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

Huang Cairen did not survive the New Year and died the next day.

The death of Huang Cairen did not cause much commotion in the palace. In order to save the face of the royal family, Lu Junze still ordered that Huang Cairen be buried according to the specifications for a talent.

But in fact, because the Chinese New Year was approaching, the funeral was very simple.

The other concubines didn't understand. In their opinion, Lu Junze was not such a ruthless person. Why would he make such a decision towards Huang Cairen this time? He didn't even raise her rank.

But Gu Shijin knew the reason very well. As an emperor, it was already very good for Lu Junze to be able to do this.

In addition to Gu Shijin, some concubines also felt that there must be something fishy going on here, but they didn't know the specific reason, and Lu Junze handled it so quickly that everyone was sensitive and felt that it might not be a trivial matter, so they didn't ask about it.

"What a pity." Yunzhi said with emotion in Fengyi Palace.

Concubine Huang is pregnant with a boy. If the baby is born, the Empress can adopt him.

Shangguan Yan heard Yunzhi's sigh and looked up at her, saying meaningfully, "Really?"

"Miss?"

"It's okay, you go down first." Shangguan Yan waved his hand.

Even though Shangguan Yan was under house arrest, she was still the legitimate queen in the harem. She had her own channels to find out about many things. There had been some bad signs from Concubine Huang before, but the queen didn't take it seriously and didn't expect her to be so bold. Judging from the emperor's swift and decisive actions now, perhaps it was true.

Shangguan Yan smiled. Some people didn't notice it, but she was in charge of the harem, so she naturally found out that in addition to the death of Huang Cairen, another guard also died quietly.

"Your Majesty." Shangguan Yan shouted to himself.

Concubine Lan, who was in charge of the six palaces, also discovered that a guard was missing. The person said that the guard had died of illness. Concubine Lan was not as meticulous as the Queen, so she naturally believed it.

……

Gu Shijin didn't feel very involved this year. She basically stayed in Chenhua Palace throughout the New Year.

Gu Shijin did not attend the palace banquet on the night of the 30th, nor did he attend the ancestor worship ceremony on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

To worship the ancestors, one has to wear formal attire and kneel for several hours. With Gu Shijin's current stomach, there is no way he could endure that.

However, Gu Shijin was still a little worried, so when Lu Junze suggested that she not go, she hesitated.

"Your Majesty, is it not polite for me not to go?" Gu Shijin leaned on Lu Junze and asked in a low voice. The worry on her face was too obvious. Lu Junze touched her head and comforted her: "Don't worry, father and others know that you are pregnant, so they will naturally not blame you."

Gu Shijin: “…”

She really didn't expect that the emperor's way of comforting people was so down-to-earth, but what he said seemed to make sense. If the child was aborted because of ancestor worship, wouldn't it be an even greater sin?

"Then I will obey the emperor." Gu Shijin said with a smile.

"good."

In this way, Gu Shijin stayed in Chenhua Palace during the entire New Year period. He asked the imperial kitchen to prepare whatever he wanted to eat and lived an extremely free life.

"It would be nice if it could be like this every day." Gu Shijin held a hot water bottle, dressed warmly, and sat by the window admiring the snow.

The scenery of Chenhua Palace is beautiful, especially the place where Gu Shijin lives. Lu Junze even had someone tidy it up and plant wintersweets in the yard.

It is snowing at this moment, and the wintersweets in the field are blooming bright red, looking particularly beautiful against the white snow.

A gust of wind blows, and the whole garden is filled with fragrance.

The more Gu Shijin looked at it, the warmer her heart became. She had just casually mentioned that it would be nice to be able to enjoy the plum blossoms in the yard in winter, and Lu Junze had someone pick out a few of the best ones and plant them in the yard. This thoughtful gesture was the most difficult.

Although it may just be talk for Lu Junze, he is at least willing to do it.

Don't expect too much from the ancients.

"My lady, the bird's nest is ready." Xingzhu brought the bird's nest over. After Gu Shijin took it, she carefully closed the window.

"My lady, the doctor said you can't catch a cold now."

Gu Shijin drank the bird's nest without saying anything. Of course, she knew it, but the room was too stuffy, so she opened the window to get some fresh air.

"understood."

"By the way, what happened today?" Gu Shijin suddenly asked.

There was a lot of noise outside for a while today, and it felt like something big must have happened. However, Gu Shijin waited and waited, but no one came to tell her, so she could only ask herself.

She is so bored staying in Chenhua Palace every day. How will she get through the next two months if she doesn’t get some gossip?

Xing Zhu was slightly stunned when she heard this, but she quickly reacted and said, "My lady, something happened to the imperial concubine today. She was pushed and fell down."

"Ah?" Gu Shijin was shocked. There was actually someone who dared to harm the imperial concubine. She was the most powerful person in the harem after the queen.

"How is the imperial concubine?" Gu Shijin asked hurriedly.

"The imperial physician said that he was frightened but it's nothing serious." Xing Zhu said.

Gu Shijin nodded. Indeed, if the child was lost, she should have known the news long ago.

Today is the fifth day of the New Year and there is a banquet in the palace. The imperial concubine was pushed down when the banquet was over.

And because there were so many people, no one could see who pushed it.

"How could this happen?" Gu Shijin asked puzzledly. The palace banquet should have ended in an orderly manner. How could there be pushing and shoving? In the end, no one knew who pushed someone.

Xingzhu wasn't exactly sure what had happened, but she heard that there was a little chaos when the show was over, which implicated the imperial concubine.

"Go prepare some things and send them to Weiyang Palace." Gu Shijin ordered.

"Yes, my lord."

Since the culprit was not found, Gu Shijin thought the matter was over, but he heard new news the next day.

"What did you say?" Gu Shijin looked at Xiao Linzi in shock, "The maid in Concubine Lan's palace who pushed the imperial concubine?"

"My lady, it is absolutely true. The palace maid has already admitted that it was Concubine Lan who ordered her to do so." Xiao Linzi said.

Gu Shijin didn't quite believe it. She had been in the palace for quite a long time and probably knew Concubine Lan. She only cared about the surface and didn't pretend. She seemed arrogant and domineering on the surface, and that was actually her personality. But after so long, she had never heard of her harming anyone.

"What does the emperor say?" Gu Shijin asked. She felt that Lu Junze should have some guesses as well and would not order punishment right away.

Xiao Linzi: "My lady, His Majesty has not said anything yet. He only said that he would investigate the matter thoroughly. He did not even take back Concubine Lan's right to assist in managing the six palaces."

Gu Shijin nodded, and she knew that Lu Junze would not believe it.

There are many people in the palace who can take the blame, but it is indeed irrational to ask Concubine Lan to take the blame. Concubine Lan has never concealed her character. That is why she has always done things openly. For example, she dared to say it openly when the concubines paid their respects to the Queen.

Thinking of this, Gu Shijin smiled. This Concubine Lan is quite interesting.