Chapter 71:

After handling the court affairs, Emperor Jing listened to the secret guards’ report about everything that had occurred at Chen Yulan’s residence. After dismissing them, he began to contemplate the matter carefully.

Although Layue’s tone had been rather indifferent, Chen Yulan had repeatedly provoked others. He had deliberately left Chen Yulan there as a strategic move, anticipating that she might prove useful someday. Despite her malicious intentions, she could not cause significant trouble within the palace, so there had been no need to eliminate her.

Unexpectedly, she turned out to be quite fortunate—she was pregnant.

As for Shen Layue…

After pondering for a while, he tapped the table lightly with his index finger, as if weighing the matter carefully.

Was it intentional or unintentional?

Anyone whose intentions he could not clearly discern would certainly not be treated lightly.

A pair of light footsteps echoed in the quiet room. Lai Xi stood outside the curtain and reported, “Your Majesty, Lady Hui requests an audience.”

Emperor Jing looked toward the door, a cold smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He knew precisely why she had come at this moment.

“Let her in.”

“Yes.”

Before long, a beautiful woman with bright eyes and white teeth entered the room.

She gracefully curtsied, and Emperor Jing hurriedly motioned for her to rise, as though reluctant to see her bow.

Fu Jinyao gazed tenderly at the emperor. The most noble man in the realm reached out and pulled her sleeve, and the two walked to a small couch and sat down together, intimate as mandarin ducks.

“Your Majesty—” Fu Jinyao had not forgotten her purpose for coming. Her delicate fingers clutched at his robe, her expression a portrait of sorrow and grievance.

“Why are you on the verge of tears? Has someone wronged you? Who dares to do such a thing?”

Fu Jinyao looked at Emperor Jing with tear-filled eyes.

“Please, Your Majesty, grant your humble concubine justice. You promised me you would give me a proper resolution, but now so much time has passed, my child… my child…” Tears slid down her cheeks as if she could bear it no longer.

With her head bowed in tears, she failed to catch the fleeting emotion in the emperor’s gaze. Yet his voice remained tender as he spoke, “So this is what troubles you. My beloved Yao’er, do you truly doubt me? I gave you my word that justice would be served. I would never allow such a matter to be dismissed lightly—after all, that child was mine as well.”

Fu Jinyao looked up at him pitifully, “Truly? Will Your Majesty truly do justice for my child?”

He gently drew her into his embrace, “Of course I will. You are the one I treasure most, Yao’er. Don’t you know that?”

Upon hearing these words, Fu Jinyao’s lips curved into a dreamy smile.

“I believe you, Your Majesty. I believe everything you say. You are my whole world.”

Suddenly, Emperor Jing found himself thinking of Shen Layue. That little girl would never say such things. She always called him her “good man,” and in her heart, he was merely her husband.

But then again, perhaps she was a little fox.

At first, he thought she was a white rabbit pretending to be a fox to entice him, but upon reflection, she might truly be a cunning fox who had disguised herself repeatedly. Hmph, indeed a bewitching little creature.

Regardless of the emperor’s thoughts, Fu Jinyao was delighted and spent the night in Xuanning Palace.

Upon hearing this, many concubines ground their teeth in frustration. However, they found slight comfort in the fact that although the emperor favored Fu Jinyao, he still had not allowed her to stay overnight.

The next day,

The Empress Dowager summoned everyone to Huici Palace. Layue was unsure what had happened.

Jin Xin was somewhat anxious, “My lady, could this be about yesterday’s incident?”

The Empress Dowager disliked excessive discord within the palace.

After some thought, Layue shook her head. She felt it was unlikely.

Besides, everyone knew Fu Jinyao had spent the night in Xuanning Palace yesterday. Perhaps this was related to her? Could it be about her miscarriage? Because Layue highly suspected Fu Jinyao’s miscarriage, she could not help but smile slightly at her persistence.

If her guess was correct, then the emperor likely knew as well. If the emperor was aware, wouldn’t Fu Jinyao’s actions today only make him even more displeased?

How intriguing this palace truly was.

Regardless of what others thought, this was neither the beginning nor the middle of the month—there must be something the Empress Dowager wished to say.

Indeed, this time it was truly about Fu Jinyao’s previous fall. However, to everyone’s surprise, it had nothing to do with Lady De. Instead, the Empress Dowager declared that the incident had been caused by Concubine Yu, who had not done it on purpose but had simply been too nervous and careless. The emperor had already demoted her to the lowest rank of palace women.

Everyone wore expressions of sorrow for the lost child, but inwardly, they sneered.

Concubine Yu had not even been near Lady Hui at the time. Using her as a scapegoat was truly laughable. However, since the emperor and the Empress Dowager needed a resolution, this was the result of her carelessness.

As for the real culprit, Lady Zhou, she had already disappeared without a trace—whether she was alive or dead, no one knew, but everyone had their own judgment.

Layue did not know what others were thinking, but she felt that Concubine Yu must have been involved. She did not know what had caused the emperor’s displeasure, but this time, she had been pushed forward as the scapegoat.

Though everyone knew it was not her doing, no one spoke up—they merely agreed with the Empress Dowager’s words.

Wasn’t the palace exactly like this? If those in power wanted you dead, even if you were innocent, they could find many reasons. Moreover, how many truly innocent people were there in the palace?

Fu Jinyao sat aside, her expression hard to read. Lady De, however, laughed heartily. Occasionally their eyes met, and Layue could feel sparks flying between them.

Perhaps the emperor had deliberately let these two women clash?

Regardless of how the child had been lost, Fu Jinyao’s desire to strike against Lady De was evident. This time, she had planned everything, but the emperor had instead brought forward another person. Naturally, Fu Jinyao was furious.

As for Lady De, whether she was truly guilty or not, she was already furious over the recent rumors and Fu Jinyao’s persistence.

Although Lady Qi appeared elegant and refined, Layue felt that such a person did not truly exist in the palace.

If she were truly as she appeared, how could she have risen step by step to her current position? There was no such thing as a simple person in this palace.

It seemed the grand drama had truly begun!

As for Lady Hui’s miscarriage, it had started with great fanfare but ended quietly and without resolution.

After this matter was settled, the Empress Dowager shifted her gaze.

She looked at Chen Yulan, “Chen Shunchang should have been peacefully staying in her quarters to preserve her pregnancy. However, this matter is of great importance. I have discussed it with the emperor, and we decided to have everyone come here to understand the situation, so that rumors do not spread in the future.”

She changed tone, “I believe you have all heard by now. Chen Shunchang was diagnosed as pregnant yesterday. The emperor’s instruction is that she should remain quietly in her quarters to preserve her pregnancy. She had only been favored once before the New Year and became pregnant, so none of you should feel disheartened.”

The expressions of the others stiffened, and even their smiles looked strange.

Chen Yulan sat there, somewhat smug.

Layue was speechless with this cousin of hers. She silently lowered her head, and no one noticed the slight upward curve of her lips.

So she really wanted to be the target?

Sometimes, when someone was destined to die, no one could stop it.

Even without looking, Layue could imagine what everyone was thinking.

After some small talk, everyone stood up to take their leave. The Empress Dowager’s health was weak, and after sitting for a while, she began to feel tired. Everyone was considerate and knew to leave promptly when they noticed the Empress Dowager showing signs of fatigue.

“Consort Chun, please wait a moment…” Madam Gui called out to Layue.

“The Empress Dowager wishes to see you.”

Seeing that the Empress Dowager had retained Shen Layue, Chen Yulan smiled smugly, assuming the Empress Dowager would reprimand Layue. In her mind, everyone in the palace knew how much the Empress Dowager valued offspring, and the fact that her cousin had gone to provoke her immediately after discovering her pregnancy naturally caused resentment.

In this palace, it was important to know one’s place, but Chen Yulan was unaware of this.

In her view, since Layue had risen steadily despite her boldness, her own behavior should also be acceptable. However, she had overlooked one key point—Layue was fundamentally different from her. Not to mention Layue’s previous malicious schemes, now she was relying on her pregnancy and acting arrogantly, which was certainly not a sustainable approach. It was well known how difficult it was for a child to be safely born in the palace, and she had not fully considered this yet.

Seeing her like this, the expressions of the others shifted subtly.

Bai Xiaodie smiled warmly, “Congratulations, dear sister. At last, your hardships have paid off.”

Her voice was not loud.

Chen Yulan’s lips curved into a smile, “This child is a gift from heaven.”

Walking side by side, Bai Xiaodie looked worried, “Now that you are with child, you must take extra care. In the palace…”

She glanced around and lowered her voice, “There are countless eyes watching this child, plotting how to harm it. Sister, you must be cautious. The emperor not allowing you to go out is also a way of protecting you indirectly. Please, don’t be foolish and fall for someone else’s provocation.”

Her words were heartfelt and sincere.

Chen Yulan nodded, touched, “Only you, dear sister, truly care for me.”

“We were close friends even before entering the palace. After we entered the palace, we both faced difficulties. I understand your feelings. They say that true friendship is revealed in adversity, and that is exactly what we have. Now that you are with child, it is heaven’s way of helping you. Naturally, I am delighted for you.”

The two looked warm and affectionate, chatting and laughing as they left hand in hand.

Yet they did not notice the calm eyes watching them from behind.

Bai Youran watched their backs silently and muttered two words softly, “Fools.”