She gazed at the swaying brightnterns outside Chengqian Pce: "That Consort Shu, her head is full of petty romance. I''ve long known she wouldn''t amount to much, which is why I supported your rise to power, deliberately treating you harshly to make the Emperor pity you. But how have you be as useless as Consort Shu, wasting your childhood sweetheart status, unable to captivate the Emperor''s heart?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Consort Rong remained expressionless and silent, but her grip on the Empress Dowager''s hand tightened slightly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Empress Dowager sensed her emotional change and nced at her, saying with exasperation: "Don''t be resentful. When you faked pregnancy to gain favor and nearly got caught, it was I who kept it from Consort Shu, letting her believe you were truly pregnant. That''s why she acted against you, trying to frame Senior Concubine Xian in the process. I thought you would gain the Emperor''s sympathy from then on and rece Concubine Li as the most favored in the harem. Instead, you were supnted by Senior Concubine Xian. How can I not be angry?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Originally, they had nned to eliminate Senior Concubine Xian before the Emperor became attached to her, but they hadn''t anticipated that the Emperor would care for her more than expected, causing their n to fail.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Back then, to stage that miscarriage scene, the Empress Dowager had used many of her connections, only to end up with such a result.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Consort Rong began to cry: "Aunt, it''s all my fault. I couldn''t bring my brother and mother back from Ningguta. I''ve failed your expectations."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Empress Dowager sighed again: "Stop crying, it''s not good if others see. If you can help Pei Wu gain favor this time, it will make up for your past failures."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Consort Rong felt resentful inside. Letting Pei Wu use her weakness to gain the Emperor''s trust meant she had be a disposable pawn. The Empress Dowager spoke lightly, sitting safely on her high perch while sacrificing others.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But things had alreadye to this point, and she couldn''t refuse.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As long as her brother and mother could return, she would do anything.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Inside Chengqian Pce—<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Pei Wu held a ck jade chess piece, fiercely battling against the white pieces.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She wore a man''s cloak draped over her young body: "Since neither Your Majesty nor I wish to be pawns for others, why don''t we cooperate?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Xuanwu Emperor ced a piece, suddenly changing the entire board situation, leaving Pei Wu pondering for a long time without making a move.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Emperor leaned back, his imposing figure exuding a hint of roguishness: "We hear that the heir of the Ruyang Prince''s Residence has refused the new marriage arranged by the Pei family, insisting on going to Sheng''an Temple to be a monk. Is it because Miss Pei heard this news that she no longer wishes to stay in the pce?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Pei Wu resolutely ced a piece: "No, even if the heir hadn''t broken off the engagement, I wouldn''t want to enter the pce."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"But now you sit across from Us, originally intending to seek Our favor."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Pei Wu''s snow-white face paled further, her chess pieces in disarray: "Grandfather thought Your Majesty was only momentarily angry when you demoted my cousin Li. He went to great lengths to send me into the pce, hoping I could help my cousin regain favor. But now that my cousin is dead, grandfather''s expectations for me have likely changed to recing her and bing Your Majesty''s favored consort. However..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She looked up at the Xuanwu Emperor: "After meeting Concubine Zhenxian, I knew I would have no chance. Everyone may doubt how much of Your Majesty''s affection for Concubine Xian is genuine, but I believe that seven-tenths of Your Majesty''s heart is devoted to the empire, the court, and themon people. If you''ve given three-tenths to Concubine Xian, that''s already all you can give. So, I think Your Majesty has already given Concubine Xian all the true affection you''re capable of."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Was she staying to be a witness to the Emperor and Concubine Xian''s love?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She wanted to leave, not because of anyone else, but because she didn''t like being confined in this square pce, and she didn''t want to deal with a man she didn''t love.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Xuanwu Emperor looked at her for a long time, finally conceding a piece to her so she wouldn''t lose too badly: "Tell Us, how do you propose we cooperate?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Pei Wu withdrew her hand: "The Empress Dowager has never had any maternal affection for Your Majesty all these years, but Your Majesty has been tolerant due to filial piety, fearing criticism from officials and public opinion. Your Majesty has long wanted to remove the Empress Dowager, hasn''t you?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Insolent!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Emperor threw his white jade chess piece onto the board: "You presume to guess Our intentions. We could have your head right now."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"The cotton fibers on Wet Nurse Cheng''s clothes were ced by Consort Rong, but the order came from the Empress Dowager. Does Your Majesty want the Sixth Prince to face such a situation again? Concubine Xian is intelligent and refined; she has likely already discovered it was Consort Rong''s doing. Your Majesty has been concealing this, but I suggest youe clean soon. If you keep hurting her heart, even the deepest affection will eventually wear away."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was the first time the Emperor had loved a consort so much, and he didn''t want Concubine Xian to be insincere towards him in the future.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Just then, Tang Shiliang entered. Seeing Pei Wu ying chess with the Emperor, he hesitated to speak.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Xuanwu Emperor knew he was here to talk about Concubine Xian and directly gestured: "Speak."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Tang Shiliang nced at Pei Wu a couple more times before saying: "Concubine Xian summoned the female officials from the Wardrobe Department today. Clothing Steward Xie has been assassinated. The Investigative Bureau received the body sent from Hexi Pce, and the Director of the Pce Surveince Office is here to ask for Your Majesty''s instructions."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Xuanwu Emperorughed and turned to Pei Wu: "You''re right, Yue''er is an extremely intelligent woman. If she could trace it to Clothing Steward Xie, it means she already knows Consort Rong is one of the culprits behind the scenes. So tell me, can she trace it back to the Zhu family?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Pei Wu was stunned at first, then her eyes widened: "Your Majesty, you..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Shh!" The Xuanwu Emperor''s gaze sharpened, exuding a murderous aura: "If you want to cooperate with Us, using the Empress Dowager as a bargaining chip is not enough. You need to use... your life."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The dark sky was devoid of stars, covered in thick clouds that blocked even the moonlight. The dense ckness was like undissolvable ink, oppressive to look at.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The little ball of joy was crying incessantly for unknown reasons.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Xinyue held him lovingly in her arms: "Oh oh oh~ What''s wrong with mommy''s precious little dumpling? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Nanny Xiang was also watching: "Is it because he''s been drinking goat''s milk recently and might have some indigestion?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Emperor had already started looking for a new wet nurse for Jiang Xinyue, but it wasn''t a quick process.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Even after finding one, they would have to investigate the wet nurse''s family history for three generations to ensure she wouldn''t harbor ill intentions towards the prince.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Moreover, with the precedent set by Wet Nurse Cheng, the Emperor now had additional requirements for the wet nurse''s personality. He preferred someone steady, with strong adaptability, and preferably some knowledge of medicine.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As such, Jiang Xinyue could only feed the child with goat''s milk prepared by the imperial kitchen for now.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Since the child couldn''t speak, adults could only guess.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Hearing Nanny Xiang''s words, Jiang Xinyue asked Xi Que to give the little one a gas-relief massage.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After two sets of movements, the little dumpling started making "puff puff" farting sounds. "Your Highness, the gas-relief massage you taught us really works. Look, the Sixth Prince has stopped crying!" Xi Que eximed.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Nanny Li also smiled: "All children go through the ''second-month fuss.'' Once you get past the first three months, it gets better."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In ancient times, there were no terms for intestinal bloating or colic; it was all called the "second-month fuss."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Xinyue neither agreed nor disagreed with this.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0