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

Weiyang Palace.

"Your Majesty, how do you feel?" Su Yi was very worried when she saw the pale face of the imperial concubine.

I don't know what happened, but the imperial concubine was very weak during her pregnancy and couldn't eat many things. She would vomit if she ate.

The imperial concubine took the water and rinsed her mouth, then shook her head and asked, "How is Concubine Lan doing?"

Su Yi hesitated for a moment. The imperial physician said that the empress should not let her emotions fluctuate too much at the moment, but even if she didn't say it, the empress would know it sooner or later.

Su Yi sighed and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor said to continue investigating."

The imperial concubine didn't say anything. She lay down on the chaise longue and closed her eyes. Seeing this, Su Yi fell silent and quietly left the room.

The room was very quiet. After a long while, a person dressed in a palace maid's clothes walked out from the inner room. The palace maid walked to the imperial concubine, knelt on the ground, and pinched the imperial concubine's legs with both hands.

"My lady, do you want me to help you?"

If someone were here, they would definitely be surprised, because the voice of the person was obviously a man's. In fact, if you look closely, you will find that this palace maid is taller and stronger than the average woman.

The imperial concubine opened her eyes, looked at the man, and said, "Don't you want to live? The emperor is investigating you."

"As long as the queen needs me, Liu Tai will do his best." Liu Tai said.

The imperial concubine looked at him and shook her head. This time she was just testing the emperor, and now she had already gotten the result, so there was no need to take risks again.

It is not easy to have someone who is easy to use in the palace. What is even more rare is that Liu Tai is a martial arts expert and loyal to her. She does not want to lose such a handy knife for the time being.

"Don't act rashly without my order!" The imperial concubine stared at Liu Tai and warned.

She knew that Liu Tai would often do things behind her back, but that would not affect her, and the imperial concubine would just turn a blind eye. But now it was not possible, Liu Tai's arrest was a small matter, but it must not affect her.

She has endured in the palace for so long, and no one can ruin her plan.

"Yes, your majesty." Liu Tai replied with his head lowered.

……

The investigation into the imperial concubine's injury was ultimately left unresolved, except for the palace maid who could not withstand the torture by the Ministry of Punishment and finally bit her tongue to commit suicide.

Gu Shijin shook his head knowingly, in this palace, the lives of palace maids and eunuchs were worthless.

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Lu Junze resumed his court attendance. The first thing he did was to deal with the matter of the Yuan family business.

Yuanshi Company was no longer an imperial merchant, and had to pay five million taels of silver to the imperial court. This almost emptied Yuanshi Company of all its assets, and it was still to be discussed whether Yuanshi Company could continue to move there.

Gu Shijin was surprised when he knew about this. It wasn't even known whether Yuanshi was the one who did it, but the emperor had already imposed such a severe punishment.

What Gu Shijin didn't know was that Lu Junze had wanted to deal with Yuan Shi for a long time, but he had never found an opportunity. This time he took the opportunity to take Yuan Shi's life.

Even from the moment the cloth entered the palace, Lu Junze knew that there was a problem, but Lu Junze had to deal with the Yuan family, so he naturally could not say anything. He just sent people to keep an eye on the whereabouts of the cloth and prevent anyone from using it.

"My lady, the emperor sent someone to bring you some grapes." Gu Shijin was daydreaming in the room when Xingzhu came in to report.

It is no longer the season for eating grapes. There is only one possibility for grapes to be delivered, and that is that they have been stored at a high price. Gu Shijin was very tempted.

"Have someone bring it in."

"Your servant pays his respects to Concubine Jin." Su Deyuan said.

Gu Shijin raised his hand, "Eunuch Su, please don't be polite."

"My lady, this is what the emperor asked me to deliver." Su Deyuan put a large plate of grapes on the table.

The grapes were big and round, and looked very tempting. Gu Shijin reached out and picked up a grape, put it in his mouth and tasted it. It was sour but had a rich fragrance, very good.

"Thank the emperor for me." Gu Shijin said.

We really can't underestimate the wisdom of the ancients. In modern times, it may not be possible to preserve it for so long and still look so fresh, but the people here have done it.

"Yes, the slave will leave."

"My lady, the emperor is so good to you." Xingyue said with a smile.

Gu Shijin smiled slightly. Indeed, for now, Lu Junze was very good to her. He protected her in every aspect and sent all the fresh food and toys to Chenhua Palace as soon as possible.

But how long can the emperor's favor last?

I thought the New Year would just pass like this, but unexpectedly, when it was almost over, on the fifteenth day of the lunar year, Lu Junze made a big move.

Lu Junze issued an edict to promote the positions of several concubines in the harem.

Gu Shijin was promoted from Jieyushi to Xiuyi, a third-rank official, but her title was still Jin.

Concubine Yang was promoted to Concubine Yang, Concubine Chen was promoted to Concubine Chen, and the sisters Yun Yao and Yuan Shu were also promoted to Concubines.

And he also gave Chen Guiren a title, Ming. It is said that the emperor thought of a Chen Guiren in the palace before, and felt that there was a conflict, so he gave her a title.

Ming, this word has many meanings, and no one knows what meaning the emperor gave it to her.

Although there were many people promoted this time, except for Gu Shijin, they were all not important. They were all concubines, and other people in the harem didn't take it seriously at all.

Although Gu Shijin was promoted again, she was pregnant now. Even the empress dowager did not say much, and no one else dared to say anything.

Gu Shijin didn't know what kind of mood she was in when she received the imperial edict. A few days ago, Lu Junze came to Chenhua Palace and hugged her before going to bed at night and said that he wanted to give her a surprise. Gu Shijin didn't take it to heart, but she didn't expect it was about a position.

It has been less than two years since she was first favored, but Gu Shijin has already risen from a small talent to a Xiuyi, the head of the third rank.

"Xingzhu, everyone in Chenhua Palace will be rewarded with three months' salary." Gu Shijin said.

People die for money and birds die for food. If you want the people in your palace not to betray you, you must give them enough money. Why do these palace maids and eunuchs leave their homes and enter the palace, or even become castrated to enter the palace? It's for money.

Gu Shijin has always paid high salaries to the palace servants in Chenhua Palace. In addition to the palace salaries, Gu Shijin also gave them a share from his own private treasury so that they would not have to worry about money when doing things for him.

"Yes, my lady. I would like to thank you on behalf of everyone." Xingzhu bowed.

Gu Shijin waved his hand and suddenly said, "By the way, go call Xiao Linzi over. I have something to ask him."

"Yes, my lord."

Xiao Linzi came quickly, with a little sweat on his forehead even in the winter.

"The servant greets the young master."

Gu Shijin: "Just come slowly, there's no rush."

Xiao Linzi smiled.

"I came here to ask you, how are the investigations of those midwives going?"

Although those midwives were all hired by Lu Junze, Gu Shijin would never feel at ease unless she checked again herself, so she ordered Xiao Linzi to have someone check and send people to monitor these midwives.

"My lady, there is no problem with these midwives, but one of them got rid of the person I asked to follow."