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

Why did she insist on listening to Xianru?

Love is inherently harmful to both parties. It would be better if Wei Rong were the one to have an affair with the Empress. This time, how many lives could Wei Rong possibly escape this fate?

"Zhihua, let's go visit Her Majesty the Empress. Didn't you say she injured her foot?"

Upon seeing this, Zhihua breathed a sigh of relief and quickly got up to help her.

But as soon as they arrived at Wei Rong's tent, they saw two palace maids squatting at the door, burning something in an earthenware jar.

"You audacious, lowly slave, what are you burning?!"

Qiaoyu followed the sound, lifted the curtain, and greeted Shen Mingxiu: "Greetings, Your Highness. What brings you here so late?"

"Our lady heard that the Empress injured her foot and came to inquire after her. Sister Qiaoyu, what are you burning?"

Qiaoyu remained calm and curtsied again: "It's really unfortunate, Your Majesty is tired today and has already rested. As for these, His Majesty just instructed that since Your Majesty sprained your ankle because of the embroidered shoes, there were no more unlucky items, so he arranged for some new ones from the palace for Your Majesty the Empress."

The fire inside the earthenware pot was blazing.

The embroidered shoes gradually turned into black ash as they were engulfed in fire.

Shen Mingxiu suddenly laughed and looked at Qiaoyu, saying, "Your Highness is so clever, you twisted your ankle like that? I've discovered something interesting today that I'd like to tell you about."

"It's really unfortunate. Imperial Physician Qian specially added some calming ingredients to Her Majesty's medicine, and Her Majesty is fast asleep. Perhaps Consort Xian could come again tomorrow?"

Qiaoyu stood motionless in front of the tent, showing no intention of backing down.

She was neither humble nor arrogant, but she did not back down an inch.

This made Shen Mingxiu's face darken: "Is it certain that I will not be able to see the Empress today?"

"Please forgive me, Your Highness." Qiaoyu curtsied again: "Peach Crisp, see the guest out."

What gives Wei Rong the right?!

A fleeting gloom crossed Shen Mingxiu's face, and a certain calculation surged into her mind. She raised her voice and said, "In that case, I will go to His Majesty's residence. Today in the woods, I saw quite a show, which I'm sure His Majesty will find interesting."

She thought that if she brought up this matter, Wei Rong would definitely see her.

For having a secret meeting with a foreign official, Wei Rong and the Wei family would be in grave danger, even if they lost ten heads.

She refused to believe that Wei Rong was truly unafraid and indifferent!

But Qiaoyu remained calm and even smiled: "Your Highness, Consort Xian, having lived in the deep palace for so long, should know that you must rely on evidence to speak. Since you wish to discuss this with His Majesty, then please do so."

After she finished speaking, she had no patience to wait for Shen Mingxiu's reaction and lifted the curtain to go into the tent.

This reaction seemed quite strange to Shen Mingxiu.

Whether Wei Rong was truly not guilty or overly confident, she didn't believe at all that she would actually go to the emperor and expose this matter.

But if she were to actually meet Xiao Heng, all she would have as evidence would be Ling Xianru's drawings.

This does not prove that Wei Rong was involved.

Oh, right, the artwork!

Qiaoyu just mentioned the evidence!

"Zhihua, back to the tent!" Shen Mingxiu's expression changed, and she hurriedly led Zhihua back to the tent.

But where was the box that had held the drawings?!

The box, along with the artwork, has vanished without a trace!

Made of high-quality sandalwood, which is moisture-proof and insect-proof, the paper remained intact even after four years.

Wei Rong picked up a page.

The painting depicts the harvest season in southern Xinjiang.

On another page.

The young lady was standing in front of the mansion gate, laughing loudly.

However, the lines she wrote were much more mature than when she was six years old, and the ink flowed smoothly.

Next page.

It's the Hundred Flowers Festival in Yunjing, a scene of noble ladies admiring the flowers.

She didn't know what the owners of those unanswered drawings were feeling when they created them.

Wei Rong folded the painting and handed the box to Qiaoyu, who was standing in front of the bed.

"Burn it."

Although Qiaoyu didn't understand the intricacies, these drawings were specially delivered by Mobai, who said they were being returned to their rightful owner.

Since it belonged to the Empress, why burn it?

Wei Rong emphasized, "Burn it."

Since we missed out on these things four years ago, they are now out of place and against the rules.

Keeping her around is just asking for trouble.

They cannot be kept.

Seeing her decisiveness, Qiaoyu dared not say anything more and threw the drawings one by one into the charcoal stove.

Sparks shot up and quickly engulfed the yellowed pages.

Tonight is destined to be sleepless.

Wei Rong rested her head on the jade pillow, and the book beside her fell to the ground due to her movement.

A piece of paper sandwiched between them during the day would fly out.

It's a little cockatiel wearing a flower wreath, so lifelike.

Hearing the noise, Qiaoyu came in and picked up the things on the ground for her.

She glanced at it a few times, then cautiously asked Wei Rong, "Your Majesty, should this also be burned?"

Logically, they shouldn't have stayed.

There should be no connection between her and Ling Xianru, and there should be nothing that allows people to speculate about their relationship.

Qiaoyu knew that her mistress was hesitant, so she offered a way out: "This painting is quite similar to Your Majesty's style. Even if people see it, they won't suspect anything. Why not use it as a bookmark and put it in a book? You won't see it every day."

Wei Rong closed her eyes briefly, then steeled her resolve: "Burn it."

"..."

Qiaoyu grew up with Wei Rong and knew her very well.

Wei Rong was clearly in a state of mental turmoil, but she was forcing herself to act decisively and quickly.

She sighed inwardly, picked up the book, and left the inner room.

The next day.

Official hunting day.

Xiao Heng actually took it to heart and arranged a lot of food, clothing and daily necessities for Wei Rong from the palace overnight, and even found a wooden cart.

It is said to be a tribute from Pingling. People with mobility issues can sit on it as if walking on flat ground.

Qiaoyu pushed Wei Rong to the hunting grounds. Originally, she was supposed to participate, but now she could only watch.

Xiao Heng changed into riding attire, and the horse he rode was a prized steed from the Western Regions, like a valiant war god.

However, hunting cannot be done on a personal basis. Even the emperor can only speak based on his actual strength and the prey he has hunted.

"Your Majesty, please take good care of my female relatives. I will hunt a silver fox for you, and you can make a fox cloak for it when winter comes."

Shen Mingxiu, who was standing in front of his horse, couldn't help but feel jealous upon hearing this: "Your Majesty, what about me?"

"What do you want?" Xiao Heng laughed heartily, reaching out to cup her face. "Whatever you want, I will naturally try my best to satisfy you."

"Then I will ask for the silver fox. Your Majesty is extremely noble and has everything in the Phoenix Palace, but I only want the silver fox that Your Majesty hunted personally. I am sure Your Majesty is generous and will not hold it against me."

The drawing was lost, and Shen Mingxiu didn't sleep a wink all night.

What she could have accused had all vanished like bubbles, and of course she was not satisfied.

She would definitely find a way to make Wei Rong give herself away!

Wei Rong sat gracefully on the wheeled carriage, her demeanor gentle and dignified: "It's alright, if the Consort likes it, then His Majesty will hunt it for you."

As she spoke, she glanced at Feng Wantang, who was silently following at the back.

"Ah Rong is so generous. Consort Xian should thank the Empress." Xiao Heng patted Shen Mingxiu's head, tightened the reins, and turned the horse around.

At a command, twenty-three horses leaped out and quickly disappeared into the forest.

Wei Rong's gaze fell upon a figure amidst bamboo green, riding a white horse. As the horse entered the forest, it slightly turned its head, revealing a chin that astonished everyone.

But in the end, he didn't turn back completely; he tightened the reins and rode away.

Shen Mingxiu strolled over to Wei Rong, her gaze shifting from that direction, and smiled gently: "What is Your Highness looking at?"

"Looking at His Majesty's dashing figure," Wei Rong said, looking at her, "Consort Xian seems quite concerned about my movements. Is she trying to overstep her bounds?"

"Your Majesty holds a high position and always receives the best, which I naturally envy. But don't forget, fortune changes, so please don't leave any evidence against Your Majesty for what you've done."