The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

The next day, the imperial decree announcing Shen Yinian's formal entry into court reached the Jiaofang Palace, and Wulan Yun's tense nerves finally relaxed a little.

With her son now in power, she felt more confident, and even felt more relaxed that afternoon, taking her palace servants to the Imperial Garden for a stroll.

It was early summer, and the Imperial Garden was a riot of color with blooming flowers.

As Wulan Yun approached the winding corridor, she saw a group of people surrounding a slender figure, none other than Consort Zhao, Shen Qingruo.

She wore a blue, belted long dress, her black hair loosely tied up, and she was bending down to smell a peony. Her profile was beautiful, and she was surrounded by palace servants, whose presence was no less impressive than that of the empress.

Shen Qingruo noticed the gaze, looked up, and saw Wulan Yun. She did not avoid or bow as usual, but simply stood up and looked at her quietly.

Ulan Yun felt disgust and resentment. Shen Qingruo was truly a despicable person.

Relying on her youth and beauty, and her delicate skin, she has captivated His Majesty. Now, she's even too lazy to put on a show?

What does she have? Besides her face and body, what else can she compare to the Empress, who has borne His Majesty children and accompanied him for many years?

Wulan Yun composed herself, stepped forward with the bearing of an empress, and sneered:

"Consort Zhao is truly arrogant; she didn't even bother to look up at me?"

"It seems that His Majesty has exempted you from formalities, but also from all your rules."

Shen Qingruo looked at her, her voice still soft, yet laced with sarcasm: "Your Majesty is joking."

"Your Majesty's words are law; Aruo is merely following orders."

"Your Highness, what brings you out for a stroll today?"

Ulan Yun's face darkened even more after being rebuffed by her neither soft nor hard words.

She took two steps closer, stared intently at Shen Qingruo, and lowered her voice: "Shen Qingruo, don't be too smug."

"So what if His Majesty dotes on you? He's just after your youth and novelty."

"Furthermore, if I can make you miscarry once, I can make you miscarry a second time, and a third time."

Seeing the slight change in Shen Qingruo's expression, a surge of pleasure welled up inside her, and she lowered her voice even further:

"It's just a pity that you spilled that bowl of excellent medicine that would kill a child last time."

"Otherwise, you'd be a hen that can no longer lay eggs, let's see how long His Majesty can continue to pamper you."

After finishing her sentence, Wu Lanyun, with the air of a victor, snorted coldly and turned to leave.

She thought Shen Qingruo would be as patient and reserved as ever, or look pale and helpless.

However, just as she took a step, her arm was suddenly grabbed from behind.

Wu Lanyun turned around in astonishment, but before she could see clearly, a loud slap landed heavily on her face.

The slap was extremely powerful, causing Wulan Yun's head to tilt to one side, and the pearls and jade on her phoenix crown to shake violently.

She was completely stunned, her cheeks burned with pain, and her ears were ringing.

The palace servants in Jiaofang Palace were also stunned and immediately tried to rush forward.

Granny Yan, who had been protecting Shen Qingruo, immediately stepped forward and sternly reprimanded the palace servants of Jiaofang Palace:

"How dare you be so disrespectful to the Imperial Concubine!"

With her imposing presence and Shen Qingruo's current favor with the emperor, the palace servants of Jiaofang Palace were actually silenced, looking at each other in bewilderment, not daring to step forward.

In the midst of the palace servants' commotion, Wulan Yun also came to her senses, incredulously covering her face, slowly turning her head to glare at Shen Qingruo, her voice shrill:

"You...you dare hit me? I am the Empress!"

Shen Qingruo shook her slightly numb right hand, showing no fear whatsoever, and instead asked in a spoiled tone, "What wouldn't I dare to do?"

After she finished speaking, she reached out and pushed away Wulan Yun, who was still blocking her way.

Caught off guard, Wulan Yun stumbled and nearly fell when pushed, but was quickly caught by the palace maid behind her.

Shen Qingruo didn't even glance at her, leading her people straight past her, leaving only a light, fleeting remark that reached Wulan Yun's ears:

"A good dog doesn't block the way."

"If you're so capable, go and complain to His Majesty."

Wu Lanyun stood frozen in place, covering her face, watching Shen Qingruo strut away surrounded by palace servants, her whole body trembling with anger.

You slut! You slut! You slut!

She wants her to suffer a terrible death!