She looked in the direction her gaze had come from, and saw Consort Xian smile at her, though the smile didn't reach her eyes.
Yun Chaoxi leaned gently against Chu Xiao, "Your Majesty, the Virtuous Consort is glaring at me."
Chu Xiao turned his head and glanced coldly at Consort Xian.
Consort Xian, "..." Where did she glare at her?!
Chu Xiao said a few words, raised his glass first, and the palace banquet officially began.
Yun Chaoxi saw her father and two brothers sitting peacefully below. Her father was composed and unhurried amidst the clinking of glasses, while her two brothers were full of vigor. They were no longer the desperate and miserable people she had been in her previous life when her entire family was executed. She was genuinely happy.
As she looked down, her two older brothers were also watching her. Unlike their mother, who could visit her in the Zhaoyang Palace, they were not men and could only catch a glimpse of their sister at the palace banquet.
As the eldest brother, Yun Xiu inherited his father's calm and composed personality. He was relieved after just a few glances. Yun Lang, on the other hand, kept giving Yun Chaoxi meaningful glances.
Yun Chaoxi knew her second brother's character best. Understanding the unspoken message, she whispered it to Chu Xiao, who glanced at Yun Lang and nodded. Yun Chaoxi then got up and quietly walked out of the hall.
Yunlang also secretly slipped out.
The brother and sister walked and talked along the artificial lake near the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
"Little sister, are you suffering in the palace? Do you miss home? This is the first time you've been away from home for so long. Mother and I worry about you every day." Yun Lang, who doted on his sister, was almost in tears as he spoke.
Yun Chaoxi spun around in front of him and gently comforted him, "I'm perfectly fine. The Emperor treats me very well. Second Brother, look, I've even gained weight."
"That's true. It's a good thing you came to the palace. Otherwise, if you had been kidnapped by that Chu Yansheng, it would have been terrifying to think about." Yun Lang was optimistic. Compared to marrying that traitor Chu Yansheng, entering the palace was a good choice.
"By the way, Second Brother, can you do me a favor?" Yun Chaoxi also needed Yun Lang's help with something.
"What's up?"
"Chu Yansheng was two-timing me. He was seeing me while secretly having an affair with the daughter of a fifth-rank official named Lin Zhirou. The two of them were plotting to get close to me and gain the support of our family and my uncle's family. It's inconvenient for me to stay in the palace, so I'd like you to help me investigate Lin Zhirou's current situation."
As for what to do after investigating the current situation, Yun Chaoxi believed that Yun Lang would have a solution. She would not let any of those who had harmed her family get away with it.
"What?! Such a thing actually happened?!" Yun Lang was furious. If Chu Yansheng weren't already dead, he would have captured the man and beaten him half to death. "Don't worry, your second brother will investigate for you when we get back. This Lin family member can't be let off easily either!"
"Thank you, Second Brother!"
It wouldn't be good to be away for too long, so after exchanging a few words, the two decided to return to the banquet.
Turning around, she saw two people walking gracefully towards her from a distance, the one in the lead being Consort Xian. Consort Xian had been looking for an opportunity, and seeing Yun Chaoxi come out, she soon followed with a palace maid.
They just happened to block people halfway.
"Consort Zhao, what a coincidence! I'm pregnant and it's been uncomfortable sitting for so long, so I came out for some fresh air. I didn't expect to find you here too."
Yun Lang frowned and stood in front of Yun Chaoxi. His younger sister was pampered at home, but now that she was in the palace, a pregnant concubine was showing off in front of her. It was really annoying! In an instant, he also felt dissatisfied with the emperor.
Yun Chaoxi said, "Then Consort Xian, please take your time strolling around. It's cold outside, so I'll head back first."
Consort Xian's smile vanished. "Why is Consort Zhao avoiding me? Is it because she finds my pregnant belly displeasing?"
"I asked the imperial physician a couple of days ago, and he said that this pregnancy is very likely to be a prince."
"It's a pity that Consort Zhao didn't conceive a child during her short time with me, otherwise she could have kept me company."
Consort Xian kept saying things in an attempt to provoke Yun Chaoxi, hoping to make her impulsively argue and fight with her.
Unfortunately, Yun Chaoxi wasn't angry, but Yun Lang was furious.
He felt like the sky had fallen! His younger sister was living such a life in the palace, constantly being mocked and ridiculed by concubines who were almost ten years older than her. How wronged she must be!
"Enough! Don't think I won't scold you just because you're some kind of virtuous concubine! You bully my sister just because you're old. You're so happy about being pregnant with the imperial heir, but why didn't the Emperor show you any concern even once at the palace banquet?"
"His arrogant and domineering attitude is like a hen trying to fly; he's no good!"
Consort Xian trembled with rage, "How dare you! You dare to insult the Imperial Consort!"
Yun Chaoxi tugged at Yun Lang, "Second brother, stop scolding her. If she gets so angry that she miscarries, she'll blame us."
Yun Lang exclaimed, "You're right."
The two tried to leave after bypassing Consort Xian, but Consort Xian grabbed Yun Chaoxi and wouldn't let her go.
"Consort Zhao, you tolerated your brother's insults against me. Shouldn't you apologize to me? If you don't apologize today, I will not let this go!"
"Even if it goes to the Emperor and Empress Dowager, I will never back down!"
She drank a blood-activating and stasis-removing herbal soup before attending the banquet, and now she can feel a heavy, dragging sensation in her lower abdomen. She must take this opportunity to have a miscarriage.
Yun Chaoxi subtly curled her lips; this was exactly the moment she had been waiting for!
She went outside the palace not only to catch up with her brother, but also to wait for Consort Xian to come to her. Rather than passively waiting for Consort Xian to use her methods, she decided to act as bait to lure her into making a move.
Yun Chaoxi immediately struggled, "Let go of me! My brother did nothing wrong, why should he apologize to you? Don't think I don't know that you're trying to get the Emperor to come to your palace every day because you're pregnant, using your pregnancy to curry favor!"
While struggling, Yun Chaoxi secretly took out a truth talisman from her small space and slapped it on Consort Xian's body. The talisman melted into Consort Xian's back the moment it touched her.
"Yun Chaoxi, you're just jealous of me!"
Yun Lang hadn't expected the two to almost come to blows over a mere disagreement. He wanted to step in and separate them, but didn't know where to begin. Meanwhile, the palace maids serving Consort Xian had already run into the palace.
"Oh no! Oh no! Consort Xian and Consort Zhao are arguing by the lake outside the palace! They're about to fight!"
"What?!" Chu Xiao and the Empress Dowager both jumped up from their seats and rushed out of the hall.
Consort Xian was facing the direction of the Hall of Supreme Harmony at this moment. Seeing the Emperor and Empress Dowager rushing over, a ruthless glint flashed in her eyes. She twisted her ankle and intended to pretend to fall as if pushed down by Yun Chaoxi, but Yun Chaoxi braced herself with her foot and she did not fall.
The next instant, Yun Chaoxi exerted force and pushed the virtuous concubine directly into the lake.
Get off!
With a splash, water sprayed several feet high.
The lake water was very cold in late autumn, and as soon as Consort Xian fell in, she couldn't help but start shivering and splashing around.
"Help!"
Overjoyed, she had been worried that Yun Chaoxi wouldn't make a move against her. Now, Yun Chaoxi couldn't escape the charge of murdering the imperial heir and would just have to wait to be questioned!
The Empress Dowager was so frightened her heart almost jumped out of her chest. "Quick! Someone come and rescue Consort Xian!"
Soon, palace maids and eunuchs who knew how to swim went into the water to rescue the person.
Consort Xian was quickly rescued. After being soaked in the icy lake water, her face was pale, her body was cold, and there was a continuous flow of red blood seeping from beneath her.
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