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

She walked quickly and decisively.

Anyone could tell she was very excited.

Halfway there, she suddenly stopped and asked the person beside her, "Who discovered what happened at the West Garden first?"

The person beside him thought for a moment and immediately said, "You instructed us to keep an eye on the Crown Prince's movements. I have been watching closely, and as soon as I heard any noise, I immediately led the guards over."

Princess Chaoyang glanced at him, and the little eunuch immediately lowered his head, not daring to meet her gaze.

"You did a great job!"

The young eunuch was flattered and said, "I will do my utmost to fulfill Your Highness's orders."

Chaoyang nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

But the corners of her mouth curved even higher.

"Just tell me what you want, and I'll be happy."

The young eunuch immediately knelt down, "It is my honor to serve Your Highness. How could I dare to accept any reward?"

"As long as Your Highness is happy, I will be happy to give you whatever you wish."

Princess Chaoyang glanced at him. "You certainly know how to talk."

She raised her eyes and looked at the little eunuch for a moment.

This little eunuch was of ordinary appearance, the kind you wouldn't notice in a crowd, but he was efficient and kept his mouth shut.

His reply was perfectly watertight, demonstrating his loyalty while exonerating himself completely.

You can trust someone like that.

Chaoyang thought for a moment, then took off a string of red agate beads from her wrist and casually tossed them to him.

"Take it."

The young eunuch caught it with both hands, looked down and saw that it was a string of eighteen red agate beads, each one round and full, gleaming with a warm luster under the light.

Although he didn't know much about goods, he had served in the palace for a long time and still had a good eye for them.

This is something made internally; you can't see it outside.

"Your Highness, this is far too precious, this servant..."

"Just take it."

Chaoyang waved her hand, interrupting him, "This is a gift from the Empress Dowager to me. Since I'm giving it to you, just accept it."

The young eunuch, holding the string of beads, had tears welling up in his eyes and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "This servant thanks Your Highness for your kindness! This servant will certainly serve Your Highness with utmost loyalty and devotion..."

Chaoyang smiled, ignored him, and continued walking forward.

After walking a few steps, she suddenly remembered something, turned back, and added:

"Oh, right, go to the Imperial Treasury and collect twenty taels of silver later. Just say it was me who said it."

The young eunuch knelt on the ground, watching the departing figure, tears welling up in his eyes.

Twenty taels of silver is enough for his whole family to eat for a whole year.

Your Highness is... truly happy.

I'm so happy.

He kowtowed, carefully tucked the string of red agate beads into his bosom, and held it tightly, as if afraid of losing it.

……

Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager leaned against the couch, rubbing her temples; her complexion was not good.

She had already lay down, but was then tossed and turned again.

She's an old woman who doesn't sleep much, so it's no wonder she looks unwell after being woken up from her bed.

The scene that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess caused in the West Garden became known throughout the palace, and now people are kneeling in her palace, begging her to make the decision.

How can she make decisions about something like this?

The Crown Princess knelt outside the palace and cried. Her cries were high-pitched and thin, and they were quite eerie to hear in the middle of the night.

The Empress Dowager rubbed her temples from time to time and forced herself to suppress a yawn.

It wouldn't be right for the Crown Princess to talk about the Crown Prince's romantic escapades while she, as an elder, sat at the head of the table yawning... It would feel incredibly disrespectful.

The Empress Dowager had been listening for almost half an hour, and it was nothing but the same old things.

They said the Crown Prince was heartless and unfaithful, going to meet his concubine in the middle of the night without any regard for her feelings.

The Empress Dowager was exasperated and wanted to have someone persuade her to go back, saying that she knew about the matter and would stand up for her.

How can we make that decision?

The Crown Prince had a secret rendezvous with his concubine... She was his concubine, not some random woman from outside.

Although sneaking around in the middle of the night is inappropriate, it's not really a big crime.

The Crown Princess's outburst only made her seem like she was making a mountain out of a molehill and lacked decorum.

The Empress Dowager was suffering from a headache when another announcement came from outside:

"Princess Chaoyang has arrived—"

The Empress Dowager's brow twitched slightly.

Why is this girl here at this time?

Before she could speak, Chaoyang had already lifted the curtain and come in.

As soon as he entered, Chaoyang knelt down.

"Grandmother, you must stand up for my sister-in-law, the Crown Princess!"

The Empress Dowager looked at her, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

This girl said she was "standing up for her sister-in-law, the Crown Princess," but the expression on her face clearly showed she was watching a show.

"Stand up and speak."

Chaoyang stood up, walked to the Empress Dowager's side and sat down, linking arms with her in a friendly manner.

"Grandmother! The matter at the West Garden has caused quite a stir. I heard that my sister-in-law, the Crown Princess..."

She glanced at His Highness. "She's crying so pitifully!"

The Empress Dowager sighed, "Indeed, she's been crying for an hour!"

Chaoyang gloated, "Grandmother, what do you plan to do?"

The Empress Dowager glanced at her sideways. "What do you think?"

Instead of refusing, Chaoyang said very seriously, "Grandmother, if I may be so bold as to say this, my sister-in-law, the Crown Princess, handled this matter poorly."

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

Chaoyang leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Crown Prince is the heir apparent, the future emperor."

"He went to meet a concubine in the middle of the night. Although it's not a good thing to do, it's not a big mistake in the end."

"The Crown Princess's sister-in-law's outburst has become known throughout the palace. What will outsiders say if word gets out?"

"They'll say His Highness the Crown Prince is licentious and dissolute, and that His Highness the Crown Princess is jealous and immoral. If this reputation spreads, it will benefit no one."

The Empress Dowager looked at her, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

This girl claims to be thinking of the Crown Princess, but her words are clearly meant to sow discord between the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince.

"Then tell me, what should we do?"

The rising sun blinked and smiled innocently.

"How would my granddaughter know what to do?"

"My granddaughter feels sorry for her grandmother, who is kept awake in the middle of the night and has to listen to her complaints."

She rubbed her ears and said in a coquettish voice, "My sister-in-law, the Crown Princess's crying is so chilling! Anyone who didn't know better would think..."

She pouted.

"Besides, Grandmother is old, how can she withstand this?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but chuckle.

This girl may have a sweet tongue, but I can guess a bit of what she's thinking.

"Alright."

The Empress Dowager patted her hand, "I'm so happy you've come to see me."

"Don't worry about this matter; I know what I'm doing."

Chaoyang nodded obediently in agreement.

But she remained seated and talked with the Empress Dowager for quite a while, making the Empress Dowager beam with joy.

Until an announcement came from outside—Emperor Qianwu had arrived.

Chaoyang's eyes lit up slightly.

She stood up, bowed, and obediently stepped aside.

When Emperor Qianwu entered, his face was grim.

He greeted the Empress Dowager, his gaze sweeping across the rising sun before settling on her face.

"Mother," he began, "I heard that the Crown Princess caused a scene?"

The Empress Dowager sighed, "Indeed, she cried for an hour. She said the Crown Prince was heartless, that he was unfaithful, and that he went to meet his concubine in the middle of the night, completely disregarding her feelings."

Emperor Qianwu's expression darkened further.

"Does she even have the nerve to talk back?"

His voice turned cold. "She caused trouble in the West Garden in the middle of the night, alarming the guards and making a scene known throughout the palace! She has utterly disgraced herself!"

The Empress Dowager remained silent.

Chaoyang stood to the side, his eyes lowered, his face expressionless.

But she was secretly overjoyed.

Father is angry.

The Emperor said, "She still has the nerve"—this was a rebuke to the Crown Princess, but also to the Crown Prince.

If the Crown Princess loses face, how can the Crown Prince be any better off?

Emperor Qianwu walked to the window, turned his back to them, and remained silent for a long while.

Then he spoke, his voice low:

"By imperial decree! Crown Princess Xiao has acted inappropriately and improperly. She is to be confined to her quarters for ten days to reflect on her mistakes and to copy the 'Admonitions for Women' one hundred times as a warning to others."

Chaoyang's eyelashes trembled slightly.

He secluded himself for ten days to reflect on his mistakes and copied the "Admonitions for Women" a hundred times.

That's a severe punishment.

But what about the Crown Prince?

The Emperor did not mention the Crown Prince.

Why not mention it?

Is it that you don't want to mention it, or... are you saving it for later?

She lowered her eyes, and the corners of her lips curved slightly.

Emperor Qianwu turned around, looked at the Empress Dowager, and said in a softer voice, "Mother, please don't concern yourself with this matter. I will handle it."

The Empress Dowager nodded and sighed.

Chaoyang spoke up at the opportune moment: "Father, Grandmother has been working hard all night, let her rest. Your son takes his leave."

Emperor Qianwu glanced at her and nodded.

Chaoyang bowed and withdrew.

She took a deep breath as she stepped outside the hall.

The cold wind blew into her lungs, feeling cool, but she felt her whole body was burning up.

The Emperor did not punish the Crown Prince.

But he didn't protect the crown prince either.

Confined to her room to reflect on her mistakes, copying the "Admonitions for Women"... all of this was directed at the Crown Princess. But the Crown Princess was the Crown Prince's legal wife; if she had no face, how could the Crown Prince have any face at all?

The Emperor is giving the Crown Prince a warning.

They reprimanded, but did not punish.

Why?

As Chaoyang walked out, thoughts raced through his mind.

What is Father thinking?

Is he... also waiting?

Wait for the Crown Prince to make another mistake, wait for the Crown Prince to drive himself to ruin, wait...

She suddenly remembered Xu Yan.

He recalled his father summoning him to the palace and asking him if he wanted to marry him.

I remembered what my father said: "I won't force you anymore."

I stopped pressuring them, but I didn't give up either.

What does Father really want?

As Chaoyang stood at the entrance of Cining Palace, gazing at the hazy sky, he suddenly smiled.

Whatever the Emperor wants, one thing is certain—the position of Crown Prince is no longer secure.

She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself and strode outside.

Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Qianwu sat behind his desk, holding a commemorative document in his hand, but did not turn a single page for a long time.

Fuquan served him at the side, not daring to breathe too loudly.

His Majesty's expression was not good when he returned from Cining Palace.

It was so heavy it made me feel uneasy.

After a long while, Emperor Qianwu suddenly spoke:

"What's the Crown Prince doing?"

Fu Quan hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has been staying in his study since returning from the West Garden and has not come out."

"The Crown Princess has already sent word to her. She accepted the decree, said nothing, and only kowtowed to express her gratitude."

Emperor Qianwu nodded.

They didn't say anything.

Ke Fuquan knew that His Majesty was not satisfied with this answer.

He thought for a moment, then added, "Before Your Majesty went to Cining Palace, Her Highness the Princess persuaded the Empress Dowager for quite a while."

Emperor Qianwu's gaze shifted slightly.

"What did she say?"

Fuquan carefully considered his words and said, "This servant heard... that Her Highness the Princess advised the Empress Dowager not to be angry, saying that the Crown Princess's sister-in-law handled this matter poorly, and that making a big fuss would not benefit anyone."

After listening, Emperor Qianwu remained silent for a long time.

"She knows how to talk, offending neither side."

Fuquan dared not respond.

Emperor Qianwu leaned back in his chair, gazing at the ceiling beams with a deep, unfathomable look.

Did Chaoyang go to Cining Palace to watch the excitement, or to add fuel to the fire?

Whatever it is, one thing is certain—she's becoming more and more like him.

It's not like him as a person, but like those things in his heart that he's never brought out.

It's ambition, and it's also scheming.