"Your Majesty, please don't say that. Everyone knows that you are the most beautiful woman in the palace and of noble status. How could you fall out of favor?"
"Your Majesty hasn't come to the Empress's place, but he hasn't been to the Empress's either, let alone the other concubines. Your Majesty is simply too busy with government affairs to take care of the harem. When Your Majesty is done with his work, he will naturally think of the Empress."
"Your Majesty, it's time to take your medicine. When His Majesty comes next time, Your Majesty will definitely be able to have a boy!"
Pomegranate was not originally called Pomegranate, but Concubine Liu thought that pomegranate had a good meaning, symbolizing many children and good fortune, so she changed her name.
The entire Changchun Palace was hoping that Concubine Liu would be pregnant, and no one dared to reveal the truth.
Concubine Liu frowned and drank a large bowl of bitter medicine. Her stomach was churning and she almost vomited.
Only after holding the sweet and sour plum in her mouth did Concubine Liu feel a little better.
"You're right. I've been enjoying sour food lately. I'm sure I'll be able to conceive a prince."
"This medicine tastes good to me. I feel a warm sensation in my lower abdomen. It must be effective. It's just that Your Majesty hasn't come for a long time, so I haven't been able to conceive."
A humble eunuch came in and handed Concubine Liu a note.
After seeing this, Concubine Liu burned it all up with fire and paced around the room anxiously.
"I knew Your Majesty was in great shape and vigor, so it's impossible for him not to eat meat. I actually found out!"
"Your Majesty has been leaving the palace frequently lately, always in the middle of the night, and his whereabouts are unknown. He must be hiding someone outside the palace! She's truly a vixen! I must find her and tear her into pieces!"
Concubine Liu was so angry that her teeth were itching. She wanted to tear all the emperor's women to pieces, and it would be best if only she was left.
She is of noble status, and only she is worthy of giving birth to an heir and inheriting the throne of the Great Zhao Kingdom!
Early the next morning, Concubine Liu dressed up and went to pay her respects to the empress dowager.
The Empress Dowager liked quietness, so she only allowed concubines to pay their respects to her on the first and fifteenth day of every lunar month. Those of lower rank were not even qualified to see the Empress Dowager.
Concubine Liu was radiant, with no trace of her decadent look from yesterday. She and the Queen sat on either side, while the other concubines could only stand and serve.
"I am also tired. You all should go down. The Queen is the most filial. Please stay and talk with me."
Everyone tactfully took their leave. Everyone knew that the Queen was the Queen Mother's niece, and it was impossible for them to steal the Queen's limelight.
Concubine Liu sat still, "I also want to show my filial piety. The Empress Dowager will not deny me this opportunity, right?"
A hint of disgust flashed across the empress dowager's eyes, but she hid it very well. If it weren't for Concubine Liu's cruelty, her niece wouldn't have ended up bedridden.
"Then let them all stay. I know that Concubine Liu is filial."
Concubine Liu said, "It is said that there are three kinds of unfilial behavior, and the worst is to have no descendants. If I could give birth to a grandson for the Empress Dowager, it would be the greatest filial piety I can show."
"It's just that Your Majesty hasn't come to the harem for a long time. I am powerless to do anything. Please, Queen Mother, persuade Your Majesty. While the country is important, you can't ignore your offspring."
This was not the first time that Concubine Liu had said this. She was once the only concubine who was pregnant. Although the Empress Dowager hated her, for the sake of her offspring, she could only persuade the Emperor to go to Changchun Palace more often.
But things are different now. Ji Yunhuan is already pregnant, and the empress dowager doesn't want to give face to Concubine Liu anymore.
"Speaking of this, I'd like to ask Concubine Liu, you command the six palaces, but you can't keep His Majesty here. This shows that you are incompetent!"
"You are also an old man in the palace. I am not punishing you because I am giving you face. Fortunately, a new person will be entering the palace soon. When the time comes, His Majesty will naturally come to the harem, and Concubine Liu will not have to worry about it."
The Queen covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes curved with laughter. "Aunt, you are right. The palace will be bustling with activity then."
"Knowing that you enjoy lively occasions, I am planning to hold a Hundred Flowers Banquet, not only to enrich the harem, but also to show off to the royal family members."
"Aunt is wise. Just looking at a portrait won't reveal the true nature of the person. It's better to see him in person so that we can choose the lucky one to continue the royal family line."
The two of them sang in unison. Concubine Liu was so angry that she clenched the silk handkerchief in her hand and didn't even notice that her bright red nails were broken.
The Empress herself is out of favor, so she tries to find someone to share her favor, thinking that bringing in a new person will help? The Emperor will only be interested in her for two or three days, and will eventually come to Changchun Palace.
After all, she is the only one who has the best hope of conceiving a dragon heir.
When she gets pregnant, the first thing she'll do is kill the queen! The queen's position should have been hers!
******
In the blink of an eye, it was time for the Hundred Flowers Banquet.
The Empress Dowager imitated folk practices and sent flower invitations to many mansions, and the Ji Mansion also received an invitation.
Before dawn that day, Ji Yonglian got up and dressed up. She changed more than ten sets of clothes, and her head ornaments and jewelry filled the entire dressing table, but she was still not satisfied.
The maids and old women in the courtyard were ordered around by her, and they even ran to Xiuzhuyuan to ask for things.
Ji Yunhuan was still asleep, so Nanny Yan took the initiative to send the people out. A concubine's daughter actually had the audacity to ask for her eldest sister's jewelry. How rude!
It was not until they were about to set off that Taohong woke up the young lady.
Ji Yunhuan was sleepy and hadn't gotten up so early in a long time. He was so sleepy that he closed his eyes and let Taohong serve him.
Nanny Yan couldn't help but smile. "If Your Majesty is tired and doesn't want to go to the Hundred Flowers Banquet, the Empress Dowager won't blame you."
Ji Yunhuan shook his head. "The Empress Dowager deliberately invited many daughters of minor officials just to get the invitation to the Ji family without leaving any trace. If the Empress Dowager wants to see me, I will go no matter how tired I am."
Nanny Yan was even more satisfied, "Your Majesty is indeed smart."
Two carriages stopped at the gate of Ji Mansion.
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