After finishing their meal, Xiao Jingheng and Consort Chen strolled hand in hand through the courtyard for a while. Feeling a bit tired, they returned to their chamber.
In front of the mirror, Xiao Jingheng personally removed the hairpin from Consort Chen's hair. Her soft, black tresses brushed against his fingertips. As he looked at Consort Chen's reflection in the mirror, his bright eyes always carried a hint of gentle concern. So he asked,
"Lately, I've noticed that you haven't been feeling well. Is it because of the successive pregnancies of the other consorts, which saddens you?"
"I... I haven't..."
"There's no need to hide anything between you and me."
Upon hearing this, Consort Chen's eyes widened, and her heart stirred. It had been a long time since she had heard the intimate address of "Wan'er" from Xiao Jingheng.
Today, hearing him call her that again, it was as if she instantly returned to that time when their love was fervent.
"Even if I'm not feeling well, it's not because I'm jealous of others. I blame myself for not being able to conceive your child after all this time."
"Both of us are still young, and we will have children eventually," Xiao Jingheng said as he unraveled the intricately styled hair. "But seeing you always in a melancholy mood weighs heavily on my heart. So I have decided that when Noble Consort Xiao gives birth to the heir, whether it's a prince or princess, they shall be raised under your care."
Consort Chen's pupils suddenly dilated, clearly astonished. She abruptly turned her head, causing her dark tresses to be tugged by Xiao Jingheng's fingers, but she didn't feel the pain.
"Raised under my care?" Her eyes shimmered with an incredulous gleam, blinking repeatedly as if to confirm that all of this wasn't a figment of her imagination.
Xiao Jingheng smiled. "What? Do you not want it?"
"I want it! Consort Chen naturally wants it! It's just... Consort Chen thought that Your Majesty would have the child raised under the Empress's care."
Both Noble Consort Xiao and the Empress were pregnant at the same time. If Noble Consort Xiao gave birth to a son, it was highly likely to be an esteemed prince. If the noble prince were raised under her care, then her position as the prince's foster mother would naturally be of great importance.
By then, even if the Empress desperately gave birth to a legitimate son, what could she do?
Consort Chen would still have the standing to compete with the Empress.
Moreover, the Empress herself had a heart condition.
Even if she forbade Yunfei from using that secretive powder and exacerbated the Empress's symptoms, which worsened her heart condition, there was a high chance of an accident occurring during childbirth.
If the Empress were to die, wouldn't the position of Empress be within her grasp?
To be honest, Consort Chen didn't really care about the position of Empress.
What she cared about was always Xiao Jingheng.
And what haunted her dreams was always the identity of a legitimate wife, a status that could openly stand by Xiao Jingheng's side.
If a woman genuinely loves a man, how many women in this world would willingly be a concubine to someone else?
In response to Consort Chen's earlier question, Xiao Jingheng casually replied, "The Empress will have her own child. Besides, she is burdened with a heart condition, and having two children by her side would inevitably be troublesome and disrupt her rest."
Consort Chen immediately spoke, "Your Majesty's words are indeed correct. The well-being of the Empress is more important than anything else. In that case, I am also willing to have a child who can accompany me. When the time comes and Your Majesty and I have our own child, it will be easier for us to raise them."
Xiao Jingheng stared intently at Consort Chen, observing the radiant smile on her face.
For a brief moment, he seemed to see the scene from the past when he bestowed the title "Consort Chen" upon her.
Back then, Consort Chen had smiled in the same way.
Xiao Jingheng chose not to say anything further,
and simply said, "It's late, let's go to sleep."
*
The next day, when the imperial consorts went to pay their respects to the Empress, they heard that Xiao Jingheng had spent the night in Consort Chen's palace, leaving Song Zhao neglected on the day of her great joy. The Empress then comforted Song Zhao, saying,
"The Emperor should not have left you alone last night. However, there were reasons behind it. I believe you can understand the Emperor's difficulties."
At this moment, she appeared to be expressing concern for Song Zhao on the surface, but in reality, she wanted to expose the matter in front of everyone, making Song Zhao lose face and intensifying her hatred for Consort Chen.
Song Zhao saw through her intentions and decided to play along.
She put on a gloomy expression and responded perfunctorily,
"I did not take it to heart. The Emperor is the ruler, and naturally, he can go wherever he wants."
Listen,
There was a strong hint of jealousy in her words,
And the Empress nodded with a concealed smile.
Later, while everyone was conversing, there was suddenly a commotion outside the door.
It turned out that Consort Chen, accompanied by many maids and eunuchs, disregarded the objections of the other consorts and barged into the hall.
When the consorts paid respects to the Empress, apart from the personal attendants, other palace maids were not allowed to enter.
However, Consort Chen boldly brought in about ten palace maids and eunuchs, completely ignoring the rules, and walked straight to Noble Consort Xiao.
Seeing Noble Consort Xiao gently stroking her temples and speaking in a lazy tone, Consort Chen said,
"The palace in the Pure Palace has already been prepared. I have had all your belongings moved to the Eternal Harmony Palace. From today onwards, you will live together with me, in the eastern side hall of the Eternal Harmony Palace."
Noble Consort Xiao was frightened by this grand display,
"Consort Chen, what does this mean?"
Consort Chen replied, "From now until the day you give birth, I will protect you and ensure the safety of the imperial heir in your womb. As the foster mother of this child, it is my duty to make sure the imperial heir is safe and not harmed by anyone!"
The two words "harm" and "done" carried a heavy tone as Consort Chen spoke, clearly intended for the Empress to hear.
Upon hearing Consort Chen's words, the Empress herself was greatly shocked.
However, she suppressed her confusion and solemnly said, "This matter is of great importance. I cannot simply take your word for it and allow you to bring Noble Consort Xiao back to your palace. You..."
"Why are you in such a hurry, Empress?" Consort Chen, perhaps tired of listening, interrupted her and sneered, saying,
"The imperial decree will be delivered shortly. Just wait patiently."
After speaking, she glared at the palace maids standing beside Noble Consort Xiao, her attitude becoming even more arrogant, and said,
"Why are you still standing here motionless? Take her away!"
