Seeing her silence, the emperor quickly interrupted her thoughts.
"Li'er, don't overthink it. My harem is full, and I don't need to add any more concubines."
"I have refused the talent selection that should have been held long ago."
"Whether Li'er is magnanimous or petty, I will not add any more women to the harem."
Gu Jiangli was somewhat stunned.
The emperor always says things that please people, making it hard not to be tempted.
"Your Majesty, I was just joking. How could you take it seriously?"
"You are the emperor, with three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines. This is your right."
"If you were to refuse to take any more concubines for the next few decades because of me alone, the officials of the previous dynasty would curse me to death."
The emperor's eyes turned ashen. "Anyone who dares to speak ill of you behind your back, I will order their tongues to be cut out. If they were smart, they wouldn't have dared to reach into my harem."
Looking at the emperor's increasingly serious gaze, Gu Jiangli felt that she was finding it difficult to cope.
She remembered that the system had reminded her to stay true to herself and not waver in the slightest.
So she grabbed his hand and quickly changed the subject.
"Your Majesty, let's not talk about this anymore."
"As for that unknown woman, I'll leave it to Your Majesty to investigate. The imperial physician said that I shouldn't worry too much, so I can only trouble Your Majesty to take care of it."
The emperor's stern face softened considerably as he gently placed his hand on her lower abdomen and said, "I will handle it."
Gu Jiangli nestled in his arms, feeling the warmth of his body, a warmth creeping up her shoulders and neck.
"I think that woman might actually be someone Your Majesty knows."
"Or perhaps Your Majesty should consider whether you have ever offended any woman?"
The emperor frowned: "A woman you've offended?"
"Yes, Song Wanshan hated you so much back then, and she was hiding a woman. It's highly likely that she was hiding a woman who, like her, harbored hatred towards you. So, have you ever offended any woman?"
Gu Jiangli blinked her big eyes and looked up slightly at the emperor's jawline from her shoulder.
The emperor seemed to be seriously considering her words.
A moment later, she felt the emperor's aura turn icy cold.
"What's wrong, Your Majesty? Who are you thinking of?"
"When I was the Crown Prince, a maidservant...became pregnant with my child..."
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