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

Zhou Mingyi's acting was not in vain.

She knew that her two lost children could not compare to her living daughter, Princess Chaoyang.

But so what?

She still planted a thorn in Emperor Qianwu's side.

And this thorn will help her to completely eliminate the murderer in the future.

She can wait; she's not in a hurry.

After that day, Zhou Mingyi tacitly began a "cold war" with Emperor Qianwu.

Of course, for a concubine to engage in a cold war with the emperor would be tantamount to courting death, wouldn't it?

Therefore, Zhou Mingyi still gave Emperor Qianwu face on the surface.

When he came to Weiyang Palace, she accompanied him and even ordered servants to serve him food, but she just wouldn't give him a smile or say a kind word to him.

If Emperor Qianwu asked, she would give a brief, neither definitive nor insincere reply.

This made Emperor Qianwu feel very uncomfortable, but he couldn't get angry.

He knew that Ah Chang was bothered by the matter of those two princes.

But those are his two sons!

To avoid upsetting Ah Chang, the two children were not shown to her when they were born, but Emperor Qianwu went to see them anyway.

They had grown up and were clearly boys, with handsome features, looking very much like him and Ah Chang...

Does it hurt?

Emperor Qianwu had suffered from the lack of an heir for many years, and those two children were his salvation. He was in unbearable pain!

But did he do something wrong?

For the sake of his two deceased princes, would he really kill his only daughter?

After weighing the options, he did not delve into Chaoyang's affairs at the time.

Unexpectedly, within just a few months, the things Chaoyang and Consort Chen had done were exposed, including Chaoyang's poisoning of the concubines in the harem...

When everything was exposed, he knew things were going badly.

Emperor Qianwu felt a tightness in his chest.

But he couldn't get angry at Zhou Mingyi.

Emperor Qianwu still came every day; the child in Achang's womb absolutely could not be harmed again.

But after a while, he felt uncomfortable.

"Has Your Majesty eaten?"

"Is Your Majesty not busy with state affairs today?"

"Wax apple, serve His Majesty tea."

Every sentence is flawless, every sentence is impeccable.

But every word she uttered was lukewarm, showing no concern for him whatsoever.

Emperor Qianwu sat there, drinking cup after cup of tea, his sense of loss growing ever stronger.

He remembered how her eyes would light up whenever he arrived.

She came up to him, took his arm, and chattered on and on.

What new fruits have arrived at the Imperial Kitchen? What flowers have bloomed in the Imperial Garden? What trouble has Shi Liu's cat gotten into?

She talks about everything, her eyes crinkling with laughter, like an innocent and naive young girl, full of energy, gentle and lively.

What about now?

Emperor Qianwu frowned, feeling extremely uneasy.

He stood up.

"I'll head back now. You should get some rest."

Zhou Mingyi nodded.

"Your Majesty, please take care."

Emperor Qianwu walked to the door, stopped, and glanced back at her.

She sat there, not getting up to see him off, but only giving a slight bow.

Emperor Qianwu felt a pang of jealousy and strode out.

After leaving Weiyang Palace, he stood under the corridor, gazing at the moonlight outside, and stood there for a long time.

"Fuquan".

Fuquan quickly stepped forward.

"Go to Cining Palace."

Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager was about to rest when she heard that Emperor Qianwu had arrived, so she quickly had someone invite him in.

Emperor Qianwu walked in, his face looking very unpleasant.

The Empress Dowager could tell at a glance that she had once again run into a snag at Weiyang Palace.

"What's wrong?"

Emperor Qianwu sat down and sighed.

"Mother, Ah Chang... is still angry."

The Empress Dowager looked at him but did not reply.

Emperor Qianwu continued, "When I went to Weiyang Palace, she accompanied me. I asked her anything, and she answered. But she didn't smile, didn't say anything kind, and didn't give me a pleasant look. I know she's suffering inside. But I... I don't know what to do."

The Empress Dowager sighed.

She knew this would happen.

Ah Chang, that child, looks gentle and kind, but she's stubborn to the core. Once she sets her mind on something, she'll throw herself into it headfirst, and it's no joke.

If she were just an ordinary concubine, and the emperor didn't care about her, she wouldn't be afraid of doing whatever she wanted.

But she was carrying the emperor's child, the mother of his only grandson.

She couldn't ignore her feelings.

In the Empress Dowager's heart, she had long regarded her as her daughter-in-law.

They are family.

"You want me to try and persuade her?"

Emperor Qianwu hurriedly said:

"Mother, please help me persuade her."

"If she is depressed every day, it may affect the baby in her womb."

"What happened to those two children...it was Chaoyang's fault, it was your son's fault..."

The Empress Dowager's expression was also somewhat complicated, and she sighed.

"I understand, that child Chaoyang... I truly never imagined she could be so cruel... How could she do such a thing?"

The Empress Dowager now feels like a stranger to Princess Chaoyang.

Is this the granddaughter she watched grow up?

She can hardly remember what she looked like when she was a child.

That child... how could she have done such terrible things and become such a person?

It was she who caused the deaths of her two imperial grandsons!

Her mood was no less heavy than Emperor Qianwu's.

"I can try to persuade Chang on your behalf."

The Empress Dowager changed the subject, "But I'm telling you this upfront, if A-Chang doesn't listen, you can't blame her."

How could Emperor Qianwu refuse?

"Your subject understands."

The next day, the Empress Dowager went to Weiyang Palace.

Zhou Mingyi was leaning against the soft couch when she saw the Empress Dowager arrive, and she was about to get up and pay her respects.

The Empress Dowager pressed her down, sat down beside her, and held her hand.

"Ah Chang, I've come to see you."

Zhou Mingyi smiled.

"I am delighted that the Empress Dowager is here."

The Empress Dowager looked at her; it was still that gentle face, but the light in her eyes had dimmed considerably.

She sighed inwardly.

This child, after all this time arguing with the emperor, doesn't look haggard at all.

"Ah Chang, I've come today to have a word with you."

Zhou Mingyi nodded.

"Please speak, Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager considered it for a moment.

"Ah Chang, with your intelligence, you must know why I have come."

"I know about those two children; it's painful for you."

"But Chaoyang...she is, after all, His Majesty's daughter. His Majesty...he can't bring himself to do it."

Zhou Mingyi remained silent for a while.

"Your Majesty, I understand. I do not blame His Majesty."

The Empress Dowager's gaze was complex.

"You don't blame him, then what about all this time..."

Zhou Mingyi lowered her head and placed her hand on her lower abdomen.

"Your Majesty, I simply... cannot forget."

"Whenever I see Your Majesty, I am reminded of my two children whom I never had the chance to meet, two children who could have been healthy and happy, children who would have been by my side..."

Zhou Mingyi began to spout nonsense with a straight face.

The Empress Dowager's heart clenched.

However, these words were also very damaging to the Empress Dowager.

"My two children were murdered before they were even born."

"I know who the murderer is, but there's nothing I can do."

"I don't blame Your Majesty, but I... I can't pretend nothing happened."

Her eyes reddened, but no tears fell.

She raised her head and looked at the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, I know you feel sorry for me, and I know His Majesty is in a difficult position. I don't blame anyone. I just... need time."

The Empress Dowager stared at her for a long while before patting her hand.

"Alright, I won't force you. Try to think more positively and don't harm your health."

Zhou Mingyi nodded.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After the Empress Dowager left, Zhou Mingyi's lips curled up in a smile.

No one can stop a mother from missing her child, can they?

Lianwu stood to the side, cautiously asking, "Your Majesty, are you still angry with His Majesty?"

Zhou Mingyi did not answer.

She wasn't angry.

She just wanted Emperor Qianwu to know that she couldn't forget.

There are two lives between her and the Chen mother and daughter!

This thorn should be driven deep into his heart, the deeper the better.

……

On the eighth day of the seventh lunar month, Zhou Mingchong and Wen Ruojin got married.

Before dawn, Weiyang Palace was already bustling with activity.

With special permission from the Empress Dowager, Consort Zhen was allowed to leave the palace to attend her brother's wedding, as a consort.

This is an immense blessing, and the entire palace is watching closely to ensure that no mistake is made.

Zhou Mingyi sat in front of the dressing table, letting Shiliu comb her hair.

The face in the mirror was radiant. Pregnancy had made her a little fuller, but her complexion was better than before.

"Your Majesty, you look beautiful today."

Shi Liu couldn't help but praise it.

Zhou Mingyi smiled but didn't say anything.

Lianwu, standing to the side, carefully placed the last phoenix hairpin in her hair, stepped back to look at it, and nodded in satisfaction.

"alright."

"Today is my brother and sister-in-law's day. I cannot disgrace the royal family, but I should not stand out too much and steal their thunder."

Shiliu couldn't help but say, "Then Your Highness should find a handkerchief to cover your face."

Several palace maids couldn't help but cover their mouths and laugh upon hearing this.

After many days, laughter was finally heard again in Weiyang Palace.

Zhou Mingyi stood up and, holding Lianwu's hand, walked out.

Upon exiting Weiyang Palace, the sedan chair was already waiting at the entrance.

She got into the sedan chair, the curtain was drawn, and the sunlight outside was blocked out, leaving only a soft glow.

……

Zhou House.

Today, the Zhou residence is brightly decorated and filled with a joyous atmosphere.

The gate was filled with sedan chairs and carriages, and guests were coming in droves to congratulate the guests.

Zhou Mingchong, dressed in a bright red auspicious robe, stood at the door to greet guests.

He was unusually energetic today; the gloom between his brows had vanished, and he looked radiant.

Someone shouted, "The Imperial Concubine has arrived!" and all the noise in the courtyard stopped.

Everyone's eyes turned towards the doorway.

Zhou Mingyi, holding Lianwu's hand, walked in step by step.

She wore a pomegranate red palace dress today, which made her look radiant. Her slightly protruding belly did not diminish her beauty.

When she walked in, all the flowers in the yard had dimmed.

Zhou Mingchong came forward and led everyone to bow to her.

"Your subject pays his respects to the Noble Consort."

Zhou Mingyi looked at him, at the brother who had protected her since childhood, and at his face that finally showed a smile, and her eyes reddened slightly.

"Brother, please rise; everyone, please rise."

Zhou Mingchong stood up and looked at her.

He wanted to say so much, but he couldn't say anything. He just stood there, looking at her, his eyes reddening.

The brother and sister looked at each other, saying nothing, yet it was as if they had said everything.

Zhou Mingyi smiled.

"Brother, today is your big day, you mustn't cry."

Zhou Mingchong quickly turned his head away, wiped his eyes with his sleeve, then turned back and smiled at her.

"Don't cry, don't cry."

Zhou Mingyi couldn't help but chuckle when she saw his expression.

The auspicious time has arrived.

The bride, supported by the matchmaker, walked in step by step.

Wen Ruojin, dressed in a bright red wedding gown and wearing a red veil, walked at a steady pace, neither too fast nor too slow.

Zhou Mingchong stood in front of the hall, watching her walk over, his heart pounding.

After the wedding ceremony, tea was served, and the bride was led to the bridal chamber.

Zhou Mingyi sat in the guest section, watching her brother lead the bride by the hand, walking step by step towards the bridal chamber.

The bride lowered her head, revealing half of her fair neck, and her ears were red.

My brother's hands were trembling, but he was holding them tightly.

Zhou Mingyi's eyes reddened again.

In this life, my brother finally found his perfect marriage and someone to spend his life with.

In my past life, when my brother died, he was all alone, with no one to even collect his body.

In this life, she earned all of this for him.

He had an official position, a wife, a promising future, and everything that should have been his.

Zhou Mingyi lowered her head and quietly wiped the corner of her eye.

The wax apple, standing nearby, asked softly, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Zhou Mingyi shook her head and smiled.

"It's nothing. I'm just happy."

She raised her head and looked in the direction of the bridal chamber.

Candlelight shone through the cracks in the window, casting a hazy glow.

She remembered when she was a child, her parents were still alive, and her brother would carry her around the yard.

After her parents passed away, her older brother single-handedly supported the family, providing her with food, clothing, and education.

Thinking back to the day she entered the palace, her brother saw her off at the palace gate. Now, her brother has finally started a family.

She has her own life now, and her own things to care about. She can finally rest easy.

Zhou Mingyi stood up, took Lianwu's hand, and slowly walked out.

Shiliu followed behind and whispered, "Your Highness, won't you sit down for a while?"

Zhou Mingyi shook her head.

"I'm not sitting here anymore. Let them live their lives in peace."

She got into the sedan chair, the curtain was drawn, and the noise outside gradually faded away.

My brother's matter is settled. Now, it's time to get down to business...