Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Consort Zhao knelt on the ground, trembling like a sieve.

"Your Majesty, I did not mean to steal Physician Chang's prescription!"

"Your Majesty, I only wish to share your burdens!"

"Putting aside the mistakes I have made, I just want the plague in the palace to be eradicated as soon as possible!"

Ye Ling sat on the dragon throne, feeling only disgust towards Zhao Haiyan!

"What do you mean by ignoring the facts?! Do you want me to be a foolish and incompetent ruler who can't distinguish right from wrong?!"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty—"

Zhao Haiyan didn't know how to respond!

"Let me speak for you!"

"You've done all this just to win favor!"

"I want your status in this harem to be higher than it is now! Ideally, higher than Consort Xu, and you should sit on the throne of Empress!"

"No! Your Majesty! I have never dared to hope for the position of Empress!"

"You say you don't dare to hope for it, but your actions tell a different story!"

"The smile on your lips on the day the former empress was buried was so intense that even a giant cauldron couldn't suppress it!"

"You don't even want to pretend!"

"Your Majesty, I beg you to punish me."

That's what Consort Zhao said.

But deep down, they were completely unrestrained.

Her father was Zhao Jing, the Admiral of the Water Gate.

Zhao Jing was in charge of the entire Yuan Dynasty's navy.

It can be said that he was on par with Xu Qingshan.

Even so.

Ye Ling had two different attitudes towards Xu Qingshan and Zhao Jing.

They also commanded a large army.

Xu Qingshan, however, was not feared by the emperor for his military power; instead, he was granted an imperial sword and a decree granting him immunity from death.

However, he frequently inquired about Zhao Jing's movements, fearing that one day Zhao Jing might suddenly raise an army in rebellion!

In addition, Xu Qingzhi has always been one step ahead of Consort Zhao in the palace.

When Consort Zhao was a Jieyu (a concubine rank).

Xu Qingzhi is already a Zhaoyi (a high-ranking concubine).

When Consort Zhao climbs to the rank of Consort!

Xu Qingzhi is already a Noble Consort!

Now, Xu Qingzhi is even equivalent to an empress.

Although she did not have the title of Empress.

But she was doing the work of an empress.

It seems that Xu Qingzhi will be the next empress.

In addition, Xu Qingzhi had four princes supporting her.

Xu Qingzhi can be described as extremely successful.

But what does Zhao Haiyan have?

He had no children.

He lacked the emperor's favor.

She lacked the love and care of her mother-in-law, the Empress Dowager.

There is no higher rank.

The father was not valued by the emperor.

They themselves are not valued.

However, the Xu family received special attention from the emperor.

How could Zhao Haiyan not feel resentful and jealous?

Zhao Haiyan had been holding back a lot of anger.

He wanted to soar to great heights and surpass Consort Xu!

It would also give the Zhao family face, just like Xu Qingshan did, by giving Zhao Jingmou a pardon and a sword.

The plan failed before it even began!

Zhao Haiyan hated Doctor Chang to death!

Useless thing!

Not only did they fail to help me, they also brought me to this predicament!

Now, all they can do is hope that their father will go to the palace to plead for them.

After Zhao Jing learned about Zhao Haiyan's situation in the palace...

He sighed helplessly.

"Oh, Haiyan, you'd better be more careful!"

Taking risks before you are 100% certain of something is a big no-no.

Zhao Haiyan, however, took a desperate gamble.

They thought they could keep pushing forward and make a big splash!

Unexpectedly, it fizzled out halfway through! It was forced to stop!

It's so short and weak!

"How could I have given birth to such a good-for-nothing daughter?"

Zhao Ge: "Father, my sister is also thinking about our Zhao family."

"But plans can't keep up with changes, and my sister didn't expect things to turn out this way."

"What do you know! No matter what her initial purpose was, if the final result is bad, then it will be detrimental to our Zhao family!"

"Father, the Emperor is surely furious! We must find a way to spare my sister from punishment!"

Zhao Jing frowned.

"I know His Majesty's thoughts all too well."

"If it's something like jealousy, the Emperor will just turn a blind eye and let it go."

“But this time it’s different. Haiyan took credit for someone else’s work, and besides, it wasn’t really a credit in the first place.”

"If the Emperor picks up and puts down lightly, and the punishment ends without any real pain, then both the court and the harem will have something to say about the Emperor."

"To protect his own reputation, His Majesty will surely punish Haiyan severely!"

Zhao Ge was a little nervous.

"In Father's opinion, what would be the most severe punishment?"

"The Emperor is violent and tyrannical. At best, Haiyan's rank will be reduced; at worst, she will be dragged out and chopped into mincemeat!"

Zhao Ge became even more nervous.

"Would the Emperor really be so heartless? My sister is his concubine!"

"Those who achieve great things can even kill their closest relatives, let alone a mere concubine!"

"Moreover, your sister's rank as a concubine was only granted to her by the Emperor because I am the Admiral of the Water Gate and in charge of the Yuan Dynasty's navy!"

"Otherwise, with Haiyan's brains, she would only be a concubine in the harem, and she wouldn't even last a day in the competition for favor!"

"master!"

Suddenly.

The butler came in.

"The Emperor summons you to the palace."

Zhao Jing frowned.

Why has the Emperor summoned me to the palace at this time?

Zhao Ge: "Is it related to Haiyan's matter?"

Zhao Jing shook his head.

"If the Emperor forgives Haiyan because of me, then there is no need to summon me to the palace. He can simply resolve this matter according to his own wishes."

"Now that I've been summoned to the palace, things seem more serious!"

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