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

Consort Chen was actually jealous of Lady Zhou. What right did she have?

What makes her capable of handling His Majesty's presence?

Therefore, Consort Chen secretly inquired about what Zhou was doing every day.

Did you eat or use something?

But after inquiring, it turned out there was nothing special about it.

She could only admit that some people may look frail, but are actually exceptionally gifted.

Even someone as healthy as Ms. Zhou couldn't keep her child...

At that moment, Consort Chen did not feel gloating; she even felt cold, a chill rising directly from the bottom of her heart.

"When did she deliver the medicine to Zhou?"

Chen Mama's mind went blank.

She understood what the Empress was thinking.

"It was...it was shortly after that Zhou woman entered the palace..."

Chen Mama's voice trembled violently, "Her Highness the Princess said that Consort Zhen was having trouble sleeping, and she happened to have this calming pill, which is very effective, so she sent some over."

"At that time... at that time, everyone in the palace said that Her Highness the Princess was magnanimous and did not hold grudges..."

Forgive and forget?

Consort Chen shuddered.

How did that Zhou woman enter the palace?

Because of her entry into the palace, the young scholar whom Chaoyang had his eye on was released by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

Chaoyang is always prone to being capricious, how could he possibly be so kind?

Later, Zhou entered the palace, became the emperor's favorite, and stole the emperor's attention and affection. She even tripped up Chaoyang during the Mid-Autumn Festival. How could she not hate her?

But Chaoyang went and delivered the medicine anyway.

They even said they wouldn't hold grudges...

What a fine example of not holding grudges!

"Peixi..."

Consort Chen's voice suddenly calmed down. "Tell me, how long has Zhou been taking this medicine?"

Granny Chen felt as if something was blocking her throat.

She didn't want to think about it, but she couldn't control herself.

The princess delivered medicine to Consort Zhen, and Consort Zhen subsequently miscarried.

The candlelight crackled, startling both of them.

"And what about me?"

Chen Fei's voice trembled again; her calmness was like a fragile ice surface, ready to shatter at the slightest touch.

"I've been taking this for four years! Four years! Tell me, what exactly is in this medicine?"

Granny Chen knelt down with a thud.

"Your Highness, no, the princess is your own child, she's flesh and blood of your own flesh, how could she..."

She couldn't continue.

Because she suddenly remembered something.

Four years ago, the princess was thirteen years old. The Empress Dowager was still unable to conceive another child, which greatly disappointed His Majesty and the Empress Dowager.

At that time, there were still several young concubines in the palace, all of them young and beautiful. His Majesty had not stepped into the gates of Chang Le Palace for several months.

The empress couldn't sleep all night; she cried, smashed things, and cursed those vixens.

Then the princess arrived.

The princess said, "Mother, don't worry, I'll think of a way for you."

At that time, Granny Chen thought that the princess was truly filial.

After the Empress took the medicine, she slept soundly and her complexion improved.

Although His Majesty still doesn't come very often, the Empress doesn't seem as anxious as before.

She began to devote all her attention to the princess, teaching her, supporting her, and planning her future.

The princess became increasingly outstanding and gained more and more favor from His Majesty.

The empress grew increasingly proud and smug.

Their deep mother-daughter bond was the envy of everyone in the palace.

But now...

Suddenly, Granny Chen remembered something else.

Last winter, the Empress was unwell, and the imperial physician came to take her pulse.

After the examination, the imperial physician stammered, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

The Empress asked what was wrong, and the imperial physician said it was nothing, just a slight deficiency of qi and blood, which could be relieved with some conditioning.

Later, when the Empress asked if she could conceive again, the imperial physician remained silent for a long time before saying that the Empress's body still needed time to recuperate and could not be rushed.

As the fertility-enhancing medicine was drunk bowl after bowl, even Granny Chen felt sorry for her mistress.

But there was still no sign of pregnancy.

Later, that imperial physician was transferred to the Imperial Medical Academy's library and no longer took the pulses of the palace's masters.

A layer of cold sweat seeped out on Granny Chen's back.

She raised her head and looked at Consort Chen.

Consort Chen was also looking at her.

The two women's eyes reflected each other's pale faces and the bright, yet unwarm, candlelight.

"Go investigate," Chen Fei's voice seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth, "Take this medicine and have it investigated."

Granny Chen took the brocade box, her hands trembling like withered leaves in the wind.

"But Your Majesty, if... if it really is..."

She dared not continue.

"No! Your Majesty, absolutely not! Adding cinnabar powder to calming pills is something that has been done since ancient times..."

"How could an ancient prescription be..."

How could there be a problem with an ancient prescription?

Granny Chen thought to herself, but she didn't have the confidence to say it out loud.

Consort Chen closed her eyes.

What if it really is?

If there really is something wrong with the medicine, if Chaoyang really was plotting against her from the very beginning, if the deep mother-daughter bond of the past four years was all a lie...

What has she been all these years?

She held those little trinkets, those cheap, childish gifts, thinking they were a token of her daughter's sincerity.

She planned for her daughter's future, believing it to be a sign of mother and daughter working together.

She even thought that when Chaoyang got married in the future, she would ask His Majesty to let Chaoyang marry someone in the capital so that he could come to the palace to accompany her often.

But what about Chaoyang?

What is Chaoyang thinking?

What was she thinking when she sent these cheap trinkets?

What expression was hidden beneath the skin when she called out "Mother Consort" with a smile?

Consort Chen suddenly remembered something.

That year, Chaoyang was seven years old. When he brought the cloth tiger, he included a note.

The note read: "Mother, I'm giving you my cloth tiger. Let it keep you company while you sleep."

She thought to herself, "This child is so thoughtful."

But now she suddenly realized, why did Chaoyang give her the cloth tiger?

Because Chaoyang can fall asleep without hugging the cloth tiger.

But what about her?

She hugged the cloth tiger as if it were a comfort.

Did Chaoyang understand this when he was seven years old?

Consort Chen dared not think any further.

Footsteps suddenly sounded outside the palace, growing louder as they approached. A young eunuch's voice rang out at the door: "Your Majesty, His Majesty has decreed that you come to the Qianqing Palace."

Consort Chen suddenly opened her eyes.

Qianqing Palace.

His Majesty summoned him.

She recalled Chaoyang's expression when he left today, his self-righteous demeanor, and his outrageous words.

She suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Peixi." She stood up, her voice extremely low, "You will investigate the matter of that medicine yourself."

"Once you've found out, just tell me directly."

"If anyone asks, just say you don't know."

Granny Chen nodded emphatically.

Consort Chen straightened her clothes, took a deep breath, and walked outside.

As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and looked back.

The pile of trinkets lay quietly on the ground, warm and cozy in the candlelight. The cloth tiger's ears drooped, the dough rabbit's eyes were red, and the clay doll grinned foolishly.

They were all watching her.

Chen Fei suddenly felt that their laughter was very strange.

She turned her head and walked out quickly.

Behind her, Granny Chen held the brocade box, her hands trembling so much she could barely hold it.

She watched Consort Chen's figure gradually disappear into the distance, then looked down at the brocade box in her hand, and suddenly remembered something.

This morning, when the princess brought the medicine, she personally handed it to her, smiling and saying, "Granny Chen, this medicine is new. Mother Consort has finished her previous doses, so don't forget to remind her to take it on time."

That smile was truly radiant and captivating.

Granny Chen shivered.

……

When Consort Chen stepped into the Qianqing Palace, she sensed that something was amiss.

The hall was brightly lit by candles, yet unusually quiet.

At this time of day, His Majesty would usually have several close attendants by his side, and occasionally ministers would come and go.

But today, only two eunuchs were guarding the palace gate. When they saw her, they bowed and paid their respects without saying a word.

Consort Chen's heart sank.

She stepped over the threshold and went inside.

Turning around the screen, one could see Emperor Qianwu.

He sat behind his desk, holding a commemorative document in his hand, his gaze fixed on it, seemingly looking at it, yet also seemingly not looking at it.

The candlelight cast a dim light on his handsome face, obscuring his expression.

Consort Chen bowed and said, "Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

Emperor Qianwu did not raise his head.

The folding paper remained motionless in his hand.

Consort Chen knelt there, the gold bricks beneath her knees were icy cold, and that chill crept up her knees and into her bones.

She dared not move or make another sound, only lowering her eyes to look at her shadow cast on the ground, her heart beginning to tremble slightly.

The water clock inside the palace dripped and tapped, each tick like a blow to the heart.

After an unknown amount of time, Emperor Qianwu finally raised his head.

Get up.

His voice was flat, revealing no emotion.

Consort Chen struggled to her feet, her legs feeling weak, but she dared not show it.

She glanced at Emperor Qianwu, then quickly lowered her eyes again.

Emperor Qianwu placed the folding tablet on the imperial desk with a light, casual gesture, yet it made Consort Chen's heart clench suddenly.

"Consort Chen,"

Consort Chen was suddenly taken aback. She had served His Majesty for over twenty years and knew him best.

The fact that he addressed her by her title, neither "beloved concubine" nor "you," indicates that he was not happy at the moment.

Consort Chen's heart jumped into her throat.

"I remember that you raised Chaoyang from a young age."

Consort Chen's heart skipped a beat.

"Yes," she answered cautiously, "Chaoyang has been intelligent since childhood, and I..."

"I didn't ask you whether you're intelligent or not."

Emperor Qianwu interrupted her, his tone still flat, but it made Consort Chen's back stiffen.

Emperor Qianwu looked at her, his gaze not heavy, yet it seemed to be weighing something down.

His high eyebrows pressed down heavily, exuding an aura of authority that inspired awe.

Consort Chen always knew that His Majesty was handsome, but his imposing presence often made people overlook his physical beauty.

"I ask you..."

He spoke almost deliberately, enunciating each word clearly, "What have you taught her all these years?"

Chen Fei's mind went blank.

What did I teach her?

Originally, she was not qualified to raise a princess, but she was the only woman in the palace who had given birth to a child for His Majesty.

After the child was born, she was promoted to the rank of imperial concubine.

Chaoyang was raised by her.

She taught her to read and write, taught her manners and etiquette, taught her how to establish herself in the palace, and taught her how to please the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

She taught her so much, but could she say these things?

She opened her mouth, but before she could utter a sound, Emperor Qianwu spoke again.

"This afternoon, the morning sun came to see me."

Consort Chen's heart jumped into her throat instantly.

If Chaoyang is so unpretentious, will he be just as reckless in front of His Majesty?

At this moment, her maternal instincts still compelled her to protect her...

Consort Chen's body swayed precariously.

Emperor Qianwu stared at her, as if trying to see through her.

"She spoke to me at length,"

Emperor Qianwu's voice was low, but not stern.

"Talk about the Crown Prince's mistakes over the years, talk about the talents of the imperial family members, and talk about the intricacies of the court and the harem."

"She spoke eloquently and logically, and there were some things that even I hadn't thought of in such detail."

Consort Chen's fingernails dug into her palm.