"The Empress Dowager really thinks I'm a fool, doesn't she? I've said it before, you can't move," although the words were full of resentment, Zong Zhengjin's tone was calm and unremarkable.

  The empress dowager sat to one side, her mouth curling up coldly. "I didn't want to either, this was just a matter of course. In the end, she wasn't in trouble, and I didn't do anything to her."

  Zong Zhengjin shook his head, "If you had done something to her, I wouldn't be sitting here now."

  This is true.

  The empress naturally heard it and showed disdain on her face, "You want to be at odds with me for a woman who has nothing to do with you?"

  Zong Zhengjin sneered, "How can she be an unrelated woman? She is the birth mother of my child. I advise you for the last time, do not challenge my bottom line again."

  "You said it was because of the child in her belly," The Empress's eyes held a hint of inquiry as she carefully observed his expression.

  Zong Zhengjin did not answer her question directly, but said, "She is a child I allowed to be born."

  A single "allow" revealed many problems. The Empress Dowager's thoughts turned several times, "I understand, Your Majesty is saying this to challenge my bottom line."

  "I have taught you since childhood that women are not to be trusted, especially the beautiful ones in the palace. But you didn't listen to me and believed them instead. You will suffer for it sooner or later."

  The empress was a woman, also a beautiful woman in the deep palace. Over the years, her experiences and lessons had told her that believing those women was equivalent to handing over her own life, equivalent to stepping into the underworld with one foot.

  Zong Zhengjin did not speak and remained silent for a moment, "What you said is right, so I don't believe you either."

  The empress dowager was taken aback, then a look of relief crossed her face. "Your Majesty is indeed wise, from childhood I knew you were cleverer than the other princes. What you said is right, don't believe me, but also don't believe those women."

  "My father the emperor trusted you, but now he's dead and can't rest in peace," Zong Zhengjin suddenly thought of this and blurted it out, without realizing any impropriety.

  "Haha," the Empress Dowager laughed, "Yes, the former Emperor trusted me so much that when his beloved woman passed away, even the son she bore him disappeared, and I was left to deal with it. How could he rest in peace?"

  "My father must have regretted it before he died," said Zong Zhengjin, his tone melancholic and somewhat bewildered.

  The empress let out a mouthful of turbid air and fell silent for a moment. "It's not that he didn't see anyone before his death, but it was still the House of Ahn, only it wasn't for the sake of the House of Ahn, but for the sake of that woman. But he mistakenly believed in the House of Ahn, how could the House of Ahn help him fulfill his wish?"

  Zong Zhengjin wanted to say more, but the Empress Dowager was clearly lost in her own memories and didn't respond to him. After a moment, she stepped out. "Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Meng Wentian asked hastily after he entered, making a quick bow.

  Zong Zhengjin nodded, "That fragrance indeed has some use, I can be sure that before Father Emperor passed away, he must have instructed her on something, perhaps even left a will."

  Poison, not only the Empress would use it. Tonight, he took advantage of his informants to secretly apply Tears of Sorrow in the Cining Palace. As the name suggests, a beauty with tears, colorless and odorless. However, anyone who has strong resentment accumulated in their heart will, under someone else's induction, reveal their grievances and regret.

  Unfortunately, it didn't have a significant effect on everyone, like the Empress Dowager, whose heart was as hard as stone. He had been tempting her for so long, but she only revealed just a little bit.

  However, it is enough already.

  He can't wait to discover the secrets he has been neglecting.

  "That's good, I hope the empress dowager hasn't destroyed it, otherwise we'll be in even greater trouble." He was the emperor's childhood companion and had spent a lot of time with the empress dowager, so he naturally understood that she wasn't an ordinary woman.

  Zong Zhengjin also thought of this, furrowed his brow, "Let's do it this way for now, don't scare the snake away, we need to find the most opportune moment, let Diwu Yan wait for a while, but Shen Tian doesn't have to wait, just these two days."

  Meng Wentian thought for a moment and then understood, "Yes, your humble servant understands."

  It's better not to offend anyone, but he just offended the one in his heart.

  The two men discussed the details again, and Meng Wentian tried to get a free dinner, but was successfully driven out.

  "Su Shuxian," Zong Zhengjin said loudly, "send someone to Chonghua Palace to say a word, it's okay."

  "Yes," Su Shun said somewhat vaguely, but wisely didn't ask further.

  "The imperial carriage is at the Guanque Palace."

  "Yes."

  "Your Majesty, I wish you good health," Su Jingci saw him come in and hastily stood up to pay her respects. However, she didn't complete the usual rituals before he helped her up.

  "No need for formalities," Zong Zhengjin supported her to the couch beside them, "He's still fine today."

  Su Jing glared at him with a hint of displeasure, her face showing dissatisfaction. "Why didn't Your Majesty ask if I was well first?"

  Zong Zhengjin chuckled and didn't argue with her, instead he said in a good temper, "How are you today?"

  "Your Majesty, can't you see?" As he spoke, he seemed to be cooperating with him, deliberately stretching his head towards him, leaning in front of him, the distance between the two extremely close, almost nose to nose.

  Zong Zhengjin suddenly found it very interesting, picked her up and put her on his lap, holding her waist, shaking her a bit, and laughed, "I can see that you've gained weight again."

  "Hmph," Su Jingyan didn't try to hide it this time and glared at him, "How can the Emperor speak like that?"

  "What I said isn't true?" Zong Zhengjin seemed to be unaware of her anger, teasingly saying, while also playfully pinching the soft flesh around her waist.

  Su Jing was tickled by his movements and wanted to laugh, but she tried her best to hold it in, her face turning slightly red. "Don't hug me, lest you crush the emperor." She said as she struggled to get up from his body.

  Zong Zhengjin patted her head and sighed, "How come your temper is getting bigger and bigger?"

  "This is not a matter of my temper, but for the good of Your Majesty. If Your Majesty were to be harmed, would it not be my fault? I would never do such a thing," Su Jing said with conviction, her eyes shining brightly and sparkling with light.

  Zong Zhengjin hugged her and said with a smile, "This way of pressing is not enough to break it. If you want to break it, wait until after dinner, I'll tell you which posture can break it."

  Su Jing was taken aback for a moment, then reacted and her face turned red, this guy was teasing her again.

  "Isn't the Emperor a just and honorable ruler?" will defeat you in one move.

  Zong Zhengjin raised an eyebrow, "I am doing this for the better prosperity of our descendants, and for the sake of the Chu Zhou imperial family's bloodline."

  Su Jing was speechless, it was obviously for the sake of propriety, but he said it in such a grandiose manner, it was simply extremely shameless.

  Zong Zhengjin saw that she was no longer speaking, and his interest was somewhat lacking. If it weren't for the one in her belly, this would have been his wonderful time, without any worries.

  Su Jing couldn't get through to him no matter how hard she tried, so she gave up and directly shouted that she wanted dinner.

  Zong Zhengjin also cooperated with her good temper, directly carrying her out, proving that even if she had gained weight, she was still not heavy.

  After dinner and a bath, Zong Zhengjin needed some meat to make up for it, otherwise how could he prove that he wouldn't be crushed.

  Su Jingxu was reluctant on the surface, but her actions showed that she too was extremely eager.

  Zong Zhengjin teased her, and although she was a bit embarrassed, she had no choice but to stick it out to the end.

  Pregnant women are ordinary people with needs and some big ones are normal after all she is now two persons.

  Yes, it must be so.

  After a while, Zong Zhengjin wrapped her in his arms and kissed her already closed eyes. The little woman, no matter how well she pretended, how could he not know her heart?

  Originally, the two of them had already been at odds over her production matters before, even if they pretended to be calm and peaceful, but in their hearts, there were always some discomforts. Today, another incident happened with her father, she didn't want him to have a hard time, but she couldn't bear to let her father be framed by others either, he understood this clearly.

  In the evening, her deliberate temper and his jokes were all attempts to dispel the estrangement between them, venting out the dissatisfaction that should have been buried in their hearts, so that they could be honest with each other.

  The little woman is so good, he knows.

  "This is his little woman." "Slave pays respects to Shu Gui Fei," Su Shun said as he entered the main hall of Chonghua Palace, bowing and greeting.

  He had just followed the emperor here yesterday, but the feeling he got from this place had changed a lot. He felt even less at ease, and although the hall was filled with a faint fragrance, it made people feel somewhat uncomfortable.

  "Master Su, please get up, no need for formalities," Qiao Jingyu said with a faint smile as she sat on the chair.

  "Thank you, Your Majesty," Su Shun said as he stood up. "The Emperor has ordered me to inform Consort Shu that it is all right." After finishing speaking, he didn't even look at her expression, but quietly lowered his head and waited silently.

  "Alright, alright," Zhen said after a moment's thought. "I understand, thank you, Eunuch Su."

  "You don't have to be polite, milady. If you have no further instructions for me, I'll take my leave," Su Shun said with a bow.

  "Ah, Duke Su, slow down. Qing'e will see you off for me," Qiao Jingyu still treated Su Shunian with courtesy, even though she was now a noble consort and knew what it meant.

  "'No, no,' Su Shunyan repeatedly waved his hand, but still followed Qing Xiang out."

  Being a slave to others means knowing how to read people's faces.

  Qiao Jingyu saw his figure disappear from view, and only then did she take a deep breath. "Qingyi, the palace is unwell, summon the imperial physician."

  "Miss, what's wrong?" Qing Xuan asked hastily, her heart skipping a beat.

  Just now wasn't everything all right?

  Qiao Jingyu didn't answer her, slightly raising his voice, "Still not leaving quickly."

  Qingyi didn't dare ask more questions and hastily ran out.

  Palace Concubine (Yi)

  Gong Shu