It is said that servants resemble their masters. Since these little palace maids and eunuchs are so kind, how could Concubine Zhen be bad?
Certainly not.
If Concubine Zhen is a good person, then those who harmed her must all be bad people.
So when the Xuanwu Emperor summoned her, she told him everything honestly, without any bias, just the facts.
Or so she believed.
Originally, Concubine Zhen was sleeping peacefully in her chambers. Jiang Chuan simply didn't want the already frightened Concubine Zhen to get up and deal with the Empress and others. As a servant thinking of his master's well-being, what wrong did he do?
But Consort Liang insisted he was disrespectful to the Empress. Not only did she slap Jiang Chuan, but she also kicked him, causing his forehead to bleed from hitting the ground.
When Concubine Zhen found out, her anger and fear were understandable.
Childishly, she even said she was afraid that if Consort Liang became the leader of the four consorts in the future, she would often be slapped.
How pitiful.
Both older maids said so, and the Xuanwu Emperor completely believed it.
This Consort Liang, who acted so affectionate with Concubine Zhen in public, turned out to be such a two-faced person in private.
She didn't even consider the eldest princess's feelings for Concubine Zhen.
What angered the Xuanwu Emperor most was that a mere palace consort dared to guess his intentions, firmly believing she would be the leader of the four consorts.
Who gave her such confidence?
He would deliberately not let them have their way.
"Emperor! Emperor!" The Dowager Empress's grief-stricken voice rang out at the entrance of Chengqian Palace just as Wang Dequan had arranged for people to send Consort Shu's stillborn child out of the palace. "I want to execute Concubine Li! She killed my grandson. You must issue an edict to execute her immediately!"
"Dowager Empress..."
Wang Dequan had tried his best to stop her, but the Dowager Empress barged in regardless. He didn't dare to actually touch the Dowager Empress's body, and before the older maid could retreat, the Dowager Empress had already rushed in.
However, the Dowager Empress was so consumed by anger that she didn't notice the older maid quietly slipping out from behind Wang Dequan.
The Emperor's gaze returned from the doorway, falling coldly on the Dowager Empress: "What benefits is Mother trying to secure for Consort Shu this time?"
His eyes were full of mockery, but the Dowager Empress pretended not to see it: "The Song Family has lost Prime Minister Song, and no one can bear the weight of their great family tree. Concubine Li's position as Imperial Consort is undeserved. She caused Consort Shu to lose a fully formed prince, so demote her to the rank of concubine and elevate Consort Shu to Imperial Consort."
The Xuanwu Emperor sneered: "What virtue or ability does Consort Shu have to be an Imperial Consort? She gave birth to a monstrosity for me, and you want me to make her an Imperial Consort? Has Mother gone mad? If this becomes known to the world, do you want me to be laughed at?"
"I have already suppressed the news. No one outside will know what Consort Shu gave birth to."
"I disagree. Mother, please leave."
The Dowager Empress wanted to say more, but the Xuanwu Emperor had already turned his back, unwilling to continue the conversation.
She angrily smashed a nearby vase: "Then you must at least give me an explanation. Is Consort Shu's child to die in vain? Emperor, one must not forget kindness and repay it with ingratitude. Have you forgotten how Consort Shu accompanied and protected you in the past?"
But hadn't Consort Shu admitted herself that she never really liked him, that it was all just a means to manipulate him?
All her kindness, her companionship, it was all fake.
The Xuanwu Emperor closed his eyes briefly, feeling his inner world as still as dead water.
A cold smile tugged at his lips: "Wang Dequan, issue an edict demoting Concubine Li to Honored Concubine Li. Punish her by making her copy the palace rules two hundred times and kneel outside the gates of Kunning Palace to apologize to Consort Shu. Is Mother satisfied now?"
That cold smile made the Dowager Empress's heart tremble, giving her the illusion that her sordid intentions had been seen through.
No!
Impossible!
Even Consort Shu didn't know she wanted to use her grandson to replace her son, how could the Emperor possibly know?
Now that the child in Consort Shu's womb was gone, she couldn't let the Emperor find out even more.
Consort Shu... in the ghostly state she was in when sent back to Kunning Palace, what man could still feel pity or love for her?
It seemed that Consort Shu was also a wasted piece on the chessboard.
Was the Wu family destined to never rise again?
No!
She still had Honored Concubine Rong.
Although she had sent Matron Gui to Jingren Palace to teach Honored Concubine Rong a lesson and punished her by making her kneel on broken porcelain, they were blood relatives. Bones may break, but the tendons still connect. Honored Concubine Rong would listen to her.
She would... right?
In Yanqing Palace, after Consort De had lulled the third prince to sleep, she picked up a small belly band nearby and continued embroidering.
Cui Yin adjusted the oil lamp with a needle, brightening the room a bit more. She walked to the bedside: "Your Highness, please stop embroidering. It will strain your eyes."
Consort De smiled gently and shook her head: "Just half an hour more, it's no trouble."
Cui Yin craned her neck to look: "Rose flowers? Is this for Concubine Zhen?"
After the crabapple tree in the Imperial Garden was uprooted, the Emperor had roses planted there. Upon inquiry, it was learned that before entering the palace, Concubine Zhen had planted a large patch of roses in her family's courtyard.
Concubine Zhen loved roses, and the Emperor loved Concubine Zhen, so the crabapple became a passing cloud, and roses became his heart's dearest love.
Consort De nodded: "I don't know if she's carrying a little prince or princess, so I can only embroider two of each style. A baby's belly band is very particular. I'm using soft, fine cloud brocade as the base and embroidering with dyed silk thread. This way, it won't irritate their sensitive skin when they wear it."
A child's skin is delicate, and the slightest mistake can cause allergies and rashes, which can sometimes be life-threatening.
Cui Yin said with concern: "Concubine Zhen is so beautiful, she should give birth to several princesses to inherit her beauty. Your Highness, no matter how much you like Concubine Zhen, you must also take care of your own health."
Concubine Zhen should have more princesses, so their third prince would have fewer competitors.
The oldest prince in the palace now was their six-year-old third prince. The fourth prince wasn't worth mentioning, always living in the eunuchs' quarters, raised by a young eunuch. At five years old, he had barely two ounces of flesh on him, as thin as a monkey, with yellow and dark skin, looking like a little beggar.
There was also the fifth prince, who, despite his lowly birth, was being raised under the Empress's care, making him undoubtedly a legitimate son.
If Concubine Zhen gave birth to a princess, the position of Crown Prince would go to either the legitimate son or the eldest son, and the third prince would have a claim either way.
But if Concubine Zhen gave birth to the sixth prince, their third prince would have another strong rival.
Consort De smiled again: "I actually hope she has a prince, to be a companion for the third prince."
Only after giving birth to a prince does one develop ambition and desire.
And only with desire and ambition can one be drawn into the power struggles of the imperial harem.
The Emperor says Concubine Zhen is pure, but who wasn't pure before entering the palace?
It's the people in this palace who force them to become impure.
If Concubine Zhen were to fight tooth and nail with others in the harem for the sake of her son, would the Emperor still think her pure?
"However, Concubine Zhen is quite a good person. She said in front of Lady Li that it would be better for you to be the first among the four consorts. I think Lady Li will surely report these exact words to the Emperor."
Everyone knows that Lady Li is the Emperor's confidante.
