The Imperial Concubine summoned only those of the highest rank, so those below her rank naturally did not attend.

Consort Xiangxian said she was feeling unwell and didn't go. Consort Luo Wanyi and Consort Rong also refused to go, saying they weren't feeling well.

In the end, only Consort Mu was left, and naturally, she didn't go either.

So she called out for a long time, but no one gave her any face.

Consort Jing was very angry.

That's why people don't take her seriously.

Granny Lu's face was also unpleasant. Although she disagreed with the Imperial Concubine doing this, she felt that the women in the harem were becoming a bit arrogant if no one came.

"This is outrageous! None of them take me seriously anymore!" Consort Jing smashed two teacups in anger. "Go and invite them again!"

“Your Majesty,” sighed Granny Lu, “why do you do this? His Majesty has already said that there is no need to celebrate birthdays excessively before the age of thirty. In a few more days, the Empress should be well.”

Why argue about this now?

Everyone knows that Consort Jing hasn't even taken over the management of palace affairs, so even if she were to hold a birthday celebration, it would be illegitimate for her to make the decision.

In the end, the matter of Consort Jing could only be dropped.

However, this made the lower-ranking concubines in the harem realize the true status of Consort Jing.

It's really hard to explain in a few words.

In Fengxiang Palace, after listening to Su Jin's explanation, the Empress smiled faintly and said, "The people in the harem are not fools."

"yes."

"How is the investigation going?" the Empress asked.

"Your Majesty, we have searched for a long time... but found no clues." Su Jin knelt down.

"His Majesty bestowed titles upon everyone, but Luo Wanyi may have been forgotten. What about Consort Mu?" The Empress did not address her directly, but spoke calmly.

“That imperial physician is connected to Consort Mu, it must be because of this. Perhaps His Majesty has discovered something,” Su Jin said.

"Consort Mu sabotaged Consort Jing. Then why did He Bao do that?"

“I’ve been thinking lately that perhaps the Imperial Concubine also noticed something was wrong a long time ago. Although the Imperial Concubine… that Granny Lu is quite shrewd. Maybe it was all an act that day. Otherwise, how could she have found He Bao so quickly? She probably knew from the beginning, right?” Su Jin said.

"Tell me, what did Ning Jiaoyun do?" the Empress asked.

Ning Jiaoyun, of course, refers to the current Ning Wanrong.

“This…this servant cannot see it. But Consort Wanrong was only a Jieyu before, and she has never served His Majesty since entering the palace. What…could she do?” Su Jin said.

The Empress was silent for a moment, then said, "Get up."

Su Jin stood up.

"The eldest prince is out of the question. In the end, it is still my own child who will prevail. Tomorrow, I will go to His Majesty in person." She then knelt down.

Anyway, it's already like this.

Ultimately, it simply meant exempting everyone from paying their respects for a month.

The Empress neither confined the woman to her quarters nor punished her.

She used the excuse of feeling unwell, and that's it.

Although it hasn't been a month yet, it's time for them to get out and about.

The next day, the Empress knelt in the Beichen Palace.

She cried uncontrollably, abandoning all decorum.

"Your Majesty has ignored me these past few days, and my heart is breaking. I know I was wrong, please forgive me, Your Majesty. From now on, I will certainly be a good Empress, kind to my subjects and respectful to my superiors. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me this time."

Shu Chengfeng watched for a while, then got up and helped her up: "Jiaolan, you must know that we are husband and wife, childhood sweethearts. Our bond is extraordinary."

"I have always been satisfied with you. Back when I was not on good terms with my brothers, you distanced yourself from your own family for my sake, which moved me deeply. My relationship with you is different from that with other people."

"Even if I have a successor empress in the future, she will be different from the legitimate empress. You should understand this."

The Empress was stunned: "Yes, Your Majesty, I truly know I was wrong."

Your Majesty's words, ostensibly referring to marital affection, actually...

Your Majesty is saying that he tolerated the Ning family's unruly behavior back then.

If she really can't do a good job, it would be better to replace her with a new empress.

It was a blatant and direct attack.

"Alright, we are husband and wife, let's just let this matter rest. I still hope you can give birth to a legitimate son. However, although the eldest prince has been sent back, he has been with you for many years, so you still need to take care of him," Shu Chengfeng said.

"Yes, from now on, I will treat all the princes and princesses in the palace equally. I dare not say that I will treat them as my own children, but I will certainly do my best to fulfill the duties of a loving mother." The Empress knelt down again.

"Alright, there's no need to kneel anymore. Now that you're here, have a meal with me before you go back," said Shu Chengfeng.

The Empress agreed, thinking to herself that His Majesty was still unwilling to keep her to serve him in bed.

However, although he did not keep her to serve him in bed, His Majesty rewarded the Empress the next day.

This sends a clear signal to the harem: the empress is still the empress.

Actually, Yan Nangui may not know whether others understand, but she was the first to understand.

Ultimately, it's because the Empress has no children. If she had a child, even a princess, His Majesty wouldn't be so kind to her now.

He wanted a balance; if the Ye family's child came out first, it would mean that the illegitimate son was superior to the legitimate son.

There will be endless troubles ahead.

Unless neither of them has children.

But he couldn't give both of them sterilization drugs.

So even if you have to hold your nose, you still have to call her "Mr. Queen".

Thinking of this, Yan Nangui felt great sympathy for the emperor.

So he sent someone to deliver a pot of chrysanthemums to the emperor.

The golden chrysanthemums are in full bloom.

After receiving it, Shu Chengfeng was a little puzzled: "What did Consort Chen say?"

"Your Majesty...the Empress didn't say anything..." Shuanzi was in a difficult position.

"Tsk, what happened before you sent it? What was your empress doing? Why did she suddenly remember?" Shu Chengfeng was genuinely curious. The more he asked, the more curious he became.

"Well... I didn't do anything. I just... I had lunch, took a nap, and then delivered it when I woke up." Shuanzi was also puzzled.

Of course, he would never say that he had heard that the Empress had received a reward.

Shu Chengfeng clicked his tongue: "Go and tell your mistress that I'm going to see her tonight."

This woman is really something else. She brings flowers out of the blue and doesn't even explain why.

There's always a reason why other women send him things.

When you send chrysanthemums, couldn't you say something like, "May this emperor find peace of mind"?

Why must it be delivered without saying a word?

Shuanzi hurriedly agreed and withdrew.

They were stopped by Yun Ji.

"You little rascal, you've learned to be so cunning. What does your empress mean? Why won't she tell you, instead of making His Majesty anxious?" Yun Ji tapped Shuanzi on the forehead.

The hat was knocked askew.

Shuanzi quickly corrected himself: "No, Lord Yun, you really didn't say anything. As a servant, I wouldn't dare ask too many questions. If you had asked, how could I not have told you?"

"Tsk, your Zhaochun Palace is really wicked. And you're still tight-lipped." Yun Ji pouted.

"Hehe, it's only right that he kept his mouth shut, but that's a bit too wicked."

"Alright, go back now. Tell your mistress to prepare."