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

The Empress Dowager quickly realized what was happening.

"Yes, yes, stop standing and sit down!"

Although Jin Meiren was brought into the palace by the Empress Dowager, she came from a humble background and had no trusted maids who had served her since childhood.

He was never favored by Emperor Qianwu.

The Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianwu acted as if she didn't exist.

The palace is the most pragmatic and mercenary place in the world.

Without birth or wealth, one is nothing in the palace.

Even though she was still clueless, she noticed the difference in her experience afterward.

In particular, the Zhou family had a grand ceremony to be made a concubine, while she received nothing.

There was only a little eunuch with his nose in the air, who brought a few people to announce the imperial decree, and she became "Baolin".

She was said to be the emperor's woman, which made her seem very noble.

But she couldn't even see the emperor; instead, she was like a cat kept in a cage...

Later, Jin heard that when concubines entered the palace and obtained their rank, they would be assigned palaces, but she didn't even have a proper place to live.

When the Empress Dowager brought her back, she had no official title or status and could only live in a small side hall of a remote palace.

Even after gaining fame, they didn't move.

This was clearly a message to the palace servants that she, as a concubine, was dispensable and had no favor with the emperor.

But now, everyone's gaze is directed past Zhou Mingyi's beautiful face, especially His Majesty and the Empress Dowager, who are all looking at her with great interest.

Jin Baolin felt a surge of pride and triumph.

She twisted her body, her posture somewhat affected.

"Oh dear, what is so noble about my coarse body?"

She glanced at Zhou Mingyi disdainfully, "Naturally, she can't compare to Consort Zhen."

Emperor Qianwu frowned and said in a deep voice to Consort Zhou Mingyi, "Consort Zhen, please go back and rest for now."

After saying that, he didn't look at Zhou Mingyi again.

Zhou Mingyi lowered her eyes, looking slightly disappointed, and took her leave.

Looking at Zhou Mingyi's dejected face, Jin Meiren felt extremely smug, and her ego swelled up a bit.

Before Zhou Mingyi stepped out of Cining Palace, she heard Consort Jin coaxing Emperor Qianwu, "Your Majesty, do you think I look good dressed like this?"

Emperor Qianwu: ...

Jin Meiren added, "Just now, it seemed that Consort Zhen did not like my attire."

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, feeling that this Consort Jin was being arrogant and deliberately trying to compete with Consort Zhen...

Anyone with eyes can see that Consort Zhen is stunningly beautiful, while Beauty Jin...

She was merely pretty, but her attire... The Empress Dowager and Aunt Zhulan exchanged a glance...

Well, considering that she is suspected of being pregnant, the Empress Dowager will not hold it against her too much.

The Empress Dowager originally favored Consort Zhen, but it's a pity...

Aunt Zhulan immediately said, "You look very festive dressed like this, and the Empress Dowager likes to see you dressed like this."

Upon hearing this, Jin Meiren deliberately glanced at Zhou Mingyi, and seeing the latter pause for a moment, she felt even more smug.

"Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager's kindness is too much for me to bear!"

Stepping out of Cining Palace, Zhou Mingyi slightly pressed down the corners of her lips.

Back at Weiyang Palace, once inside the inner hall, Shiliu was still indignant. "Buddha is truly blind! Jinbao... how could someone like Consort Jin be pregnant with His Majesty's child!"

"Your Majesty, how could this be? Is Consort Jin faking it?"

Zhou Mingyi shook her head. "His Majesty and the Empress Dowager have invited all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy. The results won't be wrong."

If the result is correct, then the problem likely lies elsewhere.

Upon hearing this, Shi Liu couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.

"Wasn't it said that His Majesty had no heir? How can someone like her get pregnant?"

Just then, Emperor Qianwu was already standing outside the palace and overheard Shiliu's words.

His brows furrowed, and a hint of ferocity flashed in his eyes.

He had long suffered from the lack of an heir, and now that someone had finally conceived his child, he accepted it, even if the woman was shallow and arrogant.

He had no choice.

Consort Zhen was exactly to her liking.

Therefore, after appeasing Consort Jin and moving her bedchamber from the side hall to the main hall, Emperor Qianwu unknowingly arrived at Weiyang Palace.

Unexpectedly, Consort Zhen's servants seemed to have reservations about Consort Jin's pregnancy.

This was something Emperor Qianwu would absolutely not allow.

If you can't get pregnant yourself, are you going to target pregnant concubines?

That's far too vicious!

Fuquan was so shocked that he broke out in a cold sweat.

He originally thought highly of Consort Zhen.

He had served His Majesty for many years and had never seen His Majesty so attentive to a woman.

Of course, this excludes Consort Chen, who was pregnant before.

Ke Fuquan could see clearly that His Majesty's affection for Consort Chen was entirely due to the child in her womb.

The same is true for Kim Bok-hyun today.

Only Consort Zhen was the exception.

However, Consort Zhen and Consort Jin entered the palace at the same time. Consort Zhen was favored by heaven, while Consort Jin received only a fraction of the emperor's favor, yet she became pregnant with the emperor's child first.

It's understandable that she felt disappointed.

Even if one is dissatisfied, one cannot voice it, nor can one harbor resentment towards His Majesty...

Fuquan subconsciously glanced at Emperor Qianwu's expression.

His Majesty has been on the throne for twenty years. He is a man of deep thoughts, and his emotions are not easily discernible on his face. However, Fuquan understands him very well.

His thin lips were pressed tightly together, and his brows were slightly furrowed; he was clearly unhappy.

Fu Quan thought to himself, if Consort Zhen cannot say something that satisfies His Majesty, she will probably fall out of favor.

Just then, a woman inside the hall shouted, "Shut up!"

"In the past, when we were in the manor, my elder brother and I indulged you because you were young."

"Now that you've entered the palace, how come you still don't understand the rules?"

"How dare you fabricate stories about His Majesty?"

Fuquan nodded secretly, then subconsciously glanced at His Majesty.

Consort Zhen is quite good.

The woman inside the palace was clearly angry. "If I hear you speaking ill of His Majesty and Consort Jin again, you will be expelled from the palace."

Shiliu hurriedly admitted her mistake, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong! Please don't send me away!"

She felt extremely wronged. She was clearly standing up for the Empress, but the Empress not only didn't appreciate it, but also wanted to send her away.

Zhou Mingyi's voice suddenly softened, "Your Majesty has long suffered from the lack of offspring. Even if I am not the one who is pregnant, I am still happy for Your Majesty."

"Don't say things like that again."

"If others heard this, they would think I couldn't stand to see His Majesty doing well."

Shi Liu then realized the seriousness of the situation.

"Yes, I understand! I will definitely watch my mouth from now on!"

Emperor Qianwu's gaze was deep.

Although Consort Zhen was disappointed, she was not blinded by jealousy.

He likes intelligent women, but he dislikes his own woman being presumptuous.

But Emperor Qianwu was different from emperors of previous dynasties.

His personal preferences had to take a backseat to his offspring.

He had no choice.

He deliberately didn't let anyone announce his arrival, so Consort Zhen couldn't possibly know that he was standing outside her palace.

She must have been telling the truth.

Once Consort Jin's child is born, he will certainly not let Consort Zhen down.

……

Inside the hall.

System: "Xie Jinghong is gone."

Zhou Mingyi nodded. Now that the audience had left, the actors could naturally take their bows.

She lay on the soft couch and said to Shiliu, "You may leave now. I need to rest for a bit."

It must be tiring to act in so many scenes in one day.

After leaving the Cining Palace, she made two preparations.

Shiliu is simple-minded, hates evil, and has only recently entered the palace. Everything she hears and sees is for her mistress's sake.

She was made a concubine as soon as she entered the palace, enjoying immense prestige. However, Consort Jin became pregnant with His Majesty's child before her. Given Shiliu's personality, she would definitely feel indignant on her behalf in private.