Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Consort Qin respectfully replied, "I will keep Consort Kang's teachings in mind. I will certainly reflect on my mistakes behind closed doors, abide by my duties, and never dare to cause any trouble for Your Highness."

Consort Kang was satisfied with her attitude and said to Caiju, "Go and fetch the pair of pearl earrings from my makeup box, as well as the lake-blue soft silk that the Imperial Household Department sent the other day, and bestow them upon Consort Qin."

"Shuiyue Pavilion is simple and elegant. My younger sister is in the prime of her life, and she should be adorned with some bright colors."

Since she sought refuge with Consort Zhuang, Consort Kang's life has improved.

Although Consort Qin was not lacking in these things, she still stood up and bowed to express her gratitude: "Thank you very much for the gift from Consort Kang. I am unworthy of it."

"No need for formalities. You are new here. If you encounter any inconvenience, you can send someone to inform me."

After saying this, Consort Kang waved her hand gently: "Alright, I'm tired too, sister, go back and rest."

This is how you see your guests off.

"Yes, the concubine is retiring."

……

With Qin Shuyan being demoted and moved to a different palace, the rumors seemed to have died down.

The emperor's words were final and authoritative, and everyone in the palace, whether master or servant, wisely kept their mouths shut.

Inside a palace.

The palace maid said, "Your Highness, it's completely silent outside..."

Su Qing's voice was devoid of emotion: "His Majesty has spoken, who dares to object?"

The palace maid paused, then said in frustration, "We've been planning this for so long and put in so much effort... We thought that even if we couldn't bring down the Imperial Noble Consort, we could at least damage the reputation of auspiciousness and leave His Majesty with a grudge."

"But now... the child in the Imperial Noble Consort's belly is still praised as a lucky star. Our efforts seem to have only enhanced her prestige."

To set up this scheme, they used long-hidden informants and carefully selected the opportunity.

They wanted to stir up rumors while simultaneously clearing themselves of any wrongdoing, even at the cost of pointing the finger at tough guys like the Qin family.

Only they themselves know the effort and risks involved.

But the result?

The Imperial Noble Consort is safe and sound, and the Emperor's favor with her is even stronger.

Su Qing said, "If the Imperial Noble Consort were such an easy character to deal with, how could she have risen from a lowly concubine to the position of Imperial Noble Consort in just a few years, and maintained the Emperor's favor?"

"I didn't expect to do anything to her with just a few rumors. This time, it wasn't a complete loss."

The palace maid was taken aback: "Your Highness means..."

Su Qing slowly said, "At least the Qin family has been brought down."

"She is the eldest daughter of the governor of Qilu, from a prominent family, and has an outstanding appearance. She seems straightforward, but she also has some ambition. Given time, she may very well become a force to be reckoned with."

"Now, by using His Majesty's hand to suppress the Qin family, we not only eliminate a major future threat, but also plant a thorn between the Qin and Shen families."

"This thorn may not be obvious now, but who knows if it will flare up in the future?"

The palace maid's eyes lit up slightly, and she understood something: "Your Majesty is very farsighted!"

"Consort Qin has been wronged this time and must harbor deep resentment towards the Imperial Noble Consort."

"The Qin family suffered this injustice in silence. They dared not do anything on the surface, but how could they be happy in their hearts? This feud has now been formed."

Su Qing said, "It's hard to say how deep the bond is right now. After all, no one knows what Consort Qin said to the Imperial Noble Consort when she went to Yongshou Palace that day."

"But at least for now, there's one less person in the way."

"Moreover, after this incident, everyone has seen the extent to which His Majesty protects the Imperial Noble Consort."

"Some will fawn over her even more, some will be more wary, and some will have ulterior motives..."

Looking at Su Qing's deep, dark eyes, the palace maid asked, "Your Highness, what should we do next?"

Su Qing's figure said, "Let's remain silent for a while."

“All related connections must be completely severed, leaving not a trace.”

The palace maid's expression hardened: "Yes, this servant understands! I will arrange everything properly and leave no loose ends."

"Ah."

Su Qing nodded slightly and added, "Also, keep an eye on what's happening at Chuxiu Palace."

"Consort Kang... is an interesting person. Now that Consort Qin has gone to her place, she probably won't be too lonely in the days to come."

The palace maid was puzzled: "Consort Kang has always been timid and unambitious. What trouble could she possibly cause?"

Su Qing didn't explain, only saying calmly, "Just watch."

"In the palace, sometimes the most harmless person can be the one who brings the most unexpected changes..."

……

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Nangong Xuanyu is currently handling state affairs.

Li Changde stepped forward and gently placed a cup of ginseng tea on the imperial table.

Seeing that it was almost time, he stepped back a few paces and nodded towards the outside of the hall.

The chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department had been waiting for a long time.

Upon receiving Li Changde's signal, he immediately bowed and led several eunuchs forward, kneeling five or six steps away from the imperial desk, raising the tray high above his head: "This servant respectfully requests Your Majesty to choose a concubine!"

Nangong Xuanyu lifted his gaze from the memorial and placed it on the tray.

On the bright yellow satin were neatly arranged green plaques.

The matter of Xingchen had been over for a long time, and the anger and unease it brought to the emperor had gradually been suppressed in his heart over time.

He was an emperor, ruling over the four seas and possessing all the wealth of the world. Having three thousand beauties in his harem was his power, but also his responsibility and necessity.

Emperors are men too, in their prime, full of vigor and vitality.

Initially, it was because the shameful incident ruined my mood and made me feel disgusted.

Later, he was busy with official duties, and he also wanted to spend more time with Shen Zhinian, who was pregnant, so he didn't find it too difficult to get through.

But as time went on, the body's primal needs, coupled with the subtle discussions in the court... made it impossible for the emperor to leave the harem empty forever.

However, he would never again give those women the opportunity to confuse the royal bloodline.

Nangong Xuanyu's gaze swept over the names on the green nameplates.

The frontmost position was originally where the green plaque of the Imperial Noble Consort was displayed. It was removed after news of her pregnancy spread.

Behind her is Consort Zhuang...

Although she no longer believes in Buddhism, when the emperor thinks of Consort Zhuang, he pictured her as compassionate and gentle, holding prayer beads.

Going to her place would inevitably bring to mind those unclean things, which made Nangong Xuanyu feel extremely disgusted.

Consort Xuan was skilled at playing the pipa, which helped her pass the time. However, the sixth prince was still young, so she focused her attention on the child.

Consort Xian is as aloof as a plum blossom; being with her is peaceful, but lacks a touch of warmth and humanity…

Consort Tang?

Consort Su?

Consort Yue?

None of the names could stir a ripple in the emperor's heart.

He hadn't visited the harem in a long time, and at this moment he didn't want to bother dealing with the concubines' family backgrounds or maintaining a delicate balance. He only wanted direct, relaxed pleasure between men and women.

Nangong Xuanyu's gaze finally fell on Consort Mei's green nameplate.

Her appearance wasn't exceptionally beautiful, but like Liu Shiqing before her, she had a pair of captivating peach blossom eyes.