Favored concubine deposed empress? I'll seize your throne and marry you to a powerful minister.

The little guy is very cute, with a round head, a pink beak, and a tiny crown on his head.

It landed right next to Wei Rong, its little head bobbing back and forth, staring at Wei Rong curiously.

"Where did this little phoenix come from?" Qiaoyu raised her hand to shoo it away, "How dare it disrespect our Lady!"

The little black phoenix was very agile. With a flick of Qiaoyu's wrist, it flapped its wings and flew half a circle before landing down and chirping, as if complaining about its dissatisfaction with Qiaoyu.

"Hey, you're still not convinced?" Qiaoyu looked outside, the procession stretched as far as the eye could see. "I wonder who raised it, and even brought it out for the spring hunt. It wouldn't even be enough for a big eagle to swallow whole."

It's unclear whether it understood or not, but as soon as Qiaoyu finished speaking, the little black phoenix spread its wings and angrily chirped at Qiaoyu, "Chirp!"

"puff--"

Wei Rong found it really interesting.

Seeing Wei Rong smile, the little black phoenix folded its wings again, kicked its short legs, and stepped on one of Wei Rong's sleeves: "Chirp chirp!"

"If this thing could talk, what would happen! Your Highness, it's complaining about me!"

"Are you tattling?" Wei Rong tapped its little head. "Do you like me?"

"Chirp chirp!" It actually mistook Wei Rong's touch for a caress, and even rubbed against her with its eyes closed, clearly enjoying it.

Qiaoyu was utterly stunned: "She can tattle and even compete for favor?"

The weather was wonderful. Once outside the capital, the road was lush and green, a beautiful spring day.

The bright sunlight made the little guy drowsy.

It hopped and skipped around Wei Rong's fingers, occasionally opening its beak to bite her finger.

"Hungry?" Wei Rong pinched its little belly. "What are you going to eat? There aren't any bugs in my carriage..."

My fingertip touched something hard.

She grabbed the little guy, turned him upside down, and peeled a small piece of paper off his legs.

"......"

Qiaoyu's eyes widened: "What is this?"

Is Little Xuanfeng here to deliver a message?

Wei Rong was also puzzled, so she released Xiao Xuanfeng to tear open the paper.

"..."

It is a very small hand-drawn picture, even smaller than the palm of your hand, drawn with an extremely fine pen tip.

"The dragon carriage, the phoenix palanquin, the carriages of the other concubines and court officials, the horses..." Qiaoyu curiously leaned closer, and after seeing clearly, Mu Di's expression changed: "A giant insect?!"

It was a nice picture of a journey, but the person added a few strokes at the beginning and end, turning the picture into a big green caterpillar.

It was painted with blue ink.

The little black phoenix got excited again, flapping its wings to peck at the "big green worm" in Wei Rong's hand, perhaps thinking it was its food.

I was really hungry.

But who would be so bold as to depict the emperor and empress's travels as insects?

If this gets out, I'll be beheaded!

Xuanfeng couldn't catch the insects and got a little anxious, so it chirped around Wei Rong's hand again.

Just then, the imperial carriage in front stopped, and a guard brought news that His Majesty had ordered them to rest on the spot.

"You've only gone halfway, and you're already resting?"

The guard replied in a businesslike tone, "The Consort Xian is feeling a bit carsick and would like to go to the riverbank to enjoy the scenery, so His Majesty has accompanied her."

Qiaoyu was about to speak again when Wei Rong raised her hand to stop her.

As soon as the procession stopped, the little black phoenix seemed startled and flapped its wings, flying away.

All that remained was this piece of paper in her palm.

The place to rest was right at the widest part of the moat, lush with greenery, with hundreds of flowers blooming in late spring, and many wild birds coming to drink water along the riverbank.

After being stuck in the car for half a day, Wei Rong decided to get out and move around.

There is a five-hundred-year-old locust tree by the river, on which a swing has been built. Shen Mingxiu pulled Xiao Heng to swing on the swing.

The water shimmered, and her sweet laughter echoed through the air as her moon-white skirt drew a beautiful arc in the sky.

This drew envious glances from the concubines, court officials, and their wives.

All a woman desires in her life is the love and affection of her husband.

I heard that although Consort Xian was punished in the palace maid incident, it was a helpless act by His Majesty.

Ultimately, Consort Xian was the Emperor's darling, so no matter what, she was never severely punished. The old woman who took the punishment in her place was simply unlucky.

Although everyone guessed that it was Consort Xian who killed the two palace maids, compared to the punishment she received, it was a light punishment.

But who wouldn't want to be favored like that?

Especially the emperor's favor.

"Envious?" Wei Rong appeared behind Feng Wantang at some point, watching the two figures playing under the tree. She smiled faintly, "The Virtuous Consort is truly enjoying boundless glory now."

Feng Wantang hurriedly knelt down and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty the Empress."

Although she was also born into a noble family, she was treated with respect and rank in front of Wei Rong.

However, she had been in the palace for almost two months and had served in front of the emperor many times, so she knew just how much she was favored.

I am indeed envious.

Her cousin, whom she had been in love with since childhood, had eyes and heart for another woman. His unconditional favoritism towards her was something to be envied.

"If you regret it, I can arrange for you to leave the palace," Wei Rong added, "before His Majesty discovers you."

"No." Feng Wantang raised her head and looked at Wei Rong with determination: "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Your Majesty, you are in the deep palace, you should understand that the emperor's love is not predetermined. Consort Xian is just lucky, and besides—I finally got the chance to leave the palace."

This is a case of not turning back until hitting a brick wall.

Judging from this, she came prepared for this trip out of the palace?

Their words easily attract attention, and Wei Rong, seeing her insistence, did not try to dissuade her further.

"Just keep it in mind."

Those around them assumed the empress was inquiring about the emperor's recent well-being and didn't linger their gazes on them much.

Xiao Heng didn't rely on anyone else; she personally pushed the swing for Shen Mingxiu, listened to her silvery laughter, and carefully wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Your Majesty, you treat Xiuxiu so well."

Xiao Heng tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and, in front of everyone, playfully flicked her nose: "Of course I will treat you well, like an ancestor."

Shen Mingxiu smiled shyly again.

She looked up to find Wei Rong.

I clearly saw her walk this way just now, and she even talked to a little palace maid. She deliberately flirted with the emperor just to annoy her.

What does it matter if she uses any means to get the Emperor to punish her? The Emperor's favor still rests on her.

Aside from having the title of Empress, Wei Rong was inferior to her in every way, and she had no favor from the Emperor. In comparison, it's clear who the joke is!

But she wasn't there.

Xiao Heng was no different; he had clearly seen Wei Rong coming this way from his peripheral vision just now.

He had not seen Wei Rong since the carriage incident.

She claimed to be ill during the imperial concubine selection, and palace affairs rarely involved her.

He certainly couldn't possibly go to the Phoenix Palace just to see her.

Whoever concedes first loses.

"Why is there a bird beside Her Majesty the Empress?"

Someone shouted, and everyone's eyes turned to look.

The river surface shimmered, and Wei Rong stood by the riverbank, surrounded by clusters of wildflowers.

She wore an orange-red, low-cut, half-sleeved blouse with a lake-green, waist-length skirt underneath, and her hair was styled with a flying hairpin.

Standing there, she didn't look like an empress ruling the six palaces, but more like a young lady who had run away from the inner quarters of some household.

Especially noteworthy is the small black phoenix perched on her shoulder.

With no one around, she spoke to Xuanfeng, "Why are you here again?"

This time, Xuanfeng seemed tired and landed on her shoulder, nestled in its nest. Wei Rong reached out and poked it with her finger, and it took her finger in its mouth, chirping softly.

"Still hungry? Your master won't feed you, so you come to me?"