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

This is what Consort Mei fears most!

Favor can be fought for, or it can be waited for.

But offspring, especially princes favored by His Majesty, are the most solid foundation for the women in the harem and even their families!

The Imperial Noble Consort already has a clever and witty fourth prince. If she were to have another prince, her position would become even more unshakeable!

Consort Zhuang listened quietly to Consort Mei's complaints, her face expressionless: "Even if the one in Yongshou Palace gives birth to another prince safely... it may not be a bad thing for us."

Consort Mei's eyes widened, almost thinking she had misheard: "Cousin, what did you say? How... how can this not be a bad thing?"

If the Imperial Noble Consort has another prince, her power will increase, wouldn't that be an even greater threat to them?

Consort Zhuang's lips curled into a cold smile: "You're still young, and you don't see things far enough ahead."

"The Imperial Noble Consort already has four sons, who are intelligent and sensible, and are quite favored by the Emperor."

"But the one in her belly, after the news spread, His Majesty personally declared it to be a lucky star destined by heaven."

"If they were both princes, which of these two children do you think would be more valued in His Majesty's and the court officials' hearts in the future?"

Consort Mei was stunned by Consort Zhuang's question and subconsciously followed her train of thought.

The fourth prince was the eldest son of the Imperial Noble Consort, and his status was naturally different. However, this unborn star of destiny carried even more expectations and attention.

This……

Consort Zhuang said with a half-smile, "His Majesty's favor is like flowing water, today in the east, tomorrow in the west."

"The heart of an emperor is the most difficult to fathom and the easiest to sway."

"Now that His Majesty cherishes the Imperial Noble Consort, he naturally sees the Fourth Prince as perfect in every way."

"But if in the future, this lucky prince is born, and displays talent and opportunities no less than, or even surpassing, that of the fourth prince... will His Majesty's heart be swayed as well?"

Consort Mei's heart began to race without her realizing it: "What my cousin means is..."

Consort Zhuang said, "They are all princes born to the Imperial Noble Consort, but there is only one dragon throne."

"When two equally outstanding princes, both on whom high hopes are placed, grow up, and they are connected by the same maternal clan... At that time, how will the Imperial Noble Consort conduct herself? And how will the Shen family make a choice?"

As the saying goes, "Brothers united can break metal." But what if their hearts are not the same?

"Once comparisons and suspicions arise, a desire for the sole supreme position emerges..."

"When the time comes, will the Imperial Noble Consort's family have two sons, enjoying unparalleled glory? Or... will the brothers turn against each other and become enemies?"

Consort Mei gasped in shock upon hearing this!

Throughout history, how many tragedies have occurred where fathers and sons killed each other and brothers turned against each other in the struggle for the throne?

If it really comes to that...

"By then..."

Consort Zhuang said with pity, "The Imperial Noble Consort's current favor and reliance may become her greatest pain."

"How can a mother stand by and watch her own flesh and blood fight each other?"

"How could the Shen family possibly choose between two princes?"

"That was truly a case of 'burning oil on a raging fire, adorning flowers with brocade,' a sign of extreme prosperity followed by decline!"

Consort Mei understood completely.

So that's what my cousin was planning!

My cousin saw the deadly root of disaster hidden behind the so-called auspicious signs!

“My cousin’s words are certainly true. She has great foresight and thoughtful consideration. I admire her!”

Consort Mei first offered a compliment, then changed the subject: "But all of this is ultimately... just our speculation. It's something that might happen many years from now."

"What if the Imperial Noble Consort's child is a princess?"

"Or, even if it's a prince, the two children will be loving and harmonious, without any of the conflicts my cousin mentioned..."

"Then all our plans today have come to nothing and become a joke?"

"Cousin, we can't put all our hopes on things that haven't even happened yet, or that might never happen at all!"

Consort Zhuang's eyes were deep and unfathomable: "Of course I know."

"Those are just things to console ourselves with in the worst-case scenario."

"The best outcome, of course, would be that this 'lucky star' on whom His Majesty places such high hopes would never be born. The Imperial Noble Consort... would never ascend to that position!"

Consort Mei's heart skipped a beat!

My cousin finally revealed her true purpose!

"That's what I think too! But... where is the breakthrough?"

"Consort Kang is useless. Consort Xian and Consort Xuan are united. Yongshou Palace is guarded like an iron barrel, not even a fly can get in."

Where should we begin?

Consort Zhuang said, "Do you think I'm not worried?"

"The Zhuang family recently sent word that His Majesty's attention to the Imperial Noble Consort and this pregnancy is extraordinary."

"Father said that, judging from His Majesty's style and attitude, once the Imperial Noble Consort gives birth to the imperial heir safely, regardless of whether it is a boy or a girl, His Majesty will most likely... promote her to Empress, so that she can be in the central palace and stabilize people's hearts!"

"At that time, the Phoenix Seal will rightfully fall into her hands, the position of Empress will be secured, and the Shen family's power will be at its zenith."

"If we try to do anything else, it will truly be going against the tide, which is as difficult as climbing to the sky!"

So, it wasn't that Consort Zhuang was impatient, but rather... they really didn't have much time left!

Consort Mei felt her hands and feet turn ice cold upon hearing this.

The situation forced them to act immediately!

"Then...what should we do?"

Consort Mei said anxiously, "We can't count on Consort Kang, and we can't get close to Yongshou Palace..."

Consort Zhuang said quietly, "Consort Kang can't be counted on, but there is one person whose hatred for the Imperial Noble Consort is probably more profound than all of ours combined!"

Consort Mei asked in confusion, "Cousin, do you mean..."

Consort Zhuang gazed out the window and said, enunciating each word clearly, "The one in the Cold Palace... Wang Zhuohua!"

"The Wang family?"

Consort Mei's expression was somewhat complicated: "Cousin, have you forgotten? She initially sought refuge with you, only to be abandoned and banished to the Cold Palace, where she suffered a fate worse than death..."

"Her hatred for you is probably no less than her hatred for the Imperial Noble Consort. How could she possibly be of any use to us again? Lady Wang probably wishes she could drag us all down to hell with her..."

Wang Zhuohua once enjoyed a period of glory, having worked under Consort Zhuang.

But what happened in the end? When the affair was exposed, Consort Zhuang abandoned her without hesitation, leaving her to be crushed in the Emperor's wrath.

How could someone like that possibly listen to her cousin's orders again? It's a miracle she didn't turn around and bite back!

Consort Zhuang sneered, "Precisely because Wang is a discarded pawn, fallen into the dust, and has nothing, she is even more useful."

"Because she has nothing left but hatred."

Consort Mei still felt uneasy: "But... even if Lady Wang hates the Imperial Noble Consort to the bone, why should she listen to us?"

Consort Zhuang said, "Wang is impulsive, foolish, and her ambitions outweigh her abilities. This is the path to her death."

"But she has a fatal weakness: she values ​​the third prince, who is not related to her by blood, more than her own life."