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

Even so, the entire palace witnessed this great favor.

Some were envious, some were anxious, and some... were unwilling to accept it.

Jingren Palace.

Su Jinse leaned back on the soft couch, holding a round fan in her hand. The peach blossoms on the fan were old, and she was too lazy to replace them.

Chunying came in from outside, her expression somewhat strange.

"Your Majesty, I have found out. On the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, the Buddha's Birthday, the Empress Dowager will be holding a vegetarian banquet at Cining Palace, and all the concubines will be attending."

"I heard... His Majesty will be coming too."

Su Jinse's eyes lit up.

"His Majesty is here too?"

Chunying nodded, but then hesitated to speak.

Su Jinse glared at her.

"Just say what you have to say. Why are you hesitating?"

Chunying lowered her voice and said, "This servant also heard that for this vegetarian banquet, Consort Zhen... the Empress Dowager asked her to help with the arrangements. She'll definitely be sitting next to His Majesty, and this servant is afraid..."

Su Jinse's face darkened.

Consort Zhen, again Consort Zhen.

She recalled how she had knelt and begged for mercy in Weiyang Palace last time, and her face flushed.

That was the most humiliating day of her life, kneeling before that woman and begging for mercy like a dog.

She thought she would hate, but she found that after the hatred, all that was left was jealousy.

On what grounds?

Why is she allowed to conceive the emperor's child? Why does His Majesty only have eyes for her? Why does the Empress Dowager also protect her?

Su Jinse bit her lip, gripping the fan in her hand tighter and tighter.

"Chunying, that Liu Xiuyuan, has she been going to Weiyang Palace lately?"

Chunying nodded: "Yes. I go every day, rain or shine. I heard that Consort Zhen even lets her inspect the things sent by the Imperial Household Department first."

Su Jinse gave a cold laugh.

"A dog, but it's loyal."

She paused, then suddenly said:

"After what happened last time, has she taken any precautions?"

Chunying shook her head: "No. She still took the same road and at the same time. I think she didn't take what happened last time to heart at all."

Su Jinse narrowed her eyes.

Didn't take it to heart?

it is good.

Let's do it again.

She was about to speak when she suddenly remembered something.

"What has Lin Jieyu been up to lately?"

Chunying was taken aback, not understanding why she suddenly asked about this person.

"Lin Jieyu... is still the same as always."

"Every day she would dress up in her finest clothes, stroll around her little courtyard, and sometimes go for a walk in the Imperial Garden."

Her tone was somewhat contemptuous, "She's not of high rank and isn't favored, so nobody pays any attention to her."

Su Jinse nodded.

Consort Lin was an old servant in the palace.

She was of average appearance, but was said to be fertile, which is why the Empress Dowager brought her into the palace.

After entering the palace, he became like an oddball.

Actually, from a normal perspective, Lin Jieyu is not ugly.

With three thousand beauties in the imperial harem, her looks were far too ordinary.

Emperor Qianwu naturally didn't like going to her place.

But she has a particular fondness for dressing up.

She applies makeup every day and changes her clothes more often than anyone else, but unfortunately, her natural features are what they are, and no matter how she dresses up, she is still just an average person.

But she had a high opinion of herself and always greeted people with a smile, appearing to be someone who didn't want to cause trouble.

Of course, despite being considered fertile, she has not been able to conceive a child with His Majesty after being in the palace for so long.

Every woman who enters the palace has an inexplicable confidence in herself, believing that she is one in a million.

Especially now that Consort Zhen is pregnant, it has further inspired the newcomers' fighting spirit.

Su Jinse used to ignore her, but now she suddenly had an idea.

"Chunying, what do you think... if Consort Liu makes a fool of herself at the Buddha's Birthday banquet, what will Consort Zhen do?"

Chunying was startled.

"Your Majesty, you can't..."

Su Jinse glared at her.

"I never said I would do it myself. I just wanted... someone to do some things for me."

Her lips curved slightly, and a calculating glint flashed in her eyes.

……

The fifth day of the fourth lunar month is three days before the Buddha's Birthday banquet.

In the Imperial Garden, the peonies are in full bloom.

Lin Jieyu, dressed in a peach-colored palace gown, stood by the flower bushes, holding a freshly picked flower in her hand, examining it closely in the sunlight.

Her maidservant whispered, "Your Highness, these flowers are blooming so beautifully, it would be such a waste to pick them..."

Lin Jieyu smiled and tucked the flower into her hair.

"What's the pity? Flowers bloom precisely to be seen. I, the Lady, look better wearing them than they do growing in the soil."

The palace maid lowered her head, not daring to speak again.

Lin Jieyu looked at her reflection in the pool and nodded in satisfaction.

Just then, footsteps sounded behind them.

She turned around and saw Chunying, a palace maid who served Consort Su.

Chunying walked up to her, bowed, and smiled broadly.

"Consort Lin, my lady has sent me to deliver a message to you."

Lin Jieyu raised an eyebrow.

"Consort Su? What letter did she send to me, Lady Jieyu?"

Chunying nodded, took out a gold-flecked note from her sleeve, and presented it with both hands.

Lin Jieyu took it and her eyes lit up.

It says on it that on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, the Buddha's Birthday banquet, Consort Su wants to invite her to go to Cining Palace together.

She also specifically mentioned that she had heard the Empress Dowager liked people to dress brightly, and told her to dress up nicely.

After Lin Jieyu finished reading, a smile appeared on her face.

"Your lady is quite thoughtful. I thought she only had eyes for Consort Zhen."

Chunying smiled and said, "You flatter me, Consort Lin. My lady often says that Consort Lin is a senior member of the palace and knows the rules best. I hope you will guide her in the future."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jieyu's smile deepened.

Although she was not favored by the emperor, she had been in the palace for so many years and was not stupid.

What good intentions could Su Jinse possibly have in suddenly trying to get close to him?

But so what?

She was a Zhaorong, a higher rank than her.

If someone takes the initiative to show goodwill, can she really turn them away?

Lin Jieyu carefully put away the gold-flecked paper and nodded.

"Go back and tell your mistress that I have remembered this. On the eighth day of the fourth month, I will definitely dress up nicely."

Chunying smiled and agreed, then turned and left.

Lin Jieyu stood there, gazing at her reflection in the pool, and then raised her hand to tidy the peony in her hair.

On the eighth day of the fourth month, the Empress Dowager hosted a banquet, and His Majesty also attended.

If she can make an appearance at the banquet, perhaps...

Lin Jieyu's lips curved into a smile.

……

April 8th, Cining Palace.

As soon as it was light, the concubines in each palace began to get busy.

The Buddha's Birthday banquet is a major event, presided over by the Empress Dowager and attended by His Majesty; no one dares to be negligent.

Today, Su Jinse wore a pale yellow palace dress made of this year's newly tribute silk gauze, which was light and flowing, making her look charming and lovely.

She looked at herself in the bronze mirror again and again, and nodded in satisfaction.

Chunying served him from the side, but felt somewhat uneasy.

"Your Majesty, please allow Consort Lin to..."

Su Jinse glanced at her.

"Shut up. Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."

Chunying lowered her head, not daring to speak again.

Su Jinse stood up and straightened her clothes.

Lin Jieyu may be a bit stupid, but even stupid people have their uses.

She sent a letter to Consort Lin, inviting her to Cining Palace, and specifically mentioned that the Empress Dowager liked to see people dressed in bright colors.

But there was another sentence in the letter that Consort Lin probably didn't notice...

"The flowers on the path that Liu Xiuyuan walks every day are in full bloom."

If Lin Jieyu really wanted to "bump into" Liu Shuang'er and do something for her, that would be perfect.

Even if it fails, it won't be traced back to her.

Su Jinse smiled and walked out.

……

On the palace path leading to Cining Palace, Liu Shuang'er was walking at a leisurely pace.

Today she wore a begonia-red palace dress, made of fabric bestowed by Consort Zhen. The bright color made her look even more heroic.

Two palace maids followed behind her, carrying gifts that Consort Zhen had asked her to deliver to the Empress Dowager.

Halfway there, a person suddenly emerged from a side path.

Liu Shuang'er looked up and saw Lin Jieyu.

Lin Jieyu was dressed exceptionally brightly today, in a bright red palace dress with gold flecks, her hair adorned with red gold and kingfisher feather hairpins, her face painted white, and her lips painted red. She looked like a painting with overly strong colors, which seemed out of place no matter how you looked at it.

When she saw Liu Shuang'er, her eyes lit up, and she greeted her with a smile.

"Liu Xiuyuan, what a coincidence."

Liu Shuang'er stopped and nodded at her.

"Lin Jieyu".

Lin Jieyu walked to her side, looked her up and down, and her gaze lingered for a moment on her begonia-red palace dress.

"Liu Xiuyuan's outfit is truly beautiful. Was it a gift from Consort Zhen?"

Liu Shuang'er nodded.

Lin Jieyu smiled, then suddenly lowered her voice and said:

"Liu Xiuyuan, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it."

Liu Shuang'er looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

Lin Jieyu leaned closer and said mysteriously:

"I've heard that Consort Su has been inquiring about you lately. You'd better be careful."

Liu Shuang'er's eyebrows twitched slightly.

She looked at Lin Jieyu, her eyes clear and bright, revealing no emotion.

"Thank you for the reminder, Lin Jieyu."

Lin Jieyu nodded, patted her hand again, and turned to leave.

The crimson and gold-sprinkled skirt left a long trail on the palace road, gradually disappearing into the distance.

Liu Shuang'er stood there, gazing at her retreating figure, lost in thought.

A palace maid beside her whispered, "Your Highness, can we trust Consort Lin's words?"

Liu Shuang'er remained silent for a while.

Then he shook his head.

"I don't know. However, regardless of whether her words can be trusted, I will be careful."

She paused, then added:

"Your Majesty is right. In this palace, you can't trust anyone completely."

She continued walking forward, her steps still steady.

……

Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager sat at the head of the table, beaming with smiles.

Today is Buddha's Birthday banquet, and the hall is filled with vegetarian dishes, fruits, and snacks.

The concubines of each palace took their seats according to their rank, their elegant attire and graceful bearing creating a lively scene.

Of course, what made the Empress Dowager most happy was that on this year's Buddha's Birthday, the Emperor's harem gained a pregnant concubine, which pleased her more than anything else.

Consort Zhen sat beside the Empress Dowager, dressed in a moon-white palace gown, which made her look gentle and dignified.

Her lower abdomen was slightly protruding, her hand rested gently on it, and a faint smile played on her lips.

Emperor Qianwu sat on the other side, his gaze occasionally falling on her, his eyes so tender they could melt water.

Su Jinse sat in the concubines' seat and watched this scene unfold, her nails digging into her palms.

She glanced in Lin Jieyu's direction.

Lin Jieyu was sitting in the corner, her bright red dress with gold flecks was particularly eye-catching, but no one paid her any attention.

She didn't care and continued eating her snacks, occasionally glancing up at His Majesty and the Empress Dowager at the head of the table.

After a while, Su Jinse frowned.

This idiot, why didn't he do anything?

As she was thinking, she suddenly heard the Empress Dowager speak:

"I am delighted to have this Buddha's Birthday feast today. You need not stand on ceremony, eat and talk freely."

Everyone laughed and agreed.

The Empress Dowager then looked at Consort Zhen and smiled:

"Ah Chang, your belly is getting bigger and bigger, you must take good care of yourself. I've had some tonics prepared for you, I'll send them over later."

Zhou Mingyi bowed slightly and said gently, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager nodded and then looked at everyone.

"You've all been in the palace for some time now. From now on, you must get along well and stop scheming against each other all the time. If anyone dares to have any wicked thoughts, I will be the first to punish her."

Everyone quickly stood up and said in unison, "We will obey the Empress Dowager's teachings."

Su Jinse knelt in the crowd, her head bowed, her expression unreadable to anyone.

The banquet continued.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and the exchange of toasts, Consort Lin suddenly stood up and walked into the hall.

"Your Majesty, I have a request."

The Empress Dowager looked at her, her brows twitching slightly.

"Oh? What is it?"

Lin Jieyu raised her head and smiled brightly.

"I heard that the peonies in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom today. I would like to ask the Empress Dowager for permission to pick a few branches to offer before the Buddha, as a token of my goodwill."

The Empress Dowager looked at her and remained silent for a moment.

"Go ahead. Pick the prettiest ones."

Lin Jieyu smiled and thanked her, then turned and walked out.

As she walked to the door, her gaze inadvertently swept across Su Jinse's face.

That gaze carried a hint of something indescribable.

A sudden unease welled up in Su Jinse's heart.

After Lin Jieyu left, the banquet continued.

But Su Jinse always felt that something was wrong.

Not long after, a commotion suddenly broke out outside.

The Empress Dowager frowned.

"What happened?"