Dethroned the Crown Princess? Then she became your mother

Zhang Tianai's bright eyes fell on her abdomen, the round and bulging outline of which appeared particularly soft under the light of the palace lanterns.

She hummed softly, then signaled the palace servants around her to withdraw, and the palace maids who were usually busy also retreated, leaving only Li Ma and Chunmei.

"Go prepare some food and drinks, I'm hungry." Zhang Tianai ordered.

The palace maids left in response, and the entire Hibiscus Palace suddenly seemed empty and quiet.

Zhang Tianai's eyes flickered between Nanny Li and Chunmei, as if searching for something familiar. A strange feeling welled up in her heart. Everything before her was exactly the same as before she left the palace. Neither the furnishings nor the attendants had changed much.

Her eyes fell on the carefully tended potted plants. Although it was not the blooming season, the green plants were still full of vitality and greenery, adding a bit of vitality and energy to the slightly dim interior.

Recalling the scene when the Emperor had escorted her back to Hibiscus Palace, his figure seemed faintly visible. He had given her a few brief instructions before hurriedly departing, heading to the Yangxin Palace to attend to state affairs. At this moment, she couldn't help but wonder if he had already finished with all the tedious government affairs.

The sky outside the window was still bright, not yet fading into dusk. Zhang Tianai suddenly remembered the garden she had passed on her way back...

"Go and see how the plants in the garden are doing," she instructed Chunmei.

Upon hearing this, Chunmei immediately took the order and left.

Not long after, Chunmei came back with a happy face and reported that the vegetables planted before leaving the palace had grown out and were growing well, in no way inferior to other crops in the palace.

"We did this all according to the master's instructions," Chunmei explained. "We built a small greenhouse, covered it with thick hay, and sprinkled it with wood ash. It's very warm."

Zhang Tianai raised her eyebrows slightly upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She nodded approvingly and said, "In that case, let's use these vegetables for dinner. Go and take the palace maids to pick whatever they can find and serve them in dishes."

Upon hearing this, Nanny Li immediately responded with a smile. Chunmei also responded cheerfully and turned to get ready.

Zhang Tianai sat by the window, her mind racing. She wondered what the other women did after returning to the palace. Were they, like her, busy tidying up their own rooms and inquiring about palace affairs?

She thought of her elder sister, Wanwan, the virtuous concubine. Had they also cleared out the people around them and inquired about the affairs of the palace? And what about the empress, the concubine, the Lanpin, and others? What were they doing at the moment?

And what about He Cairen, the newly arrived concubine? How was she accommodated? Was she being cared for? Where did she live? Was there any arrangement? These questions lingered in Zhang Tianai's mind, and she couldn't help but ask Li Ma Ma.

"I don't know either, but I will go and find out." Upon hearing this, Nanny Li immediately replied.

"Then go and ask around." Zhang Tianai said softly.

Upon hearing this, Nanny Li immediately took the order and left.

Soon, Nanny Li returned with news. She told Zhang Tianai that Concubine He and Concubine Wang were living together in Concubine Wang's side hall. This news surprised Zhang Tianai; she had not expected the Queen to make such an arrangement.

"Wasn't it the Emperor who ordered it?" Zhang Tianai asked doubtfully. Nanny Li shook her head and replied, "It wasn't the Emperor, it was the Empress who arranged it."

She asked Li Ma again, wanting to know what Lanpin and the others were doing at the moment. Li Ma told her that Lanpin and the others had already gone to pay their respects to the Queen.

"What about us? Should we go and pay our respects?" Zhang Tianai asked. There was a hint of uncertainty and hesitation in her voice, and she was clearly troubled by this question.

Upon hearing this, Nanny Li immediately shook her head and said, "No, no, my master, you just returned to the palace and need to tidy up. Besides, your belly is so big, no one dares to ask you to pay your respects. It's not too late to go tomorrow."

Zhang Tianai felt a surge of gratitude when she heard this. She knew that Nanny Li was thinking of her and didn't want her to be overworked. She nodded slightly in agreement.

Just then, Chunmei came back, carrying a basket filled with fresh vegetables picked from the garden.

Zhang Tianai looked at her with a smile in her eyes. She knew that these vegetables would become their dinner tonight.

"By the way, Madam Li, how are the former imperial concubine and Concubine Liu?" Zhang Tianai suddenly asked.

Upon hearing this, Nanny Li immediately replied, "Concubine Wang is still under house arrest, Concubine Liu has gone to see the Empress, and there's been no activity from the former Imperial Concubine."

Zhang Tianai couldn't help but feel an inexplicable sense of emotion when she heard this. She thought of the Eastern Palace, wondering if the Crown Prince had returned to the palace and if he had met the Crown Princess.

However, when she asked about these things, Nanny Li told her that there was no movement in the Eastern Palace.

Zhang Tianai couldn't help but feel anxious when she heard this. She thought of her grandmother at home, wondering if she had returned home and was also worried about these things. However, Nanny Li told her that there was no movement from her grandmother either.

"Master, don't worry. If there is any movement in any direction, I will report it to you immediately." Nanny Li comforted.

-

Meanwhile, in the Yangxin Palace, Murong Shuo sat on the dragon throne, gazing at a map. He gently inquired about the time, and Eunuch An immediately stepped forward and replied, "Your Majesty, it's almost dark."

Murong Shuo frowned slightly upon hearing this. He thought of the woman who had just entered the palace—He Shi—and a strange emotion welled up in his heart. He wondered how the Empress would arrange her accommodation.

"Where does He live?" he suddenly asked.

Upon hearing this, Eunuch An immediately replied, "Your Majesty, He and Concubine Wang live together." There was a hint of caution and prudence in his voice, and it was obvious that he was also worried about this issue.

Murong Shuo glanced at him upon hearing the voice, a strange irritation welling up in his heart. He thought of Concubine Wang, that foolish and annoying woman, and couldn't help but feel a little angry. He didn't know why the Queen had arranged for He to stay in her residence. Was it to keep them in check and balance?

"With Concubine Wang?" He frowned, his tone filled with dissatisfaction and confusion. He was clearly not happy with this arrangement.

Upon seeing this, Eunuch An immediately said, "If Your Majesty is not satisfied and wants to change the location, you can issue an order and I will handle it."

"No, I have no intention of changing He's residence. You misunderstood. I was simply asking. Since the Queen has already made her arrangements, let's comply." Murong Shuo's tone betrayed a hint of impatience. Clearly, he hadn't considered changing He's residence. It was neither necessary nor desirable. The Queen had already taken care of it; he didn't need to say anything more.

Eunuch An knew that the Queen might have other considerations, but he did not ask further questions. He only replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Murong Shuo's gaze fell on Eunuch An again, and he spoke slowly: "Liang Fei...how is she doing after she returns?"

Eunuch An was slightly startled, trying to guess the emperor's intention, but he did not dare to be negligent and quickly replied: "Your Majesty, Concubine Liang is fine and there is nothing wrong." Then he reported everything Concubine Liang said and did in the palace to Murong Shuo.

"Oh? The vegetables in the garden are growing well?" Murong Shuo seemed quite interested in Concubine Liang's vegetable planting and asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Just as Concubine Liang said, sprinkle some ash and cover them with hay, and the vegetables will grow very well." Eunuch An answered truthfully.

"Well, Concubine Liang's method is indeed effective, but it seems to have some extra complicated steps." Murong Shuo nodded slightly, with a hint of approval in his tone, but also a touch of criticism.

After he finished speaking, he was silent for a moment, as if he was thinking about something. After a moment, he spoke again and asked about the Crown Prince's situation: "Has there been any movement from the Crown Prince recently?"

When Eunuch An heard the word "Crown Prince", he immediately became alert. He knew that the Crown Prince's every move affected the nerves of the entire palace.

He reported to Murong Shuo in detail everything he knew about what happened after the Crown Prince returned to the Eastern Palace, especially the Crown Prince's cold attitude towards the Crown Princess and the Crown Princess's anxious search for her.

"Oh? You mean the Crown Princess knows? How could she possibly know?" Murong Shuo frowned slightly, his tone tinged with doubt and displeasure. He didn't believe the Crown Princess could understand the Crown Prince's thoughts, let alone her ability to react to them.

Eunuch An speculated in his heart, but did not dare to speak out. He only replied in a low voice: "I don't know, but the Crown Princess did seem quite anxious. It seems... seems that she has noticed something."

Murong Shuo was silent for a long time after hearing this, as if he was weighing something. Finally, he sighed softly and waved his hand, signaling Eunuch An to leave.

As night fell, the palace was completely silent. Murong Shuo sat alone in the imperial study and suddenly said, "Eunuch An, bring me a blank imperial edict."

Eunuch An was shocked and didn't know what the emperor meant by this, but he didn't dare to ask more questions. He hurriedly took out the blank imperial edict and presented it respectfully.

Murong Shuo took the imperial edict, slowly unfolded it, picked up the red brush, dipped it in cinnabar, and began to write on it. After a moment, he put down the brush and examined every word on the imperial edict. After confirming that it was correct, he handed the edict to Eunuch An and said, "Tomorrow, you will read this edict on my behalf and grant it to He Cairen."