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

After closing the door and dismissing all irrelevant people, Xiao Weirou could no longer hold back and burst into laughter.

"finally……"

"Heaven has eyes!"

"You said Xie Jinghong had been childless for many years, and finally managed to establish a prince. Why would Consort Zhen need to get pregnant with those two children?"

"It's such a pity that she got pregnant but couldn't give birth."

But there was no trace of regret on her face; instead, she looked excited and relieved.

"Those two children shouldn't exist in this world at all!"

The trusted nanny understood the Crown Princess's feelings.

After all, she had two legitimate sons. Only when His Highness the Crown Prince ascended the throne would her two legitimate sons have a chance to advance further.

But if Consort Zhen really gave birth to a prince, then what would be the point of the Crown Princess's child?

I'm afraid even the crown prince won't be able to be saved...

It's no wonder the Crown Princess lost her composure.

However, the trusted nanny couldn't help but remind her...

"Your Majesty, if this old servant dares to say something, it's fine to say these things inside the house, but you must not let them get out."

Xiao Weirou's smile faded slightly as she glanced at her: "I understand. Who in this room would dare to spread this outside?"

The old woman took a half step closer and lowered her voice: "This old servant isn't afraid that the people in our room won't keep their mouths shut, but that someone outside is watching us."

"Your Majesty, think about it. Now that those two young princes are gone, everyone outside is saying that it was Duke Chaoyang who did it."

"Although His Majesty didn't convict the princess, but only pushed Consort Liu to take the blame, who can predict the winds blowing in the palace?"

"It's possible that some people might be thinking of using this to their advantage, hoping to prove their loyalty to His Majesty."

Xiao Weirou's smile faded slightly, but she still held her teacup and did not respond.

Seeing this, the nanny had no choice but to be more explicit: "Your Highness, although His Highness is the Crown Prince, he was adopted after all."

"The child in Consort Zhen's belly is His Majesty's own flesh and blood."

"Now that both young princes are gone, does Your Majesty feel any pain in your heart?"

"It must hurt a lot!"

"If at this time someone were to report to the Emperor that the Crown Princess was gloating and clapping with delight because the Imperial Concubine had miscarried..."

"How could Your Majesty not have any reservations after hearing this?"

"His Highness is the heir, and we are already separated by blood. What if His Majesty feels that His Highness is unrighteous, disloyal, and doesn't care about his brothers..."

That's enough.

Xiao Weirou put down her teacup, and the smile on her face finally disappeared completely.

She stared at the old woman for a moment, then suddenly laughed, but this time the laugh was somewhat cold: "Old woman, are you treating me like a three-year-old child?"

The old nanny hurriedly knelt down: "This old servant wouldn't dare. This old servant is afraid that Your Highness might forget the knife outside in your moment of pleasure."

Xiao Weirou remained silent for a long time before slowly standing up, walking to the window, and glancing out through the gauze curtain.

The courtyard was quiet, and the sun was shining brightly.

With her back to the nanny, she lowered her voice and said, "You're right, I feel great."

"But do you know why I feel so happy?"

The old woman knelt on the ground, not daring to answer.

"Those two children... if those two children were alive, Your Highness's position as Crown Prince would be for them."

Xiao Weirou's voice was extremely low, "Your Majesty is in the prime of life. When those two children grow up, what will Your Highness have to compare with their own children?"

"When the time comes and an imperial edict is issued, saying 'A country with a wise and capable ruler is a blessing to the nation,' what will my Aheng and Ayan mean then?"

She turned around, her face devoid of any smile, only a glimmer of light remaining in her eyes, like a tear, or something else entirely.

"Therefore, my laughter just now was laughter at the will of Heaven."

She walked back to the edge of the tatami mat and sat down, picking up the now-cold cup of tea again.

"But you're right."

"Heaven's will is Heaven's will, and people's hearts are people's hearts."

"Your Majesty may be able to tolerate the will of Heaven, but not necessarily the will of the people."

She took a sip of tea, frowned, and put it down.

"Alright, I've got it."

"From now on, keep these words to yourself. If you need to cry, then cry; if you need to grieve, then grieve."

"I will personally visit Consort Zhen tomorrow. Prepare a generous gift for me, something presentable but not too conspicuous."

The old woman breathed a sigh of relief, crawled forward on her knees, and brought her a fresh cup of hot tea.

"I am relieved that Your Majesty thinks this way."

Xiao Weirou didn't reply, but just stared at the rising steam from the cup of fresh tea, lost in thought.

After a long pause, she suddenly chuckled again, this time softly, as if she were talking to herself:

"Granny, tell me, wasn't Consort Liu wronged for taking the blame for Princess Chaoyang?"

The old woman was taken aback and didn't dare to answer.

Xiao Weirou didn't wait for her to answer and continued:

"injustice."

"But there are countless injustices in the palace."

"If Consort Liu was wronged, then what about the two children?"

"They are all innocent, but my son cannot be innocent."

She raised her head and glanced at the old woman, her eyes as calm as a stagnant pool:

"So rest assured, Granny, I will not say a single extra word from now on."

She thought to herself, "Perhaps it really was Consort Liu who did it."

After all, Consort Liu had once enjoyed great favor.

Her appearance was comparable to that of Consort Zhen.

His Majesty has been childless for many years, so why is Consort Zhen able to conceive a prince while she cannot?

Liu Zhaoyi had every reason to do such a thing.

Of course, these are just the Crown Princess's guesses and don't count. The key is what His Majesty thinks.

Since His Majesty has convicted Consort Liu, then she is guilty.

He didn't mention Princess Chaoyang, so who would dare say that this matter is related to Princess Chaoyang?

However, for the Crown Princess, the most important thing was that Consort Zhen's two babies were gone. As long as this was the result, she didn't care about anything else.

So much so that when the Crown Prince reportedly stayed in the Green Willow Chamber that night, the Crown Princess didn't react much.

Anyway, even if it wasn't Aoyagi, he had other women.

Because Emperor Qianwu had no heir, the Crown Prince's lineage flourished.

Xiao Weirou did try to get rid of some of them, but there were too many women in the Eastern Palace, and there were always some who slipped through the net, as well as people that Xiao Weirou couldn't bring herself to deal with...

In Consort Chen's palace.

Emperor Qianwu has not set foot in Consort Chen's palace for fifteen days.

This has never happened before.

Consort Chen sat before her dressing table, facing the bronze mirror, combing her hair with a jade comb for half a day, yet her long black hair remained perfectly neat.

She had no interest in dressing up.

"Your Majesty, it's time for lunch."

The palace maid whispered a reminder.

Consort Chen did not move.

"Where is the princess?"

"Your Highness... submitted your nameplate to enter the palace this morning, first going to the Qianqing Palace to pay your respects, and should be heading to the Empress Dowager's palace now."

"Qianqing Palace?"

Consort Chen hurriedly asked, "How long did His Majesty see him?"

The palace maid lowered her head.

"It's still... the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea."

Consort Chen's hand tightened, and the sharp teeth of the jade comb almost pierced her palm.

She took a deep breath and put the jade comb down.

"Change your clothes."

"I am going to the Qianqing Palace."

Just as Bitao was about to respond, an announcement came from outside the hall:

"Her Highness the Princess has arrived..."

Consort Chen paused for a moment, then stood up.

Princess Chaoyang stepped into the palace, still looking as light and cheerful as ever.

Today she wore a pale yellow palace dress, with a newly blooming forsythia in her hair, and smiled radiantly.

"Mother."

Consort Chen looked at her.

Looking at the forsythia in her hair and the clear, open eyes, Consort Chen was puzzled and her expression was complicated.

"Your father..."

Consort Chen hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice and said, "He hasn't come for fifteen days."

Princess Chaoyang blinked.

"Your subject understands."

Princess Chaoyang was unaffected; she simply sat down opposite Consort Chen and poured herself a cup of tea.

He then casually remarked, "Father is feeling unwell, but he'll be fine in a few days."

"In a while?"

Chen Fei's voice tightened slightly, "Chaoyang, can't you tell? He's not just unhappy... he's heartbroken."

Princess Chaoyang took a sip of tea, her eyes, which resembled those of Consort Chen, filled with serenity.

She was fearless and emboldened.

She is the Emperor's only child. The Emperor is currently unhappy. Even if he neglects her for a while, can he continue to neglect her like this?

Chaoyang knew that being her father's only son was her source of confidence.

And this confidence makes them invincible.

Unless, of course, the Emperor can conjure up another legitimate son out of thin air.

So she simply raised an eyebrow slightly. "So what?"

Consort Chen was taken aback.

"He is the Emperor, and I am his daughter."

Princess Chaoyang put down her teacup. "Your daughter greets Father. Father is pleased to see you."

"The daughter served tea to her father, and he drank it."

"The daughter comforted her father and told him to accept her condolences, and he said he understood."

"Perfect manners, kind father and filial daughter. What's wrong with that?"

Consort Chen looked at her.

Looking at her daughter's calm and composed face.

She frowned deeply, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

"Chaoyang," she said softly, "tell Mother about what happened with Lady Zhou..."

"Um?"

"Did you do it?"

Princess Chaoyang did not answer immediately.

She looked at Consort Chen, a faint smile in her eyes.

"Mother," she said, "why do you ask this?"

"You want to know if I have committed murder?"

"I still want to know, if Father Emperor investigates thoroughly, will I implicate you?"

Consort Chen's face turned slightly pale.

She always loved this daughter dearly, but because she was only a daughter, Consort Chen never treated her with her whole heart.

Many times, she would think, "Why is she a princess? Why is she just a useless princess?"

Even with this thought in mind, despite having snatched children from other concubines countless times, she would still directly exploit this child.

They were invincible and almost never failed.

Consort Chen then realized that even her daughter could be useful.

But with only one daughter, all she can hope for is to win favor; what else can she expect?

What she wanted was to have another son so that she could finally gain a firm foothold.

But at this moment, when her daughter exposed this facade, Consort Chen couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

"The rising sun..."

"It was made by your son."

Princess Chaoyang interrupted her, her voice still light and cheerful, "No, it isn't."

Consort Chen was stunned.

Princess Chaoyang took the forsythia from her temple and played with it between her fingers.

"I've been sending that box of Pearl Nourishing and Tranquilizing Pills for several years now. The Empress Dowager has taken them, as have all the other ladies-in-waiting. Even you, Mother Consort, have taken them. No one has ever said they were poisonous."

"It was Consort Liu who was stupid; she added leeches and horseflies to Consort Zhou's medicine and made a big fuss about it."

"Your subject did nothing."

She raised her eyes, "Your Majesty, I simply..."

She paused.

"It just so happens that they know Consort Liu is stupid."

Consort Chen gripped the chair cover tightly with her hands.

"You knew she would do it?" Her voice trembled. "You knew perfectly well, yet you didn't stop her?"

Princess Chaoyang smiled gently.

"Mother," she said, "why should I stop you?"

Consort Chen was speechless.

Princess Chaoyang looked at her with gentle eyes, as if she were looking at an ignorant child.

"Mother," she said, "you've been in the palace for over twenty years. You rose from a lowly concubine to the rank of Consort, but what happened after that?"

"You have no princes, and His Majesty doesn't visit often."

"The Empress Dowager treats you only so-so. New concubines keep arriving in the harem, young and beautiful. Who can you stop?"

Consort Chen's face grew paler and paler.

"Your subject is different."

Princess Chaoyang placed the forsythia back behind her ear, saying, "Your Majesty, I am Your Majesty's only heir."

"Your subject need not vie for favor, need not seek credit, need not flatter anyone."

"Your Majesty, all I need to do is ensure that you have no other choice."