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墨書 Inktalez
As Wei Zifu was about to step into the Imperial Study, she caught sight of the Emissary in Embroidered Robes, Jiang Chong, emerging with a pale face.
As Jiang Chong hurried past her, he quickly bowed and rushed away, his flustered demeanor strikingly unusual.
"What has happened now?" Wei Zifu pondered to herself.
The Emissary in Embroidered Robes was a special envoy of the Emperor, wielding significant power with the authority to punish or reward at will, even able to execute first and report later. The fact that such a high-ranking official appeared so anxious indicated that whatever matter was at hand must be of great importance.
With a heart full of questions, she slowly entered the room and respectfully bowed her head. "Your Majesty."
Liu Che lifted his gaze slightly. "Empress, why have you come?"
Wei Zifu presented a small incense burner adorned with exquisite gems, speaking softly, "Your Majesty, this is a newly crafted elixir said to possess miraculous effects for prolonging life."
Liu Che remained focused on the memorial in his hands, casually replying without looking up, "Just place it here."
"Your Majesty, it is getting late. Please do take some rest," Wei Zifu gently reminded him.
Liu Che paused momentarily, lifting his head to gaze at her charming face. After a long silence, he sighed softly and stood up. "Let’s go."
"Your Majesty, about the elixir..." Wei Zifu still felt concerned.
Liu Che smiled slightly. "Why has the Empress suddenly taken an interest in such things?"
However, Wei Zifu's expression was solemn and serious. "Life is short; being able to stay by your side for even one more day is a blessing for me!"
Liu Che felt a stir in his heart as memories surfaced. "I remember when you first entered the palace; you suffered greatly under Empress Chen's relentless torment. She publicly accused me of being ungrateful and abandoning you. Later, it was discovered that she colluded with a sorceress to curse you with wooden figures. I had no choice but to depose her. Time has flown by; after all these years, you have also taken an interest in these strange and mystical matters."
Upon hearing this, Wei Zifu hurriedly knelt down. "Your Majesty, I only..."
Liu Che hurriedly reached out to help her up. "No need to explain; I understand your feelings. Life and death are fated, and everything should follow the course of destiny. If one is too demanding, it may lead to the opposite of what is desired."
"Yes," Wei Zifu replied softly.
After attending to Liu Che as he settled down to sleep, Wei Zifu found herself tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Her mind was filled with countless thoughts, turning over her worries again and again.
She had originally been a servant in the household of Princess Pingyang. It was only because Liu Che happened to visit the Princess's residence and took an interest in her that she had the fortune of entering the palace.
However, she never anticipated that the emperor's interest and favor would be as fleeting as smoke, coming and going in an instant.
Once in the palace, Liu Che became preoccupied with state affairs and soon forgot about her.
The imperial harem was never short of stunning beauties, and given her humble origins, she felt insignificant, like an ant in this grand palace.
In the past, she might have passively accepted her fate. But this was the imperial court; if one did not strive to climb higher, they would quickly be trampled by others and become a victim of court intrigues.
It was during this time that she took notice of Jiang Chong.
Jiang Chong was strikingly handsome and spoke with elegance. More importantly, he enjoyed Liu Che's favor and could even enter and exit the harem freely at times.
After observing him for a long while, she finally found an opportunity one night to intercept him in a secluded corridor.
At that moment, Jiang Chong did not recognize her and simply bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Your Highness."
Wei Zifu smiled coyly, a hint of charm gracing her lips. "Master Jiang comes and goes freely in the harem; you truly are favored by His Majesty!"
Jiang Chong quickly smiled back. "I am merely fortunate to receive His Majesty's kindness."
"Wei Zifu" spoke softly, "Since Lord Jiang has such privileges, I assume the concubines in the palace have been quite eager to curry favor with you?"
"Jiang Chong" was momentarily taken aback, pondering the intent behind "Wei Zifu's" words. "Your Highness means..."
"I would like to borrow something from you," "Wei Zifu" stated directly.
"What?" "Jiang Chong" was startled.
With a charming smile, "Wei Zifu" replied, "There are ears on the other side of the wall; it's not convenient to discuss here. Why don't we go to my chamber to talk?"
"Jiang Chong" sensed something and turned pale. "Your Highness, it's getting late, and I have important matters to attend to..."
"It's not far from here to my chamber. If I were to say that Lord Jiang has ill intentions towards me, do you think the Emperor would believe it?"
Before "Jiang Chong" could respond, "Wei Zifu" continued leisurely, "The Emperor trusts you so much that he might not believe it at first, but he would inevitably grow suspicious. Why would a mere concubine like me want to frame you without reason? In everything, one fears overthinking; once you ponder too long, you'll start to feel that people's hearts are inscrutable. By then, even if Lord Jiang can protect himself, regaining the Emperor's favor will be difficult."
Hearing this, "Jiang Chong" fell silent, fully aware that he was caught in a dilemma.
"Rather than both suffer losses, why not join hands for mutual benefit?" "Wei Zifu's" gaze suddenly sharpened, as if she had made a firm decision in that moment.
That night, "Jiang Chong" stayed in "Wei Zifu's" chamber and quietly slipped out of the palace just before dawn.
Three months later, "Wei Zifu" discovered she was pregnant.
"Jiang Chong" did everything he could to assist her, bribing the palace eunuchs to alter "Liu Che's" records so that future inquiries would be seamless.
Before long, she was granted the title of Lady, her status second only to that of the Empress.
At that moment, Chen Ajiao felt an unprecedented threat.
She had been in the palace for many years but had never been able to conceive.
If Wei Zifu gave birth to a dragon son, her position as queen would surely be at risk.
However, she never anticipated that Wei Zifu would take the initiative, secretly sending someone to hide a puppet inscribed with her birth details beneath the queen's bed. Then, she pretended to be mad, wailing and causing a scene outside the queen's palace, drawing everyone's attention.
Liu Che, already suspicious of witchcraft, immediately issued an order to search the queen's palace upon witnessing this situation.
Soon enough, the puppet was discovered.
Practicing witchcraft in the palace was a grave crime, especially when the target was Wei Zifu, who was pregnant with the dragon heir.
Liu Che's anger surged, and without hesitation, he stripped Chen Ajiao of her title and ordered her to move to Changmen Palace.
Before long, Wei Zifu successfully gave birth to the Crown Prince and was proclaimed queen, revered by all.
Yet, the image of Chen Ajiao's face filled with rage, sorrow, despair, and unwillingness as she was taken away by the eunuchs remained etched in her mind, haunting her relentlessly.
She knew all too well that Chen Ajiao harbored deep-seated hatred towards her.
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