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

Wei Rong picked a chair and sat down, smiling sweetly: "Thanks to the Imperial Concubine, I am well."

"That would be perfect."

Shen Mingxiu wasn't annoyed by Feng Zuyi's behavior. Everyone knew perfectly well that she hadn't come to offer filial piety, and that Feng Zuyi genuinely disliked her.

However, since she was currently enjoying the emperor's favor, she still had to put in some effort to maintain appearances and avoid gossip.

"However, Consort's arrival is quite timely," Wei Rong said, looking at Feng Zuyi as if chatting casually, "The Empress Dowager was just talking to me about having children, saying that she brought back a Guanyin statue from Huguo Temple, and it is very effective."

Feng Zuyi's expression changed.

Shen Mingxiu then asked, "Does Mother wish for Her Majesty the Empress to give birth to an imperial heir as soon as possible?"

Everyone in this hall knows that Wei Rong has no imperial favor and has no offspring.

Shen Mingxiu asked this question intentionally to embarrass Wei Rong.

To everyone's surprise, Wei Rong didn't care at all, and instead belittled herself: "The Consort knows that His Majesty doesn't like to come to Fengluan Palace. As an elder, the Empress Dowager has always been kind to us. How could she favor one over the other? As long as they are imperial offspring, they are all the Empress Dowager's bloodline."

"It's a pity that Your Majesty and I are both unfortunate." Shen Mingxiu sighed. "Your Majesty has not conceived a child for three years. I very much wish to have an heir for His Majesty, but I cannot go against the rules of legitimate and illegitimate children."

Her intention was to highlight that she was looking out for Empress Wei Rong's face, but Feng Zuyi interpreted her words in a different way.

Feng Zuyi's expression changed: "You mean you deliberately avoided having a heir and couldn't conceive? No wonder you've received so much favor these past few months, yet your belly hasn't shown any signs of pregnancy!"

Concubines in the palace did not have the right to avoid having children; if they did, it was a capital offense!

"No, Mother!" Shen Mingxiu cried out in alarm, "That's not what I meant! It's just... it's just that the end of the year is approaching, and Your Majesty is busy with state affairs. I've also been busy arranging the palace banquet, so... so—"

"Alright, this whole 'you're the only one who has the Emperor's favor' rhetoric is fine to say to the Empress, but you can't show it off in front of me. It's something I already used more than ten years ago."

Feng Zuyi was indeed a favorite concubine of the late emperor, and she was well aware of the scheming and maneuvering in the palace.

Shen Mingxiu had no intention of offending her, but Wei Rong's words were so well-timed that she blurted it out without thinking, blaming it all on Wei Rong.

She gave Wei Rong a rather resentful look.

"Since the Imperial Consort so desires an heir, it must be that her request has not reached the ears of the Goddess Guanyin," Wei Rong said amiably. "What does Mother Empress think?"

Feng Zuyi's expression changed.

This Guanyin statue was genuinely brought back from Huguo Temple. If she's still upset, then Wei Rong and Shen Mingxiu shouldn't expect to have an easy time either.

The original plan was to have Wei Rong and Shen Mingxiu kneel for an hour every day to establish her authority as Empress Dowager.

But Wei Rong not only acted like a dead pig not afraid of boiling water, but also stirred up trouble, trying to instigate her to target Shen Mingxiu.

It seems that even the empress, who has always been gentle and non-confrontational and maintained peace in the harem, is not immune to jealousy and rivalry.

Very well, Shen Mingxiu's rise to the position of Imperial Concubine came too easily; it's time to curb her limelight.

Besides, they are all intelligent people. Couldn't Shen Mingxiu understand why Wei Rong was targeting her?

"The Empress is right," Feng Zuyi said, feigning exhaustion. "Since she has no imperial favor, then let the Noble Consort share in this immense blessing, Granny Gui."

Granny Gui hurriedly accepted the order: "Yes, this servant will take the Imperial Concubine there."

Shen Mingxiu: "..."

These two are really in cahoots!

It sounds like an incredible blessing, so why wouldn't Wei Rong want it?

"What is Your Highness waiting for?" Granny Gui asked with a sarcastic smile. "Could it be that you're trying to send someone to inform His Majesty? The Empress Dowager's place is not like the Phoenix Palace."

As he spoke, the gates of Cining Palace slowly closed.

Wei Rong glanced at Shen Mingxiu's rapidly ashen face, then rose to take her leave: "In that case, I will come to bother Your Majesty again another day."

Based on her understanding of Feng Zuyi, the other party would definitely not allow Shen Mingxiu to gossip in front of Xiao Heng, but Shen Mingxiu would not suffer this insult for nothing.

She should probably go to Xiao Heng and complain later.

After resting for a while at Fengluan Palace, Wei Rong felt refreshed these past few days. Qiaoyu arranged a hot bath for her, and she soaked for about half an hour.

It's a medicinal bath. I heard that Doctor Qian specifically asked me to do it when he came for a follow-up visit a few days ago.

"Oral medicines can damage the spleen and stomach. These few bags of prepared herbs are for the Empress to use in her bath; they can nourish the tendons and promote blood circulation."

Wei Rong tried it once and felt that the medicine was quite effective.

"What does Your Highness wish to do later?"

Several palace maids dried Wei Rong's long hair and draped a short jacket over her shoulders.

Wei Rong has had a lot of free time lately, so she asked Qiaoyu to set up a small study, intending to paint a picture.

After the cinnabar was filled in, it was completely dark outside.

Qiaoyu brought over a sample of snow swallow milk, but before she could drink more than a few sips, she heard a noise outside.

The commotion was quite large; in the Phoenix Palace, no one but Xiao Heng would dare to make such a show of force.

"May Your Majesty be well!"

Qiaoyu looked at Wei Rong in a panic, vaguely sensing that the emperor was probably here to interrogate Shen Mingxiu.

But what crime has her mistress committed?

The Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine, aren't they both treacherous and ambitious, always looking to make their mistress suffer? Shouldn't we just endure this without them?

Wei Rong lost her appetite, put down her silver spoon, and got up to greet the emperor.

To everyone's surprise, Xiao Heng was even angrier than expected. Upon learning that Wei Rong was in the small study, she rushed in and, without asking any questions, slapped Wei Rong on the left cheek!

"Your Majesty!"

Qiaoyu was shocked: "Your Majesty!"

"Get out!" Xiao Heng growled menacingly, "All of you, get out of here!"

Wei Rong felt a sting on her face, and after a long while, she snapped out of her daze and shook her head at Qiaoyu: "Qiaoyu, go out first."

"Your Majesty..." Qiaoyu's face was streaked with tears, her eyes filled with deep sorrow.

Wei Rong has never been beaten since she was a child.

Although General Wei was a strict father, he was always strict with his students and never hit or scolded his children.

Back then, when Wei Rong chose to marry Xiao Heng, Wei Beimu was heartbroken and furious, but he only scolded Wei Rong for thinking it through.

But when it came to Xiao Heng, it was all because of one woman.

That slap was delivered without any hesitation!

My left cheek doesn't hurt, but it feels very hot.

humiliation.

This humiliation was even greater than when he learned that Xiao Heng had made Shen Mingxiu a concubine.

How despicable Wei Rong is.

What kind of person did you marry?

Her hand slowly clenched into a fist.

This silent action was seen as a provocation by Xiao Heng. He grabbed Wei Rong by the neck and, with a slight force, turned her face toward him.

The flush from the steaming medicinal bath had not yet faded, and faint fingerprints could be seen on her left cheek. Wei Rong's long, flowing hair cascaded down to her waist. She wore no makeup, but the corners of her eyes were flushed red, as if rouge had been applied.

Upon seeing that face, Xiao Heng paused in her movements.

Seizing the opportunity, Wei Rong twisted her grip off Xiao Heng's and sneered, "His Majesty hasn't come for many days, and when he does, it's with beatings and scoldings. What kind of logic is that?"

Seemingly regaining some composure, but still displeased with Wei Rong's struggle to break free, Xiao Heng's face remained stern: "When did you learn the trick of shifting blame?"

"Where does this 'shifting the blame eastward' come from?"