It was deep into the night. Even the Prince Rui Residence had sunk fully into sleep, wrapped in silence so complete that one could almost hear the breathing of the walls themselves. Just as everything had settled into stillness, someone suddenly arrived with urgent news.
It was Tie Yi.
Under normal circumstances, Tie Yi would never disturb them at such an hour unless the matter was truly pressing. Shen Miao was sleeping most deeply when she vaguely sensed movement beside her. Xie Jing Xing rose quietly from the bed and stepped out through the door. A moment later, she heard muffled voices outside, low and restrained. Shortly after that, the faint sound of fabric brushing against skin reached her ears.
Shen Miao opened her eyes.
By the light in the room, she saw Xie Jing Xing standing by the study table, already dressed. She turned her gaze towards the window and realised it was still the dead of night. For him to be fully clothed at such an hour, looking as though he were about to leave, made her heart sink slightly.
"What happened?" she asked.
Xie Jing Xing noticed that she was awake and paused. "Something occurred in the palace," he said. "I need to enter the palace and take a look. You should sleep first. There's no need to wait for me."
At once, most of Shen Miao's drowsiness vanished.
For Xie Jing Xing to leave in the middle of the night meant the situation was far from ordinary—especially when it involved the Palace. Her instincts sharpened immediately. She sat up slightly and asked, "What is it? Is it serious?"
As he slipped on his outer robe, Xie Jing Xing replied, "Huánghòu pushed Jing Fēi into the pond. The details aren't clear yet."
Shen Miao let out a quiet breath of relief.
When she heard that he was being summoned to the Palace at such an hour, she had instinctively assumed there had been an assassination attempt. Compared to that, this news felt far less dire. Her heart settled—but only for a moment.
Almost immediately, doubt surfaced.
"Why would Huánghòu Niángniáng push Jing Fēi into the pond?" Shen Miao asked, genuine surprise colouring her voice.
She had met Empress Xian De before, and she had also seen Consort Jing. In Shen Miao's eyes, Empress Xian De was not someone who would even bother competing with a person like Consort Jing, let alone stoop to such crude methods. Moreover, Empress Xian De was not impulsive by nature. If someone claimed that Consort Jing had pushed Empress Xian De into the water, Shen Miao might believe it without hesitation—but to say that Empress Xian De had taken the initiative herself was something she found impossible to accept.
"The Lu family is currently in the palace," Xie Jing Xing added. "They're known for clinging and pestering endlessly. I'll go over first and see what they're trying to stir up."
Shen Miao immediately sat up and swung her legs off the bed. "I'll go as well."
"It's too late," Xie Jing Xing objected without hesitation. "You should sleep. Nothing will happen."
Shen Miao shook her head firmly. "Since you're entering the Palace at this hour, this clearly isn't a simple matter. In any case, I won't be able to sleep. If you leave me alone in the residence, my thoughts will only spiral." She paused briefly before continuing, her tone steady. "It's better that I go with you. Besides, if anything unexpected happens, I might even be able to help."
Xie Jing Xing fell silent for a moment, weighing her words. Finally, he sighed lightly. "Very well. I wouldn't feel at ease leaving you here alone either." He glanced at her. "Let's go."
Shen Miao did not waste another moment. She rose quickly and began changing her clothes.
Because it was already so late, all the servants in the Prince Rui Residence had long since retired to rest. In the end, Xie Jing Xing and Shen Miao brought only Tie Yi and Cong Yang with them. The carriage moved steadily through the streets of Long Ye, the wheels rolling softly over stone. Not a single figure could be seen along the road; the city lay completely silent beneath the night sky.
Xie Jing Xing's expression was cold and restrained, his brows faintly drawn together. Shen Miao, on the other hand, was deeply lost in thought, her mind turning over possibilities one after another.
Even if Empress Xian De had truly pushed Consort Jing into the pond, there was no need to summon Xie Jing Xing to the Palace in the middle of the night. To put it bluntly, even if Consort Jing had lost her life because of the incident, it would still be an internal conflict between women of the Inner Palace. The Lu family could have been dismissed outright without ceremony. Moreover, Emperor Yong Le was already tearing away all pretences with the Lu family—how could he possibly allow them to seize such an opportunity to create a public uproar?
The more Shen Miao thought about it, the more something felt amiss.
When she had still been in Ming Qi, she had seen no shortage of concubines scheming against one another out of jealousy. Compared to those methods, pushing someone into a pond was crude to the point of being laughable—the most inferior of set-ups. If Empress Xian De truly wished to act, she would never choose such an obvious approach. So why would this matter require Xie Jing Xing to make a personal trip to the Palace?
Shen Miao was certain this was not so simple.
Yet Tie Yi had reported that the person who arrived with the Imperial decree spoke vaguely and refused to explain the situation in detail. No one knew what had truly happened inside the Palace.
Both of them remained silent, each absorbed in their own thoughts. Before they realised it, the carriage had already arrived at the Palace gates.
Standing there was Deng Gōnggōng, who was constantly at Emperor Yong Le's side. Upon seeing Xie Jing Xing, his face immediately lit up with relief. However, when he noticed Shen Miao stepping down from the carriage, he was visibly startled for a brief moment. Even so, he quickly regained his composure and smiled as though nothing were amiss.
"Qīnwáng Diànxià has finally arrived," he said warmly. "Bìxià is waiting for you inside the Palace."
Xie Jing Xing allowed Deng Gōnggōng to lead the way. Shen Miao followed closely behind. After walking a short distance and turning the matter over in her mind, she spoke.
"Deng Gōnggōng, is Huánghòu Niángniáng well?"
"Huánghòu Niángniáng is unharmed," Deng Gōnggōng replied with a courteous smile. "Many thanks for Wángfēi's concern."
Shen Miao's gaze shifted slightly.
If the Empress was completely fine, yet such a commotion had been raised in the middle of the night, then the problem clearly lay with the other party.
Sure enough, just as the thought formed, Deng Gōnggōng continued, "However, Jing Fēi Niángniáng has not yet regained consciousness."
Xie Jing Xing let out a cold sneer. "What kind of trick is Lu Jing trying to play now?" His expression darkened with clear impatience.
Deng Gōnggōng merely smiled and offered no reply. Yet to Shen Miao, that smile carried an inexplicable meaning, as though many things remained unsaid beneath its surface.
After entering the Palace, Deng Gōnggōng led the two of them straight to Jing Hua Palace without any detours. Jing Hua Palace was Consort Jing's residence. Although it was already deep into the night, the palace was brightly illuminated, every lamp and candle lit as though it were broad daylight. Palace maids knelt in orderly rows across the main hall, their heads lowered, the air heavy with tension.
At a single glance, Shen Miao could see that Emperor Yong Le and Empress Xian De were both present.
The two sat side by side in the hall. Empress Xian De appeared no different from her usual self—composed, tranquil, her expression calm and unruffled, as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. Emperor Yong Le, however, was another matter entirely. His face was cold as frost, his expression dark and forbidding, the oppressive aura around him impossible to ignore.
Shen Miao entered together with Xie Jing Xing. Deng Gōnggōng stepped forward at once and reported their arrival. When Emperor Yong Le noticed that Shen Miao had come along as well, a trace of surprise flickered across his face. Before he could say anything, Empress Xian De had already risen from her seat.
She walked towards Shen Miao with a gentle smile and reached out to take her hands, her manner warm and familiar. "Previously, I heard that your health was not good and had intended to invite you into the Palace for a chat," she said softly. "Who would have thought that so many things would happen instead? I truly didn't expect you to come over so late at night."
Shen Miao returned her smile, her expression composed. "I didn't know what had occurred for Qīnwáng Diànxià to be summoned to the Palace, so I followed along."
Empress Xian De looked at her attentively and asked, "Has your health recovered?"
"It has fully healed," Shen Miao replied. "Many thanks for Niángniáng's concern."
Empress Xian De's smile deepened slightly. "Then Běngōng is relieved."
On the other side, Xie Jing Xing had already turned his attention to Emperor Yong Le. His expression was solemn as he spoke. "Huáng Xiōng, what exactly has happened?"
Everyone present knew that Empress Xian De would never push Consort Jing into the water. Consort Jing herself had not yet regained consciousness, and yet Emperor Yong Le had already moved against the Lu family without sparing them even a shred of dignity. Under such circumstances, summoning Xie Jing Xing into the Palace in the middle of the night could not possibly be for the sake of Consort Jing's injuries alone.
Emperor Yong Le spoke in a cold, flat tone. "The Lu family was here just now."
"They came?" Xie Jing Xing frowned slightly. "When I entered, I didn't see a single member of the Lu family."
The Lu family were notorious troublemakers, the sort whose arrogance already reached the heavens. With Consort Jing having fallen into the water tonight, and with the Lu family recently suffering repeated losses at the Emperor's hands, they would certainly seize this chance to make a scene. They would not let Empress Xian De off so easily. For them not to leave behind even a shadow—could it be that they had already finished stirring up trouble before Xie Jing Xing arrived?
"They're not worried that something might happen to Jing Fēi," Empress Xian De said calmly.
"They're confident because they have backing."
Shen Miao's heart stirred.
Backing?
Those words lingered in her mind, carrying weight far heavier than they appeared. What kind of backing could make the Lu family so fearless—so assured that they could retreat without even waiting for an outcome?
Before Shen Miao could sort through the implications, an Imperial Physician stepped out from inside. He walked over to Emperor Yong Le, bowed deeply, and reported, "Replying to Bìxià, Jing Fēi Niángniáng caught a chill after falling into the water. Fortunately, her constitution is strong. The dragon seed in her womb is safe. With two doses of medicine and proper rest, both mother and child will be unharmed."
The hall fell into an instant of silence.
Consort Jing… was pregnant?
Both Shen Miao and Xie Jing Xing were momentarily stunned.
Almost instinctively, Shen Miao turned her gaze towards Empress Xian De. Empress Xian De's lips curved slightly upward, her expression remaining as composed and magnanimous as ever. Yet no matter how Shen Miao looked at it, that faint smile carried an unmistakable trace of mockery—cool, restrained, and sharp beneath the surface.
Shen Miao then looked towards Emperor Yong Le.
His gaze was icy, his expression darkened as though it had sunk beneath deep waters. No matter how one looked at it, there was not the slightest hint of joy on his face.
From within the inner chambers, it seemed that Consort Jing had awakened. A delicate, almost fragile voice drifted out, calling softly, "Bìxià… Chénqiè wishes to see Bìxià."
Xie Jing Xing glanced towards Emperor Yong Le, the corner of his lips lifting slightly into a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. Emperor Yong Le, however, did not look at him. Instead, he turned his head and looked towards Empress Xian De.
Empress Xian De smiled gently, her expression composed and unhurried. "Bìxià should go and see Jing Fēi. After all, the child is always innocent." She then turned her gaze towards Xie Jing Xing. "Bìxià will most likely wish to speak with you shortly, so you may wait here."
After that, she looked at Shen Miao and spoke warmly, "It has been quite some time. Běngōng also wishes to return and change clothes. Wángfēi can accompany Běngōng back. It is already very late, and one fears you may be tired. Wei Yang Palace has hot tea prepared."
Empress Xian De's manner was so dignified and proper that not a single fault could be found. Yet it was precisely this calm composure that made one's heart feel uneasy. The more serene she appeared, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.
Shen Miao noticed that a large portion of Empress Xian De's skirt was damp. She immediately guessed that Empress Xian De must have been standing close to Consort Jing by the pond earlier, and when Consort Jing fell into the water, her clothes had been splashed as well. Yet because she had been occupied with attending to Lu Jing's affairs, she had not even bothered to change into clean garments.
Shen Miao nodded lightly. "Alright."
Emperor Yong Le stared at Empress Xian De without speaking. Meanwhile, Consort Jing's voice from within the room grew even more delicate and plaintive, calling out again.
Empress Xian De spoke calmly, "It would be better for Bìxià to go and see her sooner rather than later. It is not Jing Fēi who would be tired—but the child in her womb."
After finishing her words, she took Shen Miao's hand and turned to leave, not sparing a glance at Emperor Yong Le's expression.
Once they stepped out of Jing Hua Palace, the air outside felt noticeably fresher, as though one had finally escaped a suffocating enclosure. The heat and restlessness of summer were already beginning to fade; before long, the weather would cool and autumn would quietly arrive. The flowers still bloomed brilliantly in the summer night, yet Shen Miao knew that in just a few more days, everything would turn calm and desolate.
Shen Miao lowered her head slightly, her thoughts lingering on the strange atmosphere between Emperor Yong Le and Empress Xian De.
Tonight, Empress Xian De had shown a faint trace of exhaustion. Within Jing Hua Palace, her attitude towards Emperor Yong Le had carried an edge of confrontation—subtle, restrained, but unmistakable. This was unlike her usual calm and detached self.
Could it be because of Consort Jing's child?
That was right. Empress Xian De had no children.
When Shen Miao first entered the Palace, she had already noticed this point. Emperor Yong Le was in the prime of his life, yet he had no legitimate descendants of his own. In court, the Lu and Ye families commanded a great many supporters, and aside from the residual influence left behind by the Late Emperor, there was another crucial reason for this situation—there was no heir.
No matter how one looked at it, an Emperor without descendants was not an Emperor whose position would remain stable for long.
And now, Consort Jing was pregnant?
If Consort Jing were to give birth to a son, then the future monarch's position would almost be set in stone. By then, the fate of the country would be firmly bound to the Lu family. Emperor Yong Le would never be willing to see an external clan monopolise power in such a manner. It was no wonder, then, that his expression had shown not the slightest hint of joy when he learned of Consort Jing's pregnancy.
As for Empress Xian De's reaction, Shen Miao believed it was not solely tied to her position as Empress. More likely, it stemmed from the quiet jealousy buried deep within a woman's heart.
Those involved might feel confused, but an onlooker could see everything with startling clarity. Shen Miao was no exception.
The gaze Empress Xian De cast towards Emperor Yong Le earlier was eerily similar to the look she herself once directed at Fu Xiu Yi. It was the look of a woman who loved her husband deeply, yet in the end had to face the cruel reality that another woman carried his child. No matter how calm and self-controlled Empress Xian De appeared on the surface, there would inevitably be a trace of bitterness hidden in her heart.
After all, she was still only a woman.
"Qīnwángfēi?"
Empress Xian De's voice sounded softly at her side.
Shen Miao came back to her senses at once. Seeing Empress Xian De looking at her, she offered a somewhat apologetic smile. "I was too lost in thought just now and didn't hear Běngōng's words."
"There is no need for such formality," Empress Xian De replied, showing no sign of offence. "It is already very late. When one is tired, it is only natural for the mind to wander. Wángfēi need not blame yourself."
As they continued walking, Shen Miao hesitated briefly before speaking again. "Niángniáng, there is something one would like to ask."
"Please ask," Empress Xian De said calmly.
Shen Miao gathered her thoughts, then asked quietly, "Was it truly Niángniáng who pushed Jing Fēi into the water?"
Empress Xian De paused slightly before turning back to Shen Miao, a faint smile appearing on her lips. "Then what does Wángfēi think?"
"Huánghòu Niángniáng would never do such a thing," Shen Miao replied without hesitation. "Jing Fēi did not just enter the Palace, and Niángniáng has lived peacefully alongside her for so many years. There is no reason to act at a moment like this." She paused briefly, then continued, "That is why one is curious—why did Niángniáng accept this accusation?"
Empress Xian De stopped walking altogether. She turned and looked at Shen Miao, her smile calm and unhurried. "You truly believe in Běngōng."
After a short pause, she continued gently, "It is rather strange, when one thinks about it. From the first time Běngōng saw you, there was a sense of familiarity. You are very similar to Běngōng, yet your temperament is far more intense. It is likely because your Father is a General."
She looked ahead, her tone reflective. "Běngōng has heard many things about you. Though you possess many means and strategies, your actions are always clean and decisive, carrying a clear military air. That is something Běngōng cannot do. Literary families value indirection. Even when Běngōng wishes to act, everything must be wrapped softly, tied gently, and brought to an end without leaving sharp edges."
She smiled faintly. "So in the end, no matter how similar we appear, you and Běngōng will always be different."
Shen Miao remained silent.
Empress Xian De smiled again, her expression untroubled. "There is truly no need for Běngōng to push her into the pond. The Emperor understands this. The Lu family understands this as well. The only one who does not understand is Lu Jing."
She continued calmly, "As for this accusation, it makes no difference whether Běngōng bears it or not. The purpose of framing someone is to deceive everyone under the heavens. Yet even you, who have only just arrived in Long Ye, can see through this lie. How much more so the officials who have spent years in this court?"
Shen Miao asked quietly, "Could it be that Niángniáng will not explain at all?"
"Běngōng is too lazy to explain," Empress Xian De replied faintly. "And cannot be bothered to do so. Jing Fēi may do as she wishes. Běngōng will not take it to heart."
At that moment, Shen Miao realised that in this regard, she was completely different from Empress Xian De.
If it were her—if it were an accusation she had not committed—she would never accept it quietly. No matter how many lives she had lived, the fierceness in her bones would never change. Empress Xian De, on the other hand, was like vast, deep water—tolerant, calm, and unfathomable. Standing before her, others could not help but feel small.
As they spoke, Wei Yang Palace gradually came into view. Tao Gūgū was already waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing them return, she hurried forward anxiously.
"Is Niángniáng alright?" Tao Gūgū asked at once. "Is Jing Fēi Niángniáng alright?" After Consort Jing fell into the water, Empress Xian De had instructed Tao Gūgū to return first. Tao Gūgū had been worried the entire time, and only now did Empress Xian De finally return.
Empress Xian De did not answer her questions directly. Instead, she smiled gently. "Nothing is the matter. Běngōng will first change clothes. Tao Gūgū, bring Wángfēi to the hall to sit and prepare some hot tea for her."
With that, she turned and went inside to change.
Tao Gūgū led Shen Miao into the hall. Hot tea was quickly poured, steam rising as it was set before her. Tao Gūgū could not hold back any longer and asked anxiously, "Wángfēi, what exactly is going on with Jing Fēi Niángniáng? Nothing serious happened, right? Why was Niángniáng delayed for so long?"
Her voice was filled with concern—the anxiety of a loyal servant who truly worried for her master.
Shen Miao thought for a moment before replying, her tone even and measured. "There is nothing wrong with Jing Fēi. The child in her womb is also doing well."
Tao Gūgū was violently startled. Her hand trembled, and the teacup nearly slipped from her grasp, the tea inside rippling dangerously close to the rim. When she finally reacted, she steadied herself, but her face had already gone pale.
Seeing her reaction, Shen Miao asked softly, "You didn't know that Jing Fēi is pregnant?"
Tao Gūgū forced a smile, one that was clearly strained. "Wángfēi is joking. How could one have known earlier?" She paused, her lips tightening slightly. "If one had known…"
She did not continue.
Shen Miao did not miss the flash of resentment and suppressed anger that flickered across Tao Gūgū's face in that brief instant. In her heart, Shen Miao wondered what Tao Gūgū meant by if one had known. Would she have acted differently? Would she, like so many women in the Palace, have sought to eliminate the child before it could ever be born?
Just as that thought crossed Shen Miao's mind, Empress Xian De emerged from the inner chambers.
She had already changed her clothes. The garments she now wore were thin white robes embroidered with bluegrass, simple and elegant. Without the formal Empress regalia, she appeared almost like a different person altogether. Shen Miao studied her carefully and noticed that Empress Xian De's brows were light and relaxed, her bearing gentle yet composed. She carried the quiet elegance of a scholarly household—somewhat similar to Pei Lang, yet her presence was softer, more like a breeze than still water.
Empress Xian De walked over and sat beside Shen Miao, then lifted a teacup with unhurried grace. "It truly is tiring at night," she said mildly. "Drinking tea like this feels much warmer."
All of a sudden, Tao Gūgū dropped to her knees.
"Niángniáng," she said urgently, "how can you still be in the mood to drink tea?"
Empress Xian De was momentarily taken aback. "What is this?" There was a faint edge of sternness in her voice.
Tao Gūgū did not rise. She remained kneeling, her back straight, her voice tinged with both grief and indignation. "Jing Fēi Niángniáng is pregnant. She is pregnant and still dares to frame you. And you still tolerate it. How long must you continue to endure?"
These words had already crossed the boundary of what a servant should ever say to her master.
The atmosphere in the hall instantly turned cold.
Shen Miao lowered her gaze to the rim of her teacup and said nothing, her fingers tightening slightly around the porcelain. Empress Xian De's expression remained calm, but her voice was firm as she spoke.
"Qiu Shui, you have followed Běngōng for many years, and Běngōng has always regarded you as family." Her eyes rested steadily on Tao Gūgū. "But you have overstepped."
Tao Gūgū remained kneeling, unmoving.
After a moment of silence, Empress Xian De let out a soft sigh. "Never mind. Lu Jing did not know she was pregnant." Her voice was calm, almost indifferent. "Běngōng understands Lu Jing's temperament well. If she had known she was with child, she would never have used the child in her womb to frame Běngōng. Instead, she would have guarded the Dragon's seed with utmost care and would never have allowed anything to endanger it."
"But now it is a fact that Jing Fēi is pregnant," Tao Gūgū said, lifting her head stubbornly. "Niángniáng must think for yourself!"
Shen Miao could no longer remain silent. She set her teacup down and spoke steadily, "Tao Gūgū's words are not without reason. This matter concerning Jing Fēi truly requires careful consideration." She paused briefly before continuing, her tone respectful yet firm. "This does not concern only Huánghòu Niángniáng personally. With the current situation surrounding the Lu family, Niángniáng cannot simply remain an onlooker."
Empress Xian De looked at Shen Miao in clear surprise, evidently not expecting her to speak at this moment. Very quickly, however, her expression softened into a smile. "It seems Jing Xing has spoken quite a bit to you."
"Qiu Shui, get up," Empress Xian De said to Tao Gūgū. "Běngōng does not wish to repeat myself."
Her tone was unmistakably commanding. Tao Gūgū hesitated for a brief moment before finally standing, her expression unwilling yet restrained.
Empress Xian De then turned back to Shen Miao. "You have witnessed an unseemly scene tonight. Qiu Shui is someone very close to Běngōng and has always considered matters wholeheartedly for my sake. That is why her words are anxious and overly direct." She sighed softly. "But her intentions come from a good place."
After a short pause, Empress Xian De continued, her gaze distant. "In truth, Běngōng always believed Lu Jing to be foolish and unworthy of competition. I disdained to contend with her. But now it seems that it was Běngōng who made an oversight." Her lips curved faintly. "Lu Jing still has some ability after all. To evade the concoction to avoid pregnancy and successfully carry the Emperor's child—this alone proves she is not entirely without means."
Concoction to avoid pregnancy.
Shen Miao's heart stirred.
Empress Xian De had just revealed a secret of the Palace so plainly. In truth, the more one knew of such private matters, the more dangerous it became. Those who knew too much often ended up as silent nourishment for the Palace's flowers. Yet for some reason, Shen Miao did not sense any wariness from Empress Xian De. It was as though these words were spoken simply because Empress Xian De wished to speak them—without calculation, without suspicion.
"You are a clever person," Empress Xian De continued. "You must have already noticed that Huángshàng has no children in the Palace. This is not due to the concubines, nor is it because of Huángshàng himself. It is because all of them drank the concoction to avoid pregnancy."
She spoke calmly, as though recounting an ordinary matter. "Lu Jing drank it as well in the beginning. But for reasons unknown, she must have used some method to conceive the Dragon's seed. This is the first case in the Palace."
She paused, then seemed to recall something else. A faint, almost self-mocking smile appeared on her lips. "Or perhaps not the first. Běngōng once had a child as well—but there was a miscarriage."
When Tao Gūgū heard this, her eyes immediately reddened.
Shen Miao's hands trembled slightly as she held the teacup, but she did not speak. She merely lowered her gaze, forcing herself to remain composed.
"Huángshàng often felt that you were not good enough," Empress Xian De said calmly, her tone unexpectedly shifting. She looked directly at Shen Miao. "He believes Jing Xing is the finest there is. Even if a woman were a fairy descended from the heavens, she would still not be worthy of mention in his eyes."
She paused briefly before continuing. "At the beginning, when Jing Xing said he wished to marry a woman from Ming Qi, Huángshàng ordered people to investigate you thoroughly. After hearing everything, he told Běngōng that you possessed a malicious heart."
Empress Xian De's gaze lingered on Shen Miao for a moment. "But looking at you now, Běngōng feels that you are very kind."
Shen Miao was momentarily at a loss. Before she could respond, Empress Xian De spoke again, as though she had seen straight through her thoughts.
"You clearly wish to ask about Běngōng's miscarriage," Empress Xian De said softly, "but you fear that doing so would stir my emotions, so you restrained yourself."
Shen Miao replied in a low voice, "This one does not dare."
Empress Xian De smiled faintly. "You are, in fact, very frank and sincere. Jing Xing truly found an interesting wife." Her smile deepened slightly. "Běngōng likes you even more now."
She lifted her teacup, her voice unhurried as she continued, "That matter happened long ago. Běngōng has long since come to terms with it. Back then, when Běngōng was pregnant, Lu Jing secretly added a cold herb to the snacks prepared by the Imperial Kitchens. Only a trace was needed, and the child was gone."
Her tone remained level, almost detached. "At that time, Lu Jing had just entered the Palace and was at the height of favour. The Lu family stood firmly behind her, watching closely. Bìxià could only issue a light punishment." She paused briefly. "Běngōng later thought that perhaps I was simply not fated to have that child."
Even without witnessing it, Shen Miao could already imagine the pain hidden beneath those words.
In her previous life within the Ming Qi Inner Palace, concubines had fought relentlessly for favour. The Inner Palace was nothing less than a battlefield for women, and when women became ruthless, they were often more terrifying than men. Many children of consorts had fallen victim to such struggles. Yet no matter how cruel a woman might be, the moment she lost a child, she would weep in utter despair.
Did the calm and gentle Empress before her also endure such agony?
Time might heal the surface of a wound, but only the person herself would know the pain buried beneath the scar.
What was most hateful was that she could not even avenge her child.
Why was it so?
"Do not blame Bìxià, and do not pity Běngōng," Empress Xian De said quietly. "Although Běngōng is indeed pitiful, I have also become a wicked person."
She continued evenly, "After the miscarriage, Běngōng could no longer conceive. In this lifetime, I will never have my own child. And so Huángshàng ensured that no woman in this Inner Palace would bear his children."
Her lips curved faintly, the smile carrying a cold edge. "If Běngōng cannot live well, then no one else will live well either."
Shen Miao was stunned.
Because Empress Xian De could no longer bear children, did that mean Emperor Yong Le had forbidden all the women in the Palace from giving birth?
If that were truly the case, then Emperor Yong Le genuinely loved Empress Xian De.
But if he truly loved her, then why did he allow her to suffer such a grievous injustice in the first place?
Even if Empress Xian De herself never spoke of it, if Emperor Yong Le had even a shred of affection, he would have wanted to personally kill the one who murdered her child. So why, then, did he instead elevate Lu Jing and allow her to become a favoured Consort?
Shen Miao felt a chill creep up her spine.
She suddenly realised that the secrets buried within Great Liang's Imperial family were no fewer—and no less rotten—than those of Ming Qi.
When Empress Xian De saw the shock written plainly on Shen Miao's face, she suddenly laughed softly. "You actually believed that?"
She shook her head faintly. "How could Bìxià possibly be willing to give up the children of all the concubines just for Běngōng?" Her tone was light, almost amused. "Jing Xing could do such a thing because Jing Xing has that kind of fortune. But Huángshàng's fortune is not good."
She paused.
"After all, he is Huángshàng."
There was far too much meaning hidden within that single sentence. Shen Miao found herself unable to respond for a moment.
Empress Xian De continued calmly, "However, you are not wrong. One must always plan for the future." Her lips curved into a faint smile. "Jing Fēi's child arrived at a very convenient time. This child can temporarily protect her life."
Her smile sharpened, the gentleness draining away.
"But the Lu family does not possess such fortune."
"The child cannot be kept."
Inside the Imperial Study, Xie Jing Xing's gaze was icy as he spoke those words to the man seated before him.
"Zhèn knows that the child cannot be kept," Emperor Yong Le replied indifferently, his tone flat and detached, as though the life in question did not belong to his own flesh and blood. "If it were possible, Zhèn would already have given her a bowl of medicine."
"Then why don't you?" Xie Jing Xing asked sharply, his voice pressing forward without restraint.
"Qing Zhen does not allow it," Emperor Yong Le said.
Qing Zhen.
That was Empress Xian De's unmarried name—a name that had not passed Emperor Yong Le's lips for many years.
After a brief silence, Xie Jing Xing let out a laugh full of ridicule. "Huáng Sǎo's heart has always been soft," he said coldly. "Perhaps it is because she pities the child she lost."
"Xie Yuan!"
Those words struck directly at Emperor Yong Le's hidden wound. His face darkened instantly as he glared at Xie Jing Xing, fury flashing in his eyes.
Xie Jing Xing merely curved his lips into a casual, almost careless smile. "Then what can be done now?" he said lightly. "I have no interest in Lu Jing, nor do I wish to spare a glance for that child. The Lu family came and left tonight with absolute certainty that the child in Lu Jing's womb is a talisman. How could one possibly hand them such a generous gift so easily?"
For an Emperor without a single descendant, the sudden appearance of an heir was nothing short of a lifeline—a straw to cling to in deep waters. No matter how unwilling Emperor Yong Le might be, once that child was born, the future of the throne would inevitably fall upon the child in Consort Jing's womb.
That was precisely why the Lu family, after confirming Consort Jing's pregnancy, neither made a scene nor raised objections. They left swiftly, decisively, without hesitation. In their eyes, Empress Xian De's position as Huánghòu would soon cease to exist. There was not even time to feign sympathy. Power itself was their mercy.
But could one truly sleep peacefully under such certainty?
Since ancient times, there had always been a saying—human hearts were unpredictable, and the future was even harder to foresee.
"The Lu family has always overlooked one thing," Emperor Yong Le said indifferently, his voice devoid of warmth. "You and I bear the surname Xie. The blood of the Xie family flows in our veins."
His gaze was calm, almost emotionless.
"And the people of the Xie family," he continued, "have always been ruthless—and unfeeling."