"The matter must be expedited. I've already given orders," the Emperor said with finality.
Meng Wenyao's tears vanished like mist under sunlight. She smiled sweetly. "Your Majesty treats this concubine so well."
The Emperor caught her restless hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it gently. His voice was low, teasing, "Then how does Yaoyao plan to repay me? How about surrendering your body to me tonight?"
"Your Majesty~" Wenyao called out playfully, but her mind was already racing.
This lecherous old fox wasn't going to let her rest a single night during her pregnancy if she didn't come up with something. She had to nip this in the bud.
"Your Majesty… this concubine is a little worried."
The Emperor helped her sit down carefully, his tone instantly turning soft. "What are you worried about?"
Looking embarrassed, Wenyao wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered into his ear, "Back when the imperial physicians confirmed the pregnancy… this concubine was already carrying the child, wasn't she? But at that time, Your Majesty still summoned this concubine every night. You were so… passionate and vigorous… I worry it may have hurt the baby."
The Emperor fell silent, clearly struck by the thought.
He remembered it vividly—those nights with Meng Wenyao, he had poured out the affection he'd pent up for thirty years, giving her everything without restraint. If she'd already been pregnant back then…
He hadn't even considered that. Between political matters and the An Prince's endless drama, he'd been too distracted. Now guilt washed over him. He immediately ordered someone to summon the imperial physicians.
Fortunately, the imperial physicians were stationed in a nearby hall, ready at a moment's notice to serve the favored concubine. Two of them arrived swiftly.
Wenyao tucked herself into the Emperor's arms, hiding her face in embarrassment while he explained the issue.
"Before the pregnancy was confirmed, the Consort shared my bed almost nightly. I'm quite fond of her, and I may have been… overly enthusiastic. Could this have harmed the child?"
The two physicians exchanged a meaningful glance.
Based on their recent diagnoses, the consort and fetus were both in excellent health. But this was the Emperor's first child—it was better to err on the side of caution.
The elder physician stepped forward. "Your Majesty, Consort Chen is young and strong. She should be able to endure some extra… attention. However, we still advise abstinence during the first three months of pregnancy, just to be safe."
The Emperor nodded. He hadn't planned to summon her again during this early stage anyway.
Still, he frowned. "But I've noticed—whenever I indulge in her a bit more, she tends to faint. Is her constitution really that weak? Will that affect her ability to carry the child?"
The two physicians looked at each other again, startled.
Fainting? That didn't match their pulse readings at all—her body was in prime condition.
Meng Wenyao panicked internally. She'd been faking those fainting spells to avoid exhausting herself too much in bed. But now she worried her little tricks might skew the physicians' judgment.
"That only happened in the beginning," she quickly said, face reddening. "Back then, I wasn't used to Your Majesty's… vigor. But I've since adjusted. I can endure Your Majesty's full affection now."
She buried her face against his chest as if overcome with embarrassment.
The Emperor laughed, patting her on the head. "True. She did faint a few times at first, but she's much more resilient now."
The physicians finally relaxed.
"In our opinion, Your Majesty," said the older physician, "when a young woman first experiences intimacy, it's not uncommon for her to faint if the pace is too intense. That Consort Chen has since adapted only proves her body is healthy and well-suited for childbearing. Her pulse is steady, and the fetus is strong. With proper care, she will surely give birth safely."
The Emperor dismissed them with a wave, then turned back to Wenyao. "Now you can rest easy, hm?"
She nodded quietly but didn't speak.
In her heart, she was already scheming. She needed to find a way to dodge the Emperor's bed even after the three-month grace period.
After a while of affectionate cuddling, the Emperor headed to the imperial study to give further orders—he wanted the investigation concerning Second Miss Meng handled quickly.
Meanwhile, outside the palace, the death of the former Noble Consort had sent shockwaves through the capital.
She had ruled the harem for a decade with near-unmatched power. Even after her demotion, most people still referred to her as "Noble Consort." Her downfall was unimaginable.
To the Wei family, her death struck like a bolt from the blue.
Just days ago, they were still the most influential clan in the capital—when a Wei family member so much as sneezed, the whole city trembled.
When she was demoted, the Wei family wasn't too concerned. She had served the Emperor for ten years—surely he wouldn't be so heartless. They believed it was just a phase, that his obsession with the new consort would fade and she would soon be reinstated.
No one expected that before reinstatement, they'd receive news of her death.
Panic gripped the Wei household. They frantically sought answers.
But before they could make discreet inquiries, the entire capital was already buzzing.
The rumors were everywhere.
Apparently, the day marked the seventh day after Second Miss Meng's death. Prince An and his wife had shared deep affection—he personally went to the river to pay respects.
But unexpectedly, the demoted Noble Consort showed up at the memorial. No one knew exactly what she said, but it clearly provoked Prince An in his grief. Overcome with rage, he drowned her on the spot—avenging his dead wife.
"They say the whole thing happened by the river," whispered Granny Gui to the Empress Dowager. "All of Jing City is talking about it—how Prince An pinned the former Noble Consort in the water, to avenge Lady Meng."
As soon as the Empress Dowager heard this, she fainted on the spot.
Chaos broke out in Changle Palace. By the time the Emperor and Consort Chen arrived, she still hadn't regained consciousness.
The Emperor paced, torn between frustration and concern. "Mother already knows how much you care. You shouldn't have come. Your health is what matters most right now."
Meng Wenyao gently took his hand in hers and replied softly, "This concubine lost her mother young. Seeing the Empress Dowager always feels like seeing my own mother. I couldn't rest unless I saw with my own eyes that she was alright."
Since Prince An's coming-of-age ceremony, the Empress Dowager had been falling ill every few days. The Emperor was growing desensitized.
"What now caused her to collapse?" his voice was sharp with irritation.
Granny Gui, the Empress Dowager's lifelong maid and companion, trembled under his gaze. "Your Majesty… she overheard some rumors about Prince An and… became overwhelmed."
"What rumors?" the Emperor snapped. "What did that brat do this time?"
Granny Gui hesitated. Truthfully, she was growing resentful of Prince An. He rarely visited, lacked basic filial piety, and constantly stirred up trouble. Each time, the Empress Dowager had to humble herself to mediate between him and the Emperor.
So she didn't hold back.
She told the Emperor everything the capital was whispering about.
The Emperor was stunned.
Prince An? Killed the former Noble Consort with his own hands?
He knew better. As a man, he could tell Prince An had never truly loved Meng Wenxian. No matter how tragic her death, he wouldn't have gone that far.
He was just about to dismiss the story as baseless gossip when Meng Wenyao spoke softly, "Who would've thought… Prince An was so devoted to my little sister."
The moment she said it, the Emperor froze.
He couldn't contradict her—not without implying that Prince An was cold and heartless, which would only hurt Wenyao more. So he swallowed his words.
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Finally, the Empress Dowager stirred and opened her eyes. The first thing she said was:
"Your Majesty… An'er is timid. He couldn't possibly have killed anyone."