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

Madam Xue couldn't help but feel a bit resentful upon hearing this.

She couldn't resist giving the two palace maids a little something.

"My two aunts, may I ask, is Consort Rong alright?"

The two old women coldly dodged Madam Xue's movements, causing Madam Xue's face to stiffen.

The attitude of the people coming from the palace can actually reveal the attitude of those above them.

The two old women arrived with stern faces, and some of the younger girls in the Xue family were immediately frightened and cried.

This incident is clearly quite serious.

The Xue family was not unaware that communication between the palace and the outside world was forbidden.

This was a rule established during the reign of the late emperor, and even by the founding emperor.

This was to prevent relatives of the empress from interfering in politics.

Or perhaps the former dynasty and the harem joined forces.

However, the court officials sent their daughters to the palace simply to seek wealth and status. Could it be that they were truly captivated by the emperor's personal charm?

Without tangible benefits, who would be willing to give their own daughter as a concubine?

Therefore, news from both inside and outside the palace was not always kept completely secret.

This explicit rule, passed down from generation to generation, has actually become much more relaxed in modern times.

Consort Chen gave birth to His Majesty's only son, and she often rewarded the Chen family with silk fabrics and snacks, and His Majesty never said anything about it.

Therefore, the Xue family naturally assumed that Consort Rong's gift of the snacks was with His Majesty's permission.

Unexpectedly, Consort Rong hadn't even obtained Emperor Qianwu's consent...

This has really blown up!

One of the old women said, "There is no longer any Consort Rong in the palace, only Consort Xue."

Madam Xue was so frightened that her face turned pale and she sat down on the ground with a thud.

"mother!"

"Mother-in-law!"

"grandmother!"

The Xue family was a large and powerful group, originally wealthy people, especially after Consort Rong took control of the palace.

But who knew that such good days would end so quickly?

It's all Consort Rong's fault for not knowing how to restrain herself and daring to openly violate palace rules.

Did she think she was Consort Chen?

That's really daring!

Consort Chen had a princess, did she have one?

The old woman couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

……

After returning to the palace, Consort Chen couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Do you know how long I've been holding this grudge?

"This feels so good!"

"Isn't Consort Rong supposed to be someone who doesn't fight or compete? Why is she trying to send messages out of the palace like everyone else? She's really courting death!"

Granny Chen immediately retorted, "Does she think she's like Your Majesty? Just because His Majesty appointed her to manage palace affairs, does that mean she can act like she has the final say!"

Upon hearing this, Consort Chen let out another cold laugh.

But when she thought of that little vile Consort Zhen, Consort Chen could no longer laugh.

"It is said that Consort Zhen also sent gifts to the Zhou family. Why doesn't Your Majesty punish her?"

Granny Chen's lips twitched.

The Empress's idea is good, but Consort Zhen didn't do anything reckless.

She made several sets of sleeping robes for His Majesty, but used the leftover fabric to sew a paddy field robe for Lord Zhou...

Their stinginess is so extreme, you'd think the palace was short of fabric.

Besides, the clothes were sent out through His Majesty's own hands, which is in accordance with the rules.

It is said that His Majesty even ordered the Imperial Wardrobe to make a fine set of clothes for Lord Zhou. These were imperial gifts, and Lord Zhou certainly made quite a splash!

Granny Chen glanced at Consort Chen subconsciously and sighed inwardly.

My lady is good in every way, except that she cares too much about His Majesty.

Why didn't they ask His Majesty to bestow more blessings upon the Chen family?

She's not even as good as Consort Zhen!

But she dared not say those words.

Granny Chen remained silent.

Consort Chen only complained a couple of times.

At the same time, he also felt very lucky that His Majesty had not discovered that he had secretly passed messages to the Chen family.

However, Consort Chen was unaware that her little actions had never escaped Emperor Qianwu's notice.

However, considering her contribution in giving birth to the princess, and the fact that what she passed on wasn't exactly a secret, they decided to keep her in mind.

Emperor Qianwu didn't hold it against her.

After all, if we were to investigate further, the size would have to be downgraded.

If Consort Chen can't even hold onto her position, where will the princess put her face?

Weiyang Palace.

A small emerald bird landed by Zhou Mingyi's window. As if it were sentient, its tiny, beady eyes darted around, staring intently at Zhou Mingyi.

Birds often come to the palace, sometimes it's this kingfisher, sometimes it's a sparrow, so pomegranates and wax apples have long been used to it.

The Empress loves birds and enjoys talking to them.

The two men were not surprised; they simply closed the palace doors, allowing Zhou Mingyi to enjoy her "solitude" with the birds.

Zhou Mingyi is not someone who "lives alone".

She's teaching Aoyagi how to win favor.

Xie Jing's perverse hobbies were not a secret in the Eastern Palace in his previous life, but those people in the Eastern Palace would not tell Qingliu about them.

If Aoyagi truly wants revenge, he'll have to go to great lengths.

Even if Zhou Mingyi tells her now, she still has to figure out a balance herself to attract Crown Prince Xie Jing's attention.

That's her own business.

So after saying that, Zhou Mingyi patted the kingfisher's little head.

"I've said so much to you, but I don't know if you can understand it."

"So, if you understand, nod; if you don't understand, shake your head."

The kingfisher's large, dark eyes darted around, and it actually nodded.

Zhou Mingyi smiled and patted its head again, but the kingfisher suddenly jumped away.

Unfortunately, she couldn't understand bird language.

But it was a pleasant surprise that the kingfisher was willing to let her get close.

"I taught your master how to win favor, so your master should repay me handsomely."

The kingfisher flapped its wings and flew away.

Zhou Mingyi sighed.

At this moment, the system, which had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, "This system is more useful than a bird."

Zhou Mingyi: "For example?"

system:……

"I understand, you're very useful."

system:……

It sounded very perfunctory.

Sometimes it even doubts whether it has bound itself to the wrong host.

It feels like even without it, this host could still carve out a bloody path through the harem...

Zhou Mingyi suddenly spoke up, "I can't do without you."

Just as the system was about to say something, Zhou Mingyi said, "Emperor Qianwu is extremely suspicious and has an extreme fondness for Princess Chaoyang. He desperately wants an heir."

"His greatest weakness is his offspring."

"Apart from having offspring, no matter how meticulously I do, it will not be enough."

"If I want him to be completely at my disposal, I must have offspring."

"That's why I said you're useful, very useful."

The system instantly felt comfortable.

……

Emperor Qianwu dispatched the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Directorate of Ceremonial to jointly investigate the matter of Consort Rong and the Xue family, but ultimately no written evidence was found.

But that box of pastries was solid evidence.

Emperor Qianwu was absolutely decisive when issuing imperial edicts.

The system read the imperial edict directly to Zhou Mingyi.

"Consort Rong was demoted to a commoner and banished to the Cold Palace."

"General Xue Zhan has been favored by the country for generations and entrusted with important military duties. He should be loyal and diligent day and night."

"However, he was incompetent in managing his household, allowing his daughter to commit rebellious acts within the palace and to have relations with those in the inner palace. He has truly failed my expectations and has also failed in his duties as a subject and father."

"Remove him from all official positions and titles, but considering his past minor merits, spare him from execution, send him back to his place of origin, and place him under the strict supervision of local officials."

"The Xue family shall never be allowed to go to the capital or serve as officials. Their troops shall be commanded by other capable individuals selected by the Ministry of War."

In addition, Shen Kuo was also implicated and was ordered by Emperor Qianwu to be imprisoned.

They were simply detained separately from the Xue family.

……

Mingyi was somewhat surprised when she received this news.

"Given his relationship with the Xue family, I never expected him to help Consort Rong?"

Shen Kuo was originally a pawn of Zhou Mingyi.

Now that this piece is useless, she only feels a little sorry.

"That's a pity..."

Inside Consort Lan's palace.

"What?! Consort Rong secretly contacted officials outside the capital and has now been demoted to commoner status and banished to the Cold Palace?"

"The Xue family was implicated, demoted back to their hometown, and barred from holding official positions?"

Speaking of the Cold Palace, Consort Lan felt a chill run through her body.

That place is not a place for humans to live.

The place was dilapidated, and the people living there were all convicted criminals, hopeless palace women, and they were all insane.

How could a normal person stand it?

In her previous life, Consort Lan spent her entire life there.

But in her previous life, Consort Rong clearly faked her death and left the palace, so why is there such a big difference in this life?

It has to be said that Consort Lan was completely dumbfounded.

But gradually, a smile appeared on her face.

Clearly, Consort Rong did not meet this end in her previous life. The Xue family maintained their military power well until the new emperor ascended the throne.

The Xue family even sent their granddaughter to the palace to become a concubine, thus completely tying their interests to those of the new emperor.

As for whether the new emperor ultimately settled scores with the Xue family, Consort Lan did not know.

Because she died too.

But does this mean that past lives are not unchangeable?

Does this mean that she can also change the outcome of her previous life, when her emperor brother died unexpectedly?

Thinking this way, Consort Lan was pleased.

Ever since she left the Cold Palace, Consort Lan's heart had been in turmoil, but now it has finally eased a little.

"Is the bird's nest soup I ordered ready? I want to personally deliver it to His Majesty in the Imperial Study."

……

The Crown Prince's residence at this time.

The Crown Princess is going mad.

"Didn't you say you had nothing with that bitch?"

"If you didn't have one, how could you have spent three nights in a row in that bitch's bed?"

The Crown Princess's trusted nanny dared not utter a single word.

He thought to himself, "His legs are his own, he can go wherever he wants."

How can we blame others?

Furthermore, the Crown Prince's concubines outnumber those in the harem. His Highness is such a philanderer, showing no regard whatsoever for the Crown Princess.

The Empress knows this, doesn't she?

Why get angry about this?

Getting angry won't help anyway.

Anyway, the Crown Princess has two legitimate sons, so what if the other concubines or secondary consorts give birth to children?

Not to mention a mere palace maid, even if she were favored, what trouble could she possibly cause?

"Speak up! Aren't you all usually quite eloquent?"

"Why are you all mute?"

After venting her anger, the Crown Princess was still not satisfied, so she took it out on the servants around her.

The servants knelt on the ground.

After a long pause, someone finally said, "His Highness's interest is just temporary. Her Majesty secretly ordered someone to send him a contraceptive potion. What can a lowly palace maid like her do?"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Princess gradually calmed down.

"I've been feeling that the palace maid looks a bit different lately."