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

Lulu: ...

She immediately shut her mouth and stopped talking.

This cloud beauty is truly strange.

She was never really favored after entering the palace.

The main reason is that before Consort Zhen entered the palace, Emperor Qianwu had never liked to enter the harem.

Even if they were to visit a palace on a whim, they would usually just sit for a while and then leave.

Perhaps, Consort Yun felt that even if His Majesty came, she would not have any children of her own.

Whether they come or not makes little difference.

Yun Meiren is not a native of this country; she is a princess from a small border country in the south.

They were sent to the palace as tribute.

When she arrived, her thick, jet-black hair, flowing like an ink cascade, truly shocked the entire harem of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

But gradually, people stopped appreciating it.

Mainly, she is well-behaved and low-key, and never causes trouble.

A low-ranking concubine who has some unique features but lacks competitiveness is not worthy of much attention.

Yun Meiren didn't care about the contemptuous or outright ignoring attitudes of others.

She really only cares about her hair.

Isn't it normal for a woman to care so much about her hair and appearance?

However, not interacting with others can sometimes make one a target of public criticism.

But Lu'er and Shuang'er, as her personal maids, both knew very well that Yun Meiren's indifference did not mean she was a pushover.

Those who were unfriendly to her, or even bullied and provoked her, basically did not survive.

Although, in the end, those people mostly fell into the hands of His Majesty and the Empress Dowager.

Did Ke Yun really do nothing?

……

After admiring her own beautiful hair, Yun Meiren finally came to her senses. "You mean, Princess Chaoyang and Consort Zhen are completely at odds?"

"And His Majesty has placed the princess under house arrest?"

Lu'er and Shuang'er exchanged a glance.

She chuckled softly, "His Majesty has longed for an heir for so many years, and finally another one has arrived. Moreover, I think Consort Zhen is a blessed woman, and she will most likely be able to give birth to this child."

"Then there will be a spectacle to watch in the palace."

Shuang'er and Lu'er exchanged another glance.

Shuang'er couldn't help but whisper, "My lady, since Consort Zhen has been able to become pregnant again and again, then you..."

Yun Meiren put down the comb in her hand and slammed it onto the dressing table with a "smack".

"presumptuous!"

Shuang'er and Lu'er were so frightened that they immediately knelt down.

The two of them felt a chill run down their spines.

Oh no, the beauty is going to get angry!

The two were quite confused. They were talking so well, why did the beauty suddenly get angry?

To everyone's surprise, Lady Yun asked, "Do you two know your crime?"

Shuang'er and Lu'er: ?

Yun Meiren became even angrier, "Are you cursing my hair?!"

Shuang'er: ...

Lulu: ...

The two complained bitterly.

Oh well, I've been assigned a lazy master. Although I'm not favored and can't act domineeringly in the harem, at least I'm not starving or cold.

In this respect, Consort Zhen was indeed much more benevolent than Consort Chen.

In previous years, when Consort Chen was still the Noble Consort Chen, she controlled the palace affairs. The allowances of the lower-ranking concubines in the harem were reduced again and again, and all the good things were sent to Chang Le Palace like flowing water.

Consort Zhen was good; neither she nor Consort Lan were greedy for merit or ambition.

What's theirs, they don't hesitate to take it without hesitation.

Nowadays, everyone in the palace knows that the duties in Consort Zhen's palace are of utmost importance, followed by Consort Lan and Consort Chen.

Although Consort Chen was somewhat down on her luck, as long as there were no other children in the palace, Princess Chaoyang and Consort Chen would not fall out of favor.

Those in the palace, assessing the situation carefully, dared not offend them too much.

However, under the management of Consort Zhen, even low-ranking concubines received their due allowances without missing a single penny.

Although they weren't exactly wealthy, they were at least well-fed and clothed, and no one dared to take advantage of them.

"My beauty, please forgive me! My beauty, please forgive me!"

"We didn't mean that. We just hoped..."

"I hope the beauty can find someone to rely on for life."

Yun Meiren glanced coldly at the two of them. "Lifelong support?"

"You are still too young and naive."

"You all know my background, but so what if I'm a princess? I was still given away like a pet."

"This beauty can't rely on anyone. Nor has she ever thought of relying on her child."

Lu'er and Shuang'er exchanged a glance.

They were even more confused.

However, a few thoughts were vaguely forming in my mind.

Could it be that this beautiful woman has been heartbroken by her own people?

No wonder he's so heartless and devoid of love...

But since their master wasn't ambitious, they could only worry helplessly.

……

Three days later.

Su Jinse stood in the pavilion in the Imperial Garden, feeling extremely agitated.

At this time of year, you can see blooming flowers everywhere, as well as petals scattered on the bluestone slabs.

It is said that Consort Zhen specifically instructed people not to clean it thoroughly, but to wait until the petals turned yellow and were no longer beautiful before having them swept up and poured into flower pots or flower beds.

It is said that these flowers are extremely beautiful when they are spread on the ground, and when they are no longer beautiful, they can turn into nutrients to benefit the trees, which is truly wonderful.

Everyone in the palace was flattering Consort Zhen, praising her ingenuity.

Su Jinse was both envious and jealous.

Three days ago, she asked Chunying to find out His Majesty's preferences. Chunying did find out, but what use was it?

She eagerly sent a book to the Qianqing Palace, saying she wanted "Your Majesty's guidance," but the book was accepted without any response.

She "bumped into" him twice more in the Imperial Garden, each time dressed in her finest attire, and each time she was stopped by a eunuch who said, "His Majesty has important business to attend to."

This is a very important matter, an extremely important matter!

Su Jinse bit her lip, the handkerchief in her hand crumpled up.

Chunying stood to the side, barely daring to breathe.

"Your Majesty, please don't worry..."

Su Jinse glared at her.

"No rush? No rush to wait until Consort Zhen gives birth? What role will I have left in this palace then?"

Although her rank after entering the palace was not the lowest, it was not the highest either.

Just because of a pot of flowers, Consort Zhen almost miscarried, and was demoted.

If we don't take another step forward, wouldn't it be possible for those behind us to catch up?

How could she possibly bear this?

Su Jinse entered the palace to vie for the emperor's favor and to scheme for that position.

Now she even suspects that Consort Zhen, who has been pregnant for three months, may have deliberately orchestrated what happened that day.

In order to let His Majesty and the Empress Dowager know that she was pregnant again, she used several new women as stepping stones.

The more she thought about it, the more she hated and angrier she became!

Chunying lowered her head, not daring to speak again.

Just then, footsteps came from the other end of the path.

Su Jinse looked up and her eyes lit up immediately.

The one who came was a eunuch; he looked unfamiliar.

The eunuch walked to the pavilion and bowed to her.

"Your Highness Consort Su, this is His Majesty's decree."

Su Jinse's heart leaped into her throat. She quickly stood up, straightened her clothes, and knelt down respectfully.

The eunuch glanced at her and said slowly:

"His Majesty said he has read the books the Empress sent. However, the Empress's handwriting still needs some practice, so there's no need to send any more in the future."

Su Jinse was stunned.

No need to send it?

She looked up, as if to say something, but the eunuch had already turned and left.

Su Jinse knelt there, her face turning pale and then flushed.

Chunying quickly helped her up.

"Your Majesty, please don't take it to heart, His Majesty..."

Su Jinse shook off her hand, her eyes reddening.

"He didn't even see me once, yet he sent someone to spread such a message? My handwriting is bad? When I was in Jiangnan, my teachers all said my handwriting was good!"

Chunying dared not respond.

Is it possible that the gentleman accepted a tuition fee from the Su family and therefore dared not say your handwriting was bad?

Of course, Chunying is Su Jinse's servant girl, and now that she has entered the palace, they are bound together by fate, sharing both glory and ruin.

If the master is bad, it means the servant is incompetent.

Su Jinse stood there, trembling with anger.

Why? Why is Consort Zhen so favored and protected by His Majesty, while she can barely even get a glimpse of him?

She raised her head and looked in the direction of Weiyang Palace, her eyes burning with jealousy.

Just then, a soft laugh came from not far away.

Su Jinse turned her head and looked even more unpleasant.

Liu Shuang'er was walking along another path, accompanied by two palace maids carrying something in their hands. It seemed they were also heading to Weiyang Palace.

Liu Shuang'er also saw her, paused for a moment, then nodded to her as a greeting before continuing on her way.

That appearance was very unpleasant to look at.

As Su Jinse watched her retreating figure, the fire in her heart burned ever brighter.

"Spring Oriole".

Chunying quickly stepped forward.

"That Liu Xiuyuan, does she go to Weiyang Palace every day?"

Chunying nodded: "Yes. I heard that Consort Zhen sent her there to keep her company and keep her company every day to relieve her boredom."

Su Jinse gave a cold laugh.

"Keep her company and keep her entertained? Isn't that just flattery? I'd like to see what tricks she can pull off."

"Consort Zhen is pregnant now. If the child is a boy, he will undoubtedly be the crown prince. She herself doesn't give birth, but instead tries to curry favor with Consort Zhen. How long can this arrangement last?"

Chunying was startled. "Your Highness, be careful, the walls may be listening."

Su Zhaorong, domineering and willful, retorted, "What are you afraid of?"

"I was referring to Consort Liu, not insulting the Imperial Concubine."

She paused, then suddenly lowered her voice:

"How's the thing I asked you to do last time going?"

Chunying's expression changed slightly, and she leaned close to her ear and whispered:

"Your Majesty, as you instructed, I had oil poured on the road that Consort Liu is bound to take."

"But Liu Xiuyuan fell and was fine. She went to the Imperial Hospital to get medicine and went to Weiyang Palace as usual."

"There hasn't been any reaction from Consort Zhen's side either."

Su Jinse frowned.

No response?

She made a move against Consort Zhen's people, but Consort Zhen didn't react at all?

Is it that he doesn't care about Liu Shuang'er, or... is he plotting something bad?

Su Jinse felt a vague unease, but that unease was quickly burned away by jealousy.

"I'll think of another way," she said through gritted teeth. "I refuse to believe that if I can't touch Consort Zhen, I can't touch one of her dogs."

Chunying felt bitter inside, but dared not say anything and could only agree.

……

Side hall of Jingren Palace.

Zhou Nian'er sat by the window, holding a book in her hand, but her gaze kept drifting towards the main hall.

A palace maid whispered, "Lady, what are you looking at?"

Zhou Nian'er looked away and smiled.

"It's nothing. It's just that Consort Su seems a bit... anxious these past few days."

The palace maid thought for a moment and said, "I heard that they wanted to see His Majesty, but couldn't. The books they sent were also returned."

Zhou Nian'er nodded and didn't say anything more.

But other thoughts were swirling in her mind.

Su Jinse wanted to win the emperor's favor, but failed, and she was seething with anger. This anger needed an outlet.

Who will she sprinkle it on?

Zhou Nian'er thought about the events in the palace these past few days, and the corners of her lips curved slightly.

Liu Shuang'er.

Su Jinse will definitely make a move against Liu Shuang'er.

Should she... do something?

Zhou Nian'er's fingers gently stroked the pages of the book.

Her rank is low; doing nothing is her duty. To do something would be a risk.

Taking a risk might just bring an opportunity.

She thought about it for a long time before finally putting the book down.