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

Chapter 74 The Empress Dowager is about to return to the palace
Consort Liang slightly raised her eyes, her red lips parted slightly, and her voice, clear and cold yet carrying a hint of authority, said: "The Empress Dowager is about to return to the palace, which is a major event for the harem. All palaces must prepare themselves properly and not be disrespectful in front of the Empress Dowager."

Upon hearing this, all the concubines rose and respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

Consort Liang nodded in satisfaction, her gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Lu Jingning. After a moment, she slowly spoke, "Disperse, everyone. Return to your palaces and prepare. Do not let me discover anything amiss."

"Yes, we will take our leave." The concubines bowed and took their leave, turning to depart one after another.

After leaving Chang Le Palace, Consort Yan and Lu Jingning walked side by side, their steps light but each with their own thoughts.

Consort Yan frowned, her face full of worry, as if she were carrying a heavy burden: "Jingning, now that Her Majesty the Empress has been stripped of her power to manage the harem, I am really worried and afraid that the days ahead will not be easy."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jingning gently patted Consort Yan's hand, his eyes filled with reassurance and determination: "Sister, don't be afraid, this may not be a bad thing."

"Oh? How so?"

Lu Jingning analyzed the pros and cons for her: "Now that the Empress Dowager is about to return to the palace, and the Imperial Concubine is in charge of managing the affairs of the harem, whose responsibility would it be if something happened to you?"

After hearing this, Consort Yan felt that what she said made a lot of sense and silently breathed a sigh of relief: "Jingning really thinks ahead."

“Let’s go see the Empress together,” Lu Jingning suggested with a smile.

Consort Yan nodded: "Okay."

Changle Palace

After the other concubines left, Consort Rong and Consort Zhen remained in Chang Le Palace.

Consort Liang sighed repeatedly, while Consort Zhen sat silently to the side. Consort Rong asked cautiously, "What's wrong, Your Highness? Why are you sighing so much? Now that you are in charge of the harem, shouldn't you be happy?"

"Although I have the right to manage the harem, it's a pity that Lu Jingning is deeply favored by the Emperor, and Consort Yan is pregnant. I'm truly exhausted," Consort Liang said with a troubled expression.

Consort Zhen already had a plan in mind. She turned to Consort Rong, who was standing silently to the side, and asked softly, "Sister Rong, do you have any way to relieve Her Majesty's worries?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Rong's eyes flashed with a sharp light. She stood up, slowly walked to Consort Liang, curtsied, and said with a resolute tone, "Your Highness, although I am not talented, I am willing to share your burdens."

As she spoke, Consort Rong raised her head slightly, a sly glint in her eyes, as if she already had a plan in mind.

Upon hearing this, Consort Liang's brows relaxed slightly, her gaze lingering on Consort Rong for a moment before a meaningful smile appeared on her lips: "Oh? What do you mean by that, Consort Rong?"

"Although Consort Lu is deeply favored, the Emperor will eventually tire of her. But Consort Yan is different."

"Oh? What insight does Sister have?" Consort Zhen asked, feigning ignorance.

"If Consort Yan gives birth to a prince, she will be Your Majesty's greatest rival. But what if this child is lost?"

After speaking, Consort Rong unconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her hand, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes.

Consort Zhen bit her lip and agreed, "Sister is right. Consort Yan's pregnancy is indeed a hidden danger. If that child is lost, no matter how much the Emperor favors Lu Jingning, no one in the harem can truly rival Your Highness."

Upon hearing this, Consort Liang's gaze darkened slightly as she looked at Consort Rong, already intending to use her as a tool.

“But Consort Yan is currently pregnant. If something were to happen to her, not only would the Emperor blame her, but it would also be difficult to explain to the Empress Dowager,” Consort Zhen said, her expression showing some hesitation.

"Let's not talk about this anymore," Consort Liang said, feigning anger. Consort Rong gently touched her temple, a sinister glint flashing in her eyes, as if a wicked plan was already swirling in her mind.

Consort Rong had made up her mind. She bowed to Consort Liang, her voice filled with both resolve and obsequiousness: "Your Majesty will soon no longer have to worry. I am feeling a little unwell, so I will take my leave now."

"Alright, you may go and get some rest," Consort Liang said calmly.

"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty."

Consort Rong planned to remove the child from Consort Yan's womb and offer it to the Noble Consort as a pledge of loyalty.

After Consort Rong left, only Consort Liang and Consort Zhen remained in Chang Le Palace.

Consort Zhen's lips curled into a cold smile as she said softly, "Your Majesty, the fish has taken the bait."

Consort Liang raised an eyebrow, her sharp gaze fixed on Consort Zhen: "What exactly is the good idea you mentioned earlier?"

Consort Zhen leaned close to Consort Liang's ear and whispered, "We should make our move on the day we welcome the Empress Dowager. There will be many people around, making it the easiest time to take advantage of the chaos."

A ruthless glint flashed in Consort Liang's eyes: "Oh? How do you plan to proceed?"

"On the day of welcoming the Empress Dowager, there will be a great mix of people. If Consort Yan were to be accidentally bumped into, it's entirely possible that she would miscarry."

Consort Liang frowned slightly, her voice low but carrying an undeniable authority: "Won't they trace it back to us?"

Consort Zhen smiled gently, her face full of confidence, and said in a soft voice, "Your Majesty, rest assured, when the Empress Dowager returned to the palace that day, everyone was busy welcoming her. Who would have paid attention to Consort Yan? Even if something untoward happened, they would only blame the servants who bumped into Consort Yan, and would never implicate Your Majesty or your concubine."

"What if our people run into Consort Rong's people?"

Consort Zhen pursed her lips, a sly glint in her eyes. She leaned close to Consort Liang and said in an almost inaudible voice, "Sister, rest assured. I plan to subtly utilize Consort Rong's people. Aren't all those maids and servants cowards? Just offer them substantial rewards, and they'll do their best. Even if something goes wrong, it will be Consort Rong's people's fault for their incompetence. What does it have to do with Your Majesty?"

"Besides, the scene was chaotic that day, so who can definitively say who was at fault? Sister, you just need to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor and wait for good news."

After saying that, Consort Zhen smiled slightly, a smile that concealed calculation and smugness.

Upon hearing this, Consort Liang's eyes flashed with admiration. She gently patted Consort Zhen's hand and praised, "You, you are truly exceptionally intelligent."

"Thank you for the compliment, sister."

Consort Liang gently stroked Consort Zhen's hand, her eyes gleaming with calculation, and whispered, "You must be extremely careful in this matter. Do not leave even the slightest incriminating evidence that could be used against you. Be especially wary of Lu Jingning; she and Consort Yan are birds of a feather. You must keep a close eye on her."

Consort Zhen nodded slightly, a confident smile on her face: "Sister, rest assured, I will be careful this time and won't let her find fault with me again."

Consort Liang nodded: "When the Empress Dowager returns, we must make her despise Lu Jingning."

"Sister, don't rush. After we abort Consort Yan's child, we can find a way to get rid of Lu Jingning. Anyway, the Empress has no power now, and no one will protect them anymore."

"Okay, we'll do it your way."

(End of this chapter)