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

The palace rules are strict. Only the queen is the empress dowager's legitimate daughter-in-law and can be called "Mother Queen". Other concubines can only be called "Empress Dowager".

Even Concubine Liu, who was the most favored concubine in the harem, had to follow the rules in order to avoid being accused of not being strict with her subordinates.

Only when there were no outsiders around would she resume using intimate terms.

"Aunt, the empress, that bitch, is dying of illness and has no energy to manage the affairs of the six palaces. She also wants people to share the power of the concubines. Why did you agree to her proposal just now in the Qianqing Palace?"

Empress Dowager Liu sat in the main seat, her eyes gloomy, "It is precisely because the Queen is dying that Your Majesty wants to guard against the harem being controlled by the Duke Dingguo's Mansion."

"I have been indifferent to worldly affairs for a long time, which has reduced the emperor's fear. If I join you in suppressing the queen today, what will the emperor think?"

"Even if we cooperate to gain the power of the six palaces and it is not divided by Concubine Liang, the emperor will suppress the Duke Dingguo's Mansion in other areas. The gain is not worth the loss!"

"Even though Concubine Liang is a concubine, she is weak-willed and won't achieve anything. You don't have to take her to heart."

Concubine Liu's bright and charming face was full of disapproval: "Aunt, you are too cautious. His Majesty loves me so much, even if it is for my sake, he will not do anything to the Duke Dingguo Mansion."

"Your Majesty said this in person when he was emotional..."

Empress Dowager Liu had a headache: "The heart of an emperor is unfathomable. How can you trust a man's promise?"

If she had believed the sweet words of the late emperor, she would not have been able to sit on the position of empress dowager!

Concubine Liu quickly coaxed, "Okay, okay, I understand. Please rest assured, aunt, I will definitely grasp your majesty's heart and make your majesty believe that Duke Dingguo's Mansion is loyal and devoted."

Her niece was good in every way except that she was deeply in love with the emperor. She didn't understand that rulers never had true love.

Empress Dowager Liu sighed and did not continue the topic: "Today's incident was obviously caused by Liu instructing Yin Shuren to get rid of Concubine Kang's child and put the blame on Concubine Rou. The Queen might have been involved as well."

"But Concubine Rou was able to escape unscathed, and even caused Liu to fall out of favor and be stripped of her title. This woman is no simple matter!"

Thinking of Liu Ruyan, Concubine Liu's eyes were full of disgust: "That Liu, she pretends to be weak and tender all day long, but she looks like a vixen, and her heart is so vicious. She was only stripped of her title, which is really a bargain for her!"

If there was evidence, she would have killed Liu Ruyan today!

Empress Dowager Liu said patiently, "I want to tell you that although Concubine Rou is a good chess piece, her edge is too obvious. If she is not used properly, she may hurt herself!"

Concubine Liu's eyes flashed with disdain: "A mere noble lady, how can she turn the tables? She made Liu's efforts go to waste today, and I am very happy. I like her even more."

"Keeping her here, besides being a check on the Queen, will also be of great use..."

Empress Dowager Liu asked with interest, "Oh?"

Concubine Liu touched her belly, with a bit of sadness between her eyebrows: "Aunt also knows that I was injured when I gave birth to the eldest princess. The imperial physician said that I would never get pregnant again in this life. But without a prince by my side in the harem, what future do I have?"

"Rou Guiren is so favored, it is only a matter of time before she becomes pregnant. If she can give birth to a prince, I will raise him under my knees, and the Duke Dingguo's Mansion will have hope..."

Although she loved His Majesty very much and was unwilling to raise the son of His Majesty and another woman, she could only compromise as she could not give birth.

Empress Dowager Liu naturally hoped that the next emperor would have the blood of Duke Dingguo.

But His Majesty had been prepared. In order to balance the harem, he only allowed women from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion to enter the palace, and not those from the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion.

He even said that he loved Concubine Liu, so he only wanted her among the women in the Duke Dingguo Mansion. But Concubine Liu believed it and refused to let her family send a beauty to the palace to consolidate her favor.

In this case, we have no choice but to do as Concubine Liu says.

"If Concubine Rou can really give birth to a prince, and his biological mother is still alive, how can the prince get close to Duke Dingguo's mansion? The mother must be killed and the son must be kept!"

Concubine Liu was stunned.

She has always been clear about rewards and punishments. She originally planned that if Shen Zhinian was willing to give birth to a prince for her, she would remember his contributions and give Shen Zhinian the honor and favor he deserved.

Unexpectedly... my aunt actually wanted to kill Shen Zhinian.

"There's still no sign of the prince's affairs, we'll talk about it when the time comes."

……

Shen Zhinian didn't know at the moment that while she was still planning when it would be a good time to get pregnant, someone was already eyeing her belly.

As Shen Zhinian escaped unscathed, Yin Shuren was given poisoned wine. Little Li naturally understood that his act of being a traitor had been exposed long ago.

The other palace maids who participated in the murder of the heir to the throne were all exterminated by the emperor. Since Shen Zhinian had dealt with the red flowers of Tingyu Pavilion in advance, there was no evidence to prove that Xiao Lizi had done anything for Yin Shuren, so he slipped through the net.

But Little Li knew that his life and the lives of his people depended on Shen Zhinian's thoughts.

He knelt on the ground, weeping and kowtowing, "My lord, I know I was wrong, and I will never do it again!"

"It was Lady Yin who said that there are many palace servants in Tingyu Pavilion, and I am not favored by you. Compared with Eunuch Yuanbao and the others, I have no advantages at all. Even if I can survive in Tingyu Pavilion, there is no future for me. If I work for her, when she becomes a favorite concubine, I will be the chief eunuch in her palace."

"I was really bewildered for a moment and listened to the instigation of Yin Shuren. I beg you to forgive me, my lord, and spare me this time!"

Leo's forehead was covered in blood and looked horrifying.

Shen Zhinian sat on the chair, slowly tasting the sweet cheese that Fuqiu had just made, without any emotion in his eyes.

If Xiao Zhouzi had not been cautious and discovered the red flowers buried in the yard by Xiao Lizi, she would have been in an irretrievable situation today. How could she be soft-hearted towards him?

The reason why Shen Zhinian didn't hand the person over was because that would arouse suspicion. Since she had discovered the red flower in advance, why didn't she say anything?

Someone with ulterior motives will certainly seize upon this incident to make a fuss, saying that if she had reported it in advance, perhaps the royal heir could have been avoided from being killed.

Although this false accusation was a bit far-fetched and would not hurt Shen Zhinian in any way, the emperor was suspicious and if he had any doubts about her, it would be very detrimental to her future path.

Shen Zhinian was not afraid of Yin Shuren's palace servants turning Xiao Lizi over, because without evidence, no one would believe their words.

And... there's another reason why she kept Leo.

Shen Zhinian specifically asked Madam Xiao and Yuanbao to stay, looked at them, and asked distressedly: "What do you think, should I report the truth to His Majesty and hand Little Li over to His Majesty for disposal?"

The emperor had issued an edict to exterminate all the palace ladies and three clans involved in the incident, but Shen Zhinian asked them such questions.