Hearing Helian Jue ask this, Qin Yanning chuckled and reached out to gently twist the soft flesh on Helian Jue's waist.

"Your Majesty always teases Ning'er. What woman in this world would want to share her husband with someone else?"

After spending more than a month together, Qin Yanning had already figured out Helian Jue's preferences. Even though he was the emperor, he was still a man after all.

What he needed most was Qin Yanning's dependence on him.

Moreover, Qin Yanning really didn't want any new concubines to enter the harem. After a while, she could announce her pregnancy. By then, there would be too many people in the harem, which would be troublesome.

Hearing Qin Yanning say this, Helian Jue suddenly felt relieved. He knew that his Ning'er cared about him.

Seeing Helian Jue like this, Qin Yanning couldn't help but want to tease him.

She asked distressedly, "Although Ning'er doesn't want His Majesty to hold another beauty pageant, if Ning'er can't conceive a child for His Majesty, wouldn't that disappoint His Majesty and the Empress Dowager again?"

Talking about the issue of offspring, Helian Jue couldn't help but sigh. He knew that although he was unwilling, deep down he had already given up.

He held Qin Yanning's hand and whispered, "I no longer hold out any hope. If Ning'er can give birth to my child, I will immediately make her my queen."

"If that's not possible, in a few years I will adopt a son from a side branch of the royal family and raise him myself, but I will definitely not adopt the youngest son of Prince Liang!"

"Perhaps, this is the price I paid for stirring up trouble and ascending to the throne ten years ago..."

The arrogant emperor rarely showed his inner vulnerability at this moment.

Qin Yanning held Helian Jue's hand with his backhand, snuggled in his arms, and stopped talking.

But she was thinking in her heart that if Helian Jue knew that she was pregnant, she didn't know how happy he would be.

It is now March, and in another month, she will be able to tell Helian Jue the good news.

*

Inside the Jianing Palace, Concubine Shu was crying as she looked at the haggard Madam Wan in front of her.

She knew that whether Wan Bao was severely punished and exiled to Mobei, or she was stripped of her title of imperial concubine, these two things had caused great harm to Madam Wan.

If she hadn't been so ill, she would still be under house arrest, and her mother wouldn't have had the chance to come to the palace to see her.

Shufei couldn't help but sigh. After not seeing her mother for just a few months, her mother's hair had become full of white.

Madam Wan held Concubine Shu's hand tightly, wiped her tears, and her eyes were filled with strong hatred.

"Shu'er, you must avenge your brother!"

Wan Yunshu was the maiden name of Concubine Shu before she entered the palace, but this name was rarely mentioned since she entered the palace.

When Concubine Shu heard Madam Wan say this, she also revealed an embarrassment. She said, "Mother, my brother offended His Majesty. I am now His Majesty's concubine. How do you want me to avenge him?"

Madam Wan looked at Concubine Shu and said, "Your father has already sent people to investigate. Do you know where this little bitch that His Majesty has been doting on recently came from?"

Concubine Shu shook her head. She was punished with house arrest after meeting Qin Yanning only once, and then she fell ill because of her brother's affairs. She had no time to check her background.

"That little bitch's father was originally the head of our family's farm. The farm he rented was the farm your brother accompanied His Majesty to inspect!"

When Concubine Shu heard Madam Wan say this, she couldn't help but widen her eyes. It turned out that His Majesty met Concubine Ning at the Wan family's farm!

If she had known this, she would not have objected to His Majesty and her brother going to patrol the fields to relax!

Madam Wan didn't notice the regret in Concubine Shu's eyes and continued, "You and Mother both know your brother's character. Although he's a bit of a scoundrel, he would never take the initiative to offend Your Majesty."

"What does mother mean?"

Concubine Shu looked at Madam Wan and had a strange guess in her mind. The next second, Madam Wan confirmed her guess.

"Although His Majesty handled the matter cleanly, the steward who accompanied your brother to the farm that day was also killed by His Majesty."

"But both your mother and your father guessed that your brother must have fallen for that little bitch, and that's why he offended His Majesty."

Concubine Shu felt her eyes go dark. That bitch from Tingyuxuan! It wasn't enough to harm her, she also wanted to harm her brother!

Concubine Shu calmed down her anger and said, "Mother, I know what you mean. Regardless of whether it was that bitch who killed my brother, I will get rid of her!"

"Your Majesty dotes on her now, and if she is still involved in my brother's affairs, then as long as she is alive, I will never be able to regain my favor."

Madam Wan patted Concubine Shu's hand and said comfortingly, "My son, it's good that you know you have a plan in mind for this matter. As for getting rid of her, we need to think about it carefully."

"Mother can no longer rely on your brother. You must not make any more mistakes, my son."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu obediently lay on Madam Wan's lap and said, "Mother, I understand. Don't worry."

Although she said this, Concubine Shu had an idea in her mind.

She has been in the palace for so many years, and the chess pieces she laid out are finally put to use.

However, His Majesty now stays in Tingyu Pavilion every night, so she cannot act rashly.

The ninth day of the fourth month is the day for praying for spring planting. Your Majesty will go to Wangshan outside Beijing to offer sacrifices and pray for a good harvest this year. This sacrifice will take a day and a night.

Moreover, all those who participate in the sacrifice must be men. Even if Your Majesty favors that little bitch Ting Yuxuan, he cannot violate the rules left by his ancestors.

And that would be the best time for her to take action.

Helian Jue was unaware of Concubine Shu's plan. He was planning to take Qin Yanning out of the palace in disguise to relax after the blessing day on April 9th.

After all, he still remembered the tears that welled up in Qin Yanning's eyes when she heard that he was going to pray alone.

He knew that his Ning'er could not live without him for a single day.

If Qin Yanning knew what Helian Jue was thinking, she would definitely tell him that she just had a small fly in her eye that day!

As a calm emperor, could Helian Jue not be so narcissistic?

On the ninth day of the fourth month, before dawn, Helian Jue changed into court robes. Because they were worn on the day of praying for blessings, these court robes were more complicated and intricate than the ones Helian Jue wore when he attended court in the past.

Helian Jue ignored the skillful eunuch Wang and insisted that Qin Yanning put on the clothes for him. It took him half an hour to put on the clothes.

Qin Yanning was so angry that he touched Helian Jue's abdominal muscles several times as a reward.

How could she know that this was exactly what Helian Jue wanted.

After changing into court robes, Helian Jue was afraid of missing the auspicious time for praying, so he didn't delay any longer. He swiftly mounted his horse and led the mighty imperial guards towards Wangshan.

As soon as Helian Jue left the palace, Baolian sneaked out of Concubine Shu's palace.