Inside the Imperial Garden.

Spring is in full bloom, with hundreds of flowers vying for attention, creating a breathtakingly beautiful and vibrant scene. The peonies, in particular, are the most dazzling, their petals layered upon each other like blooming colorful clouds, a sight to behold.

The Empress led a group of concubines to admire the flowers in the Imperial Garden. Her figure was elegant and noble, like a blooming peony. Her phoenix robe was embroidered with exquisite patterns, and the phoenix on her phoenix crown was lifelike, as if it would spread its wings and fly away at any moment. She strolled among the flowers with a graceful and luxurious demeanor.

The concubines were all dressed in gorgeous palace attire and adorned with dazzling jewelry. Each of them had a beautiful face and graceful demeanor, which complemented the spring scenery of the garden.

The Empress would occasionally stop to admire the beautiful flowers, a faint smile on her face. The concubines around her followed suit, some pausing to admire the flowers, others softly reciting poems, their laughter creating a harmonious scene throughout the palace.

Inside the flower pavilion, all sorts of fresh flower pastries and tea drinks had already been prepared.

When you get tired of admiring the flowers, you can sit down and rest with some tea.

No sooner had they sat down than someone couldn't help but speak sourly, "It seems Consort Xi's belly is more precious than others. She's only just gotten pregnant, yet she dares to decline the Empress's flower-viewing banquet."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned somewhat unpleasant.

With the affairs of the court being so busy, His Majesty rarely visited the inner palace. Apart from spending the first and fifteenth of each month in the Empress's palace, he spent eight out of ten days in Qixiang Palace.

Now that she's pregnant, the other concubines can't even see the Emperor anymore.

No wonder they were angry and resentful.

The first to be affected is Consort Li, who is at odds with the current Consort Xi and the former Consort Jin.

She flung her handkerchief and said angrily, "Your Highness, you are too lenient. It's just a pregnancy. You exempted her from the morning and evening greetings, and now you're even saying you won't attend the banquet. Consort Xi really doesn't respect you at all."

"She hasn't even given birth to a prince yet. If she does, how could she possibly respect the Empress?"

These words were immediately echoed by the other sour concubines, "That's right, she's just a merchant's daughter, she doesn't know how to restrain herself, she's always trying to seduce His Majesty, and now this harem has become hers alone."

"That's right. I heard that Consort He only complained a couple of times, and he reported it to His Majesty, and she was demoted to the rank of Beauty."

The concubines were filled with resentment and their sourness was palpable.

Especially those young and beautiful concubines who have no children, who still think about gaining status through having a son, but they can't even see the emperor, so where would they get a child?

The Empress was dignified and elegant, smiling without saying a word.

She had indeed underestimated Consort Jin, the Jin family, and the Seventh Prince…

And that Miss Jiang, she actually dared to play dumb in front of her, hehe... how wonderful.

Seeing that the Empress's expression remained unchanged, Consort Li, unwilling to give up, said again, "Consort Xi is the most favored concubine in the palace, and now she is pregnant. The Jin family has also risen to prominence. I heard that Master Jin, a merchant, has become the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites."

"Even the Seventh Prince has gained favor with His Majesty now. His status is so low that he's not even worthy of carrying the Second Prince's shoes."

"If it weren't for the trouble he caused with that Miss Jiang, how could the Second Prince and the Third Prince have been reprimanded!"

"Your Majesty should call them over and teach them proper manners!"

The phrase "them" includes Consort Xi, the Seventh Prince, and Jiang Jiaojiao.

When the Second Prince was mentioned, the Empress finally became emotional. Her eldest son had not been saved and had also been injured, making it impossible for him to have any more children. So, her clan sent her half-sister to the palace.

That person is unlucky.

She died in childbirth while giving birth to the second prince, so the second prince naturally grew up in her palace. He was considered half a legitimate son, and his status was naturally more noble than that of the other princes.

But this time, His Majesty disregarded her dignity, stripped the second son of his power, and imprisoned him in the prince's residence.

It's impossible for her not to be angry.

Consort Li brought up that sickly woman again for comparison, no wonder the Empress's expression was not pleasant.

only……

As the Empress, she should maintain her proper status and said with a smile, "You all have talent, beauty, and family background, but does His Majesty even notice you?"

When it comes to vying for the emperor's favor, it's naturally the concubines who take the lead.

"I have no sons. Whoever becomes the crown prince or the emperor, I will always be the empress dowager."

After speaking, the Empress looked meaningfully at Consort De, "I heard that the Fifth Prince's harem is in complete chaos, and he was even reprimanded by His Majesty."

"Even Mr. Li stopped teaching and devoted himself to helping the seventh prince prepare for the palace examination!"

Upon hearing this, Consort De's face immediately darkened, and she lost all interest in admiring the flowers. She stood up straight, bowed to the Empress, and said, "His Highness the Thirteenth Prince is about to leave the study. I shall take my leave now."

The Empress smiled and said, "Consort De is so lucky to have two princes. This blessing... may be just the beginning."

Consort Liang immediately chimed in with a mocking laugh, "I've heard that the Thirteenth Prince and Miss Jiang have a good relationship, and the Seventh Prince is also exceptionally kind to him. Heh... Even if the Fifth Prince becomes useless in the end, with the Seventh Prince around, the Thirteenth Prince will surely have no worries."

If the eleventh prince were still alive, she would be the same age as the thirteenth prince by now.

Why did she die before the eleventh prince, while Consort De grew up before the fifth and thirteenth princes?

It drove her crazy with jealousy.

When Consort De heard Consort Liang's sarcastic remarks, her face fell.

Consort Li chimed in, "Heh heh, why is His Highness neglecting his own brother and instead getting close to a girl like Miss Jiang who has no relatives? Could it be that he has some other intentions?"

"His Highness the Thirteenth Prince is young, so Consort De should keep a close eye on him. I hope you don't get tricked."

Consort Li came from a noble family and always looked down on Consort De, who came from a humble background.

But this woman was fortunate enough to be able to give birth, and because of her son, she was granted the title of Consort De, thus surpassing her.

Consort De, with a stern face, looked coldly at Consort Li, "Heh, if you're so eager to stir up trouble, why don't you keep an eye on the Seventh Princess? I heard she beat another servant to death yesterday?"

"They're both seventh in line, so it would be great if the Seventh Princess had the same good fortune as the Seventh Prince."

After saying that, Consort De left without looking back, not even glancing at the angry faces of Consort Shu and Consort Li.

Consort Li's delicate face was now distorted with anger, her eyes flashing with fury as if they were about to spew flames, making her look somewhat ferocious.

She clenched her teeth tightly, her lips trembling slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but was too angry to speak.

The other concubines around them also gave them a hint of mockery in their gazes.

When everyone saw through her provocative nature, it was because when Consort Xi was still a Noble Lady, she had humiliated her cousin from her maternal family at the White Horse Temple, and she openly and secretly confronted her.

Provoking trouble everywhere.

They really think we're fools.

Moreover, its seventh princess was truly outrageous, arrogant and domineering, and had killed so many palace maids and eunuchs that it was impossible to count them on one hand.