That night, Zhou Chuyan sent a jade ointment through someone. Perhaps seeing my injured hand, I let out a cold laugh and threw it out the window.
At that moment, Eunuch Xu stepped in.
Lin Ning must have heard about today’s events; Mo Xiaoxiao had already cried to the Empress Dowager. His arrival with the ointment warmed my heart.
It seemed that my image in Lin Ning's eyes wasn't too bad after all.
I exhaled deeply, only to hear Eunuch Xu say, "Congratulations, Beauty Tang."
My smile froze on my face as I signaled Juxiang to reward Eunuch Xu while I lay exhausted on the bed.
Compared to my previous title, I was now merely a fourth-rank beauty. "Miss, the medicine is ready," Juxiang said.
I took the medicine Juxiang handed me and drank it all in one go.
To ensure I could smoothly give birth after serving the Emperor, I had to suppress it for now.
Oh child, you must hold on and wait until ten months after I serve him before you come into this world.
Your arrival must deliver a fatal blow to that heartless man.
And I will elevate you to the throne.
Today marks the Empress Dowager's forty-fifth birthday.
I wore a simple light blue gown, and since my rank was the lowest, I sat at the very end.
Mo Xiaoxiao had previously caused a stir with the Empress Dowager and was granted the title of Consort Shu.
As the daughter of a general, with her aunt being the Empress Dowager, her status was now at its peak. In recent days, she had been spending every night in the palace, dominating the harem.
Today, she wore a stunning red outfit, sitting beside the Empress Dowager, exuding beauty.
Xie Wanru sat respectfully on the other side of the Empress Dowager. She always appeared delicate and gentle, evoking sympathy from those around her.
“ Beauty Tang.”
I turned to see Lin Qing approaching me.
Her complexion was not as rosy as I had expected; instead, it looked somewhat pale.
“Princess.” She sat beside me, her expression somewhat downcast. “You knew my husband before; I would like to hear some stories about him from you.”
“Is he treating you poorly?” I asked cautiously, secretly hoping for a different answer.
“No, he treats me well. It’s just…” She hesitated. “He is very polite to me but rarely affectionate and often uses work as an excuse to avoid intimacy.”
I nodded. “He is now the Prime Minister and must be very busy. He is extremely proud and likely doesn’t want his position to be seen as a result of your influence. Right now, he probably wants to prove himself, so he is working hard.” I offered this reassurance, though my own thoughts were in turmoil.
Then Lin Qing spotted Zhou Chuyan and quickly walked over. Following her gaze, I looked at Lin Ning beside Zhou Chuyan and smiled faintly.
Today, all the women in the harem were to showcase their talents. The Empress Dowager was particularly pleased and promised that whoever won her favor would be granted a night of companionship.
The crowd was eager to participate, but Lin Ning clearly wasn't pleased. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he waved his sleeve and left.
Who would be happy to be used as a pawn?
Moreover, today, the Empress Dowager had made Mo Xiaoxiao monopolize the Emperor's attention, which had already displeased him.
I sat at the back and danced a few steps on the stage, drawing laughter from everyone. Then I claimed to feel unwell and left early.
Amidst the laughter, only Zhou Chuyan watched me quietly, as if he could see through everything.
Only a foolish woman would seek the Empress Dowager's favor; what I needed was to win the Emperor's affection.
"Your Majesty, please have some tea." I respectfully offered him the cup. Lin Ning looked up at me, his eyes filled with curiosity. "Aren't you going to accompany the Empress Dowager?"
"My skills are lacking, so I had to leave early."
His eyes sparkled with mockery, as if he guessed my intentions.
That night, when Lin Ning took me completely, tears unknowingly slipped down my cheeks. My fingers clutched the blanket tightly, my mind filled with memories I couldn't shake off.
Three months ago, when Zhou Chuyan returned as the top scholar, I was overjoyed and wanted to surprise him.
Knowing his repeated refusals, I secretly added a little medicine to his tea.
The next morning, I gently kissed him and boldly declared, "I belong to you now. You can only treat me well."
His gaze was filled with tenderness as he promised, "Alright."
Lin Ning continued to kiss me softly, but my mind kept drifting back to that night of passion with Zhou Chuyan.
His movements were gentle; despite being drugged and filled with desire, he was not in a hurry. Instead, he lovingly kissed every inch of my body.
My vision began to blur, and it felt as if it was not Lin Ning who was exploring me, but the one I loved deeply yet hated fiercely—Zhou Chuyan.
Mo Xiaoxiao came to confront me again. She had naturally expected to be the one favored by Lin Ning, only to find that I had beaten her to it, which led to an enraged Lin Ning throwing her out.
At that moment, she hadn't said anything yet, and I started to retch beside her.
Her face turned ashen, and she held a red whip in her hand, hesitating whether to strike or not.
Juxiang stood nearby, feigning shock perfectly. "Your Highness, are you perhaps with child?"
Mo Xiaoxiao's face instantly went pale.
Just days ago, she had been entwined with Lin Ning, yet there was no sign of pregnancy.
Meanwhile, I had only spent the night with him twice and already had a reason to believe I might be expecting.
How could she not feel jealous?
What Mo Xiaoxiao didn't know was that during our first encounter, I hadn't succeeded at all.
She gritted her teeth, stamped her foot, and left in anger.
After the imperial physician diagnosed me with a favorable pulse, Lin Ning immediately declared me to be the Consort.
Lin Ning had favored the harem for many years, yet none of them had ever conceived.
As soon as the news of my pregnancy broke, the harem erupted in chaos.
Everyone outwardly offered their congratulations, but I knew exactly what they were thinking.
The Empress Dowager visited me once; perhaps due to my pregnancy, her attitude towards me softened considerably.
And for me, this brought me one step closer to my goal.
Of course, I was most delighted when Lin Qing came to see me, and Zhou Chuyan was also there.
His complexion appeared somewhat pale, and when our eyes met, he swayed slightly.
"Congratulations, Your Highness."
I smiled lightly and casually replied, "Thank you."
For some reason, my heart did not feel as joyful as I had anticipated; instead, it felt empty, and I even found the title "Your Highness" particularly grating.
Comment 0 Comment Count