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

Although she kept calling me "sister," the things she said were truly unpleasant.

Shen Mingxiu wished she could tear apart that smug, petty face of hers.

But she could only feign pitifulness: "His Majesty will naturally give Father justice, but wasn't there any ulterior motive behind my sister's injury?"

As if on purpose, Shen Mingxiu took a step forward with each sentence she spoke, until she was almost breathing directly into Feng Wantang's nostrils. Although she was crying, she seemed more aggressive than anything else.

"For Your Majesty's safety, I even had someone investigate the assassin's background. The knife he used came from a blacksmith shop in the capital, and the buyer of that knife was very easy to find—"

Feng Wantang's eyes turned cold, and without thinking, she pushed him away, saying, "Sister is talking nonsense—"

"what!"

Feng Wantang didn't use much force, but Shen Mingxiu suddenly clutched her stomach and collapsed. Xiao Heng reached out to pull her up, but it was too late.

Shen Mingxiu was seen half-lying on the ground, her brows furrowed and her expression pained as she cried out, "Help! Save my child!"

child?!

Feng Wantang clearly hadn't expected to have a child before Xiao Heng pushed her away.

He knelt down, picked up Shen Mingxiu, and scolded someone to the side, "Why aren't you going to fetch Imperial Physician An?"

"Your Majesty, sob sob sob," Shen Mingxiu hugged his neck tightly, crying fiercely, "Imperial Physician An went to the mountains to collect herbs today and is not in the camp at the moment."

"Then let's just invite any imperial physician over!"

Then Xiao Heng picked her up and hurriedly returned to the camp.

Feng Wantang was so frightened that he lost his mind and was still standing there in shock.

What child?

Judging from Xiao Heng's reaction, did he already know that Shen Mingxiu was pregnant?

And what was Shen Mingxiu doing just now, forcing him to push her?

Her goal was to pin the blame on herself for harming the imperial heir.

Just as Feng Wantang was at a loss, Wei Rong strolled over, turning her gaze from Xiao Heng's back to Feng Wantang.

She was not surprised that Shen Mingxiu would take action.

I never expected that I would risk the miscarriage of the imperial heir to provoke Feng Wantang.

This person was even more cunning and ruthless than she had imagined.

"Your Majesty, you...you also knew she was pregnant?"

Wei Rong denied it: "I only suspected it, but now it has been confirmed."

No wonder Xiao Heng treated Shen Mingxiu so lightly; no wonder he still frequently visited Chuxiu Palace even after being demoted to the rank of concubine.

No wonder, given Shen Mingxiu's criminal record, he still brought people out to hunt.

I guess they were afraid that if they stayed in the palace, someone with ulterior motives would harm the imperial heirs.

"But you don't need to worry too much," Wei Rong comforted her. "Shen Mingxiu's family is in trouble, and she urgently needs to use this child to consolidate her position. She won't let anything happen to the child; she's just using him to sow discord between you and His Majesty."

Feng Wantang almost hated Shen Mingxiu to the core: "But His Majesty's expression just now clearly showed that he was angry. I didn't do it on purpose; it was Shen Mingxiu who insisted on provoking me!"

She had only just gained favor, and Shen Mingxiu was already trying to find ways to stop her!

That bitch!

"Then it depends on your ability. His Majesty will not be too harsh on you because of your injury, but you panicked as soon as you heard about the assassin's background. You are not calm enough. You need to think about how to dispel His Majesty's doubts."

At this point, Feng Wantang became even more indignant: "But Your Majesty, we're all in the same boat. If His Majesty suspects me, aren't you afraid of being implicated in the end?"

"This Empress?"

Feng Wantang said, "Your Majesty, I heard many rumors circulating yesterday about Your Majesty and the Prime Minister. The one who spoke the most vehemently, Lord Ke, broke his leg this morning when his horse was suddenly startled during the hunt. Your Majesty was just talking to me about this. Your Majesty asked if this matter is related to the Prime Minister?"

"Then you should ask the Prime Minister." Wei Rong was completely unfazed by her threat: "I have acted uprightly and honestly. It is His Majesty's business how he may have doubts."

Feng Wantang wasn't talking nonsense. Xiao Heng had just asked her for her opinion on the matter, indicating that the emperor believed that Lord Ke's broken leg was a warning from the Prime Minister.

This would make him even more suspicious of Ling Xianru and Wei Rong.

In fact, there were clues to the various matters that had occurred in the palace before. If Xiao Heng were to investigate, these unfounded rumors would eventually be exposed.

However, Wei Rong seemed to have nothing to fear.

"Instead of worrying about my affairs, Consort Jia, you should go and check on Consort Xian's condition as soon as possible. I have told the Empress Dowager that I can only guarantee your entry into the palace; the rest of your fate depends on yourself."

Feng Wantang had never seen anyone so indifferent to their allies. She snorted coldly and hurriedly returned to her tent with her maids.

Wei Rong was left standing there, lost in thought.

He sent someone to injure the rumor-monger's leg. Was Ling Xianru not afraid of death, trying to make Xiao Heng doubt him?

However, as Wei Rong had predicted, Shen Mingxiu's offspring was fine, but she was frightened and needed to stay in bed.

As a result, the pregnancy could no longer be kept secret.

Wei Rong's previous suspicions have been confirmed.

Using the excuse that Shen Mingxiu was pregnant with the first imperial heir, Xiao Heng held a grand banquet in the camp, using the spoils of the hunt over the past few days to host a huge feast of roasted meat.

During the banquet, he raised his glass and laughed heartily: "Regarding the matter of Consort Xian, I originally intended to wait until the pregnancy was stable after three months before making it public. However, the fact that she gave birth today is probably a sign from heaven. After all, she is my first child. If she is a prince, Consort Xian will deserve the greatest credit."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Wei Rong and asked, "Is the Empress unhappy?"

According to the tradition of the Great Jing Dynasty, the eldest son is chosen over the legitimate son, so even if Wei Rong gives birth to a prince in the future, he will still be ranked lower.

He no longer needs to worry about the risk of the Wei family seizing the throne.

Even if Wei Rong gave birth to another prince, it would be illegitimate for him to ascend to the throne.

In short... he could not possibly make Wei Rongsheng's child the crown prince.

"Your Majesty has achieved what you desired, how could I not be happy?" Wei Rong smiled slightly. "It's just that now that she's outside the palace, and Consort Xian is pregnant, there are many uncertain dangers. It would be better if Your Majesty arranged for her to return to the palace and take good care of herself."

Xiao Heng did not blame Feng Wantang for what happened today, firstly because she was still injured, and secondly because he could see that Shen Mingxiu was doing it on purpose.

At this moment, Feng Wantang sat in his seat, trembling with fear.

Upon hearing Wei Rong's words, Shen Mingxiu could no longer sit still. She clutched her stomach pitifully and said, "Since I became pregnant, I have had a poor appetite and difficulty sleeping. I need Your Majesty to be by my side to feel better. That is why I beg to leave the palace. Your Majesty, please do not send me back."

As she spoke, she looked hesitantly at Xiao Heng.

Xiao Heng held her hand. Now that everyone knew that Shen Mingxiu was pregnant, he was indeed worried about letting her return to the palace.

He feared trouble if the Empress Dowager was not under his watchful eye.

So he said, "The Consort Xian has finally left the palace and enjoys the air in the forest. Besides, she should be returning in ten days at most, so let her stay here."

She was extremely attentive and protective.

Wei Rong had no objection: "In that case, the imperial physicians must be cautious, and I will also send a few more palace maids to serve her. Consort Xian is currently pregnant, so she should be extra careful with what she eats. Have the kitchen take good care of her and ensure she gets a balanced diet."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Since Xiao Heng wanted to pretend, she didn't mind pretending to be a reasonable empress.

Xiao Heng was very satisfied with this, and therefore couldn't help but praise Wei Rong a few words.

The roasted meat feast looked peaceful and harmonious, without any awkwardness.

Halfway through the banquet, Lord Ke, who had broken his leg, was helped up by others and came to Xiao Heng crying and pleading for justice.

"Your Majesty! I have been wronged! Please, Your Majesty, do justice for me!"