Seizing the throne, abolishing the adopted son, the imperial concubine rose to prominence

"Didn't Lu Yu just say that this medicine wouldn't kill anyone, and told Consort Gu not to make a fuss? If that's the case, if Consort Gu can drink it, why can't you? We're all concubines of the Emperor. Are daughters of your Lu family especially noble?"

Lady Wen sneered. Ever since Gu Youning showed affection to her in public last time, she no longer concealed their close relationship.

"Lady Wen, today's incident is a personal feud between Consort Gu and Lu Yunv. Why do you have to get involved?"

No one expected that the first person to refute was He Zhiyi, who had always been at odds with Lady Wen.

"Has He Cairen's brain been damaged by kneeling? Lu Yunv's attempt to murder the concubines and the heir to the throne was just a private matter. Does He Cairen treat this harem as your He family's backyard, where children play house all day long?"

As everyone expected, Lady Wen rolled her eyes and sneered unceremoniously.

"He Cairen was indeed quite straightforward in her words, but Lu Yunv was simply jealous and confused at the moment. She wanted to make Concubine Gu suffer, but she had no intention of killing anyone."

"Gu Zhaoyi has always been kind and benevolent. Why not spare her this time and consider it as accumulating blessings for the Crown Prince?"

Concubine Zheng felt relieved because Zheng Baolin was pregnant, and her expression softened a lot.

"Lu Yunu did do something wrong, but she is still the emperor's concubine after all. Even if she needs to be punished, she cannot be punished like this..."

The queen also looked at Gu Youning, seeming to want to say something but stopping herself.

"Empress, Imperial Concubine, if Lu Yunv was just jealous and made a mistake, and didn't really harm the lives of me and the Crown Prince, I can forgive her, but..."

Gu Youning paused, her eyes turning cold and gloomy. "But Lu Yunv is scheming, ever since that incident in the Imperial Garden, she has been trying to kill us mother and son. Otherwise, why would she be waiting there? It's obvious that she's always watching. As someone with such malicious intentions, I'm not a saint, so I dare not even think of forgiving her."

Both the Queen and Concubine Zheng looked choked.

But Concubine Zheng was really angry, and the Queen looked at Gu Youning gently but with a long and deep look in her eyes.

"Since this medicinal soup won't harm anyone's life, why bother arguing here?"

At this time, the emperor at the top of the table said in a calm voice: "Come here, serve Lu Yunu a drink."

"emperor……"

Concubine Zheng stood up in shock, but when she saw the coldness in the emperor's eyes, she stopped talking unconsciously. However, she thought of the Lu family's support for the Zheng family in the court and said, "Your Majesty, Lu Yunu's father, Marquis Lu, played a vital role in your ascension to the throne. He is your right-hand man. Please, for Marquis Lu's sake, be lenient with him."

"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is still ill. If something happens in Ci'an Palace, I'm afraid..."

The queen also frowned slightly and began to advise.

Marquis Lu controls one-third of the military power guarding the capital. If he harbors rebellious thoughts, the capital will be in danger. Moreover, if she drinks this bowl of medicine, all her previous plans will be wasted.

"Your Majesty, the imperial concubine is not scheming. She just heard the palace people talking about Concubine Gu and the eldest prince being unwell today, and she summoned the imperial physician to see them. That's why she brought this servant to wait in the palace corridor."

"As for the oleander powder, it was indeed prepared a long time ago, but it wasn't for Concubine Gu. It was... it was intended for Concubine Lu."

"Because of the last incident, the master was demoted from Baolin to imperial concubine. In addition, the master and Concubine Lu had several quarrels afterwards. The master was angry with Concubine Lu, so he prepared this."

Pei Yu was the maid chosen by Lu Xiaoling's mother for her daughter. She was thoughtful and capable. While her master was still angry and dissatisfied, she understood what Gu Youning meant.

As long as the master is not deliberately trying to murder the eldest prince, there is still room for maneuver.

"So Lu Yunv actually wanted to destroy my appearance. Your Majesty, this was confessed by her maid. Please take charge of this matter for me."

When Concubine Lu heard this, she became angry, but she did not immediately step forward to scold Lu Yu and his servant. Instead, she twisted her waist, knelt on the ground, and asked the emperor to make the decision.

"This matter will be discussed later."

The emperor waved his hand coldly. He was not completely unaware of the concubines' private actions, so he did not react at all when he heard this. Moreover, he was now determined to seek justice for his Ning'er.

Lady Lu's naturally charming brows froze.

"That's strange. It's been so long since the last incident. If Lu Yunv has harbored this idea for a long time, why hasn't she succeeded yet? Logically speaking, since they live in the same palace together, there should be plenty of opportunities for her to take action."

Lady Wen wanted to speak again, but was interrupted by Lady Li next to her.

"This servant has already taken action."

Pei Yu was much calmer than her master at this moment. After a pause, she continued, "I have put oleander powder into Lady Lu's pregnancy medicine several times. I am also puzzled as to why Lady Lu is safe and sound."

"Good lady Lu, you already knew this!"

Lu Yunu turned around and pointed at Lady Lu angrily.

"I see!"

"Your Majesty, I know what happened. It must be her. Concubine Lu holds the highest position in Roufu Palace. She must have instructed the palace maids to deliberately reveal Concubine Gu's affairs. It was she who wanted to harm Concubine Gu."

"Before Concubine Gu entered the palace, Concubine Lu was the one who received the most favors from the emperor. She is the one who envied Concubine Lu the most."

Perhaps it was because the bowl of medicine was right in front of her, Lu Yunu was particularly smart at this time, and every word she said made sense.

No matter what the above people thought, most of the concubines in the palace turned their gloating eyes to Concubine Lu. Lu Yunu's last sentence was correct. In terms of position and favor, Concubine Lu was indeed not as good as Concubine Zheng and the former He Chongyuan, but in terms of the number of times she had slept with the emperor, Concubine Lu was undoubtedly the number one in the harem.

If it weren't for her weak belly, she would have been promoted to the ninth concubine long ago.

Gu Youning also looked over.

Although she was more suspicious of the Queen in today's incident, she also wanted to know if there was anyone else involved.

It's not impossible that Lady Lu was instigating this out of jealousy towards me.

A trace of panic flashed across Lady Lu's face, and the handkerchief in her hand was instantly twisted into a ball.

"Your Majesty, I am wronged. I have always only cared about serving Your Majesty and have never cared about anything else."

"Besides, I have no grudge against Concubine Gu, so why would you want to harm her?"

"As for the pregnancy-maintaining medicine, although it was a gift from the Emperor, I have now come to understand that having children is predetermined by heaven. As long as I serve the Emperor well, blessings will naturally come to me in the future. Therefore, I have not taken it recently."

Concubine Lu's voice was still gentle, but her eyes did not look at the emperor.

The concubines in the palace began to envy the emperor's special favor for Concubine Lu, and even the pregnancy medicine was given by the emperor. However, Gu Youning felt a little strange. Even if the pregnancy medicine was given by the emperor himself, Concubine Lu didn't take it, so there was no need to be so guilty and panic.

Gu Youning kept watching Lady Lu while she was speaking. Only when she finished her last sentence did she clench the handkerchief in front of her body with both hands.

"Good medicine tastes bitter. Drinking too much is indeed annoying. I will tell the Imperial Hospital to do this later."

The concubines had not yet gotten over their ridicule of Concubine Lu when the emperor uttered these tender words.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern!"

Concubine Lu, who had just lowered her head and eyes, also looked at the emperor with a pair of eyes as soft as water.

Gu Youning calmly withdrew his gaze.

If the emperor cared about Concubine Lu, he would have been angry when he learned that Lu Yunv had harmful intentions. But if he didn't care, he would have shown his favor to Concubine Lu in front of all the concubines in the palace.

Pregnancy medicine?

She made a mental note of it.