Chapter 405: The Concubine Who Was Buried with the Emperor VS The Ruthless and Romantic Emperor 53
Fengyi Palace.

The queen sat quietly on the couch, her eyes revealing an indescribable complexity.

Her gaze seemed to penetrate the palace walls and she saw the faces in the harem, some beautiful and some sad.

The death of Concubine Shu was like a stone thrown into the center of a lake, causing ripples in the Queen's heart.

Concubine Shu's past arrogance and her unscrupulous attempts to win favor really disgusted her.

But witnessing such a resolute death, a trace of pity could not help but arise in my heart.

"This harem is really a cannibalistic place. No matter how fierce a woman is, she cannot escape the tricks of fate."

The queen murmured to herself, and suddenly a deep feeling of fatigue and emptiness surged in her heart.

In this harem, countless women spend their time and energy fighting to the death every day, but all they are doing is just to compete for a man.

But this man's heart had long been occupied by another woman, not to mention that he was her legitimate husband.

When the queen thought of this, she felt a wave of bitterness in her heart.

She didn't care how favored Qin Zhaorong was, and she could accept it even if she was about to give birth to a child.

But the emperor's preference for Qin Zhaorong and the changes he made were like a sharp thorn in the queen's heart.

She hated Qin Zhaorong, hated her for taking the emperor away, hated her for breaking the balance of the harem, and was also afraid that her position would be threatened.

She thought of ten thousand ways to kill Qin Zhaorong.

But now that woman lives in the Hall of Supreme Harmony and is firmly protected by the Emperor, so the Empress has no way to do anything about it.

Guanju Palace.

The night was as dark as ink. The flickering candlelight illuminated Concubine Zhang's stern and complex face.

She gently stroked the cold teacup in her hand, her eyes filled with both pleasure and unspeakable sorrow.

Concubine Zhang murmured to herself, her voice low and fierce: "Shu Guipin, you finally got the retribution you deserved. Burning in the fire, it was clean and neat. But, when will the scheming in the harem come to an end?"

The personal maid Furong walked in lightly and said carefully: "My queen, it's late at night, it's time to rest. You have just been released from house arrest, and your body still needs careful care."

Concubine Zhang smiled slightly, but could not hide her bitterness: "Rest? Where can there be true peace in this harem? Furong, have you ever thought about why we have come to this point?"

Furong lowered her head and spoke even softer: "I dare not speak nonsense, I only know that Your Majesty has hatred and pain in her heart."

Concubine Zhang sighed and looked out the window at the deep night sky: "Yes, hatred comes from the heart, and the pain is tasted by oneself. The matter of Concubine Shu made me happy, but it also made me see clearly that every woman in the harem is fighting for the illusory favor, and in the end it is nothing."

Suddenly, there was a slight discussion coming from outside.

Princess Zhang frowned and motioned Furong to go and find out.

Not long after, Furong came back in a hurry with a strange look on her face.

"Your Majesty, there is one more thing I just heard. The Emperor actually took Qin Zhaorong back to live in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and issued an order to reduce the number of concubines in the harem who come to pay respects. Even the Jingshifang does not have to hand over green cards every day. It seems that the Emperor wants to favor Qin Zhaorong alone. He even had a dispute with the Empress Dowager over this."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Zhang's face changed slightly, with both surprise and resentment: "Cousin... is so determined? For Qin Zhaorong, he is willing to turn against the Empress Dowager?"

She just couldn't figure out what was so good about Qin Zhaorong.

She remembered that Qin Zhaorong seemed to be about to give birth, right? Even with such a big belly, she couldn't sleep with him. If she didn't turn over the card, could her cousin bear it?

My cousin is a playboy and is popular with almost all women.

"What kind of seductive tricks did Qin Zhaorong use to make my cousin so obsessed?"

Princess Zhang said bitterly, gritting her teeth.

Furong softly consoled him, "Your Majesty, don't get so angry that you become ill. Qin Zhaorong's current favor is only temporary, and the Emperor may get tired of her soon."

Concubine Zhang snorted coldly, "What do you know? My cousin even dared to disobey the Queen Mother for her, and did so many things that violated the ancestral rules. This shows the status of Qin Zhaorong in my cousin's heart."

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She and her cousin had been childhood sweethearts, and she had served in the harem for many years, yet she was harmed so badly by Concubine Shu.

I finally waited for Concubine Shu to die, but now Qin Zhaorong appears and takes all of my cousin's love.

What frightened her even more was that if her cousin stopped favoring them, what would happen to them in the future? Where would they go?

"No, I can't just sit there and wait for death."

There was a flash of determination in Princess Zhang's eyes.

Princess Zhang returned to the desk, spread out the letter paper, and her eyes showed determination.

She picked up the pen and the tip of the pen moved across the paper, each word carrying her reluctance and anger.

If my aunt can't persuade him, then let my father join forces with the ministers in the court to put pressure on my cousin.

Let's see how sincere my cousin is to Qin Zhaorong and whether he can really withstand the pressure from the court and continue like this.

After writing, Princess Zhang carefully folded the letter, put it into the envelope, and sealed it with ink.

She handed the letter to Furong and said seriously, "Find a reliable person to deliver this letter to my father as quickly as possible without any mistakes."

Furong took the letter and replied, "Don't worry, Madam, I will definitely get it done."

In Fengyi Palace, the Queen was not idle either.

The maid Jinxuan came to report: "Your Majesty, I heard that Concubine Zhang sent someone to send a letter home, it seems that she wants her father to put pressure on the emperor in the previous dynasty." The queen raised her eyebrows slightly: "Oh? She is very quick. If this trick works, it will be a good idea."

Jin Xuan said with some concern: "Your Majesty, if the ministers really put pressure on the emperor, will the emperor vent his anger on the harem? After all, this is equivalent to the harem interfering in the affairs of the former dynasty."

The Queen pondered for a moment and said, "This is indeed a problem. However, the Emperor has now had a dispute with the Queen Mother over Qin Zhaorong. His mind is really hard to predict. But no matter what, let's wait and see the result of Concubine Zhang's move. If it can really make the Emperor change his mind, it will be a good thing for us."

In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Yu Yao's body was getting heavier and heavier, her belly was so big that her toes could not be seen.

The delivery room and all the items needed for a woman to give birth are also ready.

The midwives have also been found, a total of 6, all of whom were carefully selected by Lu Xi, are experienced, and have absolutely clean backgrounds.

Of course, the delivery room could not be located in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Instead, it is located in the Qionghua Hall not far behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony. It is very close and can be reached in just a few steps.

The Qionghua Palace had been closed for a long time. It was spacious and magnificent, and was usually cleaned and managed by palace maids and eunuchs, so it was very clean.

After Emperor Jing came to the throne, no concubines moved in.

The reason why no one lives there is not because the concubines don't want to live there, but because no one is qualified to live there.

The reason is that it is too close to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and everyone will have opinions about who lives there.

Now, with just one word from Emperor Jing, Lu Xi had taken care of everything. They would just have to wait for Yu Yao to give birth and then they could move over there.

It will also serve as her new palace residence in the future.

Of course, Yu Yao still lives in the Hall of Supreme Harmony and has not moved elsewhere.

Outside the palace, the British palace.

After receiving his daughter's letter, Princess Zhang's father, Zhang Han, also known as the Duke of England, did not dare to be negligent in the slightest.

He knew very well that this matter was of great importance. It not only concerned his daughter's fate in the harem, but also involved the checks and balances of power between the court and the harem.

Even the Queen Mother's sister's dissuasion was useless, which shows that the Emperor is determined.

If the emperor really favors her alone, what should their daughter do in the palace?
He hurriedly summoned several important officials in the court who were on good terms with him and had great respect for the ancestral regulations in the study room of his mansion.

Inside the study, the atmosphere was solemn. The candlelight flickered, illuminating everyone's serious faces.

"My Lords, Your Majesty has disrupted the rules of the harem because of a woman. This trend must not be allowed to continue."

The Duke of England frowned and spoke in a low and solemn voice.

Everyone nodded, and a gray-haired Lord Li said, "Duke Ying is right. Chaos in the harem will inevitably affect the previous dynasty. Your Majesty's actions have caused many complaints in the harem. If this continues, people will be in panic, which is not good for the country."

So, after discussion, everyone decided to make a suggestion to the emperor in the court.

The atmosphere in the court was as tense as a taut bowstring.

The ministers stood straight, not daring to look around, but each of them had their own plans in mind.

Duke Ying was the first to step forward and respectfully but firmly advised: "Your Majesty, the matter of Qin Zhaorong has disturbed the order of the harem. Your Majesty should reduce the number of concubines paying respects and stop the daily passing of cards in the Jingshifang. I am afraid that there will be chaos in the harem, which will affect the stability of the previous dynasty. Your Majesty, please pay attention to the rules of your ancestors and do not let the harem be in chaos because of one person."

Emperor Jing was already upset because of recent court affairs, and when he heard this, he became furious.

He suddenly stood up from the dragon throne and glanced at the ministers with cold eyes. His gaze was like a real cold knife, which made people shudder.

"I find your advice today quite interesting. I am the Son of Heaven, governing the world. I have made the people live and work in peace and contentment, and the borders are secure. Can't you see my achievements in the court? I favor Qin Zhaorong, and you all come out and talk about the harem regulations. I don't think you are doing this for the sake of your ancestors' regulations. I'm afraid you are doing this for your own daughter's little tricks in the harem, right?"

Emperor Jing walked down the steps, the hem of his dragon robe swaying with his movements.

Every step seemed to be stepping on the ministers' hearts:
"I can manage the court in an orderly manner. I can favor whomever I want in my harem. I favor Qin Zhaorong. She is gentle and intelligent. I am very happy to be with her. You are so good, using the banner of ancestors to criticize my preferences. Why don't you take a look at your own daughter first? If she is really capable, why would you worry about her here?"

Emperor Jing walked up to Duke Ying and stared at him straight in the eyes: "I see you, you just think that my favoritism towards Qin Zhaorong is blocking your daughter's path, right? If I favor this one today and that one tomorrow, will you be satisfied? I tell you, I am not the kind of monarch who can be manipulated at will. You cannot guess what I am thinking, and you cannot influence my decision."

The ministers were so embarrassed by Emperor Jing's sharp rebuttal that they dared not even breathe.

After Emperor Jing returned to the Imperial Study, his anger was still lingering.
He felt that these ministers were too presumptuous, as they dared to interfere in the affairs of his harem under the guise of ancestral regulations.

He sat in the imperial study with cold eyes. After thinking for a moment, he called Lu Xi.

"Lu Xi, draft an edict. Concubine Zhang has committed a crime of insubordination by instigating her father and the ministers to interfere in the affairs of my harem. She deserves death. Considering our past friendship, I will demote her to a concubine and move her to a remote palace immediately. Without my order, she is not allowed to step out of the palace."

Emperor Jing's voice was cold and ruthless, leaving no room for doubt.

He is not the kind of king who can be manipulated by others. Not to mention that he already holds great power. If anyone dares to cause trouble for him, he will have to bear the corresponding price.

Lu Xi was shocked. He knew that this imperial edict would cause a huge uproar, but he did not dare to be negligent in the slightest. He quickly drafted the imperial edict and sent someone to deliver it to Guanju Palace.

Guanju Palace.

Princess Zhang was anxiously waiting for news from the court, but she never expected that what she was waiting for was such an imperial edict.

Her face turned pale in an instant, and the teacup in her hand fell to the ground with a clang, breaking into pieces.

"My lady, this...what should I do?"

Furong was also frightened and at a loss.

Concubine Zhang was heartbroken and desperate. She lay on the couch and cried bitterly: "My cousin is so heartless. I just wanted to gain a foothold for myself, but he treated me like this."