The system said, [Consort Xian already had a son, and she's carrying a little princess now. But this child wasn't lost in a natural miscarriage. It was deliberately induced.]
Jiang Shuyue asked, [Someone wants to harm Consort Xian?]
The system stuck out its little finger and wagged it. [No, no. Consort Xian is shrewd. Think about it: she rose from a beauty to a consort in just a few years. Could she possibly be a lamp that burns little oil?]
[She arranged to lose this baby herself. First, to frame the princess. Second, because this baby isn't the emperor's!]
The emperor's face darkened. The servants in Consort Xian's palace had already been taken away, leaving only two trusted attendants kneeling at the entrance.
They had no idea what had happened, but they felt the emperor's aura grow chillingly cold.
Zhou Yunshen felt rather sympathetic. It's all right. My three children aren't biologically mine either, and haven't I carried on just fine?
The emperor thought, Bullshit. How is that remotely the same?
The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, weighing thirty-eight ways to kill someone.
Jiang Yueying wondered, [The imperial palace is so tightly guarded. Where did Consort Xian find a lover?]
The system said, [See her personal eunuch? He's a bona fide man, equipment and all.]
Everyone followed its direction and looked over.
Eunuch Chen was short and ordinary-looking, with a somewhat effeminate air.
Even among a crowd of eunuchs, no one could have told whether he was male or female.
Jiang Shuyue looked thoroughly disgusted. [What was Consort Xian thinking? This thing isn't even a tenth as handsome as the emperor. How could she bring herself to kiss him?]
Chaohua burst out laughing.
Indeed, whether in looks or bearing, this "eunuch" could not hold a candle to her father.
The system said, [This eunuch is actually a descendant of the Remnants of the Previous Dynasty. Because he suffered growing up, and because of the influence of his parents and their former retainers, he really began to see himself as a phoenix's son, a dragon's grandson.]
[He originally entered the palace to assassinate the emperor, but then discovered something more interesting than assassination.]
[How wonderful would it be if his son became the future emperor?]
[So this fellow began sowing seeds in the imperial palace. Unfortunately, his looks were what they were, and the imperial consorts were hard to approach. One moonlit night, he discovered Consort Xian's secret and began imitating the princess, playing the flute and the zither.]
[After a few such encounters, he actually managed to climb into Consort Xian's bed.]
Jiang Shuyue said, [Well, in pitch darkness, you really can't tell a handsome face from an ugly one.]
The system said, [Her first child was this man's seed. This one was conceived when Consort Xian got drunk and fooled around. Since the emperor was away offering sacrifices to the ancestors when she conceived, the timing of the birth became a problem.]
[As luck would have it, the imperial physician diagnosed the baby as a girl. She didn't particularly want it anyway, so she decided to use it to set a trap.]
The people in the imperial palace were all something else!
Consort Xian had grown impatient with waiting, and her face fell. "May I ask what Your Highness finds so amusing?"
"Nothing. I'm simply in a good mood today, so I laughed because I felt like it."
"But Consort Xian, you said you had something to give me. I've been standing here for quite some time, yet I haven't seen anything."
"Surely you aren't making sport of me?"
Chaohua also pulled Jiang Shuyue two steps back.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave and let you rest during your pregnancy."
"Wait!"
Consort Xian got out of bed, and a dull pain began to stir in her belly.
She knew the time was almost upon her. If she did not hurry, everything would be ruined.
Consort Xian smiled. "I'm feeling unwell today, which is why I wanted you to come closer so I could give it to you. I never expected to cause such a misunderstanding. The fault is mine."
Jiang Shuyue thought, [Heh. Whoever goes near you is in for eight lifetimes of rotten luck!]
Jiang Shuyue pulled Chaohua over to the doorway and refused to go inside, come what may.
"You're unwell, yet you still keep us in your thoughts. I'm so touched I could cry. But after all this talking, I haven't seen so much as a corner of this gift."
"Though I'm sure it's impossible, I'm still curious. You wouldn't be stringing us along, would you?"
You!
As Consort Xian's anger flared, her belly hurt even more.
She had to get them closer, quickly.
Consort Xian inched forward and was about to take off her ring when Jiang Shuyue interrupted again.
"Oh my, Consort Xian, surely you aren't planning to give the princess a ring?"
"If it were brand-new, that would be one thing, but it's actually secondhand! Oh dear, I never imagined you were this poor."
"Bullshit! This was made from this year's new jadeite, and it's worth a fortune! You ignorant thing, stop spouting nonsense!"
Jiang Shuyue's eyes reddened, and she hid behind Chaohua.
"Your Highness, I didn't say anything wrong. It is a secondhand thing she's already worn."
"Besides, it's only a little jadeite cabochon. Even what I gave Luming was better than this. Don't you think Consort Xian is terribly poor?"
"Ah, well, raising children is expensive. I can understand."
"Your Highness, let's not accept her gift. Her Ladyship really is far too poor."
Consort Xian's fury blazed three feet high. If Chaohua had not been there, she would have torn this bitch's mouth apart!
Chaohua nodded. "Shuyue is right. Then I won't disturb you any longer. Farewell."
"Wait, you aren't disturbing me. I..."
It hurts!
Consort Xian grabbed the tablecloth and collapsed to the floor.
The eunuch shrieked, "Someone, come quickly! Her Ladyship has fallen! Your Highness, please come help me!"
Princess Chaohua was inexperienced, after all, and did not know how frightening a staged accident could be.
When she saw blood seeping through Consort Xian's clothes, she hurried forward in a panic to help her up.
Jiang Shuyue seized her hand and cried, "Heavens, Consort Xian, what happened to you? Your Highness, hurry and send someone for an imperial physician!"
"How could you be so careless, Your Ladyship? This is terrifying!"
Jiang Shuyue pushed and dragged Chaohua outside.
Jiang Shuyue thought, [Hmph. If Chaohua went to help you, you'd grab her hand and accuse her of pushing you, wouldn't you? You little amateur. Trying to stage an accident in front of me? You're still too green.]
Chaohua broke out in a cold sweat.
Thank goodness Jiang Shuyue was there today. Otherwise, her entire life would have been ruined.
Lying on the floor, Consort Xian stretched out a hand and shouted, "Princess, don't go! You're not allowed to leave!"
Jiang Shuyue thought, [That's an evil dragon's roar! My eardrums are about to burst! The child doesn't deserve to suffer for this, but its mother is courting death. Even if someone wanted to save it, it's too late now. Sigh. It'll have to pray for its own good fortune.]
Jiang Shuyue lowered her head and pulled Chaohua away.
Zhou Yunshen kicked Shen Zhiyi, signaling him to hurry after them.
The three of them remained hidden in the shadows.
Prince Huai patted his chest. "That scared me to death! We nearly gave ourselves away!"
"Your legs aren't good, so eavesdropping really is inconvenient. Why not let Second Brother carry you? Let's keep following them!"
Zhou Yunshen nodded and hoisted him onto the emperor's back.
The emperor thought, By Second Brother, I meant you! Where's your martial honor?
A scream like a pig being slaughtered came from inside.
Zhou Yunshen asked, "Your Majesty, what should we do about Consort Xian?"
"Consort Xian? What Consort Xian? I don't recall anyone by that name in the palace."
The emperor gave a sinister smile.
Before you continue