After being reborn, the empress only wanted to seduce the emperor and seize the empress's posit

Chapter 16 Begin the layout
A ruthless glint flashed in Lu Jingning's eyes, his voice as cold as ice: "The person I hate most is Consort Xian. What good way do you have to get rid of her?"

Upon hearing this, Han Yizhi's body trembled slightly, then his gaze hardened.

He gritted his teeth and said fiercely, "I am willing to kill her!"

As he spoke, he clenched his fists: "In my previous life, my mother died because of her. I wish I could tear her to pieces!"

Lu Jingning sighed softly, the candlelight flickering, reflecting the faint worry and deep calculation on her face.

"With your strength alone, it's like throwing an egg against a rock; you'll only end up losing your life. What will happen to your mother? Who will take care of her?"

Han Yizhi lay prostrate on the ground, his eyes filled with determination and helplessness, his voice trembling slightly: "Please, Your Majesty, guide me through this predicament. I am willing to go through fire and water for you!"

Lu Jingning's gaze was sharp, his fingers lightly tapping the table: "We need to outsmart them, not confront them head-on. There are Consort Xian's people outside monitoring us. You just need to let them discover you, deliberately listen to her, and then we'll have the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will obey in all matters."

Lu Jingning nodded in satisfaction, a calculating glint in his eyes: "You may leave. If anything happens, secretly send me a message. Don't let Consort Xian discover that you have betrayed us."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave." Han Yizhi rose, bowed, and carefully withdrew from Chengqian Palace with firm steps.

After she left, Lu Jingning summoned Xia'er and told her, "Tomorrow morning, after you pay your respects to the Empress, personally deliver the gifts to Consort Xian and tell her that I have been in close contact with the guards recently, inducing her to make a move against me. I will then have a way to protect you."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After Han Yizhi climbed over the wall of Chengqian Palace, he deliberately slowed his pace, pretending to be immersed in his own thoughts, but his peripheral vision keenly caught a subtle movement.

Not far away, a young palace maid, half-hidden, was secretly glancing in his direction with shifty eyes.

Han Yizhi felt a chill run down his spine, but his face remained impassive as he continued walking slowly, seemingly unaware of the danger.

As he reached the corner, he slightly turned his head, using his peripheral vision to confirm that the little palace maid had quietly left, and a barely perceptible cold smile appeared on his lips.

"This time, Consort Xian, I will make you pay for your crimes in blood!"

The young palace maid hurried through the winding palace paths and returned to Zhongcui Palace.

The candlelight in the palace was warm and dim. Consort Xian leaned against a soft couch, holding a withered flower in her hand, her eyes sinister: "Have you found out anything?"

The young palace maid knelt down as soon as she entered, still breathless: "Your Highness, I've found out! I saw a guard climb over the wall of Chengqian Palace; it's highly suspicious."

Upon hearing this, Consort Xian's eyes flashed with a shrewd light, and a smug smile appeared on her lips. She tossed the flowers in her hand to the ground with a crisp sound: "Oh? You made sure they came from Chengqian Palace."

The young palace maid knelt on the ground, nodding repeatedly, her tone filled with certainty: "This servant saw it clearly, it was indeed a guard who was taken from Chengqian Palace, there is no mistake."

Standing to the side, Granny Li's face was full of fawning smiles as she clapped her hands lightly and congratulated, "Your Highness can finally get rid of that slut Lu Jingning!"

"Well done, get up." Upon hearing this, Consort Xian smiled smugly and gently raised her hand, gesturing for the maid to rise.

"Yes, thank you, Your Highness." The little palace maid stood up tremblingly and stepped aside.

Consort Xian's gaze fell on the fallen flowers on the ground, her tone laced with ruthlessness: "Lu Jingning, let's see how you escape this time!"

As she spoke, she stood up, her feet crunching softly on the fallen petals. "If the Emperor finds out, he certainly won't let Lu Jingning off the hook. Li Mama, find a way to summon that maid tomorrow and get to the bottom of this."

Granny Li bowed, her face beaming, and assured her, "Please rest assured, Your Highness, this old servant will handle it perfectly."

Having said that, she gently waved her hand, signaling the young palace maid standing nearby to leave and tidy up the Consort's bed. "Your Highness, it's getting late, please rest early."

"Alright, I need to be well-rested so I can deal with her." With that, Consort Xian yawned lazily, a sly glint in her eyes, before slowly entering her bedchamber.

Granny Li gently helped her lie down and pulled the quilt over her.

The hall fell silent, with only the sound of Consort Xian's even breathing remaining.

The next morning, Lu Jingning, dressed in a moon-white palace gown with his hair styled in a high bun, went to pay his respects to the Empress.

Just as I was about to step into Changchun Palace, I saw Consort Xian, dressed in a light purple palace gown, approaching me with a malicious smile on her lips.

"Oh, isn't this Sister Lu? You look radiant today, even more beautiful and charming than ever."

The virtuous concubine's voice was sweet and hypocritical, and her eyes held a malicious intent.

Lu Jingning smiled slightly and bowed calmly, saying, "Greetings to Consort Xian."

Consort Xian gently raised her hand, her voice soft yet sharp: "Sister, you may dispense with the formalities."

After saying that, she slowly turned her gaze to Xia'er beside Lu Jingning, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips: "Xia'er, your family has sent you a letter. After paying your respects, come with me to Zhongcui Palace to pick it up."

Upon hearing this, Xia'er's heart tightened, and she subconsciously looked at Lu Jingning.

In the morning light, Lu Jingning's eyes were deep and calm. She nodded slightly and gave Xia'er an encouraging smile.

This instantly calmed Xia'er down considerably. Xia'er bit her lip, suppressing her anxiety, and respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

Just as Consort Xian was talking to Lu Jingning, Consort Liang came over without anyone noticing.

The smile on Consort Xian's face vanished instantly, and she reluctantly gave a curtsy: "Greetings to the Noble Consort."

"This concubine greets Your Highness, the Noble Consort," Lu Jingning said, bowing without any reluctance.

The Imperial Concubine acted as if she hadn't seen the Virtuous Consort, but her gaze fell gently on Lu Jingning, and a faint smile appeared on her lips: "Consort Lu is truly favored by the Emperor. Look at her radiant appearance, it's truly enviable."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jingning bowed slightly and said humbly, "This concubine dares not accept such praise. Your Highness is truly beautiful and talented, far surpassing my own abilities."

Consort Liang glanced at her and said, "Consort Lu has such a sweet tongue; no wonder the Emperor likes you."

"This concubine dares not," Lu Jingning said modestly.

Then Consort Liang snorted coldly and led her maids to Changchun Palace.

Consort Xian didn't say anything more to Lu Jingning and went to Changchun Palace.

Lu Jingning whispered to Xia'er, "It's good that she asked you to go, so I won't send you and arouse her suspicion. But don't be too hasty. When you speak, pretend to be scared, don't let her think you're saying these things on purpose."

"Yes, please rest assured, Your Highness, I will handle this carefully," Xia'er nodded and took a deep breath.

"Be extremely careful."

"Yes, Your Highness, please rest assured."

(End of this chapter)