned deathly pale. Oh no! Was her hair going to be ripped out?

"Reporting back to the beauty, looking at it now, it seems that Consort Zhen's hair is even more beautiful..."

A flash of fierceness crossed Yun Meiren's face.

Lu'er quickly said, "But Consort Zhen will soon be inferior to Your Highness!"

Yun Meiren's interest was piqued. "Oh?"

"Is that even a claim?"

Lu'er said, "When my mother gave birth to my younger brother, her face was covered with dark spots, she lost a lot of hair, and her waistline never recovered after giving birth..."

Yun Meiren seemed to be deep in thought.

"You mean to say that Consort Zhen's baby is a boy?"

Lulu: ...

"When my mother gave birth to my sister, although she didn't develop dark spots, she lost a lot of hair, and her waistline never recovered..."

Yun Meiren glanced at her slender waist and fell silent.

"So, you're saying I have to wait until Consort Zhen gives birth before I can surpass her in beauty?"

Lu'er shrank her neck and dared not speak.

Does she dare to say it?

If Consort Zhen is still this perfect after giving birth, wouldn't Lady Yun be furious?

Other masters would be furious and their servants would be beaten, a slap being the bare minimum. But when it came to their Lady Yun, they would have their hair pulled...

Lu'er recalled the pain of her scalp being pulled high, the pain so intense it almost distorted her face...

Fortunately, Yun Meiren didn't press the matter further.

"Okay, then let's wait another ten months!"

"It's not like we can't wait!"

Lulu: ...

Shuang'er: ...

Lady Yun left, but Consort Liu did not.

Zhou Mingyi found it strange. Logically speaking, she had some relationship with Yun Meiren, but almost no relationship with Liu Zhaoyi.

However, Consort Liu did speak up for her a few times, but after she went to Weiyang Palace and said a bunch of inexplicable things, Consort Zhou kept her distance.

Putting everything else aside, Zhou Mingyi felt that Liu Zhaoyi seemed to have something wrong with her head.

As expected, Consort Liu made a startling statement.

"Consort Zhen, how dare you openly deceive His Majesty and the Empress Dowager!"

Zhou Mingyi blinked, looked at Liu Zhaoyi, and raised her eyebrows slightly.

"Oh?"

"What does Consort Liu mean by that?"