The Emperor’s brow was heavy.

When the Empress said to enfeoff Li Jingshu as Imperial Concubine Jin, he hesitated.

That day, seeing Li Jingshu lying in a pool of blood, in his moment of panic, he had let Li Jingshu move into Yangxin Hall.

Over these days, impeachment memorials from the Censorate had piled up on his desk like snowflakes, and rumors from among the common people had also been transmitted to his ears.

If he really let Li Jingshu enter the harem, he would become the most absurd emperor of Great Jin. Who knew how the historical records would write about him.

If this were when he was young, perhaps he would have recklessly made Li Jingshu Imperial Concubine Jin.

But now, he didn’t think that way anymore.

Compared to the great rivers and mountains, compared to his reputation in life and after death, what did a woman matter?

He would protect Jingshu for his entire life, that was all.

It didn’t necessarily have to be by entering the palace.

After he thought this through, he was just about to speak.

He raised his head and saw that the Empress’s pair of eyes were full of midwinter’s broken ice. “Li Jingshu has such great ambition, and it is Your Majesty who has encouraged her ambition. If a person like her became Empress, the Great Jin Dynasty would become the laughingstock of all under heaven. What face would Your Majesty have to meet the ancestors!”

“Presumptuous!”

The Emperor suddenly slammed the table.

When had he ever said he would make Li Jingshu Empress!

He didn’t even want to let Li Jingshu enter the harem as a consort!

How could he possibly let Great Jin’s thousand-year legacy be destroyed in his own hands!

But the Empress’s appearance truly displeased him.

“What I do is not for you to comment on!” The Emperor said coldly. “If you’re admitting fault, you should have the attitude of admitting fault!”

The Empress’s head slowly lowered.

In her reddened eyes, those pupils slowly shed their pain, replaced instead by resolve.

Between her and Li Jingshu, one of them must die.

His Majesty protected Li Jingshu, so then, the one to die would be her.

First stripping her of the phoenix seal, sending her to the Cold Palace.

Soon after, abolishing her position as Empress.

Then next, Li Jingshu would casually use some methods, and she would die in confusion…

Before that happened, she must take action.

“Yes, Your Majesty. This consort was gravely mistaken.” The Empress directly knelt down. “Please pronounce judgment, Your Majesty!”

They were first husband and wife, together since youth. She fundamentally didn’t need to kneel to her own husband. Now, she lowered her posture into the dust.

The Emperor’s expression also softened somewhat. “Since you know you were wrong, return to Kunning Palace.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The Empress stood up and withdrew from Yangxin Hall.

With one glance she saw Li Jingshu standing at the side room entrance, supported by two palace maids, her face full of weakness, but on that face was revealed the smile of a victor.

His Majesty only told her to return to Kunning Palace but didn’t return the phoenix seal.

That phoenix seal was being kept for Li Jingshu, wasn’t it.

The Empress indifferently withdrew her gaze.

Returning to Kunning Palace, the Empress said coldly, “Have Tianfeng enter the palace.”

Nanny Yin’s face was full of disbelief. “Your Majesty…”

“Have him enter the palace.” The Empress spoke word by word. “I must do this.”

Tianfeng was the leader of the death warriors she maintained. Under his command were a total of five thousand people. She had spent vast amounts of silver raising these death warriors, hoping that one day they would be put to use.

Now her position as Empress was insecure, and the Crown Prince’s position would soon be insecure as well.

Since it was like this, then she would go all in.

It was His Majesty who was heartless first, so he couldn’t blame her for being unrighteous. Husband and wife for thirty years, going from pillow companions to opposition—this was the situation she least wanted to see.

But did she have a second path?

Only if His Majesty died… and the Crown Prince smoothly succeeded to the throne… could everything at present end.

The Empress closed her eyes. Two clear tears slid from the corners of her eyes.

Soon, she thought of something and suddenly opened her eyes. “Imperial Concubine Wu, bring her here!”

This was the Eastern Palace’s greatest hidden danger. It must be dealt with.

The nanny had long known that Imperial Concubine Wu couldn’t be kept much longer and immediately went to the Eastern Palace to find her.

At this time, the Crown Prince was summoning his advisors to discuss matters and wasn’t by Xie Ping’s side at all. Xie Ping was thus brought before the Empress.

She had already keenly sensed the aura of death and was so frightened her two legs were trembling. “This concubine pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress…”

“You’ve lived this long. You should have lived enough.” The Empress’s voice was light. “Someone come!”

Two nannies approached with white silk.

“No, Your Majesty the Empress, I cannot die…” Xie Ping struggled frantically. “I, I’m with child. Yes, I’m pregnant!”

The Empress was stunned.

Pregnant?

Xie Ping seized the opportunity and quickly said, “If Your Majesty the Empress doesn’t believe it, you can summon an imperial physician to take my pulse!”

As long as she delayed time, the Crown Prince would definitely come to save her.

The Empress looked at her lower abdomen.

The Crown Prince had been married for over ten years. Only the Crown Princess had given birth to three daughters and one son. So many women in the Eastern Palace, yet not one person could conceive.

Originally she thought the Crown Princess was playing tricks, but later sent people to watch and discovered it was that those women’s bodies were too weak to withstand the Crown Prince’s favor.

Aside from the Crown Princess, only Side Consort Fang had conceived once, miscarried, and now was pregnant with a second child.

And in Xie Ping’s belly, there was also a child.

“This concubine knows her sins are grave, but the child is innocent…” Xie Ping cried piteously. “After the child is born, this concubine will request a white silk to end this lowly life. Please grant this concubine an opportunity, Your Majesty…”

The Empress had someone summon an imperial physician.

The imperial physician quickly came over. Xie Ping tremblingly extended her hand. “These past few days I’ve been constantly nauseous and vomiting. I don’t know if I’m pregnant or have caught a chill. Please examine carefully, Imperial Physician…”

The Empress was immediately furious.

This little harlot, at death’s door and still dared to play tricks and delay time. A white silk was really too lenient. She should die suffering humiliation…

“Congratulations to Her Majesty the Empress, congratulations to Imperial Concubine Wu!” Who would have thought, the imperial physician’s face was full of joy. “Imperial Concubine Wu is indeed pregnant. The pregnancy just took, not yet a full month. She must be well cared for.”

Xie Ping was completely stunned.

She was actually really pregnant with a child? In her belly was her and the Crown Prince’s child?

This was truly the best gift Heaven had given her!

The Empress’s voice was extremely cold. “Then take good care of it.”

Her words had just fallen when she saw the Crown Prince hurriedly run in from the entrance. “Mother, Linglong she…”

“Your Highness, this concubine is pregnant.” Xie Ping wept with extreme joy. “This concubine can extend your bloodline, Your Highness…”

“Did mother hear? Linglong is with child. She carries your son’s bloodline in her belly. Please don’t make things difficult for her anymore, mother.” The Crown Prince protected Xie Ping as they left.

The Empress’s expression was extremely cold.

When this child was born would be the day of Xie Ping’s death.

Xie Ping narrowly escaped death and returned to the Eastern Palace.

She nestled against the Crown Prince, gently stroking her belly, her lips bearing a gentle smile.

With this child, she could be considered to have truly gained a firm foothold in the Eastern Palace. In the future, things would get better and better.

Those unbearable years of the past were over. In the future, with the Crown Prince and a child, her life could also be very complete.

As for whether the Empress would take her life, that wasn’t something to ponder now. So many people had wanted to kill her, yet hadn’t she still lived until now?

Time passed in the blink of an eye. Li Jingshu still lived in the palace, in the side room of Yangxin Hall.

The people at the Censorate grew tired of impeachment. Those memorials slowly quieted down.

Furthermore, His Majesty’s birthday banquet was approaching. They also didn’t want to make the Emperor unhappy at this time.