Emperor Hui did not return to the palace last night.

Where did he go?

Shen Wangshu had not expected such a situation and stopped in her tracks. She waved for the palace maids to disperse and listened attentively.

Consort He's sobs had become uncontrollable, clearly indicating that she was extremely heartbroken.

She suffered such humiliation yesterday that she became a laughingstock among the concubines and palace servants. Despite the disgrace, Emperor Hui angrily went to the concubine who had acted as a shield to demand justice. However, in the blink of an eye, no one knew what the concubine had said, but the imperial edict of demotion had already been announced to the palace.

This was an imperial edict of demotion personally issued by the emperor, revealing his obvious disdain for her. Not only were her confidants in the palace in a state of panic, but even the palace servants had changed their tune. Not to mention anything else, this morning alone, three or four concubines had brought people outside her palace to mock her for trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead.

Even the palace maids and eunuchs were no longer obedient. Today, she ordered someone to go to the imperial kitchen to ask for snacks, but all they got was a plate of pancakes.

Pancakes!

How could a dignified Consort He, a person as elegant as a flower, eat pancakes?

Without the emperor's favor, she couldn't survive in the palace. In the past, Emperor Hui always protected her openly and secretly, but for some reason, he has been neglecting her lately and would often be absent-minded.

He started mentioning the Imperial Concubine more often.

Now, even though he knows she is hurt and heartbroken and needs comfort and his pity, he is not in a hurry. He arrived at her palace in the early morning, mumbled something about a noble consort, and then went to bed. After that, he hurriedly went to court.

He was so exhausted, yet he still carried the alluring scent of a woman's perfume, clearly indicating he had been intimate with someone else. How could she possibly bear it?!

What's even more heartbreaking is that he never explained to her why he had taken away her title as a concubine until he left.

Consort He dared not weep in her own palace, fearing that if the servants in the palace saw her, they would take her even less seriously, so she had no choice but to hide behind the artificial hill.

Seeing the worried look in the eyes of the trusted maid she had brought from her home to the palace, she choked out in a low voice, "His Majesty has changed. He, he..." Thinking of the beautiful and captivating face of the Imperial Concubine, she felt an extreme panic rise in her heart. She reached out and grabbed the maid's arm, asking tremblingly, "Has he really fallen in love with her?" Otherwise, why would he listen to the Imperial Concubine so much?

He said he would protect her and set her up as a target. She was touched by his intentions, but she didn't feel happy.

Which woman doesn't want to be openly and honestly loved by her husband and to show off that love to others?

Although the Imperial Concubine was a target, she genuinely enjoyed the Emperor's favor and affection!

And who is she anyway?

Despite having the Emperor's favor, no one knew it. In everyone's eyes, she was just a powerless, disfavored concubine who could be humiliated even by a palace eunuch. What use was the Emperor's favor to her?

She could have lived a life of great prestige and freedom, like a noble consort, but she could only suppress her desires and plan for the long term. The emperor always told her to wait, to wait, but how long was that? Until she grew old and her beauty faded, until he fell in love with someone else?! Consort He was already filled with fear, and now, having been demoted, she was like a frightened bird.

She was only worried that Emperor Hui might really change his mind, so she turned around and left, leaving her with nothing but loss and money.

She had neither the favor she was expected to receive in public, nor the loving man she had found.

"Your Highness, don't panic. What doubts do you have about His Majesty's feelings for you?" The maid saw Consort He's panic and, though she herself had some doubts about Emperor Hui, she tried her best to comfort her.

To be honest, the most beautiful concubine in the harem was clearly not comparable to the plain and simple He Pin.

However, there's a saying that goes, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Emperor Hui probably just liked girls like Consort He who were simple and unassuming.

"But why did he stay overnight in the Consort's palace yesterday?!" The maid asked, but she didn't know either. However, Consort He nervously grabbed the maid's arm, looking like she wanted to know the answer.

She tossed and turned all night yesterday, unable to sleep. This morning, upon seeing Emperor Hui, she couldn't help but wonder if he had been intimate with Consort Gui yesterday. Every time she thought about it, her heart ached unbearably, and she even began to hate Emperor Hui. Gritting her teeth, she coldly laughed through her tears and said, "He is the emperor, the Son of Heaven! Of course, he can favor whomever he wants! But what is Consort Gui so smug about? She is just a target!"

The imperial concubine was unaware of this and was still quite pleased with herself.

There are times when she cries!

"That's right," the girl quickly said with a forced smile.

"If she falls into my hands in the future, I will make her wish she were dead, and make her taste my bitterness!" Consort He naturally didn't want the Imperial Concubine to be her target, enduring countless schemes and plots in the palace and the Regent's disgust, who was the most miserable one. She just gritted her teeth and cursed for a while before lowering her voice to ask, "Did you buy the arsenic that I told you to secretly bring in from outside the palace?"

She twisted her handkerchief and murmured, "I can't wait any longer! As long as he's alive, His Majesty can't indulge in my affections. I must..."

“This is a matter of great importance; that is the Regent. If His Majesty fails, I’m afraid we’re doomed,” the girl said, nodding softly.

"What's there to be afraid of? One cup of poison, and even if he's the regent, he won't be able to turn things around!"

Emperor Hui had long hated the Regent. She was the Emperor's true love and naturally knew all his secrets. She also knew that Emperor Hui wanted to poison the Regent.

Even the highly poisonous arsenic was secretly purchased from outside the palace by her trusted maid, at Emperor Hui's behest.

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