In the deep of night, when the Rui Prince’s mansion had fallen into slumber and all was quiet, suddenly voices could be heard. It was the Iron Guard coming with urgent matters to report. Usually at this hour, the Iron Guard would never disturb them. Shen Miao was half-asleep when she felt Xie Jingxing rise and leave the room. A moment later, he seemed to be speaking with someone outside, and then there came the rustling sound of someone dressing in the room. She opened her eyes to see Xie Jingxing standing at his desk putting on clothes, and looking outside, in the middle of the night, it seemed as if he was preparing to go out.

“Has something happened?” she asked.

Xie Jingxing saw that she was awake and said, “Something’s happened at the palace. I’m going to take a look. You sleep first, no need to wait for me.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Miao’s drowsiness dissipated. Since Xie Jingxing was heading out in the middle of the night, it was clear that the matter was serious, and it involved the palace. She asked, “What happened? Is it very serious?”

“The Empress pushed Consort Lu into a pond,” Xie Jingxing said while putting on his outer robe. “The details are too complicated to explain right now.”

Shen Miao let out a sigh of relief at first. With Xie Jingxing rushing to the palace in the middle of the night, she had thought there might be assassins or something similar. Hearing it was just this matter, she felt relieved, but then thinking again, she asked in surprise, “Why would the Empress push Consort Lu into a pond?” Shen Miao had rarely seen Empress Xiande, but she had met Consort Lu. Facing someone like Consort Lu, Empress Xiande would hardly deign to compete with her. Empress Xiande was not one to act impulsively. If someone had said Consort Lu pushed Empress Xiande into the pond, Shen Miao might have believed it, but she could never believe that Empress Xiande would initiate such an action.

“Lu family members are also at the palace now,” Xie Jingxing said. “They’re known for being unreasonable. I’ll go see what’s happening.”

Shen Miao promptly sat up: “I’ll come too.”

“It’s too late,” Xie Jingxing disapproved. “You should sleep first. Nothing serious will happen.”

Shen Miao shook her head: “Since they’ve called you to the palace, it can’t be a simple matter. Besides, I won’t be able to sleep now. If you leave me alone in the mansion, I’ll just overthink things. It’s better if I go with you so I know what’s happening. Perhaps I can even help.”

Xie Jingxing thought for a moment and said, “Fine. I wouldn’t feel at ease leaving you here alone anyway. Let’s go.”

Shen Miao quickly got up to change her clothes.

Since it was very late and the servants were all resting, Xie Jingxing and Shen Miao only brought Iron Guard and Cong Yang with them. They rode in a carriage through the streets of Long Luo Ye, which were completely deserted at this hour. Xie Jingxing’s expression was cold, and Shen Miao was deep in thought.

Even if Empress Xiande had truly pushed Consort Lu, it wouldn’t warrant calling Xie Jingxing to the palace in the middle of the night. To put it bluntly, even if Consort Lu died as a result, it would be considered a conflict between women in the harem. They could simply send the Lu family away. Moreover, the Emperor and the Lu family were nearly at the point of openly opposing each other, so why would they make such a fuss just to appease the Lu family?

When Shen Miao was in Ming Qi, she had seen imperial consorts sabotaging each other out of jealousy. Consort Lu being pushed into a pond by Empress Xiande was an almost laughably clumsy frame-up. Why would they still summon Xie Jingxing to the palace? Shen Miao felt that the matter wasn’t as simple as it seemed. However, the messenger who brought the imperial decree hadn’t explained clearly, so no one knew the exact situation.

Both lost in their thoughts, they soon arrived at the palace gates. There was Eunuch Deng, who served at the Emperor’s side. Seeing Xie Jingxing, he was delighted, but when he saw Shen Miao also jumping down from the carriage, he was surprised. However, he didn’t dwell on it and simply smiled, “Prince, you’ve finally arrived. His Majesty is waiting for you in the palace.”

Xie Jingxing let Eunuch Deng lead the way, with Shen Miao following behind. After pondering, she asked Eunuch Deng, “Eunuch Deng, is the Empress well?”

“The Empress is fine, thank you for your concern, Princess,” Eunuch Deng replied with a smile.

Shen Miao’s eyes moved slightly. The Empress was fine, yet they were making such a commotion. Did that mean the other person was in trouble?

Sure enough, just as she thought of this, she heard Eunuch Deng say, “But Consort Lu has not yet regained consciousness.”

Xie Jingxing gave a cold laugh: “What trick is Lu Jing playing now?” His expression showed clear annoyance.

Eunuch Deng just smiled without saying anything more, but Shen Miao felt there was something meaningful in that smile.

Upon entering the palace, Eunuch Deng led them directly to Jinghua Palace, where Consort Lu resided. Even at this late hour, Jinghua Palace was brightly lit, and several palace maids were kneeling in the hall. Shen Miao immediately noticed that both the Emperor and Empress Xiande were there. The two sat in the hall, with Empress Xiande appearing as calm and composed as ever, while the Emperor’s face was as cold as ice.

Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing entered hand in hand, and Eunuch Deng promptly announced them. The Emperor seemed momentarily startled to see Shen Miao, but Empress Xiande stood up, walked over to Shen Miao with a smile, and took her hand affectionately, saying, “I was thinking of inviting you to the palace for a chat when you were unwell, but so many things happened. I didn’t expect you to come at this late hour.”

Shen Miao smiled and replied, “The Prince was summoned to the palace, and not knowing what had happened, I accompanied him.”

Empress Xiande asked, “Has your health improved?”

Shen Miao answered, “I’ve fully recovered, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”

Empress Xiande smiled, “Then I can rest assured.”

Meanwhile, Xie Jingxing was looking at the Emperor with a solemn face and asked, “Brother, what has happened?”

Everyone knew that Empress Xiande would never push Consort Lu into a pond without reason. Now Consort Lu was still unconscious, and the Emperor had already begun to take action against the Lu family, no longer needing to save their face. Why would he summon Xie Jingxing to the palace over Consort Lu’s condition?

The Emperor coldly said, “The Lu family has just been here.”

“They’ve been here?” Xie Jingxing frowned and said, “I didn’t see any Lu family members when I came in.” The Lu family was unreasonable, always flaunting their merits with excessive pride. With Consort Lu falling into water and the Lu family suffering setbacks from the Emperor’s recent actions, they would surely seize this opportunity to make a scene, at least targeting Empress Xiande relentlessly. Now, there wasn’t even a shadow of the Lu family. Had they already caused a commotion on the way here?

“They’re not afraid of anything happening to Consort Lu,” said Empress Xiande. “They’re simply overconfident.”

Shen Miao’s heart stirred. Overconfident? What did that mean?

Just then, the imperial physician emerged from the inner chamber. He approached the Emperor, bowed, and reported, “Your Majesty, Consort Lu caught a chill from falling into the water, but fortunately her constitution is strong. The dragon seed in her womb is safe. With two doses of medicine and some rest, both mother and child will be well.”

Consort Lu was pregnant?

Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing were both startled. Instinctively, Shen Miao looked toward Empress Xiande, who had a slight smile on her lips. She still appeared as steady and graceful as usual, but Shen Miao felt that the smile had a hint of mockery. Looking at the Emperor, his gaze was icy, his face sunken—hardly the appearance of someone pleased.

It seemed Consort Lu had awakened in the room and began calling out in a sweet voice, “Your Majesty,” “This concubine wishes to see Your Majesty.” Xie Jingxing gave the Emperor a meaningful smile, but the Emperor turned to look at Empress Xiande. Empress Xiande smiled slightly: “Your Majesty should go see Consort Lu. The child is innocent after all.” Then she looked at Xie Jingxing: “His Majesty probably wants to speak with you, so please wait here for a while.” Then to Shen Miao, she said, “After all this commotion, I need to change my clothes. Princess, please accompany me. It’s the middle of the night, and you must be cold. Weiyang Palace just happens to have hot tea.”

Empress Xiande was so dignified that nothing seemed amiss, but the more composed she appeared, the more distressing it felt to others. Shen Miao noticed that Empress Xiande’s skirt was wet in a large area, suggesting she had been by the pond when Consort Lu fell in, causing her clothes to get wet as well. But perhaps because she had been concerned about Lu Jing, she hadn’t had time to change into clean clothes.

She nodded and said, “Alright.”

The Emperor stared at Empress Xiande without speaking, while from the room, Consort Lu’s calls grew increasingly plaintive. Empress Xiande said, “Your Majesty should go see her soon. What’s at risk now is not just Consort Lu, but the child in her womb.” Having said this, she didn’t wait for the Emperor’s reaction but took Shen Miao by the hand and left.

Once outside Jinghua Palace, the air seemed much fresher. Luo Ye’s scorching summer was coming to an end, and before long, the weather would turn cooler, transitioning into early autumn. The flowers that bloomed so vibrantly in summer would soon wither in the coming cold.

Shen Miao walked with her head lowered, thinking about the strange atmosphere between the Emperor and Empress Xiande. She felt that today the Empress showed signs of fatigue, and even seemed to be at odds with the Emperor in Jinghua Palace. This was unusual for someone with such a steady temperament as Empress Xiande. Perhaps it was because of Consort Lu’s child?

Yes, Empress Xiande had no children. Shen Miao had noticed this the first time she entered the palace. The Emperor was in his prime years, yet had no heirs. The reason the Lu and Ye families in the court had so many followers was partly due to the power left by the previous Emperor, but also because the current Emperor had no heirs. A king without his children never seemed secure.

But now Consort Lu was pregnant? If she gave birth to a son, would he have to be named the future crown prince? Wouldn’t that bind the empire to the Lu family, leading to powerful in-laws controlling the court—precisely what the Emperor didn’t want to see? No wonder the Emperor wasn’t happy to hear about Consort Lu’s pregnancy. As for Empress Xiande’s unhappiness, it probably wasn’t just about her position as Empress, but also the jealousy of a woman.

As an observer, Shen Miao could see things clearly from an outsider’s perspective. The way Empress Xiande looked at the Emperor was identical to how she used to look at Fu Xiuyi. Deeply in love with one’s husband, only to have another woman bear his child—even someone as composed as Empress Xiande would likely feel some discontent.

She was, after all, just a woman.

“Princess?” Empress Xiande’s voice reached her ears. Shen Miao came back to her senses to find Empress Xiande looking at her with an indulgent smile. “You were lost in thought and didn’t hear what I said.”

Shen Miao quickly apologized, “I’ve offended Your Majesty.”

“No need for that,” Empress Xiande wasn’t concerned and said, “It’s so late, it’s natural to be distracted from fatigue. You needn’t blame yourself.”

As they walked, Shen Miao couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty, may I ask you something?”

“Please do.”

“Did you push Consort Lu into the water?”

Empress Xiande paused briefly, then looked at her with a smile and asked, “What do you think?”

“Your Majesty would never do such a thing. Consort Lu is not new to the palace; you’ve coexisted peacefully for many years. There’s no reason for you to go after her at this critical moment,” Shen Miao said. “So I’m curious, why would Your Majesty accept this blame?”

Empress Xiande stopped walking, looked at Shen Miao with a smile, and said, “You seem to trust me quite a bit. It’s strange, but the first time I met you, I felt we were very similar, though your temperament is fiercer, probably because your father is a military official. I’ve heard many things about you. Though you’re very capable and cunning, you act with the directness of a military family, straightforward and decisive. I can’t be like that. Coming from a family of civil officials, we emphasize indirect approaches. Even when I want to be ruthless, I do so gently, wrapping around until the end. So you and I are ultimately different.”

Shen Miao remained silent.

Empress Xiande smiled again and said, “Indeed, I did not need to push her into the pond. The Emperor understands this logic, as do the Lu family members. The only one who doesn’t understand is Lu Jing herself. As for accepting this blame, it doesn’t matter. Framing someone is meant to deceive the world, but even you, who just arrived in Luo Ye, can see through this lie, let alone the officials of Luo Ye.”

Shen Miao asked, “Won’t Your Majesty explain yourself?”

“I’m too lazy to explain, and I find it beneath me. Let Consort Lu do whatever she wants. I don’t care at all,” Empress Xiande said indifferently.

Shen Miao thought that this was another way in which she differed entirely from Empress Xiande. If it were her, she would never accept blame for something she didn’t do, no matter how beneath her it seemed to explain herself. No matter how much she changed, she remained fierce at heart. Empress Xiande, on the other hand, was like a pool of water, possessing tolerance and steadiness, making others feel insignificant in her presence.

As they spoke, Weiyang Palace came into view. Lady Tao was waiting at the entrance. Seeing the two return, she hurried to Empress Xiande and asked anxiously, “Your Majesty, are you well? Is Consort Lu alright?” After Consort Lu fell into the water, Empress Xiande sent Lady Tao back first. Lady Tao had been worried all this time, especially since Empress Xiande had delayed returning until now.

Empress Xiande didn’t answer Lady Tao but smiled and said, “It’s nothing. I’ll change my clothes first. Lady Tao, please take the Princess to the hall and serve her some hot tea.” With that, she went inside to change.

Lady Tao led Shen Miao to the hall where the tea was just right. As she poured tea for Shen Miao, she couldn’t help asking, “Princess, what happened with Consort Lu? She’s not seriously injured, is she? Why did it take so long?” She was a loyal servant concerned for her mistress.

Shen Miao thought for a moment and said, “Consort Lu is fine, and the child in her womb is also safe.”

Lady Tao froze suddenly, almost spilling the tea. When she recovered, she quickly stopped pouring, but her face had turned pale.

Seeing her reaction, Shen Miao asked, “You didn’t know Consort Lu was pregnant?”

Lady Tao managed a strained smile: “Princess must be joking. How could we know? If we had known…” She didn’t finish her sentence.

However, Shen Miao didn’t miss the fleeting anger and hatred on Lady Tao’s face. She wondered what would have happened if they had known. Would they have smothered the child in the womb, as women in the harem often did?

Just as she was thinking this, Empress Xiande walked out from the inner chambers. She had changed into a thin, moon-white gauze gown with subtle orchid embroidery. Without her imperial robes, Empress Xiande’s aura was completely transformed. Looking closely, Shen Miao found that the Empress’s features were subtle yet pleasing, with the distinct aura of the Shi family. She resembled Pei Lang somewhat, but was more detached and serene.

She came over and sat beside Shen Miao, picking up a cup of tea with a smile: “It’s so cold at night, a cup of tea like this is much warmer.”

Lady Tao suddenly knelt and said, “Your Majesty, how can you still be in the mood for tea?”

Empress Xiande was startled and replied, “What are you doing?” Her tone held a subtle severity.

Lady Tao remained unmoved, still kneeling with a hint of indignation: “Consort Lu is pregnant! She’s pregnant and still tried to frame you. You’re going to endure this too? How long must you endure in this life?”

These words exceeded what was proper for a servant to say to her mistress, and the previously pleasant atmosphere in the room suddenly grew cold. Shen Miao kept her eyes down, holding her tea without speaking. Empress Xiande said, “Qiushui, you’ve been with me for so many years, and I treat you like family, but you’re being too presumptuous.”

Lady Tao refused to stand.

After a moment, Empress Xiande sighed and said, “Very well. Lu Jing didn’t know she was pregnant. I know Lu Jing’s character well—if she knew she was pregnant, she would never risk her child to frame me. She would protect her ‘dragon seed’ carefully, making sure nothing went wrong with the child.”

“But now Consort Lu’s pregnancy is a fact,” Lady Tao raised her head. “Your Majesty must consider yourself too!”

Shen Miao finally broke her silence and said, “Lady Tao is right. The matter of Consort Lu needs careful consideration. It’s not just for the Empress’s sake, but given the Lu family’s current situation, for the Emperor’s sake as well. Your Majesty cannot simply stand by and watch.”

Empress Xiande looked at her in surprise, seemingly not expecting Shen Miao to speak up at this moment. But she quickly smiled in understanding: “It seems Jingxing has told you a lot.”

“Rise, Qiushui,” Empress Xiande said to Lady Tao. “I don’t want to say it twice.”

This was now a command, and after a moment’s hesitation, Lady Tao finally stood up.

Empress Xiande turned to Shen Miao: “I’ve made you witness an embarrassing scene. Qiushui is close to me and has my best interests at heart. She spoke hastily, but her intentions are good.” She sighed: “I always thought Lu Jing was foolish. I disdained to compete with her, but now it seems I misjudged her. Lu Jing does have some capability after all, managing to avoid the contraceptive tea and conceive the Emperor’s child.”

Contraceptive tea—Shen Miao’s heart stirred. Empress Xiande had just revealed a palace secret to her. Knowing too much about palace affairs often put one in danger; those who knew the dark secrets of the palace often ended up as fertilizer for the flowers. But for some reason, she felt that Empress Xiande was sharing these things simply because she wanted to tell her, not because she feared Shen Miao might know too much.

“You’re clever, so you’ve probably noticed that the Emperor has no children in the palace, not because of the consorts or the Emperor himself, but because they all drink contraceptive tea. Lu Jing had been drinking it too, but somehow she found a way around it and conceived a royal child. This is probably the first one in the palace.” After saying this, she seemed to remember something and smiled: “Perhaps not the first. I once had a child too, but I miscarried.”

Hearing these words, Lady Tao’s eyes reddened.

Shen Miao’s hand holding the teacup trembled, but she said nothing.

“The Emperor often thinks poorly of you, because he believes Jingxing is the best, and ordinary girls, even if they were celestial beauties, would be beneath notice in his eyes. When Jingxing said he wanted to marry a girl from Ming Qi, the Emperor had people inquire about you extensively. After hearing the stories, he told me you had a vicious heart.” Empress Xiande suddenly changed the subject, looking at Shen Miao, she said, “But from what I see now, I think you’re very kind-hearted.”

Shen Miao was confused, but Empress Xiande continued, “You want to ask me about my miscarriage, but you’re afraid it would cause me pain, so you refrain from asking.”

Shen Miao said softly, “I simply dare not ask, Your Majesty.”

“You’re truly straightforward. Jingxing has found an interesting wife. I like you even more,” Empress Xiande smiled. She said, “Actually, it all happened a long time ago, and I’ve come to terms with it. When I was pregnant, Lu Jing added cold-natured herbs to the pastries prepared by the imperial kitchen. Just a little bit, and my child was gone. At that time, Lu Jing had just entered the palace and was in favor. With the Lu family watching, His Majesty could only punish her lightly. I felt that the child and I simply weren’t fated to be together, so I let it go.”

Just hearing this, Shen Miao could already imagine the heart-wrenching pain. In her previous life in the Ming Qi palace, consorts fought for the emperor’s favor, making the harem a battlefield for women. Women, when ruthless, could sometimes be even more terrifying than men. Many consorts’ children became sacrifices in such situations, and no matter how vicious or cruel a consort might be, when losing a child, all would cry out in despair. Had this composed and gentle Empress Xiande also experienced such despair? Scars take time to heal, and only the bearer knows the pain.

Most infuriating was that she couldn’t even avenge her child. Why was that?

“Don’t blame His Majesty, and don’t think I’m pitiful, though I truly am pitiful, but I’m also a villain,” Empress Xiande said. “After that miscarriage, I could no longer bear children. I will never have my children in this life. So the Emperor made it so that no woman in the harem could bear his children. I’m not well, so no one should be well.”

Shen Miao was stunned.

Because Empress Xiande couldn’t have children, the Emperor made it so none of the women in the palace could have children?

If so, the Emperor must truly care for Empress Xiande. But if he truly cared, why would he let her endure such a great injustice? Even if Empress Xiande didn’t speak of it, wouldn’t the Emperor himself want to punish the person who killed his child? How could he keep her as his favored consort?

Shen Miao felt that the secrets of the Great Liang imperial family were no fewer than those of Ming Qi.

Seeing her stunned expression, Empress Xiande suddenly laughed: “You believed it. How could His Majesty give up having children with all his consorts just for my sake? Jingxing can do it because he’s fortunate, but His Majesty isn’t so lucky—he is the Emperor after all.”

This statement carried far more meaning, and Shen Miao didn’t know how to respond.

“But you’re right, we should plan for the future. Lu Jing’s child comes at a convenient time. Because of this child, her life is temporarily spared, but the Lu family won’t be so lucky,” Empress Xiande smiled slightly, her smile suddenly taking on a sharp edge…

“The child cannot be kept,” Xie Jingxing said coldly to the monarch before him in the imperial study.

“I know it can’t be kept. If possible, I would have her drink a bowl of medicine right now,” the Emperor replied coldly, as if the one to be eliminated by his medicine wasn’t his son, but someone else’s.

“Why didn’t you make her drink it earlier?” Xie Jingxing asked sharply.

“Qingzhen wouldn’t allow it,” the Emperor said.

Qingzhen was Empress Xiande’s given name, a name that hadn’t been spoken from the Emperor’s lips for a long time.

After a while, Xie Jingxing laughed mockingly: “Sister-in-law has always been soft-hearted, perhaps because she pities her lost child.”

“Xie Yuan!” These words seemed to touch the Emperor’s sore spot, and he glared at Xie Jingxing.

But this only earned a casual smile from Xie Jingxing, who said, “So what’s the plan now? I don’t care about Lu Jing, nor do I care about that child. The Lu family came and left, surely thinking that the child in Lu Jing’s womb was their protection. How should we deliver this great gift to them?”

An Emperor without heirs suddenly had his only heir, so this single heir became a lifeline. Whether the Emperor liked it or not, the position of crown prince would fall to Consort Lu’s child. The empire would then be tied to the Lu family, with in-laws holding power—exactly what the Emperor most dreaded. No wonder he wasn’t pleased about Consort Lu’s pregnancy. The Lu family had come, seen that Consort Lu was pregnant, and left without fuss or argument. Perhaps in their eyes, Empress Xiande’s position would soon be gone. They felt too pitying to make trouble, considering it their benevolence, their good deed.

So confident were they, but what was the reality?

Since ancient times, there have been four words: the world is unpredictable.

“The Lu family always forgets one thing: you and I are both surnamed Xie, with Xie family blood flowing in our veins,” the Emperor said indifferently. “And the Xie family has always been ruthless.”