Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Chapter 1587 Only the Imperial Noble Consort is qualified (Bonus chapter for 239 million reward poin

Xuefu chimed in, "Who says otherwise?"

"Chu is an unlucky woman, but Consort Feng's fortune is unstoppable. If she really gives birth to a prince, she might rise to the top in one step."

Consort Mei sneered, "Ascend to heaven? You need to be lucky enough to do that."

"The road through the inner palace is still long..."

As she said this, Consort Mei's thoughts had already drifted far away.

His Majesty has not favored any of the concubines for a long time. Perhaps tomorrow night will be an opportunity for the other concubines besides the Imperial Noble Consort…

In contrast, Consort Xuan's reaction was much more subdued.

She was checking if the sixth prince's bedding was warm enough when she heard this. She simply grunted in response and said without raising her head, "It is only right that Your Majesty values ​​the imperial heir."

"Instruct the kitchen to prepare some mild and nourishing soups for Consort Feng tomorrow."

Consort Xuan spoke naturally, with a calmness that comes from having weathered storms.

She had witnessed countless ups and downs in the palace, from gaining favor to losing it, from childbirth to raising children.

Consort Feng's current glory may not be a blessing. Similarly, Lady Chu's sudden downfall may not be a curse.

The journey is long, and the one who laughs last laughs best.

Pearl said, "Yes."

……

Yongshou Palace.

Shen Zhinian was being served by Han Dan and the others as she tried on her dress for tomorrow's palace banquet.

Wearing a begonia-red silk embroidered palace dress with phoenixes carrying branches, she was elegant and noble, befitting the status of an imperial concubine.

As Fuqu tidied her accessories, she brought up the gossip outside: "...Your Majesty, everyone in the palace says that His Majesty is taking Consort Feng's pregnancy very seriously."

Shen Zhinian opened her arms, and Han Dan adjusted the jade belt around her waist. Upon hearing this, the corners of her lips slightly lifted, but there was no smile in her eyes: "Perhaps..."

Han Dan and Fu Qu exchanged a glance, both understanding the hidden meaning in the Empress's words.

"Tomorrow is the palace banquet, and the Xiongnu envoy will be present. The inner palace must not have any mishaps."

Looking at her elaborately dressed reflection in the mirror, Shen Zhinian's tone became authoritative: "Pass down the message: all palaces must be vigilant. Anyone who dares to behave inappropriately at tomorrow night's banquet and disgrace the Great Zhou will not be spared!"

Everyone's expression tightened, and they quickly replied, "Yes!"

……

Whether Consort Feng was truly placed on high hopes by the emperor is a matter of interpretation for different people.

But most of the lower-ranking concubines secretly envied them.

With the downfall of the Chu clan, Consort Feng is now the only pregnant concubine in the harem. His Majesty's strict order to protect her speaks volumes about his importance to her.

"If Consort Feng can truly give birth to a son, it will be a great achievement. Given His Majesty's current situation of having few offspring, a healthy prince is of great importance. A mother can rise in status through her son, and it is not impossible for her to be promoted to the rank of Consort or even higher in the future."

"That only counts if the child is born safely. In recent years, how many women in the palace have conceived imperial heirs? But how many of them have given birth safely and raised to adulthood?"

"That makes sense."

"However, it seems that His Majesty is protecting Consort Feng very well; she is a fortunate woman."

"..."

Although no one dared to say anything openly, the whispers and discussions in private never ceased.

Inside a palace.

A figure dressed in a plain blue palace gown stood by the window of the inner room, her figure slightly thin.

Backlit, her outline was blurred, with a simple white jade hairpin tucked into her hair.

A palace maid came in and closed the door, lowering her voice to say, "Your Highness, the Chu family has completely fallen. We arranged things cleverly; the ice marks on the road were covered up by the subsequent sweeping, so no one can find any clues."

"Her Majesty's move was even more effective than expected. Not only did it eliminate Chu's child, but it also brought disaster upon Chu herself."

"It seems His Majesty is utterly disgusted with the Chu family. He's too lazy to even investigate thoroughly and has simply banished them to the Cold Palace. That's a clean sweep of things now."

Su Qing gave a soft "hmm," her expression revealing little emotion.

The palace maid watched her retreating figure, somewhat puzzled, and added, "Now everyone in the palace is focused on that person from Ruixue Pavilion. We can take a break and wait for this storm to pass."

The figure finally turned around.

The light fell on her profile, revealing only a section of her fair neck and her tightly pursed lips: "I think things have gone a little too smoothly..."

The palace maid was taken aback: "Wouldn't it be better if things went smoothly?"

“We have calculated every step precisely, from the timing and location of the water freezing to the subsequent manpower arrangements. There has been no oversight. Even if His Majesty really wants to investigate, he will not be able to find us.”

Su Qing's eyes were deep and unfathomable: "But His Majesty did not investigate further."

"Even if Lady Chu is out of favor, she is still carrying the emperor's child. If she slipped and miscarried on the palace road on New Year's Eve, even if it seems like an accident on the surface, given His Majesty's temperament, would he really be so dismissive as to the negligence of the palace servants?"

"Whether it was confining Lady Chu to her quarters or immediately demoting her after her miscarriage... these ruthless methods are not typical of treating a concubine who has accidentally lost her imperial heir."

It's more like...someone is in a hurry to cover something up.

The palace maid fell into deep thought at the other's words: "Does Your Highness mean... that His Majesty may have other suspicions?"

"But why?"

Su Qing sighed softly: "That's what I can't understand."

"Perhaps His Majesty has deeper concerns, or perhaps... there is something else involved behind the Chu family."

"In short, this matter is strange. Although we have done a clean job, His Majesty's attitude makes me uneasy."

"Tell your subordinates not to get carried away with their success these days, and especially not to go near the Cold Palace."

"Keep everything as usual, just pretend you know nothing."

The palace maid solemnly replied, "Yes!"

"What about Consort Feng..."

Su Qing pondered for a moment and said, "Let's hold back for now."

"His Majesty is currently protecting Consort Feng; it would be unwise for us to confront her. Let her enjoy her privileged position for a while longer; sometimes, the higher one is praised, the harder one may fall..."

The palace maid nodded and said, "This servant understands. I will have someone keep a close eye on the movements of Ruixue Pavilion."

Su Qing narrowed her eyes slightly.

Eliminating the Chu family's child was a step in her plan, and she did it flawlessly.

But His Majesty's unusual reaction always struck her as strange...

Is she worrying too much?

Or is there really something more to it?

But in any case, the plan must not be disrupted.

With the Chu family eliminated, Consort Feng is the next target.

……

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, the lanterns were lit.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony was brightly lit inside and out, as if it were daytime.

Below the white marble steps, court officials dressed in various official robes stood solemnly according to their rank.

Tonight is a palace banquet to welcome the Xiongnu envoys, and also an occasion to display the majesty of the Great Zhou.

According to ancestral rules, only the Empress was qualified to accompany the Emperor at formal state banquets for receiving foreign envoys, in order to show her status as the mother of the nation.

No matter how favored a concubine is, she is still just a concubine and has no right to attend such occasions.

But now that the position of Empress is vacant, Shen Zhinian, as the Imperial Noble Consort, is equivalent to the Empress Dowager and is naturally qualified.

The women in the harem each had their own thoughts and intentions.

Changchun Palace.

Consort Zhuang said nothing on the surface, but a hint of loneliness flashed in her compassionate eyes.