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

The snow that fell on the 29th of the twelfth lunar month stopped on New Year's Eve.

As soon as it got dark, lanterns were lit inside and outside the Qianqing Palace.

Palace servants moved back and forth, hanging red gauze lanterns under the corridor. From a distance, they looked like a string of ripe persimmons, radiating a warm glow.

The hall was brightly lit, and the scent of ambergris mixed with the aroma of burning cypress branches filled the air.

When Zhou Mingyi stepped into the palace, there were already quite a few people inside.

She wore a formal gown with elaborate makeup, a scarlet wide-sleeved shirt with gold embroidered cloud patterns, which made her face even more radiant.

After Xiaoyue finished her treatment, she recovered very well, and her complexion was even better than before. There was no sign of illness in her eyes or brows; on the contrary, her appearance became even more beautiful and radiant.

"Consort Zhen has arrived!" The eunuch's high-pitched voice drew out the words.

All eyes in the hall turned to him.

Zhou Mingyi kept her eyes straight ahead, only slightly lowering them, and walked in step by step with Shi Liu's support.

His steps were neither hurried nor slow, and his demeanor was so dignified that there was not a single flaw.

The Empress Dowager spoke first: "Ah Chang has arrived, come and sit down quickly."

Zhou Mingyi looked up, smiled at the Empress Dowager, walked over, bowed, and sat down beside her.

After those two children, the Empress Dowager's attitude towards Zhou Mingyi underwent a dramatic change, and she truly began to treat her as family.

Although she did not bear any imperial offspring for the emperor, in the Empress Dowager's eyes, those two children were real.

The child was gone, and the mother and child were devastated along with her.

This shared grief brought them closer together.

The moment she sat down, Zhou Mingyi's gaze swept across the hall without making a sound.

Crown Prince Xie Jing and his wife have arrived and are seated at the head of the table on the east side.

The crown prince, dressed in a crimson robe, with a calm expression, was speaking quietly to the courtier beside him. Noticing her gaze, he turned his head slightly and nodded to her.

Zhou Mingyi nodded and then looked away.

The Crown Princess sat beside the Crown Prince, her smile gentle and dignified, but her eyes lingered on Zhou Mingyi for a moment.

In just a moment, it moved away.

Zhou Mingyi's heart stirred.

That look in his eyes seemed to be weighing things up, but it also revealed a hint of doubt and unease.

Zhou Mingyi couldn't help but slightly curl the corners of her lips, concealing the deep meaning in her eyes.

Xiao Weirou began to have doubts.

Xie Jing had many women behind him, and he was never one to stay still.

Tonight is Lunar New Year's Eve, and several concubines of high status have also arrived.

They are Consort Lü, Consort Zhao, and Consort Li.

Consort Lü was plump and beautiful, and relatively innocent, but she simply didn't associate with others and didn't actively harm anyone.

Consort Zhao was slender and elegant, with a proud temperament.

Consort Li has a pure and sweet appearance, but she is the most scheming among the concubines.

In her previous life, Consort Li had extended an olive branch to Consort Zhou.

However, at that time, Zhou Mingyi was focused on saving her brother and did not care about Xie Jing, so she ignored Consort Li's attempts to win her over.

Looking back now, when she was ultimately framed by the Crown Princess, wasn't Consort Li also involved...?

When Li Concubine met Zhou Mingyi's gaze, she smiled sweetly, revealing two shallow dimples. Zhou Mingyi smiled slightly and then quickly looked away.

Xie Jing and Xiao Weirou, she is determined to kill them in this life.

Those concubines, of course, could not be on good terms with each other.

Besides, if the entire Eastern Palace were to be uprooted, those concubines would certainly not fare well either.

It's not worth her extra effort.

Most of the seats on the west side were still empty, and the frontmost seat was for Princess Chaoyang.

Consort Chen has arrived and is seated at the head of the concubines' table.

Her makeup was exquisite today, and her hair was perfectly styled, but Zhou Mingyi immediately noticed the thin layer of dark circles under her eyes, which the powder couldn't cover and appeared faintly gray in the candlelight.

Consort Chen was talking to the concubines beside her, her smile gentle and graceful.

But the smile on his face looked fake, and it also revealed a hint of weariness that he couldn't hide.

Zhou Mingyi withdrew her gaze, picked up her teacup, and took a sip.

As for Consort Chen, they should have investigated everything that needed to be investigated.

On the first Lunar New Year's Eve after the truth was revealed, he watched his own daughter sitting happily not far away...

That feeling must have been unpleasant.

Just then, the eunuch's announcement came from outside again:

"Princess Chaoyang has arrived!"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhou Mingyi raised her eyes and looked at the palace gate.

The rising sun is stepping over the threshold.

Today she wore a bright red palace dress with gold brocade, the hem of which was embroidered with gold thread intertwined branches. She moved with dazzling light, like a walking fire.

Her hair was tied up high in a bun, adorned with a red gold phoenix hairpin with a pearl in its bead. The pearl was about the size of a little finger and swayed gently with her steps, making people dizzy.

She walked very steadily and slowly, with her back ramrod straight and her chin slightly raised.

That face wore a bright, flamboyant smile, exactly the same as always.

As the only princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who was showered with favor, she deserved this ostentation.

Chaoyang walked into the hall, first bowed to Emperor Qianwu and the Empress Dowager, then nodded to the Crown Prince, and then walked to the first seat on the west side.

After taking two steps, she suddenly stopped and looked back.

That glance was directed towards the corner of the palace.

Zhou Mingyi followed her gaze.

In the corner of the hall sat a young man dressed in a dark blue robe.

With refined features and a composed demeanor, he was drinking with his head down, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding revelry.

That's... Xu Yan?

Zhou Mingyi shifted her gaze from him and looked in the other direction.

On the other side of the seats sat a fair-skinned young man with gentle features, but he was somewhat reserved, glancing at the princess from time to time before quickly looking away.

That must be Zheng An.

Two male favorites were in the same hall.

Zhou Mingyi's lips curved slightly.

really interesting!

Chaoyang withdrew his gaze and took his seat at the head of the table.

As soon as she sat down, a eunuch hurried over and whispered a few words in her ear.

Upon hearing this, Chaoyang's bright smile froze slightly before returning to normal.

She stood up, walked into the hall, and bowed gracefully to Emperor Qianwu.

"Father, I have a request for your permission."

Emperor Qianwu raised his gaze from his desk and placed it on her face.

His gaze was deep and unreadable, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"What is it?"

Chaoyang raised his head, his face beaming with a bright smile: "Your Majesty, I brought a few people into the palace today, hoping they could also share in Father's good fortune and listen to the sounds of the banquet outside the hall. I wonder if Father would grant my request?"

That was an extremely clever way of putting it.

He brought several people with him into the palace.

Everyone in the hall knew perfectly well who those people were.

But she didn't say it outright, only that she wanted to share in the good fortune, and she sensibly told them to wait outside the hall, without even entering the hall.

Emperor Qianwu looked at her.

After a long pause, he finally spoke: "Since it is your wish, then let them wait outside the hall."

Chaoyang smiled and bowed gracefully: "Thank you, Father Emperor."

She turned and walked back, pausing as she passed the Crown Prince.

"Brother Crown Prince."

She tilted her head, smiling innocently, "This New Year's Eve, we must stay up all night properly."

"I've heard that the longer you stay, the greater your good fortune will be."

The Crown Prince looked at her and smiled, "My sister is right."

The two passed each other by.

Those smiles, one bright and the other gentle, appeared to onlookers as those of a harmonious brother and sister.

From Zhou Mingyi's angle, she could just see the fleeting coldness in Xie Jing's eyes, and... the slight upturn of Chaoyang's lips.

She lowered her head and took another sip of tea.

The tea was a little cold, but she drank it and thought it was just right.

The banquet officially began.

According to custom, when the emperor hosts a banquet, the guests first drink Tusu wine before the food is served.

Palace maids filed in, carrying various delicacies, which they arranged neatly in golden platters and jade cups.

Zhou Mingyi sat beside the Empress Dowager, quietly eating her meal.

She ate at a moderate pace, each bite just right, neither appearing greedy nor pretentious.

The Empress Dowager would glance at her from time to time, her eyes full of affection. She would have someone serve her food, ask her if she was cold, and have someone move the charcoal brazier closer.

Zhou Mingyi responded to each one, smiling gently.

Consort Lan looked at the Empress Dowager's affection for Consort Zhou with a complicated expression.

The Empress Dowager noticed this and ordered someone to serve her food.

……

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere inside the hall gradually became lively.

The courtiers began to toast each other, and the concubines chatted and laughed in hushed tones. Occasionally, a burst of laughter would drift over, only to be quickly drowned out by the sounds of string and wind instruments.

But Zhou Mingyi knew that beneath this lively scene lay many hidden secrets.

Her gaze inadvertently swept over the Crown Prince.

The crown prince was speaking with the courtier beside him, his expression calm and composed.

He put on quite a convincing act, barely glancing in her direction at all.

Zhou Mingyi lowered her eyes and sneered inwardly.

In her past life, she was a concubine in the Eastern Palace, and she had seen Xie Jing like this far too many times.

Xie Jing is a man who hides himself very well; the more he desires something, the more desperately he will try to conceal it.

Just like the nonchalant demeanor he put on.

On the contrary, the things that seemed important on the surface were just an act for him.

She stopped looking at him.

She turned her head to the side, said something to the Empress Dowager, and then turned her face slightly to the other side.

From that direction, you can see the corner of the palace.

Xu Yan remained seated, head bowed, drinking his wine at a leisurely pace.

He looked as if he really was just there to bask in some good fortune.

However, Zhou Mingyi noticed that his gaze would occasionally drift towards Princess Chaoyang's seat.

In just a moment, it was withdrawn.

Zhou Mingyi's lips curved into a smile.

At the height of the banquet, Emperor Qianwu suddenly spoke.

He sat on the throne, holding a wine cup in his hand, his gaze fixed on the rising sun.

"Chaoyang, I heard that you have recently taken a new concubine?"

These words created a subtle atmosphere in the hall.

Those who were laughing and talking stopped laughing and talking, and those who were drinking stopped drinking.

Everyone's eyes were secretly glancing towards the princess.

Chaoyang put down his wine cup and said with a smile, "Father, you are very well-informed. Zheng An has been in the palace for some time now, and I have kept him for a few more days because I think he is honest and well-behaved."

"Would you like to stay a few more days?"

Emperor Qianwu seemed somewhat puzzled, "I thought you intended to stay here for a long time."

Chaoyang's smile faltered.

"Father is joking."

"People come and go in my household; there's no rule against them staying long."

At the corner of the palace, Xu Yan continued to drink with his head down.

But Zhou Mingyi noticed that his fingers, which were holding the wine cup, tightened slightly for a moment.

Emperor Qianwu's gaze swept over him and then landed on Chaoyang's face.

"Coming and going?"

"What about Xu Yan? Is he also among those who 'come and go'?"

The atmosphere inside the hall suddenly became tense.

The crown prince's eyes flickered slightly.

Consort Chen's hand, which was holding the handkerchief, suddenly clenched tightly.

Zhou Mingyi lowered her eyes and waited quietly.

Chaoyang sat there, the smile still on his face, but that smile had changed.

"Father, Xu Yan is Xu Yan, and others are others. Your son can tell the difference."

Emperor Qianwu slightly lowered his brows and remained silent for a moment.

"As long as you can tell the difference, that's fine."

"I'm afraid you won't be able to tell the difference."

Princess Chaoyang curled her lips slightly. Father and daughter looked at each other across the lights of the palace, and something was secretly surging in their eyes.

The Empress Dowager coughed at the opportune moment.

"Alright, alright."

Her voice was gentle yet authoritative: "Why say such things during the New Year?"

"Come on, have some dumplings."

"There's a coin hidden in today's dumplings; whoever finds it will have good luck for the whole year."

The palace servants quickly served dumplings, one bowl for each person, steaming hot.

The Empress Dowager personally picked up chopsticks and placed one on each plate for Emperor Qianwu, the Crown Prince, Chaoyang, and Zhou Mingyi.

Zhou Mingyi took the bowl, lowered her head, and bit into her own.

No.

She didn't care and just ate slowly, but her eyes were always on the other people.

The prince bit open his own penis and suddenly laughed.

He held up what he was holding—a copper coin, gleaming faintly in the candlelight.

"Your subject is quite lucky."

He smiled and showed the silver coin to everyone.

Congratulations resounded throughout the hall, one after another.

The Crown Princess sat beside him and smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

Chaoyang also bit open his own.

As soon as she took a bite, her expression faltered slightly.

She held up the silver coins in her hand: "Father, I've had good luck this year too."

Emperor Qianwu glanced at the silver coins in her hand, his gaze shifting slightly.

"Hmm, not bad luck."