"It's so late, and instead of sleeping, you're eavesdropping on my conversation. You've got some nerve!"
Empress Rouci did not give him a kind look. With a stern face, she finished speaking seriously and then gave him a cold, sidelong glance.
"Why aren't you getting back to your tunnel?"
"I have already done more than enough by letting you stay here. You'd better not cause me any trouble."
"I dare not. I am naturally grateful to Your Majesty for saving my life. I am willing to serve you and will personally retrieve the embryo when it is fully developed."
"You should know that this is not a simple procedure. It requires cutting open the belly while the adult is still alive."
Tongji smiled, but his eyes narrowed, and a hint of murderous intent shone through his smile.
Empress Rouci frowned upon hearing this.
Even though countless innocent infants had died at her hands, as a woman, she could still feel a primal unease upon hearing of such cruel torture.
But soon, she remembered her "older sister".
All of this is the fault of Consort Ru!
Back when Jialuo first met Li Shengyuan, they were so in love, even though she didn't want to see her sister fall for anyone else.
However, at that time, Li Shengyuan genuinely loved his sister.
Seeing their affection for each other, Shen Rouci silently hid her possessiveness towards her sister, hoping only that she could be happy.
But all of this was shattered the moment Consort Ru appeared.
Bian Lingru, relying on her status and background, wanted Li Shengyuan to elevate her to the status of a secondary wife after the marriage.
Li Shengyuan was in a dilemma. At that time, his sister was already the Grand Consort in the Crown Prince's residence and had given birth to Che'er.
Ironically, in order to gain the support of the Bian family, Li Shengyuan even made demands of his sister.
If they do not agree, they will even depose the Queen and reinstate Bian Lingru as the Grand Queen.
It was around that time that Jialuolou earned a reputation for being jealous.
They also saw through Li Shengyuan's true colors as a heartless man.
This man only cares about exploitation and profit; where is there even a shred of genuine affection in him?
From then on, Jialuo Lou's heart seemed to die, and her face never smiled again.
At that time, Shen Rouci worked at a pharmacy in the capital. Under the guise of delivering medicinal herbs, she went to the Prince's residence and saw her sister a few times from afar.
Watching her go from a bright smile to a dim one, like a mannequin that had lost its soul.
My sister is unhappy!
She inquired and learned that since Bian Lingru entered the household, she had been dominating her sister, repeatedly provoking her, and was jealous of her taking the position of the principal wife.
She wished she could kill her sister with rage and take her place!
Rumors always spread quickly, and in any case, Shen Rouci believed it.
So, after her sister's mysterious death, she was selected by Bian Lingru to enter the Crown Prince's residence and began to deliberately get close to the emperor.
Che'er, that's her sister's child, of course she has to take good care of him and cherish him.
As for approaching Li Shengyuan, it was solely to find out her sister's whereabouts and whether she was still alive. Li Shengyuan was very tight-lipped and had not allowed anyone to mention Jialuo Lou for many years.
He never revealed where he had placed Gara's grave.
"Princess Ru, she still thought that her inability to conceive was due to saving Li Shengyuan, who had fallen into the icy river while drunk."
Empress Rouci sat in the darkness, letting out a chilling chuckle as she examined the phoenix totem carved on her chair.
"She comes from a military family and has practiced martial arts since childhood. With such a physique, how could a mere swim in an icy river make her infertile for life?"
It's her.
It was made by Shen Rouci.
After entering the mansion, her first act was to secretly take revenge on Bian Lingru.
A small amount of saffron was added to her daily tea, musk was added to her spices, and even her food was tampered with.
It would be a miracle if she could get pregnant after a year.
Shen Rouci didn't think she was that vicious. In this world, she didn't care about anyone, and she was even willing to sacrifice herself. The only people she cared about were Jialuo Lou and her child, Ache.
"Mi Shan, you have repeatedly ruined my plans. Do you think you can help Bian Lingru? You have only made a wedding dress for me."
Shen Rouci laughed loudly. When she got tired of laughing, she went back to the bedside, took off her clothes, covered herself with the quilt and lay down.
Even in dreams, there is a smile.
elder sister,
This time, I can finally find you.
If we can get hold of Li Shengyuan's weakness, he will definitely confess everything.
-
The next day.
The sky was bright.
After Mi Shan woke up, she received a notice that she needed to go to Lingxiao Palace.
The emperor would hold a banquet there to entertain the vassal kings and envoys from various regions who came to court. After the meal, they would set off for a spring outing, and a polo match would also be held there.
Mi Shan dared not be negligent. Early in the morning, after seeing A Chan off, he went back, changed his clothes, and took Xun'er and Xiao Mingzi to attend the banquet.
The Lingxiao Palace was another place where emperors held court; it was a magnificent and extravagant building.
When Mi Shan arrived, several vassal kings and envoys were already there, standing in the center of the main hall.
They all submitted to Dai Viet and came to pay homage to the emperor every year, bringing fine wine, food, local specialties, and countless gold and silver jewels.
To facilitate management, Li Shengyuan divided them into three regions: South, North, and West. Most of the territory belonged to Dai Viet, with only the central part reserved for their residence, essentially making it a colony of Dai Viet.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
They knelt and kowtowed.
After Mi Shan found her seat and sat down, she glanced around briefly.
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