Chapter 100
To say that His Majesty has grown tired of Consort Yang is not true.
Five years have passed, and His Majesty still stays overnight at Changchun Palace every night, while his own Qianqing Palace is almost abandoned.
The emperor wouldn't even glance at other women. Any woman who dared to flirt with him was considered a traitor and would be killed without hesitation.
It seems that the emperor was so intoxicated by Consort Wen's gentle charms that he couldn't get out of bed. His eyes were filled with Consort Wen, and he couldn't see any other beauties at all.
The officials had no choice but to give up any thought of sending their daughters to the palace.
Damn, weren't those few dismantled powerful families enough to terrify them?
Women from wealthy families throughout history entered the palace to benefit their families and to serve as spies for the emperor.
As a result, during the reign of Emperor Chengyuan, everyone who entered the palace turned against their own family and took the lead in destroying their clan.
Who would dare send a daughter to Emperor Chengyuan?
Logically speaking, since His Majesty has won a great victory in the struggle against the powerful civil officials, shouldn't he have made Consort Wen Empress and shared in the fruits of this victory?
Some officials, wanting to curry favor with the emperor and Consort Wen, petitioned His Majesty in court to appoint an empress.
Emperor Chengyuan's face instantly darkened, as if a storm was brewing, and he almost stripped all the wives of his officials of their titles.
Since he doesn't have an empress, why should they have wives?
Ha, who was it that prevented him from becoming empress before?
Is everything alright now?
The little dumpling felt that she was doing well as a Noble Consort and refused to move up the ranks, so she wanted to become a Noble Consort.
A few days ago, he encouraged her to try for the position of Empress, but for some reason, the little dumpling became sad and cried, saying that he disliked her!
In all honesty, even if His Majesty dislikes himself, he would never dislike his beloved wife.
Left with no other choice, he dared not mention the Empress again.
Since she didn't like being empress, let's depose her from the position!
The officials: "..."
No, Your Majesty, what business is it of theirs if the Imperial Concubine doesn't want to be Empress?
Why don't they deserve to have a legal wife either?
When the news got out, these officials were almost beaten to death by their wives. They had offended His Majesty, so why were they the ones who suffered?
The officials had been kneeling on washboards for several nights in misery, and dared not interfere with the emperor's harem anymore.
Let His Majesty and Consort Wen do whatever they want; they can't afford to offend them, can't they?
As for His Majesty's intention to depose the Empress, they will pretend not to know and simply revert to the ancestral rules and regulations in the next dynasty.
Ah, speaking of the next dynasty...
The court was also worried, as His Majesty was almost thirty years old and still had no sons or daughters.
What will become of the future of this great Yuan dynasty?
If Consort Wen cannot have children, Your Majesty can adopt a few children from the imperial clan!
Their demands are really not high.
However, the officials, having been terrified of the emperor's wrath, dared not be the first to report this matter. Who knew if they might touch another sensitive nerve of His Majesty?
Just as they were worrying about the emperor's offspring, a palace servant from Changchun Palace rushed in to report that Consort Wen had suddenly vomited during her breakfast.
Hmm? Hmm? Hmm?
The officials were overjoyed. Was the Imperial Concubine pregnant?
Thankfully, they weren't so foolish as to ask the emperor to adopt their child, otherwise they would have been in big trouble.
The imperial concubine is pregnant, and the emperor has an heir—this is a joyous occasion!
Just as the officials were thinking about whether they should first congratulate Consort Wen's family?
However, upon looking around, the officials slapped their foreheads in dismay.
Oh, I almost forgot, almost all of the Wen family members are dead.
The emperor doted on Consort Wen, and the day after the ceremony of bestowing the title of consort upon her, he posthumously conferred upon General Wen Ting the title of Duke Protector of the State, and his wife the title of First-Class Lady of Imperial Decree.
Although the title of Duke of Protectorate is hereditary, His Majesty does not allow the Wen family to adopt children under the names of General Wen Ting and his wife. He even bestowed upon them a separate residence, clearly to prevent the Wen family from getting involved with Consort Wen.
Later, out of respect for Consort Wen, His Majesty restored the official positions of the second and third branches of the Wen family, but they were all sent to remote areas.
However, on their way to take office, the Wen family members either encountered bandits who robbed and killed them, or they were caught in flash floods, resulting in the deaths of the second and third branches of the family.
Upon hearing the news, Wen Liliang and Hong, who had been desperately seeking refuge in the capital, were devastated and suffered a stroke. They lay in bed for a year before passing away.
The remaining branches of the Wen family hurriedly packed their belongings and slunk back to their hometown. They dared not stay in the capital.
Who knows if something unexpected will happen to them if they stay any longer?
Even if some cunning old foxes in the capital are well aware that the Wen family will continue to suffer deaths, it is clear that the emperor will not tolerate them.
But no one could find any fault with His Majesty. The Wen family had indeed all died in natural disasters and man-made calamities. What did it have to do with His Majesty?
Who would be willing to offend His Majesty for the sake of that deserving Wen family?
His Majesty is clearly avenging Consort Wen.
Over the years, how many of those who mistreated and harmed Consort Wen have had a good ending?
So what if you don't have a powerful maternal family?
As long as the emperor continues to favor and protect her, that will be Consort Wen's greatest support and source of confidence.
Who would dare to provoke her?
If Consort Wen were to give birth to another prince, her life of luxury and glory would be completely secure.
No woman in the world can surpass her.
...
Contrary to the jubilation the officials had imagined, the entire Changchun Palace was deathly silent.
Emperor Chengyuan suppressed his rage and bloodthirsty killing intent, his face ashen.
Wen Xin's eyes, however, remained clear and gentle. The woman, now over twenty, had become even more beautiful and charming.
She called softly, "Your Majesty."
Emperor Chengyuan immediately suppressed his chill and gently supported her waist, treating her with the care of someone as if she were a fragile porcelain doll.
Wen Xin leaned softly against his chest and smiled gently, "Don't worry, I'm fine, and our baby is fine too."
The mention of the child instantly made him solemn, his deep, sharp eyes fixed on her flat stomach. He looked incredibly dignified, but inside he was panicking.
Emperor Chengyuan, a first-time father, had no experience and was quite flustered.
Especially...
"I'm going to kill her!"
A fierce glint appeared in Emperor Chengyuan's eyes.
It turns out that Wen Xin had been experiencing some health issues a few days ago, and she especially craved sour foods.
At the time, Emperor Chengyuan and everyone in Changchun Palace had their suspicions, but since her pregnancy was still in its early stages and her pulse was not strong, the imperial physicians did not dare to give a definitive answer.
Wen Xin's emotions have been somewhat unstable lately. She can be smiling one second and then become sentimental the next, but she usually only bothers her emperor husband.
In the eyes of the palace servants, the Empress was just a little listless and her appetite had become strange.
Of all the dishes prepared by the imperial kitchen, she especially loved plum cake.
Coincidentally, the Empress Dowager had always had a fondness for sour flavors and also loved this plum cake.
For the sake of his beloved wife's safety, Emperor Chengyuan naturally gave strict orders to the palace servants and imperial physicians to ensure the plum cakes were kept clean.
For the past two weeks, the Empress Dowager seemed unaware that half of her plum cake had been taken, and she made no extra moves.
The Empress Dowager wasn't truly settled; she was lying low, waiting for this day.
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