The emperor just doesn't treat everyone equally, and it's none of my business!

Shangguan Yan asked with some doubt: "Jin Jieyu, what happened?"

"Empress, not only do these palace maids not do their job properly, they also gather together every day to discuss concubines and spread rumors." Gu Shijin said seriously.

"Jin Jieyu, I wonder what these palace maids said?" the Queen asked calmly.

Gu Shijin knew from her attitude that the Queen didn't really want to deal with it. Come to think of it, how could the Queen not know anything about the rumors in the harem? If she wanted to deal with it, she would have done it long ago.

"Empress," Gu Shijin said coldly, "No matter what these maids said, as maids you are not allowed to gossip about them, let alone spread rumors about concubines."

Gu Shijin's words could be said to be very disrespectful to the Queen, but it was the Queen herself who was shameless first.

Shangguan Yan chuckled, "Jin Jieyu, if you don't tell me what these palace maids are talking about, how can I know the severity of the matter and how to convict them?"

Gu Shijin's eyes darkened and he was about to speak when the palace maid outside the door came in and reported that Concubine Lan and Concubine Chen had arrived.

Shangguan Yan waved her hand and said, "Just say that I have something to deal with and ask them to come back later."

Unfortunately, before the palace maid could go out to reply, Concubine Lan came in with Concubine Chen.

"Your Majesty, what I am talking about today is somewhat related to Concubine Jin, so let's talk about it together."

Then Concubine Lan looked at the three palace maids and said with a smile, "Perhaps what I said is the same as what Concubine Jin said."

Shangguan Yan was very angry when he saw Concubine Lan's arrogant attitude, but there was nothing he could do because Concubine Lan had a good family background.

"Greetings to Her Majesty the Queen." Concubine Chen bowed and saluted.

Gu Shijin didn't care about the two people. He stood up and bowed to Concubine Lan, then said to Shangguan Yan, "Your Majesty, these palace maids said that the heir I am carrying is different. How do you think we should deal with it?"

The queen guessed some of the reasons why Gu Shijin came, but she didn't expect Gu Shijin to say it out loud.

A man of integrity has nothing to fear. Gu Shijin was pregnant with the emperor's child, so there was nothing she was afraid to say.

At this time, Concubine Lan beside her chuckled twice and said, "What a coincidence, Queen, I came here for this matter as well."

"Recently, I have been hearing some bad rumors. No matter what the truth is, as a palace maid or eunuch, spreading rumors at will is always a serious crime."

"I have arrested those gossipers. Please let the Empress deal with them." Concubine Lan clapped her hands, and two eunuchs came in with five palace maids and eunuchs.

Concubine Lan said this very skillfully. No matter what the truth is, she was completely exonerating herself from the blame.

Five people came in and knelt on the ground trembling, not even daring to raise their heads.

"Bang!" Shangguan Yan slammed the table and shouted angrily, "How dare you spread rumors and cause trouble in the palace. Come, take this palace maid and eunuch out and beat them to death."

Now that the words have been made so clear, Shangguan Yan can no longer remain indifferent. Since Gu Shijin wants an attitude, then she should give her one.

"Wait." Gu Shijin called out to the person who came in and wanted to take the palace maid and eunuch away.

"Your Majesty, these are just palace maids and eunuchs. I don't think they have such courage. There must be someone behind them." Gu Shijin said firmly, "Your Majesty, please hand these people over to the Ministry of Punishment for strict trial."

Concubine Lan glanced at Gu Shijin in surprise, and then agreed, "Your Majesty, I think what Concubine Jin said makes sense."

"Spreading rumors about the royal heir is no small matter and must not be tolerated."

Shangguan Yan was humiliated again and again, and her temper flared up. "Jin Jieyu, there are so many people in the palace, how can we investigate everything?"

"Everything depends on human effort." Gu Shijin looked at Shangguan Yan and said, "If the Queen is in trouble, I think we can report it to the Emperor and let him handle the matter."

"Jin Jieyu, are you threatening me?" Shangguan Yan's face darkened completely.

"Your Majesty, I dare not do so. However, this concerns my reputation, and I have no choice but to do so. I hope Your Majesty will understand." Gu Shijin said respectfully.

"The Emperor has arrived." The eunuch's announcement came unexpectedly, and except for Gu Shijin, the other three people were startled.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty be blessed with good health and good health."

Lu Junze walked straight to Gu Shijin, pulled her up, and said softly: "You are heavy, I told you not to care about these empty formalities."

Gu Shijin stood up with the help of Lu Junze, smiled, and said nothing.

Lu Junze led Gu Shijin to sit on a stool before looking at the other three people kneeling on the ground and said, "Get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After saying that, without even looking at the Queen, he sat on the chair where the Queen had just sat, while Shangguan Yan sat on the small stool next to him.

"Your Majesty, why are you here?" Shangguan Yan asked with a smile.

Lu Junze was silent for a while, then turned to look at Shangguan Yan, "If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have known that this is how the Queen handles all matters in the harem."

Lu Junze had been here for quite a while, even earlier than Lan Fei, but he had not attracted the attention of the people in the room, so he heard all the conversations between Shangguan Yan and Gu Shijin clearly.

Shangguan Yan has followed Lu Junze for many years and has a certain understanding of Lu Junze. When he heard this, Shangguan Yan knew that the other party must have been here for a while.

"Your Majesty, my concubine..."

Shangguan Yan wanted to explain, but was interrupted by Lu Junze, "The palace maids and eunuchs are not allowed to gather together to cause trouble, let alone frame the royal heir and concubines. The queen doesn't want to find out the truth behind it, but only wants to keep things quiet?"

Shangguan Yan took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to find out the truth, but I'm thinking about Concubine Jin."

"After all, this concerns Concubine Jin's reputation. If we investigate it in a big way, I'm afraid..."

Gu Shijin stood up and said, "Thank you for your concern, Queen, but I am innocent and have nothing to worry about."

"Since Concubine Jin doesn't care, I will conduct a thorough investigation."

Seeing that Lu Junze didn't say anything, Shangguan Yan said, "Come here, send these rumormongers to the Ministry of Punishment, and make sure to find out who is behind them."

"Yes, Queen."

Soon, these people were suppressed.

Lu Junze was in no hurry to leave. He looked at Shangguan Yan and said, "Queen, you are the master of the six palaces. You should know the most about the affairs of the harem. But now the harem is in chaos and rumors are everywhere, and you, the queen, have no reaction at all."

Lu Junze's words were extremely harsh, and he didn't even give the queen any face.

Shangguan Yan knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, I have been busy preparing for the Longevity Festival banquet and have neglected the management of the harem. Please forgive me."

Listen to what the Queen has to say. My negligence was all because you were going to have your birthday.

"It was my negligence." Lu Junze looked at Concubine Lan, "In that case, let Concubine Lan help you manage the six palaces."

Before the Queen could say anything, Concubine Lan quickly stood up to express her gratitude.

"After the Wanshou Festival is over, the Queen will rest in Fengyi Palace for a while. The Queen Mother will take care of the harem matters."

After saying that, Lu Junze took Gu Shijin's hand and left.