His Majesty's favorite son was born to Zhou Yunxin, so His Majesty would certainly not really hate her for the sake of his son.
She immediately knelt down, grabbed Emperor Mingxi's robe, and cried out, "Your Majesty, you cannot treat me like this!"
"It's a small matter that I've lost my rank, but think about His Highness the Ninth Prince. With a mother who has been demoted, where is his pride supposed to be?"
Emperor Mingxi really did consider it seriously. Just when Consort Zhou thought Emperor Mingxi would withdraw his decree, she heard Emperor Mingxi's words, which sounded like the low murmur of a demon.
He said, "If the Ninth Prince really wants a mother who is a concubine, then it would be better to let Consort Hui raise him."
"No, no, no, how could I give my child to Consort Hui..."
She was about to speak rudely, but considering her current situation and her rank as a concubine, she immediately changed her words, saying, "Consort Hui has her own children to raise, how could she have the energy to take care of His Highness the Ninth Prince?"
Consort Hui was her old rival. The two entered the palace in the same year and secretly fought each other many times in order to win the emperor's favor.
Giving your son to Consort Hui to raise is like sending a lamb to the slaughter.
“Then let Consort De raise her. She lost her child and now has no children of her own. She also damaged her health a couple of years ago, so it will be difficult for her to have children of her own again. It would be perfect for Ninth Prince to raise her.”
"No, no, no, Consort De... is not in good health, how can we let her work so hard for the Ninth Prince?"
The fact that Consort Zhou was more afraid of having the Ninth Prince raised by Consort De than by Consort Hui made her even more fearful.
Why Consort De was injured is unknown to others, but how could she, the one who did it, not know?
Consort De became pregnant six years ago. At that time, the Ninth Prince was His Majesty's youngest son and was not even a year old. How could she allow a newborn to be born at this time and share the Emperor's favor with her son?
She herself caused Consort De's miscarriage. Because the pregnancy was advanced and the medicine was too strong, Consort De not only miscarried but also damaged her health as a result.
Consort Zhou dared not gamble on whether Consort De knew that she was the one who had harmed her, nor could she afford to gamble. The Ninth Prince was the key to her turning the tide, and she had to keep him in her own hands.
"In that case, send the ninth prince there..."
"Your Majesty, I am the birth mother of the Ninth Prince. No one loves him more or can take better care of him than I do. Please allow me to take care of the child myself."
"Your Majesty, I dare not trouble the ladies of the harem. I thank you on behalf of Xiao Jiu for your kindness and compassion."
As she spoke, she respectfully knelt down and kowtowed to express her gratitude. This was the first time she had performed such a grand ceremony for Emperor Mingxi since giving birth to the Ninth Prince, when it was just the two of them.
While expressing her gratitude, she was thinking that she would ask the Ninth Prince to plead with His Majesty when she got back. Perhaps, for the sake of her son, there was still room for negotiation.
Zhou Yunxin had been favored for many years and never believed that Emperor Mingxi would suddenly be so heartless towards her that he would not care about any feelings for her.
She is only twenty-four years old this year, with a beautiful face, far from the age of fading beauty and late love.
She firmly believes that as long as her reputation stands, her empire will endure!
Besides, as long as His Majesty gives the approval, whether or not I deceive the Emperor is entirely up to him.
Seeing her kneeling, Emperor Mingxi didn't tell her to get up. Looking at her fearful and subservient appearance, a deep malice spread in his chest. He tried his best to suppress his emotions and said casually, "Your cousin has been arrested. Aren't you going to plead for him?"
"Cousin...cousin?"
Emperor Mingxi could tell from her expression that this vile woman hadn't remembered who the title referred to.
"Isn't Zhuo Fei your cousin? You've repeatedly pleaded with me to promote him!"
He lowered his eyelids and stared directly at her. "What, you've forgotten so quickly? Or do you not address each other like that in private?"
"You don't call me that in private?" This question exploded in Zhou Xianfei's mind, and the name "Brother Fei" inexplicably popped into her head!
Zhou Yunxin quickly shook her head, dismissing those two words and denying Emperor Mingxi's statement. She forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty, I usually address him as Deputy Commander Zhuo. This is in the palace, where we don't discuss kinship. I have always kept that in mind."
Emperor Mingxi nodded. "Consort Zhou does know the rules! Since you don't intend to plead for her, then go back!"
The word "rules" seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
"Your Majesty, I do not know what crime Vice Commander Zhuo has committed, Your Majesty..."
A cold glint flashed in Emperor Mingxi's eyes as he slowly uttered a sentence that terrified Zhou Yunxin.
He said, "I received a secret report that Zhuo Fei has been defiled in the harem and is plotting a rebellion. Whether this is true or not, I am still investigating. Consort Zhou, you are cousins, have you heard anything about this?"
Zhou Yunxin was trembling like a leaf, her face pale, and she could only shake her head vigorously, unable to utter a single word.
Emperor Mingxi: This is nothing! It's really too easily frightened!
This moment seems to have flipped some strange switch on Emperor Mingxi, and Zhou Yunxin is in for a lot of trouble in the future!
Soon, the news that Consort Xian had been demoted, stripped of her title, and confined to her quarters for her inappropriate behavior in front of the palace spread like wildfire throughout the Dayan Palace, reaching the ears of all the ladies-in-waiting in less than half an hour.
Upon hearing this, Consort Hui exclaimed "Good!" three times and ate an extra bowl of rice at lunch.
Upon hearing the news, Consort De quietly lit incense before the Buddha. However, in solitude, a single tear silently rolled down her red, hate-filled eyes.
He silently thought to himself, 'Zhou Yunxin, I never thought you'd end up like this. Not enough, this isn't enough. How can this punishment atone for the sins you've committed against me and my son?'
That was a fully formed male fetus. She failed to protect the child, and that bitch Zhou Yunxin succeeded. She watched helplessly as the child was lost from her womb.
Why should she be the only one to suffer such heart-wrenching pain of losing her child?
Zhou Yunxin, everything you have done to me, I, Bai Huiyin, will repay you tenfold or a hundredfold!
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