That night, the Yuxiao Hall was resplendent and magnificent.

Yet what nearly made Feng Qingyin spit blood in rage was that the wretched old man, despite having been drugged, had actually… actually been unable to withstand the medicine’s effect and collapsed!

He had actually collapsed! Feng Qingyin nearly fainted on the spot. She herself had drunk a little of the drugged wine earlier.

Although she had drunk very little, her body was now extremely uncomfortable — she desperately wanted… desperately wanted to be close to a man.

Yet he had simply collapsed like that! She had overestimated his constitution and given him too much of the drugged wine.

But what was she to do in this state of hers?

Jian Yi… Jian Yi should still be in her Qingxiang Hall! She truly had no other option. If she remained here, she would suffer herself to death.

Just as Feng Qingyin was about to turn and leave, the Emperor Qiwen lying on the dragon bed behind her began to murmur softly.

She could not hear him clearly. Fortunately, she had not drunk much, so her mind was still clear. Though her body was uncomfortable, she could still remain calm.

Feng Qingyin walked over and bent down close to Emperor Qiwen’s lips. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty… what are you saying?”

“Long’er… Long’er…” Emperor Qiwen suddenly clasped her wrist and abruptly opened his eyes.

He had actually awakened again. Feng Qingyin was elated. She immediately shed her outer robe and pressed herself down upon him. “Your Majesty, your concubine has come to keep you company.”

This old man was utterly tasteless to her, but without sleeping with him, she had no way of conceiving an imperial son.

So no matter how distasteful it was, she could only endure it.

Yet Emperor Qiwen merely held her hand and dared not do anything further. The gaze he fixed on her was one of reverence. “Long’er, I… I won’t touch you. I only want to look at you, to hold your hand, to… to embrace you.”

Long’er? Who was that? Feng Qingyin’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. Could it be that the woman living in the abandoned Li courtyard was called Long’er?

“Your Majesty, your concubine is yours. Whatever Your Majesty wishes to do to your concubine is naturally permitted.”

“Is that truly so? Is Long’er truly willing to be my consort?”

Emperor Qiwen was overjoyed beyond measure. He pulled her into his arms in a sudden embrace — with a fervor Feng Qingyin had never witnessed before.

“Your Majesty, your concubine has always been your consort. Whatever Your Majesty wishes to do to your concubine, she is willing.”

“Wonderful — Long’er, Long’er! You have finally agreed!”

Emperor Qiwen held her tighter and tighter, until there was scarcely room left to breathe.

“Long’er, I… I will certainly make you Empress — make you the most honored mother of the nation.”

This displeased Feng Qingyin considerably. She had assumed that after Nanmeng Rong’s death, the position of Empress would naturally fall to her. But for it to go to some woman called Long’er instead? What sort of nonsense was this?

When had there ever been a consort in the rear palace called Long’er?

Was it or was it not the woman from Li courtyard? Yet if she was someone the Emperor cherished, why would she be living in such a dilapidated place? Why had no one in the rear palace ever even heard of anyone called Long’er?

“Your Majesty…” Feng Qingyin was unwilling to accept this. What did it make her, as Noble Consort, amount to?

“The Empress… should that position not go to Noble Consort Qing? Noble Consort Qing is so beloved by Your Majesty; she is now the consort of supreme standing in the rear palace.”

Feng Qingyin nudged Emperor Qiwen’s arm and pouted her lips. “Your Majesty, you favor Noble Consort Qing so deeply — would it not be fitting to make Noble Consort Qing the Empress?”

“Noble Consort Qing… Noble Consort Qing…” Emperor Qiwen’s face showed undisguised contempt. “How could she compare to you? She… cannot even match one of Long’er’s fingers…”

When Feng Qingyin left the Yuxiao Hall, she carried within her a heart brimming with wounded pride.

That wretched old fool had actually said she could not even compare to one finger of that so-called Long’er!

He was simply — unbearably insulting!

So in the end, no matter how much she had wanted it, she had shoved him away and let him fall dead asleep on his own.

She, Feng Qingyin, was the foremost woman of talent in the imperial city, and the greatest beauty in the rear palace. She too had her dignity.

It had never occurred to her that she carried absolutely no weight in that decrepit old man’s heart. Had he not been muddled by the aphrodisiac and let the words slip out today, she would have gone on smugly believing he truly liked her — that he had granted her the title of Noble Consort out of genuine affection.

But in reality, she was merely a pawn — used to check Nanmeng Rong, to direct Nanmeng Rong’s hostility toward herself and keep her from causing trouble elsewhere in the rear palace.

She was nothing more than a chess piece!

That vile, contemptible old bastard — how dare he insult and exploit her like this!

“Hmph!” Feng Qingyin slammed her palm down on the armrest of the jade palanquin. The several young eunuchs carrying it below immediately trembled with fear, not daring to breathe a single word.

“My Lady?” Linlong, walking alongside the jade palanquin, looked up at her nearly contorted expression. Her Lady was this furious — yet Linlong had been waiting outside and had no idea what had happened within tonight.

Had something gone wrong with the medicine?

But they were outside now, and even if something had gone wrong, she dared not ask too many questions for fear of ears behind walls.

“My Lady, are you feeling unwell somewhere?” Linlong asked with careful delicacy.

Feng Qingyin only swept her with a light glance and said nothing. No matter how angry she was, she still understood the principle that careless words outside would cost her dearly.

Her gaze drifted involuntarily into the distance — toward that place, that location, where a man she cared for resided.

All these years, he had never once vanished from her heart.

Half a year ago, she had become Emperor Qiwen’s consort out of sheer necessity. Had Emperor Qiwen not been there to back her, she would have already been killed by Nanmeng Rong.

Yet at that time, where were you? Why did you never take the initiative to step forward and protect her?

Linlong followed her gaze and immediately understood. She said, “The road ahead is not easy to travel. Let us take a detour through Qingxuan Gate.”

The young eunuchs and palace maids were somewhat taken aback. Taking a detour through Qingxuan Gate would mean passing around the Crown Prince’s Yuyang Hall, adding considerably to their journey.

However, Linlong was Noble Consort Qing’s most trusted attendant. Since Noble Consort Qing herself had said nothing, there was naturally no choice but to follow Linlong’s direction.

“Yes.” The assembled group answered in unison and immediately changed direction.

The sullen oppression in Feng Qingyin’s heart finally began to dissipate somewhat. That Emperor Qiwen did not take her seriously — there was nothing worth resenting in that. She herself felt nothing for that wretched old man either.

She had been too impulsive tonight. Having barely escaped death once already, she had not expected she could still be this rash.

Half a year ago, that naivety and impulsiveness had nearly cost her her life at Nanmeng Rong’s hands.

Now she had become Noble Consort, while Nanmeng Rong was dead. She had endured all of that — so why allow emotions to sway her plans again?

Had she not pushed the old man away tonight, her womb might already be carrying an imperial son.

No matter what, as long as she seized power, what did it matter how the old man regarded her?

As long as she bore an imperial son, she would certainly seize power — most certainly!

The Yuyang Hall drew gradually closer. Linlong said softly, “This is the Crown Prince’s residence. Everyone walk more slowly; do not disturb His Highness’s rest. Yes — even slower. Walk at an easy pace.”