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

A moment later, a young eunuch rushed in and knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, Consort Lin...she fell."

The Empress Dowager was stunned.

"You fell? How did you fall?"

The little eunuch's voice trembled.

"Consort Lin went to the Imperial Garden to pick flowers, but somehow she stepped in a puddle of oil and fell into a peony bush."

"His clothes were completely dirty, and he had a cut on his face..."

The hall fell silent instantly.

The Empress Dowager frowned and remained silent for a moment.

Consort Lin has been in the palace for many years and has always been well-behaved. How could she suddenly cause such a commotion?

She was silent for only a moment before saying to Zhu Lan beside her:

"Go and find out who spilled the oil."

Straightforward and to the point, without any unnecessary fuss.

Unlike the Empress Dowager's usual gentle and kind demeanor, the concubines in the palace looked at each other in bewilderment, none daring to utter a sound.

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly, "Now that Consort Zhen is pregnant, you are all the Emperor's concubines. Instead of thinking about how to continue the Emperor's lineage, you all have ulterior motives and want to harm others."

"If I catch you doing anything wrong, you will not be let off easily!"

Although the concubines did not show it on their faces, each of them had their own thoughts.

The old folks were all thick-skinned, and they pretended not to hear anything.

Zhou Mingyi subtly observed everyone's reactions by raising her hand to look at the nail polish on her fingers.

Consort Chen lowered her head, wearing a honey-colored palace dress that was gorgeous yet understated, but there was a faint blue under her eyes that even makeup could not cover.

She kept covering her lips and yawning, clearly not having rested well.

Therefore, even when the Empress Dowager spoke sternly, she seemed slow to react and didn't quite understand.

Consort Lan lowered her head, fiddling with her prayer beads, as if she hadn't heard anything.

Shen Zhirou managed to maintain her composure.

This matter may really have nothing to do with her.

Chen Wanning's face turned slightly pale, and she clenched her handkerchief tightly.

Zheng Yanran was so frightened that she shrank back in the chair, and Qiaohong quickly helped her up.

Liu Shuang'er frowned and looked at Su Jinse.

Su Jinse reacted the most; her face turned as white as paper.

Feeling Liu Shuang'er's gaze, he stiffened, but dared not look up.

Zhou Mingyi glanced at her and took a sip of soup.

The soup melts in your mouth, with her favorite sweet and sour flavor. It's perfect for eating now that it's cooled down.

She took another sip, her movements gentle and her posture relaxed.

Emperor Qianwu sat at the head of the table, his face frighteningly grim.

He glanced at Zhou Mingyi, and seeing that she was alright, his expression softened slightly, but the coldness in his eyes grew deeper and deeper.

The Empress Dowager did not speak again.

The banquet continued, but the atmosphere had completely changed.

The music was still playing, and the dancers were still performing, but no one in the audience was paying attention.

Su Jinse sat there, every moment an ordeal.

After the banquet, Su Jinse staggered back to Jingren Palace.

She had just sat down when Chunying rushed in, her face pale.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! That...that palace maid who serves Consort Lin has been arrested."

Su Jinse was stunned.

"What?"

Spring Oriole's voice trembled.

"After Consort Lin fell, the Imperial Guards suddenly appeared and took away the palace maid beside her. They said... they said they wanted to investigate the origin of that puddle of oil."

Su Jinse's legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the couch.

It’s over.

It's really over.

She bribed a palace maid in Consort Lin's palace. The maid was a second-class maid named Caiwei, who usually kept a low profile. She gave her a bag of silver and she agreed to do things for her.

She thought everything was foolproof.

But why did the Embroidered Uniform Guard suddenly appear?

Su Jinse's mind was in turmoil. She recalled the look Lin Jieyu gave her before leaving.

That look in his eyes—that's not something a fool should have.

She was scammed.

I was completely fooled from beginning to end!

……

Qianqing Palace.

Lu Yi, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, stood in the hall, bowing his head to report.

"Your Majesty, the palace maid has confessed."

"She said that it was Consort Su's people who gave her money to pour oil on the road that Consort Lin took every day. But she didn't know who the oil was for; she only knew to do as she was told."

Emperor Qianwu leaned against his desk, his face grim.

"Consort Su".

He uttered those three words in a flat tone, but beneath that flatness lay a chilling coldness.

Lu Yi lowered his head, not daring to reply.

Emperor Qianwu remained silent for a while.

"Is there any news from Consort Zhen's side?"

Lu Yi said, "No. Consort Zhen has been resting in Weiyang Palace during her pregnancy and has never interfered in matters outside."

Emperor Qianwu nodded.

"Go down."

Lu Yi agreed and left.

The hall returned to silence.

Emperor Qianwu sat there, his brows furrowed.

He had long anticipated that Ah Chang's child would receive unanimous attention from both the imperial court and the harem.

With six new women added to the harem, things are almost certainly not going to be peaceful.

Even if it wasn't the reckless Consort Su, someone else would have used other, more subtle methods...

Emperor Qianwu's handsome face turned pale.

He will not allow anyone to harm this child in any way.

For the sake of this child, he even confined Chaoyang to his home and transferred all the people she had on hand away.

He did all this to show everyone that he valued the child in Consort Zhen's womb very much, and that no one could have any designs on the child!

But... this child's arrival was so unfortunate, it just had to be at this time...

However, he could never allow himself to lose it again.

Even if it means going against the entire previous dynasty and the imperial harem, he would definitely protect the mother and daughter.

Emperor Qianwu stood up, put his hands behind his back, stood by the window, and gazed at the eaves outside.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When I opened my eyes again, they were already ice-cold.

"Someone come here."

Fuquan immediately bowed and stepped forward.

Emperor Qianwu stood by the window, his back to Fuquan, and remained silent for a long time.

The light inside the hall gradually dimmed, and the afterglow of the setting sun slanted in through the windows, gilding him with a faint golden edge.

His back was straight and tall, yet it exuded an indescribable loneliness.

Fuquan bowed deeply, not daring to urge him or utter a sound.

After a long silence, Emperor Qianwu finally spoke:

"What are those new recruits doing now?"

Fuquan felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that His Majesty was about to ask about serious matters.

He carefully considered his words and said:

"Your Majesty, Consort Shen spends her days copying scriptures and reading books in Yonghe Palace. She is very well-behaved and never causes trouble."

"Consort Chen was also quiet and reserved, occasionally going to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager."

"Consort Zheng went to Weiyang Palace every day to deliver snacks to Consort Zhen, saying that she made them herself, and the consort liked them very much."

Emperor Qianwu's brows twitched slightly.

"Consort Zheng?"

Fuquan nodded: "Yes."

"Consort Zheng was timid but kind-hearted. She went to Weiyang Palace every day to talk with Consort Zhen, rain or shine. Consort Zhen was also very kind to her and often kept her to talk for a while."

Emperor Qianwu remained silent for a while.

"Where is Liu Xiuyuan?"

Fu Quan said, "Liu Xiuyuan also goes to Weiyang Palace every day."

"She was straightforward and didn't know any of those tricks. She just went to accompany Consort Zhen. I heard that once someone splashed oil on her on the road and she fell down, but she didn't make a fuss. She just applied some medicine and continued on her way."

Emperor Qianwu frowned.

"Pouring oil?"

Fu Quan realized he had let something slip and quickly said, "It's... it's about Consort Su. This isn't the first time this has happened."

As expected, Emperor Qianwu's gaze grew even colder.

Fu Quan quickly said, "But Liu Xiuyuan is alright. Consort Zhen later had someone secretly protect her."

Emperor Qianwu nodded and did not ask any further questions.

"Where is Zhou Cainu?"

Fu Quan thought for a moment and said, "Zhou Cai Nu... doesn't go out much."

"He spends his days in his room, reading and embroidering, and doesn't do much else."

"She never gets involved in matters at Jingren Palace."

"She has the lowest rank and an unremarkable family background. It's rare that Consort Su, with her... personality, didn't cause her any trouble."

Fuquan spoke carefully, occasionally observing Emperor Qianwu's expression.

Emperor Qianwu responded softly.

These newcomers each have their own personality.

Consort Shen is too composed, so composed that she is impossible to understand.

Chen Cai Ren was too quiet, so quiet that she seemed not to exist.

Consort Zheng was too timid, yet she went to Weiyang Palace every day.

Liu Xiuyuan is too straightforward, so straightforward that it makes people worry for her.

Zhou Cainu was so inconspicuous that she was easily forgotten.

There was also a woman surnamed Su, who was flamboyant and, in Emperor Qianwu's eyes, was already a useless person.

Emperor Qianwu turned around, walked back to his desk, and sat down.

"Whom do you think I should favor first?"

Fu Quan was startled and immediately knelt down.

"Your Majesty, how...how dare this servant speak so presumptuously?"

Emperor Qianwu glanced at him.

"Just say it."

Cold sweat beaded on Fuquan's forehead. After hesitating for a long time, he cautiously said:

"If this servant dares to say something... Consort Zheng seems quite suitable."

Emperor Qianwu raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Why?"

Fu Quan said, "Zheng Cairen is gentle, timid, doesn't fight or grab, and won't cause trouble."

"She goes to Weiyang Palace every day, and Consort Zhen also likes her. If His Majesty were to summon her, firstly, it wouldn't make Consort Zhen think too much, and secondly, it would show the others in the harem that His Majesty isn't only eyeing Weiyang Palace..."

He paused, then added:

"Moreover, Consort Zheng's rank is low, so even if she gains favor, she won't be able to cause any trouble."

Emperor Qianwu listened, his face revealing no emotion.

After a long while, he finally spoke:

"Who is Consort Zheng?"

The selection of these six women to enter the palace was not only due to their meeting the requirements in various aspects, but also to balance the power between the inner palace and the outer court.

Before learning that Zhou Mingyi was pregnant again, Emperor Qianwu was disheartened and did not care about the new concubine.

Later, Zhou Mingyi became pregnant again, and Emperor Qianwu's attention was once again entirely on her.

They paid even less attention to the newcomers.

To this day, apart from Consort Shen, Consort Su, and Consort Liu, who are of high rank, Emperor Qianwu still doesn't know who the other three lower-ranking concubines are.

Fu Quan quickly replied, "It's that petite girl, who looks like a little rabbit and blushes whenever she sees someone. Her father is Zheng Mingyuan, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and she is born out of wedlock."

Emperor Qianwu thought about it and seemed to have a vague recollection of it.

The little girl who was trembling with fear at the flower viewing party.

He nodded.

"She goes to Weiyang Palace every day?"

Fuquan said, "Yes. Rain or shine. Sometimes she brings snacks, sometimes she just sits down and chats with Consort Zhen. Consort Zhen is very kind to her."

Emperor Qianwu nodded.

"Which one is Consort Chen?"

Fuquan was taken aback for a moment, then quickly said, "Chen Cairen... is the legitimate daughter of Chen Wenyuan, a Hanlin Academy Reader. She lives in a side hall of Yonghe Palace, and has a round face."

"Has she ever been to Weiyang Palace?"

Fuquan shook his head: "No."

"Apart from her first audience with the Emperor at Weiyang Palace after entering the palace, Consort Chen never went to Weiyang Palace or to anyone else's palace."

Emperor Qianwu seemed to be deep in thought.

I never go to Weiyang Palace.

Does this mean caution, or distancing?