The sleeping hall of Zhilin Palace.
Ever since Zhao Yuancheng appointed the Liu family as the imperial merchant, Concubine Xi smashed all the furnishings in the house.
Qiancao was so frightened that she dared not go forward. She waited until Xi Zhaoyi had exhausted all her strength before she cautiously went forward to meet her.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Your health is more important."
Concubine Xi lay on the couch, breathing heavily. "With Liu's background, how could she be so powerful as to dominate me?"
Qiancao poured some warm water and advised, "Your Majesty, you'd better be more open-minded about everything. Don't you still have the Empress?"
"I'd like to be more open-minded, but my heart is burning like fire. I'm the daughter of a general, yet I'm being oppressed by a merchant's daughter. She clearly framed me, yet the Emperor promoted her and stripped the Liu family of their merchant status. This is a profound shame and humiliation."
"Your Majesty, the Emperor only favored the Liu family because of the border war. The Liu family also contributed to it. Ultimately, it was just to silence people. In terms of favor, who can compare to you? In the future, when you have children, not to mention the title of concubine, you can also be a noble concubine."
"child?"
Xi Zhaoyi's eyes were filled with tears. She reached out and touched her belly. After serving in the emperor's bed for so long, her belly was still empty.
Qiancao raised her hand to wipe away the tears from Xi Zhaoyi's face and continued to persuade her, "Your pregnancy-maintaining medicine was given by the Emperor himself. Even noble concubines like the Imperial Concubine and the Concubine Yi don't have it. In my opinion, you should forget about your grudges with the Concubine Yi and the Concubine Yue, take good care of yourself, and give birth to a prince. That's the right thing to do."
"Prince."
Speaking of children, hope rekindled in Xi Zhaoyi's eyes. "Yes, as long as I can give birth to a prince, what does her position as Concubine Yi matter?"
Seeing that Xi Zhaoyi was no longer stubborn, Qiancao slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Go and find out whose card the Emperor turned over tonight."
Speaking of this, a look of difficulty flashed across Qiancao's face. Xi Zhaoyi narrowed her eyes and asked, "Is it Yue Fei?"
"The Liu family is currently in favor, and Concubine Yue has a prince, so it's reasonable for the emperor to visit her."
Xi Zhaoyi took a deep breath and called someone in coldly, "Go to Qiulan Palace and tell them I'm not feeling well and ask the emperor to come and see me. If you can't get the emperor to come, you know the consequences."
The little palace maid was so frightened that she trembled all over. She knew that the emperor would not come, but she still went there anyway.
But unexpectedly, when Zhao Yuancheng heard that Concubine Xi was unwell, he immediately got dressed and got out of bed. The emperor did not come to Qiulan Palace until half a month later.
How could Concubine Yue let Zhao Yuancheng leave so easily?
"Your Majesty, the card you turned over tonight is mine."
Zhao Yuancheng reached out and patted Concubine Yue's shoulder, saying slowly, "I know, but Concubine Xi rarely cries out in pain. I'll go over and take a look, and come back to accompany you later."
Concubine Yue refused to comply. She reached out and tugged at Zhao Yuancheng's sleeve, pleading, "Your Majesty, Sister Xi is unwell. The imperial physician is taking care of her. It's freezing cold, and you still have to attend court tomorrow."
Zhao Yuancheng didn't say anything, just looked at Yue Fei quietly.
Although her eyes were full of smiles, Yue Fei shuddered inexplicably. She slowly let go of Zhao Yuancheng's hand and said in a gentle voice, "Then I will wait for you here."
Zhao Yuancheng raised his leg and left. Not long after, Yun'er walked in lightly.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor hasn't been here for a long time. How could you allow him to go to Zhilin Palace? After tonight, who knows how those people will laugh at us."
Yue Fei raised her eyes and glanced at Yun Er, saying unhappily, "Do you want me to tell you?"
After throwing off the quilt and getting out of bed, Concubine Yue walked to the corridor. She looked towards Zhilin Palace with cold eyes and said bitterly, "Xi Zhaoyi, I have been too lenient with you. You have a long time in the palace. We will see what happens."
Zhao Yuancheng intended to provoke a fight between Concubine Yue and Concubine Xi, so naturally he would not return to Qiulan Palace.
The next morning, Concubine Xi got up early and helped Zhao Yuancheng change his clothes.
"Since you are not feeling well, just take a rest. The servants will take care of you."
During the last night's passionate lovemaking, Xi Zhaoyi couldn't hide the unique charm between her brows. "The Emperor has abundant dragon energy, which is naturally better than any other medicine in the world."
Zhao Yuancheng put his arm around Xi Zhaoyi's waist and pulled her into his arms, clearly pleased by her words. "You're being hypocritical, but I did turn over Yue Fei's card last night. I'll go pay my respects to the Empress later. If she gives you a hard time, don't argue with her."
Xi Zhaoyi leaned in Zhao Yuancheng's arms and said softly, "As long as it is your order, I will do it."
Zhao Yuancheng patted Xi Zhaoyi's waist and smiled with satisfaction, "I like you most when you are obedient."
After being dressed neatly, Zhao Yuancheng strode out of Zhilin Palace.
Qiancao helped Xi Zhaoyi sit down, unable to conceal the pride in her eyes, "The Emperor cares about you more after all."
Xi Zhaoyi looked at herself in the mirror and raised her eyebrows proudly, "Who the hell is Yue Fei? How dare she compete with me for my favor?"
Qiancao replied casually, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. She is just a merchant's daughter. There is really no need to take her to heart."
"By the way, tell the kitchen to quickly boil the pregnancy medicine for me. I have to drink it right away when I come back from paying my respects to the Queen."
"Don't worry, Madam. I have already given the order early in the morning."
Xi Zhaoyi looked at the foggy sky outside the window and sighed, "The New Year is almost here. I hope that next year, I can have a smooth pregnancy with a prince."
"Your Majesty, if you are sincere and take the pregnancy medicine every day, you will definitely conceive an heir to the throne."
After washing up, Concubine Xi took a warm sedan chair to Fengqi Palace. Just as Zhao Yuancheng said, Concubine Yue was furious when she thought about what happened last night, and she didn't give Concubine Xi a good look when she paid her respects.
Xi Zhaoyi was not at a disadvantage either. She would retort to every word Concubine Yue said, while the Queen just watched with a smile, waiting for the two to argue more fiercely before she stepped out to smooth things over, acting like a virtuous queen.
Fu Qianyu was still pregnant. Although she did not leave Huayang Palace, she heard all the news from outside.
Lingyun sat on the footstool to dry the medicine, puzzled, "Last night, the Emperor flipped over the sign for the Qiulan Palace. The people from the Zhilin Palace went to invite them, but the Emperor just left without a second thought. He showed no mercy."
Fu Qianyu supported her forehead with one hand. She had been wondering how Zhao Yuancheng was going to deal with Liu. When Haining brought in the message early in the morning, she guessed the emperor's plan.
Killing someone with a borrowed knife, if the women in the harem can plot it, why can't the emperor do the same?
Xi Zhaoyi has always been dissatisfied with the fact that Liu, the daughter of a merchant family, has always been superior to her.
Using Xi Zhaoyi to deal with Liu is indeed a good plan.
Seeing that Fu Qianyu was silent, Lingyun asked in a low voice: "My Lady, what are you thinking about?"
Fu Qianyu looked out the window and said calmly, "I was just thinking that the New Year is coming soon, and this year's New Year will definitely be very lively."
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