"You're going to use someone else to kill our child?" Liu Chengfeng stared incredulously at the calm woman in front of him, his eyes wide with fury.
Everyone says even tigers don't eat their cubs. Heaven knows how happy he was when he first found out that Shushu was pregnant. He expected that she wouldn't keep the baby, but he never expected that she would take advantage of him.
"This is our flesh and blood, Shushu..."
"It's precisely because it's our flesh and blood that we can't keep it!" Liu Shushu revealed a slightly sarcastic smile. "Heaven really knows how to joke. I've shared a bed with the Emperor for so long, yet I haven't conceived his child, but with you, after just one absurd night, how come I'm suddenly pregnant?"
Seeing Liu Chengfeng dressed as a eunuch, her eyes darkened again. She grabbed his collar, looked directly into his bloodshot eyes, and said softly, "Brother, you can't even stand openly by my side, how can you expect anything else? I don't blame you for what happened that night. You just need to help me get rid of Liu Qingying and secure my position as empress. I will remember your kindness for the rest of my life."
Liu Chengfeng was truly puzzled, "Qingying has no grudge against you, nor has she ever tried to harm you. Why do you insist on killing her?"
"You're wrong, brother. Just considering the feud between her mother, Ye Ning, and our mother, we were destined to be enemies from birth. If I hadn't been orphaned at a young age, with my talents, I would have long since become a renowned woman in the capital, even famous throughout the land, instead of becoming the subject of gossip because of this bizarre background!" She became more and more agitated as she spoke, her fingers curling tighter and tighter, a blush creeping up her eyes, tears welling up in her lashes, her voice trembling: "Brother, have you forgotten? My position as Empress is still highly controversial to this day, and it's because of whom? If she doesn't die, I won't have peace of mind!"
Liu Chengfeng couldn't bear to see her cry, and his heart softened instantly. However, he still hesitated, after all, Liu Qingying was indeed the younger sister he had truly loved.
"The imperial physicians have already diagnosed that she won't live past twenty. Why can't you wait a little longer..."
"No! I can't wait! If my brother won't help me, then I'll have to find someone else."
"No..." Liu Chengfeng grabbed her sleeve, as if he had made up his mind, and said, "I'll help you."
Liu Shushu finally smiled, "Brother, I knew you loved me the most."
...
As is customary, when the Empress is pregnant, all the concubines in the palace naturally go to offer their congratulations.
Qingying claimed to be ill and did not go, but only sent someone to deliver a congratulatory gift.
Looking at the things that were delivered, Liu Shushu couldn't help but feel secretly pleased: "It's just like someone handing you a pillow when you're sleepy."
Little did they know that Liu Shushu had been making no move all this time, and Qingying had long been getting impatient.
And so, everything happened naturally.
On a quiet night, Liu Shushu's child was gone.
All the evidence points to Qingying.
Faced with questions from all sides, Qingying remained calm and said, "I have no way to defend myself."
"By imperial decree, Consort Liu will be demoted to the rank of Beauty and banished to the Cold Palace!"
"yes."
Qingying knelt on the ground, without uttering a sound.
Wei Huaixu stared at her slightly pale face and noticeably thin body. Just as the palace servants were about to come over and help Qingying up, he quickly interrupted them, "Wait!"
Everyone stopped what they were doing.
"Winter is approaching, and the Cold Palace is bitterly cold. Considering that Lady Liu has been ill for a long time, she will be confined to the Baoyi Palace instead."
This was the first time I had ever seen an imperial edict that was suddenly withdrawn.
Everyone was stunned for a moment before they reacted. The eunuch who was about to lift the person up was dumbfounded and didn't know what to do.
Yu then said, "Why don't you quickly send Consort Liu back to Baoyi Palace?"
"Yes." Only then did they step forward to help Qingying up and carefully escort her out.
Fortunately, Liu Shushu was unconscious in the inner hall at the moment, otherwise she would probably have coughed up blood if she saw this scene.
Emerging from Fengqi Palace, Consort Han was even more depressed. "I never imagined that such a huge accusation would only result in a minor injury for her. It's clear that the Emperor and Empress have a strained relationship. Such a serious crime as plotting against the imperial heir only resulted in a light punishment of being confined to her quarters."
A palace maid whispered, "This further demonstrates how deeply the Emperor loves her."
"Yes." She smiled gently, "The deeper the feelings, the more painful it will be when you lose them in the future."
...
The following morning at court, a court official actually submitted a memorial impeaching the emperor.
"Liu plotted to harm the imperial heir. According to the laws of our dynasty, she should be stripped of her title and demoted to a commoner."
Wei Huaixu frowned and said coldly, "This is a matter concerning my harem, and it should not be discussed in the court."
Liu Chengfeng stepped forward, knelt down, and said, "Your Majesty is the model for all people. You must not do the thing of favoring a concubine over your wife. I am willing to die to remonstrate with Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty can punish the wicked concubine according to the law and give the Empress justice!"
Wei Huaixu looked at him and said coldly, "Liu Qing, the Empress is your sister, and the Imperial Concubine is also your sister. When did the scales in your heart become so biased?"
"It is not that I am biased. As Your Majesty said, both of them are my sisters. They are both my flesh and blood, so I cannot favor one over the other. Now that Her Majesty the Empress has suffered a great injustice, I cannot bear the pain of losing her child for her. I can only put righteousness above family ties and ask Your Majesty to punish Consort Liu according to the law and give Her Majesty the Empress justice." Liu Chengfeng kowtowed on the ground, putting on a righteous and awe-inspiring appearance.
Wei Huaixu stared at him, his suppressed fists hidden beneath his wide dragon robe.
After a moment, he coldly ordered, "Since you insist on remonstrating with your life, then I grant your request. Guards, take him to the prison to await further orders!"
"His Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
"His Majesty!"
All that could be heard in the court was one plea for mercy after another, and a large number of court officials knelt down in a rush.
The imperial guards who were about to escort Liu Chengfeng to his side also stopped.
"What? Are you planning a rebellion?" Wei Huaixu slammed his hand on the dragon throne and rose angrily.
The emperor's wrath came like a tidal wave, overwhelming and imposing. For a moment, the hall was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop.
"Drag him away!"
The Imperial Guards immediately took Liu Chengfeng away.
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