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

If it's twins, her belly will indeed be bigger than it would be at three months.

That makes sense.

Their previously devised methods for dealing with Consort Zhen were utterly laughable.

Princess Chaoyang was even more shocked.

Before entering the palace, Princess Chaoyang had just favored a male concubine surnamed Xu.

He was indeed very skilled at serving women; Princess Chaoyang was still limp and weak when she entered the palace.

After the two had experienced a passionate encounter, the male concubine surnamed Xu specifically mentioned something to her.

To facilitate their plan, the princess needs to become pregnant as soon as possible.

Upon hearing this, Princess Chaoyang kicked him off the bed.

"Pregnancy is no child's play. You're nothing but a mere male concubine; do you think you're worthy of bearing this princess's child?"

Although Princess Chaoyang indulged in sensual pleasures and was no longer a naive young girl, she was not confused when it came to her own interests.

If she wants to succeed and ascend to that position, her fiefdom, estate, and private army alone will not be enough.

She also needs the support of the court officials.

But those old fogies were all stuck in their ways and stubbornly refused to change.

He talks a lot about ancient etiquette and rules.

They had remonstrated with their father countless times about her keeping a private army and male concubines.

Although they were all blocked by the Emperor.

Princess Chaoyang knew very well that the process of taking that position would be extremely difficult.

Therefore, she needs one, or even several, allies.

During this time, Princess Chaoyang had been thinking about one thing.

If she wants to win this position, she should at least give those old fogies some incentives.

As long as there are sweet rewards and tangible benefits, she won't believe it!

Her father was childless, but she was born in the morning. As long as they helped her ascend the throne, she would make their son the crown prince.

Princess Chaoyang was pampered since childhood. All she wanted was to become an empress, to ascend to that supreme position and leave a lasting mark on history.

As for who would continue to be the emperor after her death, that was none of her business.

And since she died, her position would naturally pass to her son.

No problem!

But this bait can be used to lure those stubborn old men to her.

The more Princess Chaoyang thought about it, the better she felt the idea was.

But she never expected that Zhou would get pregnant at this time, and with twins at that.

How is that possible?

Princess Chaoyang even found it somewhat absurd, as her father had not had an heir for more than a year or two.

How come it's all better all of a sudden?

Do so-called "women destined by heaven" really have such a fate?

Why Zhou? Why that bitch Zhou of all people?

Chaoyang absolutely will not allow Zhou to give birth to the child.

Her face darkened. "So, not only is Zhou's pregnancy confirmed, but it's twins?"

Granny Chen lowered her eyes and nodded silently, "Yes."

"Good, very good!"

Princess Chaoyang laughed instead of getting angry, but it was precisely this kind of laughter that sent chills down the spines of those who heard it.

"My son, what's wrong? Don't frighten your mother!"

Consort Chen immediately stepped forward to support Princess Chaoyang.

Princess Chaoyang gripped Consort Chen's shoulders tightly, squeezing them until Consort Chen felt a sharp pain.

Looking into her daughter's slightly crazed eyes, Consort Chen was momentarily frightened.

"Sunrise, sunrise..."

Princess Chaoyang stared intently at Consort Chen. She glanced at Granny Chen and said, "Mother, there are some things I must tell you."

"You are my mother, my mother, the person who loves me most in this world, aren't you?"

Consort Chen was taken aback for a moment, then immediately nodded, "Of course, you are my own flesh and blood, born after ten months of pregnancy. If I were to say who loves you the most in this world, it would definitely be me."

Princess Chaoyang was very satisfied.

"I knew it, my mother must love me more than my father."

When Emperor Qianwu was mentioned, Consort Chen's expression changed slightly.

"Your father will soon have new children..."

Princess Chaoyang immediately asked, "What if Lady Zhou herself is unable to give birth to the child?"

When this was mentioned, Consort Chen was silent for a moment, then said, "Chaoyang, that's what your mother thought too. Your mother won't allow anyone to take your things away."

"But as you know, given how much your father and grandmother value those two bastards, it won't be an easy thing for us to do anything about it."

Princess Chaoyang said, "Mother, it's not easy, but we must do it!"

Consort Chen was taken aback, and she instinctively replied, "Yes..."

She came to her senses and said, "My mother has already sent someone to contact Lady Xue in the Cold Palace. It would be most appropriate for her to handle this matter."

"Mr. Xue?"

Princess Chaoyang was momentarily stunned and unable to react.

Consort Chen added, "She was the former Consort Rong."

"Consort Rong?"

Princess Chaoyang wasn't forgetting Consort Rong, but could she really entrust such an important matter to Consort Rong?

Can Consort Rong accomplish this?

"Mother, how confident are you about Consort Rong's chances?"

"The Xue family was convicted of having an affair with the palace. Consort Rong is too busy trying to atone for her crimes to help us."

Consort Chen knew that her daughter was right.

Previously, they wanted to frame Consort Zhen and have Consort Rong expose her pregnancy.

That would be a great opportunity to redeem oneself through good deeds.

But this time, knowing that Consort Zhen is carrying twins, would Consort Rong still dare to provoke her?

Oh no, now it should be Consort Zhen!

However, Consort Chen and Princess Chaoyang, filled with jealousy and suspicion, did not recognize Zhou Mingyi's "Noble Consort" position.

"You'll only know if you try."

When Consort Chen said this, she had absolutely no confidence.

Even she herself knew it was impossible, so how could Consort Rong be so stupid?

Unless Consort Rong is unaware that Lady Zhou is actually carrying twins, she will still proceed according to the original plan...

The Cold Palace.

Since Consort Rong was convicted and the entire Xue family was uprooted, she has not had the leisurely life she was entitled to. Even in the Cold Palace, she still had to work.

If you don't work, you won't get to eat.

Her maid, Jingmei, was also sent in, supposedly to serve her, but it was pretty much the same thing; Consort Rong also had to do chores.

Consort Rong, or rather, the deposed Consort Xue, was currently holding a filthy wooden basin filled with clothes that reeked of sourness.

Jingmei wasn't idle either; the wooden basin in her hand was even larger than the one in Xue's hand, and it contained more clothes.

Jingmei was a servant born into the Xue family, brought by the Xue family, so naturally she was very loyal to her.

She hurriedly stepped forward, "Miss, let me have some of your clothes."

She stumbled and threw the wooden basin in her hand, falling face-first into the air.

The head maid of the Cold Palace immediately came over with a small whip.

He came over and, without saying a word, lashed out with two lashes.

Even the former Consort Rong, now Lady Xue, was not spared.

"What are you doing? Trying to slack off?"

Madam Xue felt wronged, but dared not speak out. After a long while, she finally managed to utter, "She was the one who fell, so why did you hit me too?"

Jingmei: ...

The palace maid sneered, "Who doesn't know she's your dog?"

"If a dog misbehaves, its owner should also be punished."

Madam Xue's expression was indifferent. "She is her, and I am me. Her affairs are none of my business."

The palace maid lashed Jingmei with her whip again, saying, "I'm hitting you because you deserve to be hit! Who told you to act so shamelessly?"

"They didn't even care about you, but you insisted on going after them. You deserved to be hit!"

Jingmei felt wronged. "Miss!"

Madam Xue: "Don't call me Miss anymore. We're both prisoners now, caged birds."

After saying that, he left without looking back.

Jingmei: ...

No, then why did you eat my steamed buns and food with a clear conscience after I shared them with you after I was sent to the Cold Palace?

When you eat my food and steamed buns, I am your servant.

Now that there's nothing to eat, you're cutting ties with me?

Maids are human too, okay? They feel pain too!

Jingmei began to question the meaning of life.

She couldn't help but recall her past experiences at the Xue family mansion.

It seems that her young lady has always been like this: when something goes wrong, she shirks responsibility; when everyone is doing well, she always maintains a serene and unassuming demeanor, never vying for anything, and preserving the dignity of a noblewoman.

Aside from the fact that she insisted on entering the palace to accompany His Majesty after just one glance at him, she had never asked for anything from childhood to adulthood.

However, given her status and position, even if she never asked for anything, there were plenty of people who would willingly offer her whatever she wanted.

Jingmei suddenly felt heartbroken.

Since they are all sinners anyway, and even the Xue family no longer exists, who can be more noble than whom?

Just then, a palace maid hurried by and bumped into Xue Shi. She ignored her and simply brushed past her.

But Xue felt that the man put something into her hand.

Madam Xue remained silent and quietly carried the wooden basin toward the well.

If this basin of clothes isn't washed clean today, the Cold Palace won't send her food.

Even though she was banished to the cold palace, Lady Xue never lacked food.

She didn't care.

By the time she numbly finished washing that basin of clothes, it was completely dark.

Xue dragged her weary body slowly toward her lodgings—a dilapidated little courtyard.

Although she was a commoner, she had once been a concubine who held power in the palace. Her father and brothers were both generals who led troops into battle. Although she was as gentle as a chrysanthemum, she was extremely powerful in both the court and the harem.

Who wouldn't give her some face?

Even after being confined to the cold palace, they were still given a small courtyard.

But once inside the courtyard, it was eerily quiet, without a single ghost in sight.

Xue paused for a moment.

At this time of day, Jingmei would usually have already come out to greet her.

They showed her concern and care.

Sure enough, when a person falls on hard times, even their own dog will leave them.

Madam Xue didn't care about Jingmei, just as she never asked Jingmei to sacrifice for her.

Yet she still accepted Jingmei's service without a care in the world.

Now that Jingmei is gone, she's just a little unaccustomed to it.

She went inside, and the room was quiet, with the wind howling inside...

During the day, it is still somewhat warm, but at night it gets cold.

Madam Xue instinctively called out, "Jingmei."

No one responded; the only response was the rumbling in her stomach.

Holding her stomach, Mrs. Xue belatedly realized that she hadn't eaten dinner yet...

But where is dinner?

Jingmei hasn't returned either. Are those snobbish palace maids deliberately withholding her food?

What she didn't know was that the food in the Cold Palace was the worst in the entire palace.

Even the worst ones aren't something everyone can get their hands on.

In the past, it was Jingmei who worked hard to get it for her.

Now that Jingmei is not by her side, even getting a full meal is a luxury for Madam Xue...

She finally started to get a little anxious.

She suddenly remembered that there was a note slipped into her sleeve during the day.

She took out the note and looked at it by the moonlight.

It reads: "The virtuous concubine committed adultery and became pregnant."