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

Such a major event naturally alarmed the Empress Dowager and Consort Rong.

The Empress Dowager now manages the inner palace, with Consort Rong assisting her.

This also alarmed Consort Chen and some other concubines who had ulterior motives.

When Consort Yun arrived at Weiyang Palace, she was overjoyed to find the Empress Dowager, Consort Rong, and Consort Chen all there.

She subconsciously looked at Zhou Mingyi's hair.

The expression on his face froze instantly.

What happened? It seems like I haven't lost any hair at all...

The smile on her face faded slightly.

She quickly put on her usual gentle smile, walked to Zhou Mingyi's side, and curtsied. "I heard that His Majesty invited imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital to examine my sister's health. Is there good news for you, sister?"

Her expression was completely sincere, without the slightest trace of pretense.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's eyes lit up, and she immediately strode forward. "Consort Zhen, if you truly have good news, or have suffered any injustice, you must tell me, and I will stand up for you!"

Unlike Emperor Qianwu, the Empress Dowager was old, and the emperor's offspring became almost an obsession for her.

The mere mention of "offspring" was enough to make her abandon any principles.

As long as someone can give birth to a prince for the emperor, she'd be willing to serve him tea and water, even if it meant being an old woman.

Therefore, when Consort Jin was suspected of being pregnant, the Empress Dowager immediately gave her the greatest preferential treatment.

But the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.

Consort Jin brought about her own downfall, causing Emperor Qianwu and the Empress Dowager's hopes to be dashed. In the end, she was beaten to death and her father and brothers were exiled.

Now, the Empress Dowager's gaze was extremely ardent as the Consort Zhen before her appeared to be pregnant again.

Just as Zhou Mingyi was about to explain, she heard Consort Chen say, "Congratulations, sister! Congratulations!"

"Your Majesty has gone to such great lengths, with the entire Imperial Medical Academy mobilized. What else could it be but a pregnancy?"

Consort Chen said eagerly, "I never expected that after so many years, our palace would finally have good news again."

This posture clearly identifies her as the "official wife," and she appears deeply gratified.

Consort Rong couldn't help but frown, and said in a cold tone, "Congratulations, Consort Zhen! Congratulations, Consort Zhen!"

Only Consort Liu, who had remained silent, spoke a fair word for Zhou Mingyi.

"Empress Zhen didn't say anything, yet Consort Gui and Consort Rong are so certain that she is pregnant?"

"If Consort Zhen is indeed pregnant, it would be a good thing to be able to bear children for His Majesty. I'm just afraid that even Consort Zhen herself is not sure, but because of a word from the Noble Consort and Consort Rong, she will be killed."

Zhou Mingyi slightly raised her eyes and glanced at Liu Zhaoyi, who was beautiful but had a cold expression, with some surprise.

She had some impression of Consort Liu.

This impression stems from her beauty.

The palace has never lacked beautiful women.

Therefore, even with her exceptional natural advantages, Zhou Mingyi still had the system adjust her appearance and demeanor before going to Hanshan Temple, striving for perfection.

After systematic adjustments, her beauty was brought to its fullest potential.

Zhou Mingyi herself was the epitome of beauty, which is why she was even more drawn to Liu Zhaoyi's beauty.

Her features were exquisite and beautiful, and her aloof and otherworldly temperament was like smoke and illusion.

Zhou Mingyi's lack of ambition was a facade, but Liu Zhaoyi seemed genuinely indifferent to power.

Or perhaps, in her view, with Emperor Qianwu having no heir, the struggles in the harem were meaningless.

Her aloof temperament was somewhat similar to that of Consort Rong.

However, if we only consider appearance, Consort Rong is no match for her.

Sure enough, Consort Liu's words made everyone think of Consort Jin very easily.

Jin Meiren, who faked her pregnancy to win favor, was praised as high as she was when her pulse was first diagnosed, and her fall from grace was equally ruthless.

It's unclear whether this Consort Zhen is truly pregnant, or if she's faking it to gain favor, like Consort Jin.

However, Consort Zhen's favor was indeed far greater than that of Consort Jin, and His Majesty clearly protected her very much.

"Your Majesty, please let Consort Zhen sit down first."

Consort Chen's gaze fell on Emperor Qianwu's large hand, which was tightly holding Consort Zhen's slender waist.

Consort Zhen was almost completely limp in Emperor Qianwu's arms.

Consort Chen couldn't help but compare her waist to her own.

That vixen! That vixen! She must have secretly tied her waist so thin with rope to deliberately seduce His Majesty!

Don't you have any backbone? Why do you insist on blaming His Majesty?

Consort Chen's tone was sour, "If Consort Zhen really has a status, she should sit down and rest properly."

The Empress Dowager also realized what was happening, and her tone lost its initial enthusiasm.

"Yes, let Consort Zhen sit down first, and order the imperial physician to take her pulse. We'll talk about it after we've examined her."

Emperor Qianwu also had this intention.

Although Ah Chang told him that her slippery pulse was caused by the medication, what if it was?

Emperor Qianwu nodded, carefully carrying the delicate beauty in his arms as if she were some precious and fragile porcelain.

Consort Chen was furious and so angry she was practically fuming.

But remembering the purpose of his trip, he forcefully suppressed his anger.

She gave Granny Chen a wink, and Granny Chen immediately and quietly retreated...

As the group entered the hall, the Empress Dowager hurriedly said, "Someone, check Consort Zhen's pulse."

With Chen Yuanzheng exiled, the position of Yuanzheng of the Imperial Medical Academy is now vacant.

Nobody wanted to be the first to stick their neck out, but fortunately there were two vice presidents, both with gray hair and beards, clearly experienced medical experts.

Before Emperor Qianwu and the Empress Dowager, neither dared to refuse, and they took turns examining Zhou Mingyi's pulse.

One finished reading, his brow furrowed, and the other immediately continued.

After the two imperial physicians finished their examinations, other young imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital immediately took over.

He saw six imperial physicians in total.

Finally, the gray-haired deputy chief physician carefully considered and said, "At first glance, Consort Zhen's pulse appears to be slippery, just like Consort Jin's before. However, upon closer inspection, it is not a truly slippery pulse; it seems to be caused by medication."

Another vice-director immediately asked, "May I ask, Your Majesty, have you taken any fertility-enhancing drugs?"

Emperor Qianwu had long suffered from the lack of offspring, and it was no secret that the concubines in the harem were taking fertility drugs.

After all, if she were lucky enough to give birth to a prince, it would be a great thing that would guarantee her a life of wealth and honor for the rest of her life.

Zhou Mingyi shook her head. "Although I wish to bear children for His Majesty, His Majesty has had the imperial physician examine my pulse. The physician said that I am in good health and do not need to take any fertility-enhancing drugs for the time being."

Her brows were slightly furrowed; even a beautiful woman's furrowed brows are extremely beautiful.

"After all, every medicine has its side effects."

After listening, the vice-director nodded in agreement, "However, there are indeed signs of drug interference in Her Majesty's body."

The Empress Dowager was completely confused.

"What exactly is going on?"

"Consort Zhen did not take any fertility drugs, yet she showed signs of pregnancy, but she was not actually pregnant?"

Consort Rong's brows had relaxed slightly.

It's wonderful that Consort Zhen is not pregnant.

Although Consort Rong was disappointed in Emperor Qianwu, she relied on her family background to become a tool for Emperor Qianwu to control the harem, which made her life very comfortable.

She did not want the situation in the palace to change.

Once the situation changes, it means the balance has been broken.

At that time, she will face nothing but the unknown.

However, she also realized something.

If Consort Zhen did not take fertility drugs but showed symptoms of a false pregnancy, it must be because someone couldn't resist taking advantage of her.

She subconsciously looked at Consort Chen.

Almost everyone's eyes quietly fell on Consort Chen.

Lu'er, standing on Yun Meiren, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Excellent! With Consort Chen as a live target, no one is paying attention to Lady Yun for the time being.

If Yun Meiren is safe, then she is safe.

Emperor Qianwu's face quickly darkened. "Someone has malicious intentions and wants to frame Consort Zhen."

"What?"

The Empress Dowager suddenly stood up. "Who is it that dares to use such a drug to frame Consort Zhen? Isn't this a mockery of me and the Emperor?"

Upon receiving the news, the Empress Dowager immediately rushed to Weiyang Palace, not daring to linger for even a moment.

But when they arrived, they received this disappointing news.

She couldn't help but feel a little resentful towards Zhou Mingyi.

"Consort Zhen has been in the palace for some time now. As a consort, you should know to be careful and not let the emperor worry about you all the time."

Zhou Mingyi lowered her eyes. "Yes, the Empress Dowager is right."

Emperor Qianwu said, "Consort Zhen was negligent; it was her carelessness. However, the person who plotted behind it is even more despicable!"

Although Consort Zhen was not pregnant, she was not as arrogant and domineering as Lady Jin; she had feelings for him.

At this time, Emperor Qianwu's heart was inclined towards Zhou Mingyi.

However, Zhou Mingyi's influence was not enough for him to defy the Empress Dowager.

Therefore, he directly avoided confronting the Empress Dowager and instead steered the conversation toward the person who had done it behind the scenes.

Someone said, "The Jin family is completely innocent; could they have been framed?"

"You bastard!"

Emperor Qianwu's face darkened, and he immediately shouted, "That Lady Jin, relying on her pregnancy, acted arrogantly and spoiled herself. After menstruating, she bled and showed no remorse, yet she still tried to deceive me and the Empress Dowager!"

"On the contrary, Consort Zhen noticed something was wrong with her body and immediately sought medical help from the imperial physician."

"You all came here without even asking any questions before congratulating her. What are your true intentions?"

Consort Chen and Consort Rong felt their hearts pounding as they listened to Emperor Qianwu's clearly biased attitude.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

All the concubines knelt on the ground.

"How could Consort Zhen be so innocent?"

"I caught the person who poisoned me in Weiyang Palace. Now, I want to know who is behind this, trying to trick me and the Empress Dowager!"

Just then, a guard suddenly reported that the palace maid who had poisoned Consort Zhen's well had committed suicide.

Emperor Qianwu was furious. "Investigate! Investigate for me! Who dared to kill someone and silence them right under my nose!"

Consort Chen suppressed the smile on her lips and knelt on the ground, feigning fear.

The Empress Dowager rubbed her temples. "I am tired. Since someone has framed her, the Emperor must find out the truth and not let Consort Zhen suffer injustice."

After saying that, he led his entourage away from Weiyang Palace.

The Empress Dowager clearly didn't care about Consort Zhen; she only cared about the Emperor's offspring.

Knowing that Consort Zhen was not pregnant, she had no interest in staying to uphold justice for Consort Zhen.

"Respectfully seeing off the Empress Dowager."

Consort Chen also said, "I served Your Majesty last night and didn't sleep all night. I'm very tired now."

After saying that, she even gave Emperor Qianwu a flirtatious wink, "This morning, Chaoyang went to the outskirts of the capital early, saying he was raising horses. That kid is always so energetic."

"Your Majesty, I am very tired and will take my leave."

Immediately afterwards, Consort Rong took her leave... and all the other concubines followed suit.

Zhou Mingyi's eyes were gentle as water, and her fair and delicate hands gently stroked Emperor Qianwu's furrowed brows.

"Your Majesty, please don't be angry."

Emperor Qianwu's anger was slightly soothed by the gentle beauty.

But I already knew the answer in my heart.