Is that not so?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
The Xuanwu Emperor thought that his beloved Consort Jiang Xinyue was indeed adorable. Every emotion was etched on her face, as if inviting everyone to see right through her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
He gently tapped on Jiang Xinyue''s supposedly "innocent" head, "The Prefect of Qinzhou is but a minor official, I do not believe he has the audacity to act in such a high-profile manner on his own. There must be someone pulling the strings from behind. If Minister of Rites Jiang has any other evidence, he shouldn''t fear retaliation. Simply hand it over, I am here, I won''t allow wicked spirits to cause amotion."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
What a bold move!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
It''s as if he had the words "Targeting the Song Family" stered on his face.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Just as Jiang Xinyue thought! <span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
During the miscarriage of Concubine Li, she forced the emperor to punish Consort Shu and brought up both Pei and Song families to pressurize the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Surely, she won''t be ending up well.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Looking through history, which influential nobility who fails to adopt a low profile, keeps their talents hidden and remains unabatedly arrogant ends well?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
None!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Absolutely none!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
They all believe that their powers extend throughout the Great Yan Dynasty and even if the Emperor is unhappy, they can do nothing to them.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
But they have forgotten the ancient phrase: "If the monarch wants a minister to die, the minister has no choice but to die."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Even without evidence, the Emperor would hint at his ministers to fabricate some.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Jiang Xinyue nodded, "Your Majesty is correct. Unfortunately, I, as a concubine, cannot summon my father into the Pce. Otherwise, I would surely convey Your Majesty''s words to him in full."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Right, the Emperor forgot. Though Jiang Xinyue ascended to the rank of concubine within a year of entering the Pce, concubines below the position of consort do not have the privilege to summon their own family. Only with the Emperor or Empress''s approval can this be done.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"Do you miss home?" the Emperor asked, rubbing Jiang Xinyue''s small hand, every bone massaged through thoroughly, "It''s not difficult. The Empress''s birthday is in the eighth lunar month, and the Tubo Royal Family sent us some gifts. The Ministry of Rites is due to discuss with me about the return gifts. Why don''t youe with me to the Imperial Study tomorrow?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
The Xuanwu Emperor did not wish to reveal his enmity with the Song Family and intended to push the Jiang Family to the forefront. <span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Being the Emperor of a country and saying she missed home, could she deny it?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
How to put it?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
It''s a mix of good and bad, actually.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
The good part is that currently the Jiang Family is not very noticeable. Dear father is still just an official of the Ministry of Rites, while Concubine Li''s grandfather holds the highest position in the Internal Council and Department of State Affairs. The rank and actual power are far too disparate with the Jiang family.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
If the Emperor wished for Jiang Yankun to confront the Song Family, he surely needed to elevate the Jiang family''s status first.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
If the gap is too wide, a confrontation would leave the Jiang family with no option but to take it on the chin.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
At night, the Xuanwu Emperor stayed at Concubine Li''s Pce. However, as she was still in confinement after her miscarriage, she could not sleep with him and instead sent a beautiful pce maiden as a substitute, hoping to please the Emperor. But this backfired and irritated the Emperor, leading him to visit the nearest Jingren Pce.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
The Jingren Pce was formerly inhabited by Consort Shu but the current upant was her younger sister, Consort Rong. The following day after the Emperor went to court, Wang Dequan took the decree promoting her to Noble Consort to Jingren Pce.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Everyone in the inner court believed that Consort Rong was benefiting from her elder sister''s influence. The emperor waspensating for the suffering Consort Shu had undergone under Concubine Li by showering affection on Consort Rong.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Jiang Xinyue touched her not-so-obvious baby bump, her thoughts starkly contrasted with the others in the imperial harem.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
If the Xuanwu Emperor really cared for Consort Shu, he could have simply moved her from Changxin Pce. He didn''t need to shift his affections to Consort Rong, who looked nothing like Consort Shu and could never act as her substitute.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
The Xuanwu Emperor appeared to be a passionate man, he loved Consort Shu, Concubine Li, and even her, Jiang Xinyue – theter who ended up on top.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
However, the reality was he loved none of them. He adored himself the most, and if their interests ever intersected with those of the previous dynasty, he wouldn''t hesitate to abandon them.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Such an emperor might be good for his subjects, but he was far from being a good man to his wives.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Jiang Xinyue tilted her lips slightly, relieved that she was a spirit who had traversed time from the 21st century, rather than a well-breddy of this feudal society.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Not that thesedies weren''t good, they were quite wonderful.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Like Concubine Li – she was breathtakingly beautiful with alluring dance moves. In the future era, she would be a widely recognized superstar with a queue of eligible men from one end of the Yangtze to the other, vying for her attention.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Take Empress Zhu for example – she was decisive, smart, and resourceful. In the future business world, she could easily establish her ce, keeping arge corporation running smoothly and sessfully. If she desired to resign from apany, the boss would undoubtedly offer an attractive sry to retain her. She wouldn''t need to be an old maid for a man who didn''t love her, without the choice to resign.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Within the royal harem, Consorts Rong, Jin, Zhang, and Noble Consort Ye, each had their own strengths.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
But it was a pity that these wonderful women spent their entire lives scheming against each other and causing pain for the sake of one man...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Such a waste.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
If they had been born in Jiang Xinyue''s time, they surely could have had a remarkable life on their own.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"Sigh…"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
It was pointless to pity them; she was the most pitiful one.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Having seen how vast the world was, she was now trapped in this small world, her discontent greater than anyone else''s.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"Your Highness, Your Highness…" <span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Jiang Chuan ran over breathless, "The people of the Empress Dowager and Concubine Li are fighting in Changxin Pce. The Emperor has confined Concubine Li, and the Empress Dowager has forcibly taken Consort Shu back to Kunning Pce."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Xi Que couldn''t helpughing, "Concubine Li is getting increasingly impulsive, isn''t she? She had just been released from confinement and now, she hasnded herself back into trouble."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Xi Que didn''t understand, but Jiang Xinyue could empathize with Concubine Li.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
The person who didn''t want her to conceive was the Xuanwu Emperor.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
From the moment she became the Emperor''s wife, she was destined never to have her own child.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
One time, Jiang Xinyue had met Lady Pei, Concubine Li''s mother in the pce. Apanying Lady Pei was a woman carrying a medicine box whoter appeared by Concubine Li''s side.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
She guessed that the Song family, seeing that Concubine Li had not conceived for a long time and that she was getting older, sent a doctor into the pce.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
There were thousands of maids in the pce, with individuals being transferred daily. Even Empress Zhu, who was in charge of the harem, might not catch onto this.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
The medical woman was quite nondescript and usually did not attend to Concubine Li, Jiang Xinyue had just happened to see her once while passing by Changxin Pce.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
As a woman inspiringly determined to be a favored consort, and then to be a grand concubine after the death of the emperor, she is acquainted with all the maids in the pce who serve the noble imperial consorts.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Of course, most importantly, she has met that medicine woman who serves Lady Pei.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Concubine Li must have known it too!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
The reason she couldn''t conceive was due to her physical impairment. Even if she managed to conceive, she would easily miscarry.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Therefore, after all the hardships she went through to conceive this time, she still used the child to frame Consort Shu.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
She knew all too well that the child she carried was doomed to perish sooner orter!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Yet, it is uncertain whether she would think that the person who shattered her dreams of bing the queen was Empress Zhu.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
If that were the case, how wrongful it would be for Empress Zhu.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0