As soon as Zhao Yuancheng left, the queen felt a chill down her spine and collapsed on the ground powerlessly.

Qiu Ju stepped forward to support the queen and asked worriedly, "Your Majesty, what's wrong with you?"

The queen's temples were covered in sweat, and she kept muttering, "He really knows."

Qiuju didn't understand the meaning of this sentence. Seeing that the queen looked unhappy, she quickly ordered someone to call the imperial physician.

But as soon as she finished speaking, the queen's eyes rolled back and she fainted.

Fengqi Palace was suddenly in chaos.

Things happened one after another in the past few days, and Zhao Yuancheng almost forgot that Concubine Wan was pregnant. It was not until the imperial concubine came to Zichen Palace to report on the expenses of the harem this month that he remembered this matter.

The Imperial Concubine sat quietly opposite Zhao Yuancheng and said softly, "Wanpin is pregnant. Does the Emperor want to promote her?"

"The Queen just had a miscarriage. It's better not to do it for now. It won't be too late to promote her after she gives birth."

"Yes." The imperial concubine nodded and continued, "Mid-Autumn Festival is in a month. The ruler of Da'an will bring the princess with him to the palace. The princess is different from the concubines, and she cannot be treated with disrespect. I think it would be better to clean up Yunying Cottage. This way, it can be away from the concubines' quarters. Secondly, the princess is tired from traveling, and the quiet place will be convenient for her to rest."

Zhao Yuancheng held the teacup and smiled with satisfaction, "You are becoming more and more steady in your work now."

The imperial concubine lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, "I am getting older. If I am not steady, I will be laughed at."

Zhao Yuancheng nodded. "Since the Queen's illness, you have been in charge of all matters in the harem. I am very relieved. You have served me for quite some time. I will promote you to Imperial Noble Consort. Mid-Autumn Festival is a good day, so let's go to the canonization ceremony together."

The imperial concubine was stunned, and tears gradually welled up in her eyes.

Zhao Yuancheng laughed, "What's wrong? Are you so happy that you even forgot to thank me?"

The imperial concubine woke up from her dream, quickly stood up and knelt at Zhao Yuancheng's feet, saying in a trembling voice: "I thank the emperor for his grace."

Zhao Yuancheng reached out his hand to help her up, and said softly, "Xue'er, you entered the mansion at the age of seventeen. I still can't forget the way you looked when we first met. You must stay with me well. When Duanshu grows up, I will go with you to see her off to marriage."

The corners of the imperial concubine's mouth slowly lifted, and her eyes seemed to be soaked in honey. "Yes, I will always accompany the emperor."

——

"The Emperor did go to Fengqi Palace before attending court, but he looked normal when he came out. He didn't look angry at all. But Haining clearly saw Xia He being taken into Ci'an Palace last night. Could it be that Xia He didn't say anything?"

Lingyun looked a little worried, but Fu Qianyu didn't care. She held her forehead and said calmly, "It doesn't matter what Xia He said. What matters is what the Queen Mother thinks."

The master and servant were talking when Haining walked in with a serious expression and bowed, saying, "My Lady, Xiao Guizi's body has been found."

Fu Qianyu's expression tightened. "Where did you find it?"

"The lotus pond," Haining said in a deep voice, "There have been heavy rains these past few days, and the water level in the lotus pond has risen, washing Xiao Guizi's body up. I just took a look and saw a large bruise on the back of Xiao Guizi's neck. It's obvious that she was knocked unconscious before being thrown into the water."

Fu Qianyu closed her eyes solemnly, "It was me who killed him."

"Your Majesty, please don't think so. The only one to blame is the Queen. It was her evil intentions that led to Xiao Guizi's tragic death."

The room was completely silent. Fu Qianyu asked solemnly, "Is there anyone else at Xiao Guizi's house?"

Haining replied, "Xiao Guizi is an orphan. Her family died a long time ago."

"Got it." Fu Xiyu instructed Lingyun, "Take fifty taels of silver to the fire scene and ask the steward to choose a good feng shui site for Xiao Guizi and bury her properly."

"I've made note of this."

Not long after, Baozan came in to report, "Your Majesty, word has come from the Purple Palace that the Emperor has promoted Noble Consort to Imperial Noble Consort, and the canonization ceremony will take place on August 15th."

Fu Qianyu's lips curled slightly, and Lingyun clapped her hands happily: "The Imperial Noble Consort has the same rank as the Vice Empress. The Emperor promoted her to the rank of Noble Consort at this critical juncture. It's obvious that he's trying to please the Empress."

Peirong said happily, "In this way, the Queen's position has been sidelined. This is really retribution."

Fu Qianyu instructed Baozan, "Go to the storehouse and pick out some things to send to Yongfu Palace. Tell them that you'll go in person to congratulate me when I'm feeling better."

"Hey, I'll go right away."

As soon as the news that the noble concubine was promoted to imperial noble concubine came out, the harem was in an uproar.

Dajing had been established for a hundred years, and there had never been a queen in power, but she was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort. For a time, both the court and the harem were talking about it.

The most nervous family was the Su family.

Half of the censors in the court were students of Prime Minister Su. When the news got out, the censors wrote letters one after another to inquire about the reason indirectly.

Zhao Yuancheng replied with only six words: "The imperial concubine is very pleasing to my heart."

As a result, the ministers all kept silent.

Yes, although the Imperial Noble Consort has the same rank as the Vice Empress, she is not the Empress after all, and since the position has been established, it cannot be left vacant.

Compared with Concubine Yi, who has two sons, this imperial concubine is better off than Concubine Li.

After all, Concubine Li has no children.

Even if she became an imperial concubine, she wouldn't be much of a threat.

A few days later, the Queen Mother summoned Fu Qianyin into the palace, and told the outside world that Fu Qianyin understood Buddhism and that she was summoned into the palace to accompany her in worshiping Buddha.

But everyone in and outside the palace knew that Fu Qianyin almost had a miscarriage after becoming pregnant. The Queen Mother did this simply to ensure that the baby in Fu Qianyin's belly could be born safely.

Also entering the palace today was Princess Gong.

The Queen Mother sent Fu Qianyin to Huayang Palace, and then she closed the door and talked in private.

"How's your investigation going into Concubine Fu's near miscarriage?"

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