That night, Gu Heng stayed at Jing'an Palace. Apart from Jiang Yu, no one knew what Consort An had done. All they knew was that at the morning court the next day, Gu Heng directly issued an edict to demote Consort Rong to Concubine Rong.

Consort Rong only realized that the matter was already settled after Cen Hai announced the imperial decree with a smile.

"How could this be? How could His Majesty possibly demote me to the rank of Consort?" Consort Rong looked at the imperial edict in Cen Hai's hand in disbelief. "I don't believe it. You must be deceiving me."

“Your Majesty, how could a mere eunuch dare to forge an imperial edict?” Cen Hai showed no sympathy for Consort Rong. He had clearly heard her words, “This is outrageous!” “Your Majesty, please accept the edict quickly.”

"I need to see the Emperor. I need to find out exactly what happened."

Consort Rong felt a great sense of panic. When she was demoted from Noble Consort to Consort, it was a temporary measure that the Emperor had agreed to in advance. This time, however, the Emperor did not even give her a heads-up before the demotion.

Knowing the truth of what happened back then, Cen Hai dared not underestimate Consort Rong and became even more respectful. "Your Majesty, His Majesty's intention is for you to stay in Lingxi Palace for the next month to avoid trouble."

Does this mean she should be confined to her home?

Consort Rong looked at Cen Hai in disbelief, only to see Cen Hai continue, "I'm afraid the princes and princesses won't be able to come to Your Highness's place anytime soon."

Cen Hai left with his men, and the gates of Lingxi Palace were closed. Consort Rong suddenly laughed. So this is what it means to serve a king like a tiger?

Outside the Dragon and Phoenix Hall.

"Yao'er." A familiar voice rang out, but Gu Qingyao quickened her pace.

“You’re avoiding your elder brother like the plague now, huh?” Gu Qingling grabbed Gu Qingyao’s arm and nodded to Granny Qian behind Gu Qingyao, but Granny Qian didn’t move. Gu Qingling’s face suddenly darkened.

"Granny Qian, I have something to say to my elder brother. You should go to the art studio first." After receiving Gu Qingyao's instructions, Granny Qian bowed and took her leave.

Gu Qingling narrowed his eyes and looked at Gu Qingyao in front of him. After not seeing her for a few days, his sister seemed to have become a different person.

"Although we were born to different mothers, we are both still Father's children." Gu Qingling rarely showed any patience. "What good will it do you to make everyone outside the palace say that Consort Rong is a wicked concubine who brought ruin to the country? She is, after all, your..."

"Since elder brother is the Empress Dowager's child, why is he speaking up for Consort Rong?"

Gu Qingyao found it extremely ironic. "She's already Consort Rong, doesn't your elder brother think it's beneath him to still call her 'Mother Consort'?"

Gu Qingling's expression stiffened. He would naturally no longer address Consort Rong as "Mother Consort" in front of outsiders.

"Brother, you should put away your pitiful pity. If Consort Rong were to infringe upon your interests, I'm afraid you would treat her the same way you treated me back then, wouldn't you?"

Gu Qingyao forcefully shook off Gu Qingling's hand, and even took out a handkerchief to wipe the places that Gu Qingling had touched.

"You despise me?" Gu Qingling felt as if his heart was being squeezed. How could Gu Qingyao look at him like that?

"I just want to ask, when I was imprisoned in the dark dungeon, did you care whether I lived or died?"

Seeing that Gu Qingling couldn't answer, Gu Qingyao nodded knowingly and turned to leave.

Not only did she despise her, she also wanted to kill Gu Qingling.

......

When Consort Rong lost power, just when everyone thought Jiang Yu would take this opportunity to win over the princes and princesses, Jiang Yu directly handed Gu Qingyao over to Consort An.

"Your Majesty, I...I truly do not possess such ability..."

[Look at Consort An, she's truly a promising talent, never disappointing me from beginning to end.]

Jiang Yu laughed and kicked Gu Qingyao away like a ball. "Sister Anfei is the most quiet and gentle. I think she and the princess are a perfect match, one active and one quiet. I just hope the princess can calm down."

"If I hadn't been feeling unwell, I wouldn't have..."

The handkerchief soaked in chili water touched her eyes, immediately causing Jiang Yu to shed a few tears.

"Then I will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust."

Gu Heng had assumed that Consort An would be unable to tolerate Gu Qingyao's temperament and would soon beg him to make a decision for her, but the result was quite unexpected.

Although Gu Qingyao still frequently lost her temper with Consort An, Consort An patiently taught Gu Qingyao how to treat others, and Gu Qingyao underwent a tremendous change in a very short period of time.

"Your Highness Consort An, Father Emperor will come to visit you again tonight."

With no one else around, Consort An and Gu Qingyao both dropped their pretenses.

"I must thank the princess." Consort An knew that the current favor was bestowed by Jiang Yu and Gu Qingyao, so she naturally dared not overstep her bounds in the slightest.

"As long as you continue to help my mother, I will cooperate with you. But if you betray my mother, I will risk my life to drag your whole family to hell."

Almost instantly, Gu Qingyao returned to her usual self and swaggered out of Jing'an Palace.

Only Consort An remained, clutching her chest in lingering fear, unable to recover for a long time.

......

Now that Consort Rong has lost favor and Gu Heng has begun to favor other women, all that's left is to ignite the final spark. It's time to bring up what happened at the autumn hunt that year.

Inside Zhaoning Palace, Jiang Yu looked at the chessboard in front of her, and she was extremely cautious with each move she made.

Although Consort Rong was anxious, she knew that Gu Heng would remember the life-saving grace he had shown her years ago, and that she would eventually have her chance to turn things around. Therefore, even if Gu Qingling and the other two didn't go to Lingxi Palace again, Consort Rong wasn't afraid.

But what if Gu Heng knew the truth about what happened back then?

A black piece landed on the chessboard, unleashing a fierce and bloody battle throughout the game.

She really wanted to know how to continue to keep the truth of what happened back then when Gu Heng and Consort Rong completely broke off their relationship.

It wasn't until early May that Consort Yi received good news about her pregnancy.

After hearing Ling Mama's report, Jiang Yu sat down in front of the dressing table and stared at herself in the bronze mirror. The time had come.

A stream of gifts was sent to Jinwu Palace, and Noble Lady Yi was promoted to Consort Yi, becoming equal to Consort Rong. Consort Rong was also five months pregnant.

Thus, during the daily morning and evening greetings, Jiang Yu, for the first time ever, mentioned the autumn hunt.

"This year has been blessed with favorable weather, and the Crown Prince and the Second Prince have both turned ten. They are both diligently practicing martial arts. I am thinking of having His Majesty take them on an autumn hunt when the weather is clear and crisp."

Consort Rong's face immediately turned ugly. Since the assassination attempt, Gu Heng had never held an autumn hunt since ascending the throne.

“Your Majesty is right. His Highness the Crown Prince and the Second Prince are at a stage where they need more experience. Only with more experience can His Majesty put his mind at ease in the future.” Consort Yi now spoke with more confidence, deliberately poking at Consort Rong’s weak points.

“That’s perfect. I went on an autumn hunt before I entered the palace. Back then, Your Majesty was still a prince.”

Jiang Yu smiled broadly as she watched Consort Rong tremble uncontrollably.