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

The box fell onto the bluestone pavement with a "thud," lying there all alone.

Zhou Mingchong didn't even look at him and strode forward.

step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

He stopped.

He stood there, his back to the box, motionless.

The setting sun cast his long shadow, which fell directly onto the box, as if to cover it up.

Zhou Mingchong took a deep breath.

Then he turned around, walked back, bent down, and picked up the box.

"unlucky."

He cursed under his breath, shoved the box into his arms, and this time he was really leaving.

The pace was faster than before.

But he didn't know that behind him, there was a pair of eyes that had seen everything.

Cen Shaoyuan hid behind the wall, covering his mouth, not daring to make a sound.

He originally came up to take a look.

It's not that I don't trust Zhou Mingchong, it's that I don't trust the box.

The items in that box were things he had been selecting for half a month; each one was bought with money he had saved by living frugally.

If Zhou Mingchong throws it away carelessly, he'll have to pick it up.

And he actually threw it away!

In a moment of impulsiveness, Cen Shaoyuan almost rushed out.

That was the culmination of half a month's hard work!

He ate boiled noodles every day at the inn just to save money to buy this set of Huzhou brushes and Huizhou ink, and that guy surnamed Zhou actually threw it away?!

Ever since he offended his aunt and cousin, his mother has stopped caring about him and even cut off the charcoal fire food in his courtyard. Cen Shaoyuan is quite defiant.

Since his family wouldn't let him stay at home, he stayed at a guesthouse.

When he ran out of money, he would ask his older brother for help. His mother had also told his older brother not to help him, but he was his older brother. He would whine a little, and his older brother would slip some money between his fingers.

He took a step forward, then pulled back.

That's Zhou Mingchong, his brother-in-law.

If he were to rush up and fight his brother-in-law, he would never see Ah Chang again in his life.

Cen Shaoyuan's face turned red from holding back his anger, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and he hid behind the wall, gritting his teeth.

Then he saw Zhou Mingchong take a few steps, stop, turn around, and pick up the box.

Cen Shaoyuan was stunned.

Did you pick it up?

Did he pick up the box and take it back?

Cen Shaoyuan's eyes lit up instantly, shining like two small suns.

He covered his mouth, afraid he would burst out laughing.

But the smile slipped through his fingers, impossible to suppress.

Brother Mingchong, he says "this is a one-time thing" and throws it away neatly, but after a few steps he still comes back to pick it up.

He has feelings for Ah Chang.

He knew those things were for Chang.

He... he's actually soft-hearted.

Cen Shaoyuan leaned against the wall, looking up at the sunset on the horizon, a wide grin spreading across his face.

The setting sun cast a rosy glow on his face; it was hard to tell if it was the glow of the sunset or his own laughter.

He laughed for a while before slowly walking back along the base of the wall.

As he walked, he suddenly remembered something.

Ah Chang is in the palace; I wonder how she is doing.

I heard that the old emperor recently selected another batch of new concubines to enter the palace.

Cen Shaoyuan's face fell.

Old Emperor, you're already half-buried in the ground, why are you still choosing new people?

Don't you know your own situation?

The imperial physician has already declared you childless, so why are you still making such a fuss? You're ruining one family after another, don't you get tired of it?

He looked up at the high palace wall, at the unseen sky beyond, and felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

How old is Ah Chang this year? The old emperor is almost forty!

People his father's age.

Ah Chang is so beautiful and so young, yet she serves an old man in the palace. That old man doesn't even know how to cherish her; he keeps choosing new concubines, and...

Cen Shaoyuan grew angrier and more frustrated the more he thought about it.

He kicked a pebble hard, watching it roll far away.

"God is really blind."

He muttered to himself, "Ah Chang is such a good person, she should... she should..."

What should it be?

He didn't dare to say it.

He simply stood beneath that high palace wall, gazing at the unseen sky beyond, watching the fading sunset glow on the horizon, for a very, very long time.

Then he turned around and walked towards the inn.

He took one step, then stopped.

I glanced back at the wall.

"Ah Chang,"

He said softly, "You wait. Sooner or later... sooner or later I'll pass the imperial examination and become the top scholar to show you."

After saying that, he strode away.

This time, he didn't look back.

Weiyang Palace.

At 3:45 AM, the six newlyweds arrived on time.

According to custom, after entering the palace, newlyweds must pay their respects to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Imperial Concubine in that order.

We've already visited the Empress Dowager; today we're here to see Consort Zhen.

Zhou Mingyi sat regally at the head of the main hall, dressed in a pomegranate red palace gown, which made her look radiant.

She held a cup of tea in her hands, her gaze sweeping across the entrance of the hall as she watched the six people file in.

Shen Zhirou walked at the front, wearing a lotus-colored palace dress with dark patterns, her hair tied up in a high bun, and adorned with a red-gold phoenix hairpin with pearls.

Her eyes were lowered, her gait was unhurried, and every step seemed perfectly measured.

Su Jinse followed half a step behind her, wearing a pale yellow palace dress, the color of which was as fresh and tender as a freshly peeled orange.

She lowered her eyes, but the allure in her eyes and brows seemed impossible to hide, drifting outwards.

This person has a lively personality, whether it's genuine or just an act.

Liu Shuang'er walked in third place, dressed in a begonia-red palace gown. She was taller than the others, walked straight, and never looked to the side.

That air of a military family was palpable the moment she stepped into the palace.

Chen Wanning followed beside her, dressed in a moon-white palace gown, her head bowed, quiet and still, as if afraid of being noticed.

Zheng Yanran walked in fifth place, wearing a light pink palace dress. She was petite and took light, quick steps, like a little rabbit afraid of startling people.

Zhou Nian'er walked at the very back, dressed in a plain blue-green palace dress. The color and style were ordinary, and with her ordinary appearance, she was easily forgotten in the crowd.

Zhou Mingyi looked at them, a slight smile curving her lips.

The six people knelt down in unison to pay their respects.

"We, your humble servants, pay our respects to Your Highness, the Noble Consort."

Zhou Mingyi didn't rush to wake him up.

Her gaze slowly swept across the faces of the six people.

The hall was very quiet, with only the occasional chirping of birds coming from outside the window.

After a long while, she slowly spoke:

"Rise, all of you. Please take a seat."

The six people stood up and took their seats according to their place in the table.

The palace maids filed in and served tea and snacks.

Zhou Mingyi picked up her teacup, took a sip, and her gaze fell on Shen Zhirou.

"Has Consort Shu been settling in well these past few days?"

Shen Zhirou bowed slightly, her voice gentle and graceful: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Everything is fine at Yonghe Palace. Sister Chen lives in the same palace as me, so we can look after each other on a daily basis."

Zhou Mingyi nodded and turned her gaze to Chen Wanning.

Chen Wanning lowered her head, and as if sensing her gaze, her body tensed up slightly.

"Chen Meiren".

Zhou Mingyi said slowly, "I've heard that you get up at dawn every day to sweep the courtyard and recite poetry. You are indeed diligent."

Chen Wanning raised her head, her face slightly flushed: "I am new to the palace and dare not be negligent."

Zhou Mingyi smiled and didn't say anything more.

Her gaze then fell on Su Jinse.

Su Jinse was looking down, seemingly lost in thought.

Noticing that gaze, she looked up and met Zhou Mingyi's eyes, then quickly lowered them again.

His gaze darted away so quickly, it was as if he were feeling guilty.

Zhou Mingyi picked up the teacup and took another sip.

"Consort Su is residing in Jingren Palace, sharing a room with Consort Zhou. Is she settling in well?"

Su Jinse raised her head, a smile plastered on her face: "Your Majesty, everything is fine at Jingren Palace. Sister Zhou has a good temperament and gets along well with me."

Zhou Nian'er, who was sitting at the end of the table, immediately stood up upon hearing this and curtsied in Su Jinse's direction: "Your Highness is too kind to accept this favor."

Su Jinse smiled and returned the half-bow.

The two smiled at each other, and they really did look quite harmonious.

Zhou Mingyi saw this scene and smiled slightly.

"Please sit down, no need for formalities."

The two then sat down.

Zhou Mingyi's gaze fell on Liu Shuang'er.

"I've heard that Consort Liu practices horse stance every day at dawn. This palace is quite interesting; I've never seen anything like it before."

Liu Shuang'er raised her head, her gaze frank: "Your Majesty, I am used to it when I am at home. If I have disturbed Your Majesty's peace, I will be more careful in the future."

Zhou Mingyi waved her hand.

"Why disturb the peace and quiet? I'd love for someone to make this palace more lively."

She paused, a hint of a smile in her eyes, "But when you were practicing your horse stance, did you ever see anyone hiding behind the wall peeking at you?"

Liu Shuang'er's eyebrows twitched slightly.

She remembered that morning, the pale yellow light at the corner of the courtyard wall.

But she simply shook her head: "I was focused on practicing my horse stance and didn't notice."

Zhou Mingyi seemed to have thought of something, "I've heard that practicing martial arts can strengthen the body, no wonder Liu Xiuyuan looks to have such a good foundation."

She coughed twice, feigning a cough. The cough wasn't loud, but it wasn't hidden either; it seemed to come out casually.

Liu Shuang'er's eyebrows twitched slightly.

She raised her head and looked at the imperial concubine at the head of the table.

His face was pale, but not in a sickly way; it was more like the paleness that comes from years of not seeing the sun.

Those two coughs didn't sound like a serious illness; they sounded more like... like they were coughing on purpose for her to hear?

But Liu Shuang'er didn't think that much about it.

She could only recall that her mother often coughed when she was at home.

My father had someone bring back a health regimen from the border, and my mother practiced it for a few months, and sure enough, she recovered.

She's a straightforward person; if something's on her mind, she can't hide it.

"Your Majesty,"

She suddenly spoke, her voice clear and bright, "If I may be so bold as to say something..."

Zhou Mingyi raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Go ahead."

Liu Shuang'er stood up, took two steps forward, and bowed to Zhou Mingyi.

"When I was at home, I learned some health preservation techniques from my father."

"It's nothing profound, just a breathing technique and a few simple movements."

"My father said that the soldiers on the border practice this every day, and their bodies are stronger than ordinary people."

"My mother used to cough often, but after practicing for a few months, she got better."

She paused, then looked up at Zhou Mingyi with a frank and open gaze.

"If Your Majesty doesn't mind, I'm willing to teach you this skill."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent for a moment.

Shen Zhirou paused slightly in her teacup, then continued drinking her tea as if nothing had happened.

Su Jinse's eyes darted around, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Liu Shuang'er and Zhou Mingyi, her expression a mix of surprise and something else.

Chen Wanning kept her head down, as if she hadn't heard.

Zheng Yanran opened her mouth slightly, looking at Liu Shuang'er with envy.

She longed to speak to the Imperial Concubine like that, but she dared not.

Zhou Nian'er sat at the end of the table with a faint smile on her face, revealing no emotion.

Zhou Mingyi looked at Liu Shuang'er and thought to herself that this Liu Xiuyuan was quite straightforward.

"Liu Xiuyuan," she said slowly, "I like your temperament."

Liu Shuang'er's face flushed slightly, but she still stood ramrod straight.

"I'm just a straightforward person, I say what I think. If Your Majesty is unwilling, then just pretend I never said it."

"Who says I'm unwilling?"

Zhou Mingyi waved her hand, "If you're willing to teach, I'm naturally willing to learn. From now on, come to Weiyang Palace every day at 1-3 PM, and we'll practice slowly."

Liu Shuang'er's eyes lit up, and she quickly bowed, saying, "Your concubine obeys."

By the time she returned to her seat, the atmosphere in the hall had subtly changed.

Su Jinse lowered her head and took a sip of tea, using the teacup to hide the slight indifference on her lips.

Teaching kung fu? That sounds nice, but it doesn't.

Isn't he just trying to curry favor with the imperial concubine?

Who doesn't know that Consort Zhen is currently the most favored person in the six palaces? If you climb up to this powerful tree, what will you have to worry about in the future?

She felt a pang of jealousy inside, but she had to put on a smile.

Shen Zhirou remained as gentle and dignified as ever, but her gaze lingered on Liu Shuang'er for a moment before shifting away.

That moment was so fast that no one noticed.

Whether it was flattery or genuine affection, Liu Shuang'er took a step ahead of everyone else.

Zheng Yanran was genuinely happy for Liu Shuang'er.

During the days she was in the palace, everyone else treated her indifferently, except for Liu Shuang'er, who would nod when they met and occasionally ask her, "Are you feeling better?"

Liu Shuang'er is a good person, and the Imperial Concubine is also a good person. Shouldn't good people be good to each other?

Chen Wanning kept her head down the whole time, as if the excitement had nothing to do with her.

But she kept her ears perked up, memorizing every word and every glance.

Zhou Nian'er still had that faint smile.

But her gaze lingered on Liu Shuang'er's face for a moment, then on Zhou Mingyi's face for a moment, before falling back down without saying a word.

Zhou Mingyi observed everyone's reactions.