Favored concubine deposed empress? I'll seize your throne and marry you to a powerful minister.

"How could Mother Empress punish Xiuxiu by making her kneel for no reason?!" Xiao Hengru found an outlet for her anger and shouted, "I know you went to pay your respects today. Although Xiuxiu denied that this had nothing to do with you, I know your heart very well. Mother Empress dislikes Xiuxiu, and you took the opportunity to retaliate. It's just a pity that Xiuxiu became the scapegoat!"

How ridiculous that Shen Mingxiu would deny it for her?

I'm afraid they're just trying to cover up the truth and pin the blame on her, otherwise why would Xiao Heng be so angry?

"Then why doesn't His Majesty question the Empress Dowager?" Wei Rong asked with a half-smile. "In the end, it was the Empress Dowager who invited Guanyin back and made the Consort kneel for an hour."

Her words implied that Xiao Heng was taking her anger out on her.

But the same is true for this.

She knew during the day that Shen Mingxiu was going to cause trouble, but she didn't expect Xiao Heng to be so angry that she wouldn't even listen to her explanation.

Then I won't explain.

"My mother wants me to kneel, but if the Goddess of Mercy truly sends me an imperial heir, would His Majesty be pleased?"

Wei Rong approached step by step until she stood in front of Xiao Heng, looking up at her directly, her eyes unfathomably dark: "Are you really going to want a child born to a woman from the Wei family?"

As if someone had stepped on her tail, Xiao Heng stared intently at Wei Rong.

Then he hastily turned his face away and said, "It's your misfortune that you have no imperial heir. I told you before, if you had been more obedient and sensible, you would have received more."

Wei Rong didn't know which kind of obedience he wanted.

Unpainted fingertips slowly traced Xiao Heng's eyelids, like an ambiguous gesture of goodwill, before stopping at the side of Xiao Heng's lips.

The medicinal bath prepared by Physician Qian contained dried pomelo blossoms, which, after bathing, suppressed the bitter taste of other herbs, leaving only a unique fragrance.

Xiao Heng's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. The finger mark on Wei Rong's left cheek was particularly noticeable at this moment, and he wanted to reach out and touch it.

But just as her fingertips were about to touch him, Wei Rong turned her face away.

Her previous expression of submission vanished, replaced by a mocking smirk: "Your Majesty has already struck. If you've vented your anger, then go back and keep the Imperial Concubine company. If you're still not satisfied, shall I also kneel before the Goddess Guanyin?"

"you!"

If she kneels before Guanyin again, what will become of him as emperor?

Even Guanyin should say he is muddle-headed.

Xiao Heng's previous pity vanished instantly: "If you want to endure hardship, I'll grant your wish!"

As long as she yields, he can make life in Fengluan Palace much more comfortable, and he can let go of Shen Mingxiu's matter.

But Wei Rong clearly didn't appreciate his kindness, so he shouldn't blame her!

Xiao Heng came in a huff and left in a huff.

Only Wei Rong remained standing under the long corridor in the winter night, stopping Qiao Yu from applying the medicine to her.

"The more it hurts, the more I'll remember it."

I remember how decisively Xiao Heng's palm struck down.

Remember this moment of humiliation.

"Your Majesty," Qiaoyu said, tears still welling in her eyes, "without children, without favor, are we to be trapped here forever, living like this?"

A life of being bullied and humiliated, where if you're not careful, you'll be devoured until there's nothing left.

She understood Wei Rong; if they were truly sincere with each other, even if it meant facing a precipice or a sea of ​​fire, Wei Rong would risk her life for the other.

Three years ago, on the day of the palace coup, it was also a snowy night like this.

When Wei Rong was summoned to the palace by the late emperor to attend to his illness, there were undercurrents at play; she was to be taken hostage.

When Xiao Heng led his troops to besiege the imperial city, she was imprisoned on the city gate tower by the late emperor's men.

The late emperor declared: "If my rebellious son Xiao Heng takes another step forward, Imperial Concubine Wei Rong will be repeatedly humiliated by soldiers until she dies."

Despite her frail physique, she showed no sign of retreat: "His Majesty is old and incompetent, increasing taxes on powerful families, causing immense suffering to the people. If Your Highness were to ascend the throne today, Wei Rong would only ask for one thing, and she would gladly die for it!"

This is Xiao Heng's desire to be a good emperor who cares for the people.

Whether Xiao Heng was genuinely concerned for the people or merely seeking power, Wei Rong didn't care. Her goal was to protect the Wei family and bring a new emperor to the Great Jing Dynasty.

She would die for him.

Wei Rong probably remembered these things too; her face appeared even more defined in the night: "No."

Up to this moment, her only consolation for Xiao Heng was that he had not yet become a muddle-headed monarch.

But he was no longer someone for whom Wei Rong would risk her life to achieve great things for him.

With the New Year's banquet approaching, some of the palace servants in Fengluan Palace were "borrowed" by Shen Mingxiu due to a shortage of manpower, making the palace seem even more deserted.

Whether or not someone is being lent out, both parties know the truth.

It's just a matter of taking advantage of this opportunity to reduce the expenses around Wei Rong.

"It would be better if he died," Wei Rong continued, "but I begged my father to help Xiao Heng, only to gain three years of peace for the Wei family. The price is too high, and I feel it's not worth it."

"It's been three years and two months, and the young master is now sixteen."

In recent years, although Wei Rong has been the empress, Wei Xing has been following Wei Beimu in the northwest.

Four months ago, Wei Beimu died. Wei Xing escorted the coffin back to the court, had a brief meeting with Wei Rong, and then returned to the Northwest.

He said he hated the Northern Barbarians and vowed to destroy them to avenge his father.

"Yes," Wei Rong looked up at the falling snow, "I'm an adult now."

Wei Xing is still young, so she has concerns. But her younger brother is older and has become a help.

"Qiaoyu, has the letter you wrote to Axing ten days ago been delivered?"

Only Qiaoyu knew what the "family letter" meant.

There were many rules in the palace. Even for the Empress, Wei Rong's letters could not be sent directly. They had to be handled by the Imperial Household Department and reviewed by the Emperor.

But Wei Rong was no pushover these past three years. She was bound by rules, but she was not a bookworm.

If she wants, she can spread her thoughts.

Normal letters from the imperial harem were mostly just brief expressions of longing or trivial matters unrelated to the country or the people.

Wei Rong's family letters, however, were not the same.

With the New Year approaching, the most important event is the palace banquet.

Qiaoyu said worriedly, "The Noble Consort Xian will definitely hold us responsible for this, Your Highness. Will she pull some other trick?"

Shen Mingxiu was smarter than most of the concubines in the harem. Even if she wanted to target Wei Rong, she would find other ways.

"When soldiers come, generals will meet them."

Shen Mingxiu behaved herself for many days until the New Year's Eve banquet.

Perhaps Xiao Heng spoke to Feng Zuyi about something; in any case, the matter of the Guanyin who grants children was considered closed.

Wei Rong didn't care much; she never expected Shen Mingxiu to kneel there for an hour every day.

By New Year's Eve, the weather had finally cooled down a bit.

Wei Rong painted some New Year pictures. Although the Phoenix Palace was not as lively as before, Qiaoyu and the other young girls got together and chattered away, creating a festive atmosphere.

The Ministry of the Interior did not allocate any new winter clothing materials this year, nor did it provide the extra allowances that were usually given at the end of the year.

Wei Rong wasn't annoyed; she never really compared herself to others in this regard.

Therefore, when attending palace banquets, she wore a plain-colored, pale yellow palace dress that maintained the regal bearing of an empress, with a floor-length rabbit fur cloak over it, which made her appear even taller and slimmer.

"Your Majesty did not wish to ride in the carriage; you must have suffered greatly on this journey."

The weather had been sunny for several days, so it wasn't too cold. However, the Phoenix Palace was quite far from the previous dynasty, and Wei Rong, who had just recovered from a serious illness, blushed after walking for a while.

"It's alright. I don't go out much anyway, so I need to get some exercise."

As the palace banquet approached, a palace servant shouted from behind, "Who's blocking the way?"

Qiaoyu had been feeling frustrated lately. She and Wei Rong went out with only two other maids, which was indeed a low-key affair. But the people who came here for no reason shouted that they were blocking the way. How could the Empress block the way?

She immediately turned around, glaring angrily, and said, "Open your eyes and see who this is!"

The other party's sedan chair was luxurious, surrounded by more than a dozen palace servants. In the center of the sedan chair was none other than Shen Mingxiu.

"Oh," the eunuch beside Shen Mingxiu said in a mocking manner, "This servant was blind and did not recognize Your Majesty the Empress. This servant deserves to die. I never expected Your Majesty to be out and about."

Shen Mingxiu straightened up slightly in the sedan chair and smiled, "It's not Zhu Lü's fault. I never expected it to be the Empress. I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

She sat upright, showing no sign of greeting, instead looking down at Wei Rong with an air of superiority.