The story of how Gu's daughter came to find Zhao Shu begins when Consort De left Fengqi Palace.
After leaving the Empress's Phoenix Palace, Consort De pondered that the Empress intended to use her as a pawn. However, since she was now in a cooperative relationship with the Empress and was at a disadvantage, she had to use her abilities to prevent the Empress from plotting against her at will. Therefore, she decided to find a shill.
After pondering for a long time on the way, an idea suddenly struck him and he thought of Consort Ning, so he went to Consort Ning's residence.
The women in the palace, who saw each other every day, would pretend to be sisters even if they hated each other to death. When she saw Consort Ning, she smiled and said, "It's so cool here, my sister. It's perfect for summer. Unlike my place, His Majesty finds it too hot and hasn't set foot here since the beginning of summer."
Consort Ning sneered inwardly, but at the same time, a sense of desolation rose within her. Consort De was not favored, and so was she. "Sister, please try the iced tea that I just made. It's fermented and tastes refreshing and sweet."
"My younger sister is more skillful than my older sister, who is clumsy and can only make plum juice for the palace servants."
As they spoke, they took their seats as host and guest. Consort Ning knew that Consort De would not come to the Three Treasures Hall without a reason, so she did not speak first, but waited for Consort De to speak.
After taking a sip of tea, Consort De said, "Sister, I've heard a rumor. I wonder if you'd be interested?"
Consort Ning thought to herself, "If I'm not interested, then you won't say anything?"
"Sister, please speak?" It's still necessary to maintain appearances.
Consort De smiled and lowered her voice, saying, "Sister, I've heard that the Fourth Prince is the son of that woman from Weiyang Palace..."
Before she could finish speaking, Consort Ning slammed her hand on the table and stood up, "Consort De, what nonsense are you spouting? Don't think that I'm easy to bully!"
Consort De was neither angry nor afraid, her expression remaining unchanged. "Why are you so agitated, sister? It's just a rumor. Why are you so anxious? I heard that the Crown Prince is going to be a military supervisor to compete for military merit. I also heard that the Emperor suggested that the Fourth Prince go, but it was the Crown Prince who went. Don't you have anything to think about, sister?"
"It's simply that the Crown Prince hasn't yet earned any military merit, so it's not appropriate for the other princes to be the first to claim this honor." She replied through gritted teeth, her anger palpable.
"But I heard that it was Lord Yang who suggested that the Crown Prince be the military supervisor. The old man is at odds with the Crown Prince and others, yet he spoke up for the Crown Prince today. Don't you think that's unreasonable?" Consort De said slowly.
Consort Ning frowned. She had heard about this matter, but what did it have to do with her son being Yide's son?
“Don’t you understand, sister? Someone has taken a fancy to the Fourth Prince and wants to become Empress Dowager in the future. You, his birth mother, should step down.” Consort De emphasized the words ‘step down’ and deliberately drew out the words ‘birth mother’.
Consort Ning was shocked. Zhao Bi really was her son. When he ascended the throne, she would rightfully be the Empress Dowager. How could anyone possibly try to take her son away from her? But she and Hao Shumei had indeed lied to the Emperor that Zhao Bi was Yi De's son. In any case, the Emperor wouldn't reveal this to the world because of the Empress Dowager. Was she now shooting herself in the foot?
Seeing that she didn't believe her, Consort De asked again, "Haven't you received the news, sister?"
"What news?" Consort Ning was a little flustered, but she remained relatively calm.
"There's someone in the Imperial Prison who looks exactly like the Fourth Prince. Haven't you ever wondered why this person is in the Imperial Prison? After he appeared in the Imperial Prison, has anyone asked you to find a way to deal with him?"
Consort Ning naturally wanted to deal with it, but if she rashly sought help and was framed, it would prove that her son was the one who did it, wouldn't that be a huge loss? In any case, the Emperor would definitely execute the two of them anyway, so why should she go through all that trouble? The Emperor thought that Zhao Bi was Yi De's son, so he would be much more lenient towards him.
“That’s fake, it has nothing to do with Bi’er, why should I deal with it?” she said stiffly.
The matter of the fake Zhao Bi was not made public. Those who had access to the information knew about it, while those who didn't had no idea that such a thing existed. The ministers who met him that day didn't dare to say anything casually. They were all people who had worked in the imperial court and knew the rules. Since the leaders above hadn't said anything, they naturally chose to keep quiet. Even if they wanted to use this matter to seek official positions, they couldn't withstand the retaliation from the leaders' families.
“It’s fake. I believe the Fourth Prince was framed, but sister, without someone to help, do you think the Fourth Prince will have to take the blame? What if someone impersonates the Emperor in the future…” She pretended to be shocked and covered her mouth. “Look at me, what nonsense are you talking about? No, no, how could anyone be so bold?”
"Thank you for reminding me, sister." Consort Ning knew the seriousness of the matter, so she curtsied gracefully and said to Consort De, "Sister, you came today not just to talk to me about this, did you?"
"My sister is indeed very clever. It's a pleasure to deal with such a clever person." Consort De had finished her tea and smiled slightly. "Now in the palace, only you and I are in an awkward position. I am the birth mother of the eldest son, but the Crown Prince is not the eldest son. Whenever the Crown Prince makes any move, others will suspect that I am behind it. My sister is suffering."
Speaking of awkward positions, Consort Ning felt that she was in an even more awkward position than Consort Ning. Others thought that Zhao Bi was Yi De's son, but she couldn't say that he wasn't. If others really wanted to take her son away, could she refuse?
Do they really want me dead? Hao Shumei wouldn't want to be Empress Dowager, Yide... humph.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Consort De's unspoken meaning was right. Before she could speak again, Consort De continued, "Sister, I think you are also a person with a tragic fate. You have been scheming and plotting in this harem for so many years. What is it all for? Isn't it for your son to become the emperor and you to become the empress dowager? If there are no accidents, the crown prince will ascend the throne smoothly and the empress will become the empress dowager. If there are accidents, it will simply mean that I die and that person from Weiyang Palace will take the throne. What will that have to do with you? Or I may live and become the empress dowager. But don't worry, sister, if I become the empress dowager, I will definitely give you a peaceful end."
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