"Nowadays, it's said that Prince Rui and his Consort are deeply affectionate," Ye Ke remarked. "Just a few days ago, there were rumors of them strolling arm in arm through Longye City, showing how deeply Prince Rui adores Shen Miao. To be honest, Shen Miao isn't as beautiful as you, yet somehow she's managed to captivate him completely." He turned to Ye Mei. "Sister, do you still plan to enter Prince Rui's Estate?"
Ye Mei felt unsettled. She couldn't leverage her usual advantages with Xie Yuan. Back in Qinzhou, she could effortlessly manipulate any man she desired. But with Xie Yuan, she felt utterly powerless. He barely noticed her. She could tell that the way he looked at her was no different from how he regarded Lu Wan'er or any other noble lady in Ming Qi. She felt she couldn't conquer him because he didn’t even see her as a woman.
Avoiding the topic, she replied, "Let’s discuss it later. Ye Maocai hasn’t brought it up for now, so there’s no need to dwell on it. The priority is to figure out what’s really going on with the Ye family. If the Ye family ever falls, we shouldn’t be dragged down with them. We must plan ahead."
"Well..." Ye Ke hesitated. "Actually, Ye Maocai approached me earlier with the idea of sending you into the palace."
"Into the palace?" Ye Mei’s brow twitched, and she suddenly laughed—a dazzling yet enigmatic smile. "So now that Xie Yuan is out of reach, Ye Maocai wants me to climb into the royal family’s favor?"
Entering the palace wasn’t just about becoming a court lady—it meant becoming the emperor’s woman. Ye Mei sneered, "The palace has no heirs yet—something’s clearly amiss. If I enter and fail to bear a child, what will become of me in my old age? If the emperor dies, would I be forced to follow him in death? Ye Maocai only cares about currying favor with the royals, not my survival. I won’t step foot in that palace. Tell him to abandon this notion." Her tone turned icy by the end.
Ye Mei had considered entering the palace before, but she was always one to weigh pros and cons. The emperor’s lack of an heir likely pointed to his own shortcomings. How long could a woman last in the harem without a son to rely on? Even in noble households, women without sons either met tragic ends or lived out their days in meek submission—neither of which appealed to her. She wanted to climb higher, to wield power, and that mattered far more than becoming the emperor’s consort.
Ye Ke shifted uncomfortably. "I figured you’d think that way, so I immediately told Ye Maocai it was impossible."
"Oh?" Ye Mei glanced at him sidelong, her voice light. "Is that really what you told him?"
Avoiding her gaze, Ye Ke said, "Sister, don’t you trust me?"
Ye Mei smiled faintly, though the meaning behind it was unclear. "In any case, we must remember our place. The Ye family isn’t truly our home, and they’re not our family—even family has their own agendas. I’ll find a way to uncover what’s happening with the Ye family and what they’re plotting. If disaster ever strikes them, we mustn’t be caught in the fallout. A clean escape is our best strategy.""Sister, it's not that serious," Ye Ke said dismissively. "If it were truly that dire, the Ye family would have already started seeking a way out for themselves."
Ye Mei sneered, "What I fear is that the Ye family doesn't even realize disaster is upon them."
As they spoke, someone called from outside the door, "Eldest Sister, Second Brother."
Ye Ke went to open the door and saw a servant pushing Ye Hongguang in his wheelchair. Ye Maocai, though shrewd, treated his crippled son quite well, having specially commissioned a mobile chair for him, pushed by a servant, allowing him to move around the Ye residence on his own. However, Madam Ye had little affection for this son born of a concubine but raised under her name.
Ye Hongguang, on the other hand, was very fond of Ye Mei and Ye Ke, likely because the sudden arrival of siblings brought joy to the long-desolate Ye household. His nature was simple and childlike, quite unlike someone raised in the Ye family. But considering he never left the residence and spent his time either playing chess with Ye Maocai or reading, such innocence was only natural.
Ye Mei smiled and asked, "Third Brother, is there something you need?"
Ye Hongguang didn’t resemble Ye Maocai or Madam Ye; he likely took after his deceased concubine mother, with delicate features. He smiled back, "Father wants you both to come to the study. I also brought the Nine Interlocking Rings for Eldest Sister. I heard you’re an expert at solving them, so I thought to bring them over."
Ye Mei took the Nine Interlocking Rings and said, "Once I solve them, I’ll personally return them to you, Third Brother."
"Thank you, Eldest Sister," Ye Hongguang replied excitedly.
Ye Mei smiled faintly, glancing back at Ye Ke. Both saw the gravity in each other’s eyes.
At this moment, Ye Maocai summoning them to the study clearly meant he had new tasks for them. Treating them as pawns to manipulate—but Ye Mei and Ye Ke were hardly ones to be controlled without resistance.
Another round of strategic maneuvering was inevitable.
...
The news of Consort Jing’s pregnancy spread throughout Longye by the next day.
The Yongle Emperor had been without an heir for so many years, leading to endless speculation. The most common theory was that he suffered from a hidden ailment preventing him from fathering children, which was why the court’s power struggles had never ceased. But now that Consort Jing was pregnant, the implications were manifold.
Perhaps the issue had never been with the Yongle Emperor—maybe it was his deliberate choice. Yet now that he had "allowed" Consort Jing to conceive, it seemed to signal a shift. Immediately, court officials began clamoring to send their daughters into the palace. Meanwhile, some neutral ministers in Longye who had been observing from the sidelines began reconsidering their stance. Regardless, Consort Jing’s pregnancy had a significant impact on the Great Coolness court and the imperial harem.
When Shen Miao discussed this with Xie Jingxing, she remarked, "Before, the harem was relatively peaceful because the Emperor had no children, so there weren’t many conflicts. But now that Consort Jing is pregnant, and officials are rushing to send their daughters into the palace to compete for the chance to bear his heir, the harem will likely descend into chaos."
A calm pool suddenly stirred by a thrown stone—that was the most terrifying scenario.
Xie Jingxing chuckled, "They’ll have to succeed in bearing one first."The Yongle Emperor had made them all drink the birth control concoction. Consort Jing was an exception, but because of this exception, the palace would undoubtedly become even stricter in this regard in the future, leaving no loopholes for anyone to exploit.
"But the Lu family is too impatient," Shen Miao mused, resting her chin on her hand. "The news hasn't even spread in the palace yet, and they've already leaked it themselves. Now the whole of Longye knows."
"The faster it spreads, the quicker the downfall," Xie Jingxing remarked as he fastened his outer robe. Shen Miao stood up to adjust his collar for him. He looked down at her and said, "But if you were to bear my child, I’d also make sure the whole of Longye knew."
Shen Miao glared at him fiercely. "And if you dared let another woman bear your child?"
"What then?" Xie Jingxing frowned.
Shen Miao yanked his collar hard, her expression menacing. "Then the news of Prince Rui's Estate being wiped out would also spread far and wide across Longye."
Xie Jingxing burst into laughter, wrapping an arm around her waist and leaning in to whisper provocatively in her ear, "With such a fierce wife at home, I’d be too exhausted to even think about it."
"Fierce?" Shen Miao was about to explode.
Before Xie Jingxing could respond, Bajiao's voice came from outside: "Master, Madam, the carriage is ready. Shall we depart now?"
Shen Miao let go of him. "We’ll talk when we get back."
Xie Jingxing smirked lazily. "At your mercy."
Shen Miao: "Get lost."
They were heading to the palace. These past few days, Xie Jingxing had been frequently visiting the palace, likely discussing strategies against the Lu family with the Yongle Emperor. The Lu family had probably sensed the mounting pressure and had begun deploying their military forces. At the same time, they believed that with Consort Jing pregnant, the Yongle Emperor wouldn’t dare take drastic action against them. Torn between suspicion and confidence, the Lu family was in disarray—just as the imperial family intended. As various factions began making their moves, Xie Jingxing had been exceptionally busy.
Meanwhile, Shen Miao had been analyzing the current and future political landscape of Ming Qi based on the letters left by Pei Lang, while also helping the Shen family escape Fu Xiuyi’s surveillance.
Today, Shen Miao planned to visit Xiande Huanghou in the palace, and since Xie Jingxing was also going, the couple decided to travel together.
Upon arriving at the palace, Xie Jingxing went straight to the imperial study to meet the Yongle Emperor, while Shen Miao, escorted by Tao Gugu, headed to see Xiande Huanghou. Noticing the carpets laid out along the paths and the unusually large number of palace maids bustling about, Shen Miao found it odd and asked for an explanation.
Tao Gugu replied, "This was ordered by Consort Jing. She’s afraid of tripping or bumping into something and harming the child in her womb, so she demanded far more attendants than usual. The entire palace has been turned upside down these days. The Empress is too kind-hearted to argue with her, but Consort Jing has practically turned the harem into chaos." As Xiande Huanghou’s trusted attendant, Tao Gugu spoke without restraint. Given her closeness to the Empress, she treated Shen Miao as one of their own and made no effort to hide her disdain for Consort Jing. "She hasn’t done anything outright outrageous, but her constant nagging and demands are utterly vexing."
Shen Miao raised an eyebrow. "And what’s the Emperor’s stance on this?"Tao Gugu gave a peculiar smile. "The Emperor hasn't changed his attitude toward Consort Jing because of this child. It's precisely because Consort Jing sulked over this that she's been making all these fusses." Then, as if remembering something, she added, "Today, the young lady and young master of the Ye family also entered the palace. The Ye young lady even came to visit Consort Jing—she's probably at Jinghua Palace now. Did Royal Consort not see anyone from the Ye family when you entered the palace earlier?"
The Ye family? Shen Miao shook her head. "I didn't see them." But her mind began to turn. The Ye family's young lady and young master naturally referred to Ye Mei and Ye Ke. Ye Mei and Ye Ke visiting Consort Jing? The Lu family and the Ye family had never been particularly close, especially not now. For them to suddenly visit Consort Jing—their intentions were surely not as simple as they appeared. Were they plotting something? But sending Ye Mei to talk to Consort Jing... regardless of Ye Mei's capabilities, Consort Jing was a fool. How could she be entrusted with such a task? The Ye family must have chosen the wrong person.
She vaguely felt something was amiss, but since she was here to see Xiande Huanghou, it wasn't appropriate to discuss this further with Tao Gugu. Bearing these questions in mind, she arrived at the imperial garden.
Xiande Huanghou was not in Weiyang Palace. Summer was gradually coming to an end, and though Longye's summers were long, even they were beginning to cool. After so many sweltering days, the rare refreshing breeze made sitting in the garden quite pleasant. When Shen Miao saw Xiande Huanghou, she was brewing tea and invited Shen Miao to join her.
"This is Qiushan Yellow, freshly delivered this year. I quite like it—have a taste," Xiande Huanghou said with a smile. She seemed to enjoy tea very much, and like tea itself, she was a woman of lingering depth and fragrance.
Shen Miao took a sip. The bitterness filled her mouth, but within it was a subtle, enduring fragrance. It was indeed a uniquely fine tea.
Xiande Huanghou asked, "What do you think?"
Shen Miao set down her cup. "Empress's tea is truly exceptional."
"I have few hobbies—this is one of my few indulgences," Xiande Huanghou chuckled. "The tea is bitter, and most young ladies don't care for it. But for some reason, I felt you might like it. Perhaps it's because I sense some similarity between us."
Shen Miao demurred, but Xiande Huanghou waved it off with a smile. "Enough of that. After you returned that night, Jingxing must have told you about the palace affairs, didn't he?"
Shen Miao paused slightly. "He mentioned some things."
"You were curious, and Jingxing dotes on his wife—of course he would tell you everything," Xiande Huanghou said with a laugh. "So, what did you think after hearing it? What do you make of the current situation?"
There was almost a hint of testing in her words. Shen Miao didn't dare to be careless. After a moment's thought, she replied, "The Lu family's fate is already sealed, and the child in Consort Jing's belly cannot turn the tide. Since His Majesty and His Highness have already made their decisions, the rest will follow naturally."
"What about the child?" Xiande Huanghou took a sip of tea. "Do you think the child should be kept or not?"
Shen Miao hesitated. "Whether it is kept or not will have no impact on the larger situation. The decision should rest entirely with Empress's own judgment.""My heart," Xiande Huanghou sighed softly, "has always been pierced by a thorn. Yet when it comes to pulling it out, I find myself lacking the ruthlessness." She smiled self-deprecatingly. "This position of Empress truly doesn't suit me well. Getting accustomed is one thing, but suitability is another."
Shen Miao remained silent. At this moment, anything she said would be inappropriate.
Xiande Huanghou abruptly changed the subject: "Royal Consort, your capability as the mistress of Prince Rui's Estate is beyond doubt. But if in the future you were to bear heavier burdens and face more complex situations, could you still manage?"
Shen Miao's heart skipped a beat. Xiande Huanghou's words carried hidden implications, seemingly hinting at something. In the past, Shen Miao might not have pondered deeply, but Xie Jingxing had told her about the Yongle Emperor's affairs. If the Yongle Emperor wouldn't live past thirty-five, if he had other plans—Shen Miao almost immediately grasped their intentions.
Steadying herself, she replied, "Your Majesty, the future is unpredictable. However, this subject will remain by His Highness's side, supporting him in whatever he does."
Xiande Huanghou studied her for a moment before shaking her head with a sigh. "Your lack of ambition is both good and bad. But Jingxing is not the Emperor, so you are fortunate. Yet you must understand that one day, when you reach a certain height, many things will be beyond your control. You may dislike them but cannot show it. You must act accordingly, for such is the way of the world."
Was Xiande Huanghou expressing her own inner feelings? Shen Miao calmly responded, "This subject would not do so. The principles of the world, when first proposed, were also met with skepticism. If one cannot hold true to their heart, reaching any height is meaningless. Being constrained by circumstances merely reflects insufficient effort to change one's surroundings."
Xiande Huanghou seemed lost in thought for a long while. When she finally regained her composure, she gave Shen Miao a profound look—one so complex that Shen Miao couldn't decipher whether it held envy or self-mockery. "Perhaps," she said. "You speak wisely. But half my life has already passed; there is no time left for change." She appeared weary. Shen Miao noticed that compared to their last meeting, Xiande Huanghou seemed much more weathered—not in appearance, for she still carried herself with grace and dignity befitting an Empress, but in her gaze, which now bore traces of age, like an old woman.
Was it because of Consort Jing? Shen Miao wondered and then asked, "I heard the Ye siblings entered the palace today to see Consort Jing?"
"When the Lu family produces a consort carrying imperial offspring, all the worms in Longye naturally grow restless. The Ye family came to the palace today ostensibly to see me, but their true intentions lay elsewhere, so I let them be. The Ye family likely sees Lu Jing's pregnancy as an opportunity, testing the waters through her." Xiande Huanghou's gaze grew distant. "That newly recovered young lady of the Ye family is extraordinarily beautiful. Not just beautiful, but clever; not just clever, but ambitious. Such a woman is most suited for survival in the imperial harem."
Shen Miao's expression stiffened slightly. "Ye Mei wants to enter the palace?"Mei Furen ultimately became Empress Fu Xiuyi of Ming Qi in the end. Now not only has her background changed to that of a Great Liang native, but even her future has been altered? Could it be that she intends to become Yongle Emperor's woman and even aspire to be Great Liang's Empress? Shen Miao found it utterly absurd and rather laughable.
"Perhaps so," Xiande Huanghou said indifferently. "But the harem in Longye is already nominal at best. If Ye Mei thinks to vie for favor and power here, she's miscalculated. Moreover, His Majesty has no intention of taking in new consorts now."
"What if she has other methods?" Shen Miao asked. Ye Mei was ruthless—she would stop at nothing to climb to the top, something Shen Miao had personally experienced in her past life. To expect Ye Mei to return empty-handed seemed impossible. Shen Miao didn't want to underestimate her opponent, nor did she want to make a grave mistake due to her own carelessness.
Xiande Huanghou gave Shen Miao a curious look. "You seem to dislike this Miss Ye quite a bit." Then she smiled understandingly. "Indeed, this Ye Mei has ill intentions—even I can see that. Having stayed in the palace for so many years, I recognize the greed in her eyes. It's only natural for you to be wary of her. During the Imperial Hunt, rumors spread that you targeted Ye Mei out of jealousy, and I guessed then that she was no simple figure. Seeing her today confirms it."
Shen Miao said, "This subject truly dislikes her."
"Is it because of Jingxing?" Xiande Huanghou blinked playfully, teasing, "Don't worry. Jingxing is clever enough himself—he wouldn't like a woman even more cunning. Someone as greedy and ambitious as Ye Mei would be even less to his liking."
Shen Miao: "..." Xiande Huanghou's words made it sound as if she were rather dim.
"Jingxing and His Majesty have discussed not involving the Ye family too much, and I suspect your influence is part of the reason. But personally, I've never liked the Ye family. Though they are civil officials, they lack integrity—instead, they are slick and hypocritical, secretly harboring disloyal thoughts. The entire Ye family dabbles in crooked paths, though..." Xiande Huanghou seemed to recall something. "The young master of the Ye family is rather decent. I spoke with him—he's as innocent as a child. Unfortunately, he is lame and not well-respected in his own household."
Shen Miao had also heard of the Ye family's crippled young master, though she didn't know his character. Hearing Xiande Huanghou speak of him, she couldn't help but sigh. A rare good person, yet cursed with such misfortune.
Xiande Huanghou continued, "Before long, the situation in Longye will grow tense. Prince Rui's Estate will likely be closely watched. Jingxing is often away, and there are places in the estate that may be overlooked. As they say, 'the wary are not always safe.' You must take extra care."
Shen Miao straightened her expression. "This subject understands."
Dealing with the Lu and Ye families would undoubtedly stir up a storm in Longye. As Xie Jingxing's wife and the Royal Consort of Prince Rui's Estate, she would naturally become the prime target.
Xiande Huanghou patted her hand. "You must start learning these things now."
Shen Miao nodded in acknowledgment. Just then, Tao Gugu approached with a young palace maid. "Consort Hui and Noble Lady Ning are quarreling at the small residence in the garden. It's quite a scene—would Your Majesty like to intervene?"During these days, with Consort Jing pregnant, the other women in the palace began to grow restless. Previously, none of them had borne children, so whether they gained the emperor's favor or not was of little consequence. But now, with one rising to prominence, the others couldn't help but think of their own prospects. Each harbored selfish desires, leading to more conflicts than before. Moreover, many ministers once again entertained the idea of sending women to the Yongle Emperor's side. The harem, once peaceful, now saw disturbances every few days. Though these incidents were minor, their frequency inevitably caused frustration.
Empress Xiande's displeasure showed on her face. No matter how good-tempered one might be, constant troubles like these would sour anyone's mood.
"Your Highness should go and take a look first," Shen Miao said. "There's no need to mind me." She had no intention of following Empress Xiande to see the commotion. The affairs of the Longye harem ultimately had nothing to do with Shen Miao, and she couldn't be of any help. Empress Xiande had no choice but to stand up and say to Shen Miao, "This consort will first go to the small residence among the flowers. The Royal Consort may rest here and enjoy some tea. If you find it dull, you may take a stroll in the garden, as long as you don't wander too far."
Shen Miao had Bajiao and Huixiang by her side, both skilled in martial arts, so she wasn't afraid of any mishaps. Moreover, the palace was filled with guards everywhere, ensuring safety.
Shen Miao agreed, and Empress Xiande left with Tao Gugu. Holding her teacup, Shen Miao's mind drifted to the Empress's words.
She couldn't shake the feeling that Empress Xiande's words carried hidden meanings. She had previously considered that if the Yongle Emperor truly didn't have long to live, who would inherit the throne of Great Coolness after his passing? Consort Jing had never been pregnant, so it seemed their plan wasn't to have the Yongle Emperor's offspring succeed him. Besides, the Yongle Emperor himself had lingering toxins in his body, and any child he fathered might be born with congenital deficiencies, making them unfit to bear the great responsibility. In that case, the only one with royal blood and the right to inherit the throne of Great Coolness would be Xie Jingxing.
In her past life, had Xie Jingxing become emperor? At least by the time she died, when Ming Qi fell, the Yongle Emperor was still alive, and Xie Jingxing was merely leading troops to conquer the land.
So in this life, would Xie Jingxing become emperor? If Xie Jingxing ascended the throne, she would undoubtedly be the Empress. Since ancient times, there had never been a precedent for an emperor to have only one consort in the harem. She had spoken confidently to Empress Xiande, and indeed, she would never tolerate her husband having other women. If this were to become reality, the only thing Shen Miao could do was "since you are heartless, I shall leave." She would sever all ties with Xie Jingxing.
But their bond was hard-won, and she didn't want to cut off the marital fate they had built over two lifetimes so easily.
Feeling somewhat vexed, she stood up and walked to the nearby pond to catch the breeze, with Bajiao and Huixiang following her.
The garden was dense with trees, layers of foliage obscuring winding paths that branched in all directions, each turn revealing new scenery, exuding elegance.
But Shen Miao had no heart to appreciate even the most beautiful views. As she reached the pond, the cool breeze brushed her face, refreshing and soothing, calming her down.
After standing there for a while, she decided to return to the stone table where she had been sitting earlier, estimating that Empress Xiande should be back soon. As she turned to leave, her gaze casually swept over the nearby grove.
That one glance.
Shen Miao abruptly stopped in her tracks.
Her eyes fixed intently on the side, her entire body feeling as if her blood had turned both icy and scalding, rushing to her head in an overwhelming surge, nearly causing her to lose her balance. This alarmed Bajiao and Huixiang, who quickly looked around but saw nothing amiss.
Suddenly, Shen Miao pushed aside the bushes before her and dashed down a small path.
"Madam!" Bajiao and Huixiang were startled and hurried after her.
Shen Miao ran swiftly, oblivious to the dust from the branches clinging to her hair and clothes. Upon closer inspection, her hands were trembling violently, her lips pale, and her eyes wide open, not daring to relax for even a moment.
She had seen the face of a young man peeking through the branches of the trees—a slightly shy smile, a familiar expression. It was Fu Ming.
Her son, Fu Ming.There was no mistake, absolutely no mistake. Shen Miao ran desperately, but the imperial garden's paths branched in all directions, each leading to a different place. The dense foliage made the young man vanish in an instant, almost making her think it was an illusion.
Ahead, the path ended abruptly, revealing only a corner of the dark lake, along with artificial hills and a pavilion.
Shen Miao couldn't find the young man. Huixiang and Bajiao caught up to her and saw her standing still, lost in thought, her expression utterly despondent.
Before the three could react, a woman's sharp, startled cry suddenly rang out from ahead, followed by the heavy thud of something hitting the ground.
"Plop!"
...
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