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

Chapter 18 The Scam Begins

Upon hearing this, Consort Xian's eyes flashed with wild joy. She suddenly grabbed Xia'er's hand and asked urgently, "Is this true? Did you see it with your own eyes?"

Xia'er trembled all over, her teeth chattering, and her speech became slurred: "It was...it was my own eyes that Consort Lu and that guard had a secret meeting in the palace. I went to deliver tea and happened to see it clearly."

"Consort Lu discovered me and said that if I dared to tell anyone about this, she would kill me. Please, Your Highness, save me!"

Upon hearing this, Consort Xian's face lit up with a victorious smile. She gently patted Xia'er's cheek, her tone tender yet resolute: "Good Xia'er, I will save you from this predicament. You can rest assured."

As she spoke, she slowly stood up, her eyes blazing, as if she could already see Lu Jingning falling into the abyss.

Granny Li asked her, "What's the guard's name? It's crucial for us."

Xia'er bit her lower lip tightly, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead, as she carefully recalled the guard's address.

After a long while, she said in a trembling voice, "I only remember that Your Highness seemed to call him Guard Han affectionately, but I really don't know his specific name."

As she spoke, her eyes were filled with fear and unease, as if she were afraid that if she uttered a single wrong word, it would bring about her death.

Upon hearing this, Granny Li frowned and pressed, "Guard Han? Do you remember what he looks like?"

Xia'er tried hard to recall, her brows furrowed, and after a long while she finally said, "It was dark that day, and I thought he was very handsome, but I really can't remember anything else."

Consort Xian nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips, and said to Xia'er, "You can go back now. Don't let Lu Jingning find out."

Upon hearing this, Xia'er's eyes flashed with anticipation, yet also with a hint of trepidation. She cautiously asked, "Then my younger brother..."

Before she could finish speaking, Consort Xian's face darkened slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing between her brows, and her voice turned colder: "After it's done, you'll naturally reap the rewards. Why are you in such a hurry to ask?"

After saying that, she gently waved her hand, signaling Xia'er to step down.

Upon seeing this, Xia'er felt a chill run down her spine and dared not say another word. She quickly bowed and left Zhongcui Palace.

"Consort Xian is too selfish and self-serving. Fortunately, I can now follow Consort Lu." Xia'er's heart leaned even more towards Lu Jingning.

After Xia'er left, Consort Xian took a sip of tea from the table and said to Granny Li in a deep voice, "Granny Li, go to the guards' quarters immediately, find that Guard Han, and make sure to bring him back to Zhongcui Palace."

Upon hearing this, Granny Li nodded solemnly, "Yes, Your Highness, please rest assured."

"Lu Jingning, you bitch, your arrogance is about to end."

Cheng Qiangong

After Xia'er returned, Lu Jingning waved her hand gently: "You may all leave. Just leave Xia'er to serve you." In an instant, only she and Xia'er remained in the hall.

Xia'er whispered in her ear, "Your Highness, I have already told Consort Xian about what you entrusted to me."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jingning slightly turned his head, his gaze deep and unfathomable, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "Well done. Now it's up to Han Yizhi."

Guard Office

Granny Li walked through the palace path, her sharp gaze sweeping over the surrounding guards.

A burly guard came forward and asked in confusion, "Granny Li, what brings you here?"

Granny Li's expression was solemn. She nodded slightly and asked in a low voice, "Is there a guard surnamed Han here?"

One of the guards responded, "There really is a guard surnamed Han."

"Call him out to me," Granny Li said hurriedly.

The guard told her, "He's off duty today; he'll be on duty tomorrow." Upon hearing this, Granny Li's face darkened, her displeasure evident: "When he's on duty tomorrow, go to the Zhongcui Palace and ask the Empress to see him."

"Yes, please rest assured, Granny," the guard replied respectfully.
Afterwards, Granny Li left and returned to Zhongcui Palace.

Consort Xian was delighted at the thought that Lu Jingning was about to fall out of favor, so she sat upright in front of the mirror and carefully drew her eyebrows.

Seeing Li Mama hurry in, a hint of expectation flashed in her eyes.

"Have you found it?"

She gently put down her eyebrow pencil, her voice tinged with barely perceptible tension.

Granny Li lowered her head, her expression complex: "Found it, Your Highness. But..."

Consort Xian frowned slightly: "But what? Where are they?"

Granny Li took a deep breath and reported truthfully: "He is off duty today and is not in the palace. But he has already sent word that he will come to Zhongcui Palace to see Her Highness when he is on duty tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Consort Xian slammed her eyebrow pencil down on the table, a flash of anger crossing her face before turning into a cold smile: "There's no rush."

The next day, early morning
Han Yizhi had just arrived at the guard post and was about to go on duty when he was stopped by a guard.

"The Virtuous Consort summons you and requests your presence today."

Upon hearing that the Consort Xian had summoned him, Han Yizhi raised an eyebrow, which suited him perfectly: "Alright, thank you, I'll go right away."

He stepped into Zhongcui Palace, his sharp gaze sweeping over the surroundings, a faint smile playing on his lips, as if everything was under his control.

Upon entering the hall, he bowed slightly and said in a deep and powerful voice, "Your humble servant Han Yizhi greets Your Highness, the Virtuous Consort."

After speaking, he slowly straightened up, looking directly at Consort Xian, his eyes revealing a firmness and composure that could not be underestimated.

"Do you know Consort Lu?" Consort Xian asked, staring intently into his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Han Yizhi immediately replied, "I am but a lowly guard; how could I possibly know Consort Lu?"

Seeing his composed demeanor, Consort Xian was slightly angered: "How dare you lie to my face!"

"I dare not"

Granny Li stepped forward appropriately and told Consort Xian, "Your Highness, now that we know who he is, please have me inquire about his family background and also have Xia'er come over to confirm."

Consort Xian agreed with what Granny Li said: "Alright, you may leave."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."

After bowing, Han Yizhi left Zhongcui Palace, then turned back to look inside, silently vowing in his heart: "I will not let you get away with murdering my mother, Consort Xian."

After he left, Granny Li quickly went to inquire about Han Yizhi's whereabouts.

Knowing that he had a seriously ill elderly mother at home, she immediately had an idea and hurried back.

"Your Majesty, I have learned from your inquiries that Han Yizhi has a seriously ill mother who is short of money for medical treatment. If you were to lend a helping hand at this time, then..." Granny Li offered a fitting reminder.

Consort Xian gently stroked her fingertips, a calculating glint in her eyes, and whispered to Granny Li, "You're right, this is a perfect opportunity. Go to Chengqian Palace again later and say that you were passing by and remembered that I asked you to take the bird's nest to Lu Jingning and have Xia'er pick it up. Remember, act naturally and don't arouse Lu Jingning's suspicion."

"Yes, Your Majesty, rest assured." Li Mama understood immediately, bowed, and hurriedly left.

(End of this chapter)