Mi Shan lowered her head: "I didn't mean to help anyone, I was just telling the truth."

"But I've heard that you guessed early on that Consort Qin was pregnant, so you told her to pretend to faint in order to avoid His Majesty's punishment?"

Who said that?

Mi Shan was taken aback, paused briefly, and then chose to play dumb.

"Consort Qin fainted because she was frightened by His Majesty's words, what does that have to do with me?"

"Why don't Your Majesty summon that person out so I can confront her face to face?"

Mi Shan thought about it and realized that only Qin Miaomiao and Murong Wan knew about this.

Qin Miaomiao had no reason to do that.

Murong Wan might be a possibility, but without any evidence, Mi Shan wouldn't be afraid even if confronted by her.

Even if she did it, the Empress wouldn't punish her for it; at most, it would just expose the truth.

Empress Rouci smiled and let the matter drop, presumably she was just being tricked.

"Since that's the case, then so be it. However, I must advise you: in the future, do not meddle in matters that are not your concern. I am in charge of the six palaces, and if you repeatedly do this, you are overstepping your authority. Do you know what the punishment is for overstepping your authority?"

"Your Majesty, I have never had any intention of overstepping my bounds. Please do not frighten me."

"You child, you're so easily frightened."

Seeing Mi Shan's frightened expression and her immediate attempt to kneel, the cold glint in Empress Rouci's eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by her former gentle demeanor, like a spring breeze. "I was merely reminding you of something; why would I punish you without cause? By the way, I have another matter to discuss with you."

"During the poetry contest today, His Majesty specifically praised your talent, and I also greatly admire you."

"Therefore, the Emperor mentioned that a poetry gathering will be held tomorrow afternoon in the Luoxia Palace, where we can also enjoy the sunset together with the ladies of the harem."

"Let Consort Mi handle this matter entirely."

Mi Shan remained silent.

She knew that the Empress was dissatisfied with her and was deliberately making things difficult for her.

She was given only one day to organize a poetry gathering that involved all the concubines in the harem and even the Emperor.

If there is even the slightest mishap, trouble will definitely fall on her head.

But the imperial edict was hard to disobey.

He could only nod in agreement.

As she was about to leave, Empress Rouci called her back again: "You're going to check out the site of Luoxia Palace later, aren't you? I've taken out some treasured books and wanted to move them there, but I'm worried that the palace servants might be clumsy and damage them, and I'd be heartbroken if they did..."

"How about I trouble Consort Mi to make a couple of trips and help me move it over there?"

"..."

Mi Shan had no right to say no.

Granny Shen was already waiting to the side and led her to the pile of treasured books.

The stacks were as high as a small mountain, and each book was thick and heavy.

According to the Empress, no one else was allowed to interfere; Mi Shan had to do it herself, and she had to make sure the object wasn't bumped or dirtied.

"Consort Mi, hurry up and move them. This old servant would like to help you, but unfortunately Her Majesty the Empress treasures these books very much. This old servant can accompany you a few times."

It's less about accompanying and more about supervising.

Let's move then.

Mi Shan was never one to complain; moving a few books was nothing to worry about.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he stepped out, he bumped into a figure in pitch black. The person walked in the sunlight, his body extremely black, as if he could absorb the light.

Seeing Mi Shan struggling to carry the books out, Li Changyu's dark, cold eyes flickered.

"Your Highness, Consort Zhaoyi greets you. Please make way."

"Is Your Highness here to see Her Majesty the Empress?"

"Otherwise what? Why would I look for you?" Li Changyu glanced coldly at Granny Chen, showing no intention of moving aside, but instead deliberately bumped into Mi Shan's side.

It knocked the books in her arms to the ground.

"Oh, Your Highness, what should we do? Consort Zhao, if these books are damaged, the Empress will punish us, and we can't afford to bear the consequences."

Granny Shen spoke up.

Mi Shan frowned, but before she could reply, she heard a cold voice beside her.

"What does it have to do with her? I'm the one who knocked these books down. If you want to punish someone, let the Empress punish me." After Li Changyu finished speaking, he stepped on one of the books with force, stomping on the hand that Granny Shen had just reached out to pick it up.

"Your Highness, spare me! Please release this old servant! You've broken my hands!"

Granny Shen hurriedly prostrated herself and begged for mercy. Li Changyu snorted coldly, stomped her foot a few times, and then moved it away.

"What's all this noise outside?"

Empress Rouci lifted the beaded curtain and came out with the help of palace maids.

"Consort Mi, I only asked you to move a few books, and you..."

Before he could finish speaking, he met Li Changyu's cold and indifferent face.

He stood tall, his feet planted on her books, his arrogant and haughty demeanor startling the Empress, a deep displeasure rising in her eyes.

"Your Highness, what are you doing?"

"Your Majesty, I accidentally knocked over your books. What should I do? I didn't mean to. I heard Your Majesty is moving books? How many are there? How about I help you move them as an apology?"

"When did I ask you to move things? What I want is Consort Mi!"

"Am I not even as high-ranking as Consort Mi?" Li Changyu slowly picked up a book from the ground, flipped through it casually, and let out a cold sneer. "That's right, Mother, I've never caught your eye. It's one thing to be inferior to my elder brother, but I'm not even as good as a concubine—"

"shut up!"

Empress Rouci spoke sharply, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes, and a complex mix of hatred and resentment briefly crossed her face.

Mi Shan stood blankly to the side, trying to figure out the relationship between the mother and son.

Then the Empress gave a deep order, her tone restrained and maintaining her composure: "Consort Mi, you will not be moving the books today. You may leave now."

"Didn't you hear me say 'leave'?"

Li Changyu gave her a cold look, then lowered his voice and spoke coldly in a tone only they could hear.

Mi Shan then realized that Li Changyu had deliberately helped her out of a predicament. Although she didn't understand why he would do this, she still curtsied, bid farewell to the Empress and the Crown Prince, and slowly left.