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

It was a hairpin.

It's not a particularly valuable hairpin, and the craftsmanship doesn't seem particularly exquisite.

A begonia woven from velvet flowers is tightly wrapped around a polished silver hairpin. It seems to be quite old, as the color of the velvet flowers has faded a bit.

Xiao Heng was stunned, and Wei Rong was also momentarily speechless.

Only Shen Mingxiu, after a brief moment of shock, looked at Zhu Lu and glared at him fiercely.

The latter was both innocent and bewildered.

He didn't understand how the Empress's carefully chosen undergarment had turned into a broken hairpin.

But both she and Xiao Heng had a vivid memory of this hairpin.

This was the first gift Xiao Heng gave to Wei Rong, and it was a velvet flower he had woven himself and a polished silver hairpin.

As a prince, he had an inexhaustible supply of gold and silver, and he often spent lavishly on gifts. Yet, this was the only one he personally handled.

That was the third time he had asked Wei Rong for her hand in marriage. After Wei Rong finally agreed, he was so happy that he sought out a craftsman and learned the skills bit by bit.

Wei Rong often wore this hairpin.

After marriage, and even after ascending the throne, Wei Rongzan wore this hairpin quite frequently, unless it was for a grand occasion requiring her to wear a phoenix crown.

Even after Wei Beimu left, out of habit, she still wore this one most of the time.

Therefore, everyone present could immediately recognize that it belonged to Wei Rong.

Zhu Er scratched his head, glanced at the guards, and wiped his sweat; his expressions were quite interesting.

"A hairpin," Xiao Heng murmured.

Wei Rong realized, "After returning from Changhua Temple, the hairpin was gone. I thought it was left outside, but I never imagined it was left in the palace."

Although she didn't feel regret, when she discovered the hairpin was missing, she even felt that it was a sign from heaven that their fate had run its course.

But who is helping her?

Shen Mingxiu was clearly coming for her; the item on the tray couldn't possibly be a hairpin.

Perhaps this hairpin brought back too many memories for Xiao Heng. He paused for a moment, then reached out and took it, pinning it in Wei Rong's hair.

However, Wei Rong's long hair was tied up high, and this hairpin did not match her radiant appearance today.

"I remember you liked this hairpin very much when you first received it," Xiao Heng said, holding Wei Rong's hand tightly despite her slight attempts to pull away. "I haven't seen you wear it lately, and I thought you didn't like it anymore."

Wei Rong hated the feeling of being enveloped in his warm palms, and endured it, saying, "How could that be?"

Just a moment ago he was suspecting her of having ulterior motives, but now he can reminisce with her about the past.

She didn't know whether to say that Xiao Heng was a good actor or just overly suspicious.

It's strange, he wasn't such a suspicious person before. What kind of person has the throne shaped him into these past few years?

What kind of fate will power ultimately lead people to?

"Your hands are still cold even in this cloak," Xiao Heng said, and held on tightly, leading Wei Rong towards the court officials: "It's late, and the fireworks are over, so you may all leave now."

After saying this, he prepared to take Wei Rong back to the inner palace.

The officials knelt down one after another, bidding farewell to the Emperor and Empress: "Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty, respectfully seeing off Your Majesty the Empress!"

Shen Mingxiu stood there, she was the one in charge of this palace banquet, but Xiao Heng didn't even look at her and left with Wei Rong!

Who put that hairpin there?!

Could it be that Wei Rong had some kind of premonition and stopped them in advance, deliberately exchanging old items for a night of favor?

Xiao Heng should be going to the Phoenix Palace tonight.

She worked so hard, only to have it all go to Wei Rong for her own benefit. Why should she?

Shen Mingxiu guessed correctly; Xiao Heng was indeed going to the Phoenix Palace, and even took Wei Rong with him on his imperial carriage.

Ordinary palace concubines were not allowed to sit in this imperial carriage.

Even Shen Mingxiu could only return to the palace in her own palanquin.

Only the empress could ride in the same carriage as the emperor.

The gauze curtains of the dragon carriage slowly closed, revealing a couple sitting together inside, their figures seemingly intertwined, exuding deep affection.

Wei Xing sighed softly.

Unexpectedly, someone next to him suddenly spoke up: "General Wei, what's with that sigh?"

He looked up and saw Ling Xianru's face glowing eerily under the palace lanterns, somewhat frightening, but he wasn't familiar with this person: "Prime Minister."

Wei Xing himself was a soldier who had experienced many battles with his father. He was a young boy who grew up very quickly, but even so, he was still half a head shorter than Ling Xianru.

This made him somewhat resentful; few in the entire court were taller than him, so he straightened his back even more: "Why hasn't Your Excellency gone back yet?"

"Just as we were about to leave," Ling Xianru said, turning her gaze away from the receding imperial carriage, "it's dark and cold. Shall I offer General Wei a ride?"

Wei Xing's intuition told him that this was a dangerous person, and the woman in the carriage was being very talkative, so he decisively refused: "Thank you for your kindness, sir, but there's no need for it."

His sister had said that the situation in the palace was strange, and he should try to avoid getting involved with these people if possible.

Just as he was about to leave, a glance caught a glimpse of pink peeking out from Ling Xianru's sleeve. Being young, he couldn't hold back and pointed, "Why is an adult wearing a pink handkerchief?"

Judging from the material alone, the handkerchief is probably made of rare silk, and it even has gold trim.

I've long heard that the Prime Minister wields immense power, yet his lifestyle is so extravagant and he even loves pink. This person must be extremely dangerous.

Ling Xianru's expression remained unchanged; she simply tucked the pink item into her sleeve: "Pink is delicate."

Wei Xing got goosebumps all over his arm and thought wickedly, "This must be a handkerchief stolen from a girl somewhere. It's not surprising that she said she was in love with a married man in the main hall."

So he slipped away, said goodbye, and ran off as fast as he could.

Watching his departing figure, Ling Xianru murmured a whisper that no one could hear: "Both siblings are so loud and boisterous."

His trusted confidants urged him to leave the palace.

Ling Xianru looked up and happened to see Shen Mingxiu boarding the palanquin. He thought for a moment and said, "Send someone to do another thing."

The day was very long.

When she returned to the Phoenix Palace, Wei Rong felt completely exhausted.

But there was still Xiao Heng to deal with.

Since the last time he came over in the middle of the night, slapped Wei Rong, and left, he has never set foot in Fengluan Palace again.

Xiao Heng seemed to have remembered this matter as well, and her expression was somewhat unnatural when she entered the room.

"I am very satisfied with your performance tonight. I have already instructed Zhu Er to send some rewards tomorrow. You must not refuse them as my compensation."

Even among high-ranking officials and nobles, the status of their wives in the harem was established through rewards; the same was true for the emperor's harem.

Wei Rong had no objection.

Material things are far more real than true feelings.

Xiao Heng might reward her with a meal if he's in a good mood today, but if he's in a bad mood a few days later, he might punish her. This is all quite normal.

But she could never forget that slap without hesitation, and the decisiveness with which he became suspicious after a few words of provocation from others.

Unable to cope, she made an excuse to go to the small kitchen to prepare a bowl of soup for Xiao Heng and left the main hall.

Qiaoyu waited at the door: "Your Majesty."

"Has Caiyue returned?"

Qiaoyu knew what was on her mind, and that there must have been a reason for the incident earlier. So as soon as she returned to the palace, she went to look for Caiyue. But the girl hadn't returned to Fengluan Palace at all!

The palace dress that was taken off disappeared halfway through the journey.

Wei Rong's temples throbbed slightly: "Send someone to search, but don't make a big fuss. Also, contact our people in Chuxiu Palace."

Wei Rong whispered the rest of the instructions close to Qiaoyu's ear.