Fengyi Palace.
Sunlight streams through the carved window screens, scattering inside. The empress lies lazily on the soft bed in her private chamber.
Feeling something amiss, I kept mulling over the news I had heard.
She turned her head to look at the wet nurse beside her, frowning and saying: "Mother, what is going on with Concubine Qin? The emperor isn't quite fond of her? Even though Concubine Shu jiye served in the emperor's bed every day, he hasn't forgotten to see her. How could she be pregnant one day and then be sent to live in such distant palaces?"
The wet nurse furrows her brow and thinks for a moment, looking at the empress and speaking softly: "Your Majesty, I am also puzzled. The emperor is usually fickle, with a liking for the concubines in the palace. Even if he doesn't like someone, he would at most ignore them and pay no attention to them. There must be something that has greatly offended him for Concubine Qin to be sent to such a remote palace."
She paused for a moment, then said, "However, the old slave feels that Concubine Qin living in the Apricot Flower Palace is quite good. Living far away means fewer people will see her and it will be convenient to do something."
She is the wet nurse to the empress, and she understands the empress's thoughts to some extent.
The empress smiled at her words, the smile carrying a faint chill. "You do have a point."
She has said that the legitimate first son of the imperial family must be born from her womb, and she doesn't mind getting her hands dirty with blood if anyone dares to block her way.
"Your Majesty, should the old slave..."
The wet nurse bent slightly, her eyes flashed with a fierce look as she spoke in a low voice.
Although the words were not yet complete, the empress understood her meaning.
The empress glanced at her, furrowing her brow in contemplation for a moment.
Later, she said, "The two inferior concubines, Yun Gui Pension and Qin Gui Pension, have kept their pregnancy a secret for three months and have already settled into their positions. It may be difficult to get rid of them without making a scene."
The wet nurse bowed slightly and respectfully said: "Your Majesty, this is indeed a difficult matter. However, Mrs. Lü has long harbored a grudge against Concubine Qin. With a little provocation, she will certainly take action against Concubine Qin without involving us directly. As for Concubine Yun and Concubine Shu, both are extremely cautious people, but can also be used through the hands of other concubines in the palace."
The empress gently stroked the embroidered edge of the soft bed, the embroidery exquisite and breathtaking, as if narrating the glory of yesteryears.
Her eyes flashed with a cold, ruthless look as she said: "The wet nurse's words are reasonable. Mrs. Lü is impulsive and jealous, and has long resented Concubine Qin. She would never tolerate Concubine Qin giving birth to a child. We only need to fan the flames and add a little fuel at the right time, and we can reap the benefits as the beneficiary."
"As for Concubine Yun and Concubine Shu, these two women are cautious but not without opportunities to strike. You should send people to watch them and find a chance to act. The best way is to kill by proxy so that we don't get our hands dirty. Be careful, don't let anyone discover it was us."
The empress spoke again in a cold voice.
"Your Majesty, the old slave will go and do it immediately."
The wet nurse offered a timely compliment, and then withdrew to carry out the task.
The night is as dark as ink, with few stars twinkling in the sky.
In the courtyard outside the Imperial Palace, a few osmanthus trees stand quietly, emitting a faint fragrance.
The candle flickers, the scent of dragon's incense and ink blends together, quiet and serene.
The Jing Emperor thought back to this morning in the Fengyi Palace, when some little woman seemed a bit unhappy.
A proclamation was issued in the morning, and she was sent to a remote palace like the Apricot Flower Palace. He wondered if she would curse herself inside.
In all conscience, he wasn't intentionally exiled her to such a remote place.
He would be more than happy if she lived as close to him as possible, even if it meant living in his Taihe Hall wouldn't matter.
But excessive favoritism can only harm her, making her the target of jealousy from other concubines in the palace.
He never underestimated the intrigues of the women in the palace, some of the sinister methods that he even saw would give him goosebumps.
That night, he did not continue to call upon Liu Mengyan.
Thinking of a woman upset, naturally, he would go to soothe her in the evening. How could he have the mood to indulge in beauties?
Before the people from the Bureau of Rites could bring the green-labeled token, he put down the document and rushed off to the Yihe Palace.
But as he walked halfway, the Jing Emperor suddenly stopped. Unable to think of a reason, his steps turned and he went to the Chenxiang Palace of Concubine Yun instead.
Luxi behind him was stunned, scratching his head in confusion.
The emperor is supposed to go to the Yihe Palace to see Concubine Qin, isn't he? This direction seems off?
Luxi may be full of doubts, but he dares not ask more, and quickly follows.
Chenxiang Palace.
The moonlight spills over the palace's jade-green tiles, casting a soft glow.
Concubine Yun heard that the emperor had suddenly come to her palace, and she was overjoyed. "Really? The emperor has actually come?"
"Your Majesty, it's absolutely true. The emperor is almost at the palace gate. Your Majesty should quickly tidy up and prepare to welcome him."
The palace maid Lanxin said eagerly with a joyful expression.
Concubine Yun heard that the emperor had already arrived at the palace gate and was frightened. She trembled so much that she dropped the handkerchief she was holding on the ground.
She quickly turned and went back to her room to clean up, giving herself a thorough makeover. After checking herself over and finding nothing amiss, she rushed out to meet the emperor, followed by a group of people.
When the group arrived at the palace gate, they saw the Jing Emperor dressed in a bright yellow long robe, tall and slender, with a handsome face, and a faint smile on his lips, revealing his seductive demeanor.
Concubine Yun quickly led the group to their knees and shouted in unison: "Subject (servant) greets the emperor. Long live the emperor, a thousand years, a thousand years, ten thousand years."
The Jing Emperor looked at the group kneeling on the ground, his gaze lingering on Concubine Yun for a moment, and said in a faint tone, "Rise."
As the group rose to their feet and thanked him, Concubine Yun raised her eyes slightly and looked at the Jing Emperor, her heart filled with joy.
The Jing Emperor took a step forward and entered the palace, followed by the crowd.
Entering the inner chamber, the Jing Emperor sat down on the throne.
The hall of Concubine Yun was filled with a thick, heavy fragrance of incense, but the incense was too strong, causing the Jing Emperor to furrow his brow.
Inhaling the fragrance of Buddhism, he felt a bit like going to his mother's Char Ning Palace.
This made his expression rather peculiar.
Concubine Yun did not notice the emperor's expression, took the tea from Lanxin's hand, and respectfully offered it to him, saying softly, "Your Majesty, this is a specially prepared fragrant tea by this concubine. Please try it."
The Jing Emperor took the tea, slightly sipped from it, and said nothing. His expression remained calm and composed.
He placed the tea aside and looked at Concubine Yun, asking, "Now that you are pregnant, are you feeling well?"
Concubine Yun's heart warmed, and she quickly kowtowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. Everything is well with me and the fetus in my womb."
The Jing Emperor nodded slightly, but his gaze was somewhat absent-minded.
He had come here unexpectedly just to keep someone from being too conspicuous.
His gaze lingered on the slightly protruding abdomen of Concubine Yun for a moment.
"That would be best. Please be very careful in your pregnancy, my beloved. The affairs of this palace are numerous and complex, so feel free to order anything you need."
Although his tone was flat, the Jing Emperor couldn't help but say a few words of concern since Concubine Yun was carrying his child.
Concubine Yun softly answered, "This concubine will carefully follow the instructions of the emperor and ensure the safety of the fetus in her womb."
The Jing Emperor asked a few more questions about dietary and living habits during pregnancy, and then fell silent.
His thoughts gradually drifted away, and the image of Concubine Qin appeared in his mind again.
Concubine Yun kept trying to talk, but each time the Jing Emperor only responded half-heartedly.
The atmosphere even made her feel awkward.
Not long after, the Jing Emperor stood up and said, "I have some matters to attend to. Love, take good care of yourself and rest well."
Although Concubine Yun's heart felt a sense of loss, she dared not show it. She could only bid the emperor farewell respectfully.
After leaving Chenxiang Palace, the Jing Emperor went to the Yihe Palace to see Ruo Yao.
Arriving at the Yihe Palace, he did not have the palace attendants announce his presence but instead quietly stood outside, wanting to listen to what that woman was saying inside.
Inside the house.
Ruo Yao held a piece of pastry in her hand and enjoyed it heartily, complaining while eating: "This dog emperor, has no idea what he's thinking by sending me to the Apricot Flower Palace. Although the environment there is quite good and I'm quite happy to live there, when others see it, they'll probably think I've done something wrong."
Don't think she doesn't know, the whole palace has been buzzing with rumors, saying that since the Jueji concubine arrived, she has lost favor.
Even the Zhuang Gvin Lady looked at her with a sympathetic gaze today, making her face look like it was in a dream.
Liu Li was startled when she heard her mistress calling the emperor a dog emperor, and quickly moved forward to cover her mouth. "My lady, you can say whatever you want in front of the maid, but if others hear it, it could get you into serious trouble."
Ruo Yao blinked and gently moved Liu Li's hand away, indifferent, "I was just venting. This room is just you and me; there's no one else."
The dog emperor went to the Chenxiang Palace of Concubine Yun tonight. She had already learned about it through her spies, so she didn't mind if the other woman came to eavesdrop.
Liu Li frowned and said, "I understand what you mean, but remember that 'walls have ears.' My lady, please refrain from saying such treasonous things in the future."
Ruo Yao glanced at Liu Li and smiled faintly, then said no more. She continued to eat the pastry.
Outside the house.
Luxi, who was following behind the Jing Emperor, had already been scared into a state of shock when he heard the words "dog emperor" inside the room.
Oh my lady, you really dare to say anything. To say such a thing and not fear for your head?
Luxi carefully peeked at the emperor's expression and saw that his handsome face had turned dark, looking very unappealing.
Luxi shrank his neck in fear and thought whether he should remind the people inside. But he saw that the emperor had already pushed the door open.
Inside the room, Ruo Yao saw the Jing Emperor push the door open and was startled so much that her eyes widened. She still had half a piece of pastry in her mouth, looking very comical.
Liu Li was even more terrified and directly knelt on the ground, shaking all over.
The Jing Emperor's face darkened and he looked coldly at the woman who dared to commit treason, saying nothing but staring at her with a sinister expression.
The look scared Ruo Yao so much that she hurriedly swallowed the pastry, stood up, and awkwardly laughed, "Your Majesty, why did you come?"
The Jing Emperor huffed and sat down on the soft couch, not bothering to respond to her.
His expression remained dark, and he was giving off cold vibes all over.
You won't get out of here today without explaining yourself.
He may be a bit of a flirt, but he believes that throughout both his time as a prince and his reign, he has worked hard to govern the country diligently and for the good of the people.
He dares not compare himself to his ancestors, but he believes that he is equally capable of governing the state. He has never done anything that would make the people complain.
Why would he be referred to as the "dog emperor"?
