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

"His Majesty!"

Emperor Qianwu stared at Consort Chen with his dark eyes, and she froze instantly, taking half a step back.

"I remember that all matters concerning the inner palace were entrusted to the Imperial Concubine."

"The investiture ceremony is of great importance; such a lapse is a sign of your incompetence."

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine is incompetent. I can only humbly request that you help me manage the affairs of the inner palace, with Consort Rong assisting from the side. What do you think?"

The Empress Dowager glanced at Consort Chen and slowly nodded.

Consort Rong naturally had no objections.

She lowered her eyes, a faint smile flashing in them.

"I will certainly do my best to share the burdens of Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager."

Consort Chen immediately turned pale, her body trembled like a leaf, and she almost collapsed to the ground.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"

Her voice was initially hoarse, then gradually became more stern.

"Your Majesty's judgment is wise, your humble servant..."

She had no way to defend herself!

She orchestrated the whole thing.

The purpose was to ruin Consort Zhen's reputation.

Even if we can't convict her and send her to the cold palace, we must at least make her fall out with His Majesty.

When His Majesty grows tired of her, it will be only natural for her to fall out of favor.

But she never expected that His Majesty would completely trust Consort Zhen.

How is that possible?

Even though she had been in the palace for many years and even gave birth to a princess for His Majesty, she still couldn't gain His Majesty's complete trust. How did Consort Zhen manage to do it?

Consort Chen deeply loved Emperor Qianwu, but after so many years in the palace, she never knew what His Majesty was thinking.

Sometimes, she felt that His Majesty had feelings for her.

But most of the time, she had no idea what His Majesty was thinking.

She even felt that His Majesty loved no one.

But how is that possible?

She could feel how happy His Majesty was when she became pregnant with the princess.

The time when Consort Chen was pregnant with the princess was the happiest time of her life after entering the palace.

At that time, His Majesty would make a special trip to have lunch with her every day after finishing the morning court session, and he would also have dinner in her palace for more than twenty days a month.

When her belly grew bigger, His Majesty stayed with her every night.

Were all the genuine feelings and sincerity of that time just a lie?

Later, she gave birth to a princess. Although His Majesty was somewhat disappointed, the smile on his face was genuine.

After the princess turned one month old, His Majesty immediately consummated the marriage with her.

She also hoped to conceive another child for His Majesty, but her wish was never fulfilled.

After the princess turned one year old, His Majesty gradually began to visit the palaces of other concubines and no longer came to her palace every day.

At that time, Consort Chen felt only disappointment. She thought it was because her womb was not working properly, which was why His Majesty was disappointed.

His Majesty does not not love her, he is just disappointed.

But the fact that a newly arrived Consort Zhen could have her palace power stripped by the Emperor saddened Consort Chen, and made her wonder if the Emperor's love was real.

Granny Chen said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty does this because he loves you."

Consort Chen was stunned for a moment, then grasped at the straw as if it were a lifeline.

"Why do you say that?"

"If His Majesty loves me, he will not distrust me. It should be that Zhou woman who is banished to the cold palace."

Granny Chen sighed.

As an observer, she knew perfectly well that their emperor loved no one.

But their empress deeply loves His Majesty, how could she dare to say such a thing?

All we can do is appease the Empress.

Chen Mama wasn't His Majesty, so she didn't know who His Majesty truly loved, but she did know what His Majesty desired most.

"This servant believes that Your Majesty is being too hasty."

"That Zhou woman had just entered the palace. Although she won His Majesty's favor because of her seductive appearance, she was made a concubine as soon as she entered the palace."

"But what good is being an empress if you have no children?"

Consort Chen was stunned.

"You mean I was too hasty? I shouldn't have targeted her?"

"But with her seductive manner, I'm afraid she'll bewitch His Majesty..."

Granny Chen said, "Doesn't Your Highness understand?"

"His Majesty's favor cannot last; having offspring is the most important thing."

Consort Chen gradually calmed down.

"Yes, only by bearing His Majesty an heir, a prince... If I can give birth to a princess, I will surely be able to give His Majesty another healthy prince!"

"By then, no matter how alluring that bitch becomes, she won't be able to shake my position!"

Consort Chen thought for a moment, then her expression suddenly became urgent. "But His Majesty has ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Directorate of Ceremonial to handle this case together. It's not impossible that the investigation will trace it back to me..."

Granny Chen remained very calm.

"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words."

"We've never handled this before..."

Consort Chen suddenly turned to look at Granny Chen, her expression a mixture of shock and confusion.

"you……"

Granny Chen said, "We're not using the princess. It's because the princess can't bear to see Her Majesty disappointed that she's targeting that Zhou woman. It has nothing to do with us."

"Furthermore, Your Highness and Princess share a deep mother-daughter bond. When a daughter makes a mistake, isn't it only natural for a mother to do her best to make amends?"

"As for Jin Baolin, she just believed those baseless rumors. What does that have to do with us?"

Consort Chen: ...

Her eyes suddenly lit up.

Granny Chen continued, "At most, you were a little careless during the investiture ceremony, which allowed that Jin woman to seize the opportunity."

"At most, you were just a little negligent."

Consort Chen's eyes flickered. "You're right."

……

"Although Lady Chen was foolish, her feelings for the emperor were genuine."

"Moreover, she gave birth to Chaoyang for the emperor, making her a meritorious contributor to both the emperor and my wife."

"The emperor cannot allow those who have rendered meritorious service to become disheartened."

In private, the Empress Dowager said this to Emperor Qianwu.

Emperor Qianwu was no longer a helpless boy living under his mother's wings.

His brows furrowed. "Mother, if it weren't for Chen giving birth to Chaoyang, the things she has done over the years would have been enough for me to order her to die."

The Empress Dowager said helplessly:

"But this matter involves Chaoyang after all, so the emperor has to loosen his grip. Although Zhou is good, as an imperial concubine, her reputation cannot be damaged. If she can give birth to an imperial heir in the future, that will be her true blessing."

The implication is that Consort Chen must be protected until Consort Zhou gives birth to a prince.

After all, Consort Chen had Princess Chaoyang.

If the emperor is unable to have any other children in his lifetime, Chaoyang will be his only offspring.

We must not let Consort Chen and her daughter be saddened.

Emperor Qianwu lowered his eyes, concealing the surging suspicion within them.

"I understand."

The Empress Dowager then asked, "What does the Emperor intend to do with that Jin woman?"

Emperor Qianwu was silent for a moment, then said, "Put him in the cold palace."

He had absolutely no liking for the Kim family.

With the Zhou family's beauty as a precedent, Emperor Qianwu now finds all other beauties to be "not good-looking".

Jin was not ugly, but compared to the stunningly beautiful Zhou, she appeared quite ordinary.

Furthermore, given that she had never been favored by the emperor and was merely a concubine in name only, Emperor Qianwu's decision to banish her to the cold palace instead of ordering her to commit suicide was already the last act of mercy he had shown.

"No."

The Empress Dowager resolutely refused.

Emperor Qianwu raised an eyebrow in surprise.

The Empress Dowager knew her son well, and she was bound to give him a reason that would convince him.

"The Jin family was originally found by me at Hanshan Temple specifically for the emperor."

"Master Jingming said that the woman destined by heaven is in Hanshan Temple. Although it was Zhou who succeeded in her affair with the emperor, Jin may not have been the other way around."

"What if there are two chosen ones?"