Chapter 398: The Concubine Who Was Buried with the Emperor VS The Ruthless and Romantic Emperor 46
Concubine Shu staggered back to her bedroom, the moonlight shining through the window lattice onto her distraught figure.

She slammed the door open with great force. The "bang" sound echoed in the silent palace, scaring the little palace maid in the corner so much that she trembled.

She finally took off all her disguises and frantically tore off the red ribbon that symbolized shame and despair.

She once regarded this as a tool to seduce the emperor, but now it was like a sharp blade, cutting her self-esteem and pride.

She staggered to the bronze mirror and looked at the face in the mirror that had almost made countless men fall in love with her, but now it was filled with confusion and unwillingness.

"This face is extremely beautiful, not inferior to any other woman in the harem. Why does the emperor suddenly dislike her?"

She murmured to herself, her voice full of confusion and resentment.

The mirror reflected her face, which was distorted with resentment and unwillingness.

She slid her fingers lightly across the edge of the bronze mirror, as if seeking a trace of comfort in this cold object.

"The Emperor used to love seeing me like this. Every time he saw me like this, his eyes were like on fire, and he was so excited that he wanted to swallow me up. But now? He actually refused to even look at me for a second, just because Qin Zhaorong was pregnant? Just because of that little sea cucumber? Humph!"

Her voice echoed in the silent bedroom, carrying a kind of hysterical unwillingness.

Suddenly, she put her hands on her body and began to play with it wantonly. Every movement was full of indulgence and self-exile.

It's also a form of self-abuse.

She tried to numb herself in this way and forget the humiliation and indifference she had just suffered.

But the emptiness and pain in her heart were like an abyss, devouring her sanity and dignity.

After a long time.

She was exhausted from playing, and her eyes showed confusion and fatigue after the madness.

She cried out plaintively, "Your Majesty, can you come and play with me?"

The voice echoed in the silent bedroom, carrying a heartbreaking desire, yet seeming so helpless.

However, there was only deathly silence all around, with no response.

She seemed to have all her strength drained away and slowly collapsed to the ground, her back leaning against the base of the bronze mirror.

Her body was still trembling slightly, as if she was frightened by the sudden neglect and loneliness.

She said to herself with empty eyes: "Your Majesty, why have you changed? Was your previous favor towards me all fake?"

Her lips were cracked, and she had a self-deprecating smile on her lips. "For you, I put aside all my dignity and pride, and used those despicable means to please you, but now... just because Qin Zhaorong is pregnant, just because of that little sea cucumber, are you so heartless to me?"

It was late at night and candlelight was flickering in the Xinghua Palace.

Yu Yao was not asleep. She was half lying on the bed, casually flipping through a storybook in her hand, but her mind was not entirely on the storybook.

At this time, Liuli gently pushed the door open and walked in. Her footsteps were very light, as if she was afraid of disturbing something.

Walking up to Yu Yao, she whispered, "Your Majesty, I just heard something interesting. The noble concubine Shu went to the Hall of Supreme Harmony dressed up strangely. I don't know what tricks she used to get in to see the emperor. But not long after, she was driven out by the emperor. I heard that she looked very unhappy when she left, as if she had lost her soul."

When Yu Yao heard the news, a mocking expression appeared on her face.

She gently put down the script in her hand, raised her eyes and looked at Liuli with a complicated expression, "She is also a pitiful person. In this harem, it is not easy to keep favor for a long time."

Liuli was a little surprised. She thought the Queen would mock her harshly, but she didn't expect the Queen to react like this.

But she quickly came to her senses and said, "Your Majesty, do we need to take any precautions? After all, if Concubine Shu gets desperate, it might be harmful to Your Majesty."

She had heard that Concubine Shu was the craziest and would do anything for favor.

Yu Yao shook her head gently and said calmly, "It's okay, just wait and see. Arrange a few people to keep an eye on her movements and just take precautions."

Fortunately, Xinghua Palace is located in a remote area and few people pay attention to it.

The servants in Xinghua Palace are all her people, and no one would speak nonsense.

Otherwise, the news that she locked the dog emperor out would have spread throughout the six palaces.

Of course, people around the Dog Emperor wouldn’t talk nonsense, unless they don’t want their heads anymore.

It saved her a lot of trouble.

The news that Concubine Shu left the Hall of Supreme Harmony in a daze spread throughout the six palaces in no time.

All the palaces were secretly laughing at Concubine Shu. So what if she was so favored? She was nothing in front of the dragon fetus.

Inside Guanju Palace, the candlelight flickered. Concubine Zhang sat in front of a bronze mirror with a look of mockery on her face.

"That bitch, Concubine Shu, took advantage of her cousin's temporary favor and dared to be so arrogant!"

Concubine Zhang gnashed her teeth, her voice low and full of resentment, "Not only did she steal my limelight, she also put me under house arrest. How hateful!"

Upon hearing this, the personal maid Furong stepped forward to comfort her: "Your Majesty, calm down. Although Concubine Shu is favored for a while, in the harem, the one who laughs last is the winner. Your Majesty, just wait patiently for the opportunity, and you will surely be able to make a comeback."

Concubine Zhang snorted coldly and turned her gaze to the deep night sky outside the window. She was thinking about how to kill someone with a borrowed knife and make Concubine Shu suffer as well.

In Fengyi Palace, candlelight flickered. The queen was lying on the couch with a smile of sarcasm and disdain on her lips.

"It seems that Concubine Shu, who thinks highly of herself, is just like that in front of the Emperor."

The Queen opened her red lips slightly and spoke to Nanny Qin beside her.

There was a hint of disdain and complacency in his tone.

Upon hearing this, Nanny Qin lowered her head and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty is right. Noble Concubine Shu usually relies on the emperor's favor to be arrogant and domineering. Today, she has brought shame upon herself."

The queen sighed lightly, and then changed the subject, with a trace of worry across her brows: "It's just that Qin Zhaoyuan's pregnancy really bothers me. In addition, Yun Guipin and Shu Guiren are all pregnant with dragon fetuses. If they give birth successfully, the situation in the harem will change drastically."

These three bitches, each of them stays in the palace like a turtle and never goes out.

Even when she went out, she was extremely cautious and on guard at all times. She tried several times in secret, but failed, resulting in the dragon fetus still staying in the stomachs of those three bitches.

When Nanny Qin heard this, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes, and she whispered, "Madam, why don't you take this opportunity to solve this problem once and for all?"

The Queen raised her eyebrows slightly, indicating that she should continue.

"I have heard that there are many secret methods among the people that can cause a pregnant woman to have a stillbirth or even a difficult birth. If your majesty is willing, you will definitely find a suitable method."

Nanny Qin lowered her voice, her expression somewhat ruthless.

The Queen was silent for a moment, tapping her fingers on the table, as if weighing the pros and cons.

Finally, she slowly said, "We must be careful in this matter and not leave any evidence behind. Go contact people outside the palace and find a safe way."

Nanny Qin took the order and left.

The queen was still reclining on the couch, her eyes deep, calculating every next move in her mind.

After receiving the order, Nanny Qin knew that the matter was of great importance. Once it was exposed, the entire Fengyi Palace and even the Queen would be in irretrievable danger.

She carefully disguised herself and sneaked out of the palace under the cover of night.

This scene happened unconsciously and no one noticed it at all.

Emperor Jing went to the Xinghua Palace again the next night. He was fully confident that Yao'er's anger would have subsided after a night of calming down.

Lu Xi was holding a palace lantern in front, and a group of eunuchs and palace maids followed behind him. Emperor Jing's steps were a little anxious.

When we arrived at the Xinghua Palace, the gates were still closed.

Lu Xi went forward and knocked on the door, shouting loudly: "The Emperor has arrived——"

However, there was silence inside and no response.

Emperor Jing frowned, feeling a little unhappy, but thinking of Yao'er's grievance yesterday, he suppressed his temper and waited quietly. Xiao Qingzi opened the palace door, saw Emperor Jing, and hurriedly saluted: "Your Majesty, the queen is not feeling well today and has gone to bed. Please go back to the palace."

Emperor Jing naturally didn't believe it. He thought Yao'er must still be angry and deliberately didn't want to see him.

So, he raised his voice and said, "I'll go in and see her. If she's really ill, I'll be relieved."

Having said that, he was about to walk inside.

Xiao Qingzi hurriedly stopped him, "Your Majesty, the Queen has ordered that no one should be seen. If Your Majesty insists on barging in, it might disturb the Queen, and it would not be good for Longyi."

Emperor Jing stood at the palace gate, unable to go forward or backward.

He was annoyed at Yao'er's stubbornness, but also worried that she was really unwell. For a moment, his face looked very ugly.

Lu Xi whispered, "Your Majesty, since the Queen doesn't want to see you, she must have a real reason. Please go back to the palace first and come back tomorrow. Maybe the Queen will be willing to see you."

Qin Zhaorong is really bold. She stopped the emperor outside the palace twice. Isn't she afraid that she will really fall out of favor and the emperor will never come to see her again?

Or did she think that since she was pregnant with the dragon's fetus, the emperor would not do anything to her, so she was so unscrupulous?

Little do people know that in the harem, a son is honored because of his mother, but a mother is also honored because of her son.

If Qin Zhaorong really angers the emperor, then even if she gives birth to a prince in the future, her fate will not be good.

The unfavored princes and concubines in the harem sometimes live a life worse than that of servants.

Qin Zhaorong seemed quite smart before, why has she become so stupid now? Why is she being stubborn?
No wonder the favor was snatched away by Concubine Shu.

Look at how Concubine Shu serves the emperor. She uses all means and tricks to please him, for fear that the emperor will be unhappy.

Emperor Jing was really angry this time. He shook his sleeves and turned back to the palace with everyone.

On the way back to the palace, he was annoyed at Yao'er's stubbornness. As he was the supreme emperor, holding power in the world, it was only natural for him to favor the concubines in the harem.

He asked himself if he had been negligent towards Yu Yao. Not only did he order people to take good care of her, he also tried his best to protect her.

Even though he favored Concubine Shu more these days, he never forgot to visit her.

Regarding the sea cucumber incident in the imperial kitchen, I have already compensated her and punished those servants. Why is she still angry and making a fuss?
"This woman really makes him love and hate her."

Emperor Jing frowned. If another woman dared to do this, she would have been demoted to the cold palace to clean toilets.

Xinghua Palace.

Yu Yao was half lying on the bed, holding a storybook in her hand, flipping through it gently, as if her mind was not on the storybook at all.

Liuli said softly, "Your Majesty, you rejected the Emperor again today. I am worried that the Emperor will be really angry."

Yu Yao sneered, "Let him be angry. I don't care anymore. If I can't live in the palace, I will secretly leave here and travel freely from now on."

Liuli was horrified when she heard this, and hurriedly said, "My queen, how can you have such an idea? Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about the little master in your belly. Although this palace is restrictive, the little master is born a prince or princess, and has a noble status. If you leave the palace without permission, the little master will lose this bright future."

Yu Yao's heart moved. She knew Liuli was doing this for her own good, and she felt a little hesitant.

If she really took the two children out of the palace and made them lose their status as princes and princesses, would they resent her when they grew up?

"Liuli, you are right. I cannot be so willful and only consider my own freedom."

Yu Yao sighed softly, "Why don't we just ask the Dog Emperor to come over tomorrow and let him in."

But as soon as she said this, she couldn't help frowning, feeling uncomfortable.

I was also deeply entangled.

After Emperor Jing returned to the Hall of Supreme Harmony from the Xinghua Palace, he was in an extremely unhappy mood. He was dissatisfied with everyone and wanted to curse everyone as soon as he opened his mouth.

Even though he was lying on the dragon bed, the anger in his heart had not subsided, and he had no desire to sleep. No matter how hard he tried, he could not fall asleep. He just felt like there was a fire burning in his heart.

Emperor Jing looked unhappy and cursed in a low voice: "Damn woman, she doesn't know what's good for her. I have already lowered myself and apologized humbly, but she still blocked me outside the door. Isn't she afraid that I will banish her to the cold palace? I should banish her to the cold palace to clean the toilet, every day, every year, for ten or eight years, and see if she is still stubborn..."

Lu Xi stood outside the bedroom door, listening to the emperor's whispered curses, the corners of his mouth twitching.

If Qin Zhaorong continues like this, she might be banished by the emperor to the cold palace to clean toilets...

Of course, this also indirectly proves that the emperor cares about Qin Zhaorong.

If it were any other concubine, the emperor would not even bother to give her a look, let alone scold her. He would directly issue an imperial edict to demote her as far away as possible.

The next morning, as soon as the sky turned pale, Emperor Jing forced himself to wear his tired body, dressed neatly, and prepared to go to the Purple Palace for court.

He had obvious dark circles under his eyes and walked with heavy steps, each of which seemed to be telling of the sleepless night he had last night.

Inside the Purple Palace, all the ministers stood in silence. Seeing how haggard Emperor Jing was, they all looked at each other, speculating secretly in their hearts.

However, no one dared to speak, and they could only bow their heads and wait for the emperor's order.

"When there is something to do, we will start to act, but when there is nothing to do, we will retreat."

Emperor Jing's voice was low and hoarse, revealing obvious displeasure.

"I have this memorial."

An old minister stepped forward and respectfully presented a memorial, the content of which was nothing more than some trivial matters of state affairs.

But to Emperor Jing, it sounded like noise, making him even more upset.

Finally, the morning court ended, and Emperor Jing couldn't wait to return to the imperial study, wanting to find a quiet place to sort out his thoughts.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Shu requests to see you."

The eunuch's shrill voice broke the silence of the imperial study.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jing frowned and said coldly: "No, let her go back."

When Concubine Shu found out that the emperor refused to even see her, she panicked and actually knelt down outside the imperial study.

He looked as if he would kneel down for a long time and would not get up.

She cried pitifully, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. What happened that day was indeed my fault. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy on me and give me a chance to make amends."

When Emperor Jing heard the voice, he became even more annoyed. Just as he was about to scold her, he suddenly remembered Yao'er's cold face and her disdain for him.

For a moment, complex emotions surged in his heart, and he somehow let Concubine Shu in.

When Concubine Shu found out that Emperor Jing was finally willing to see her, she was delighted and quickly tidied her appearance and bowed gracefully, looking even more charming.

She tried to please Emperor Jing using her old methods, but she didn't know that Emperor Jing at this time was no longer the same person he was then.

"Shu Guipin, do you know your mistake?"

Emperor Jing asked coldly, his eyes were so cold that they pierced people's hearts.

Concubine Shu was startled, but she still tried to remain calm and said, "I know I was wrong, and I am willing to accept the punishment. I only hope that the emperor can forgive me."

Emperor Jing sneered and said, "Forgive? Do you know that you have hurt not only her, but also my heart. Although I love you, I am not without a bottom line. How can I trust you again after you have done this?"

Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu's face turned pale. She didn't expect the emperor to be so decisive.

Wasn't it just that the servants under him stole Qin Zhaorong's sea cucumber? How did it become like this?

Can she return ten or eight sea cucumbers to that woman?
If 10 is not enough, give me 100...

Concubine Shu wanted to argue a few more words, but she saw Emperor Jing waving his hand impatiently, signaling her to leave.

"Go away, I don't want to see you again." Emperor Jing's voice was as cold as ice, making people shudder.