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

one year later.

Changchun Palace.

"I pay my respects to Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine."

Lady Wen, who had been conferred the title of Shuyi three months ago, came in from outside the hall with a smile on her face and bowed as usual to Gu Youning who was embroidering a pattern.

"Why are you here on such a cold day?"

When Gu Youning saw the person coming, she put down the embroidery tent in her hand and quickly handed over a heater, but her eyes were full of worry and disapproval.

"Don't scold me, I'm not made of paper. Besides, after taking the medicine prescribed by Imperial Physician Yuan, my chills have improved a lot."

Seeing Wen Shuyi pouting and acting like a spoiled child, Gu Youning also smiled: "Okay, I won't say anything to you."

"Are you making clothes for your unborn child again?"

Wen Shuyi took the embroidery frame and asked.

"This is made for Zheng'er."

Gu Youning shook his head.

"No matter who you make this for, if the Emperor sees it, he'll probably nag you again for all the hard work."

"Master, Eunuch Cao is here."

As soon as Wen Shuyi finished speaking, Tan Yin led Cao Zhong in.

"Your Majesty, these are tangerines that have just arrived from the south. The Emperor tasted them and thought they were quite good, so he specially asked me to rush them over to you to try."

Cao Zhong said with a smile, but when he saw the embroidery shed on the table, his tone immediately turned worried: "Oh, your Majesty, why are you doing this troublesome thing again? If the Emperor knew..."

"I just took it out to take a look when I was free. Please don't tell the emperor."

Gu Youning glared at Miss Wen, who had a mischievous look in her eyes.

"If your Majesty is bored, you can ask Madam Gu or Madam Shen to come to the palace to chat with you. Even the Emperor, as long as you speak..."

Cao Zhong grumbled for a few more sentences before going back.

Hahaha……

"Speak of Cao Cao and the eunuchs around him will appear."

Wen Shuyi stroked Pingji and laughed.

"Is Yulian doing well in the Shen Mansion?"

Gu Youning waited until the people around him had laughed enough before asking.

"Very good. I almost forgot. I came here today to tell you this. Yulian is pregnant. It's been almost three months."

"Last time, the child was tortured to death by Princess Shouchang. This time, General Shen and Old Madam Shen are eager to hold him in their hands."

Wen Shuyi said.

"That's really nice."

Gu Youning was also very happy for Yu Lian. When the Cui and Zheng families were destroyed, Yu Lian had helped Shen Huan a lot.

"Speaking of Yulian, I heard that you asked the emperor to send Lu Xiaoling back to the Lu family."

Gu Youning nodded: "The Lu family made great contributions to the emperor's suppression of the rebellion of Prince Liang and the Zheng family, so their merits and demerits can be considered to offset each other."

"I'm afraid she won't know what's good for her and will still hold a grudge against you. Marquis Lu is still in the court after all... Don't just think about the emperor's reputation, you'll only create trouble for yourself."

Wen Meiren grumbled in dissatisfaction.

"Marquis Lu and his wife are both intelligent people, and the court is no longer what it used to be."

The emperor's prestige reached its peak after suppressing two rebellions in just one year.

If the Lu family dares to take action, it will become a pretext for the emperor to intimidate the other families.

"Sometimes I really feel like there's something about you..."

Wen Shuyi originally wanted to say that Gu Youning sometimes had the aura and demeanor of the emperor, but it was absolutely impossible for her to say anything good about the emperor.

"Let's not talk about that. I have something happy to tell you. There was a commotion at Guanju Palace early this morning."

Wen Shuyi's eyebrows lit up as she spoke.

"It seems that Cao Yunv has some skills."

Gu Youning smiled.

A few months ago, the Zheng family and the Cui family fell at the same time, and many concubines in the harem were dealt with. However, He Zhiyi came from a poor family, and her father, Minister He, was quite dedicated in the court, so she would naturally not be deposed.

After being named Imperial Noble Consort, Gu Youning took over the power of the harem. On the grounds of saving harem expenses, she rearranged the residences of the concubines, among whom Cao Yunv was arranged to live in Guanju Palace.

Cao Yunv was quite clever. She probably understood what Gu Youning meant, so she tried her best to torment He Zhiyi.

Originally, He Zhiyi's position was higher than Cao Yunv's, and Cao Yunv did not dare to go too far, but He Zhiyi liked to appear as if he was as calm as a chrysanthemum, so she could only endure the torture.

As for the emperor, his mind was now completely focused on Gu Youning, and he had no time to even look at the other women in the harem. Even He Zhiyi's maid Jinzhu, who came to Changchun Palace to ask for an audience, was beaten with twenty boards for "almost" disturbing Gu Youning's fetus.

From then on, Cao Yunv became even more unscrupulous when it came to making trouble for He Zhiyi.

"If you want to be more comfortable, I can also arrange for someone to do it."

In her previous life, although the culprits who killed her son were the Queen and the Imperial Concubine, He Zhiyi's indifference in not helping him was also a contributing factor. Compared to taking He Zhiyi's life directly, Gu Youning wanted He Zhiyi to suffer this kind of long-term torture, but she knew that her good friend in front of her liked to take revenge.

"No need. I think it's quite interesting to just watch her being teased while being as calm as a chrysanthemum."

Wen Shuyi shook her head. She had been going to Changchun Palace frequently these days, and had gotten along well with Gu Youning. With Xiao Yunzheng calling her Aunt Wen all the time, all the hostility had long since dissipated.

"Master, Concubine Shen has sent someone to ask for instructions. She said that Zheng Cainu is on her last legs and wants to see you."

At this time, He'er came in from outside the hall and reported.

"No, tell Concubine Shen that I have handed over all matters concerning Cheng'an Palace to her."

Regardless of whether Zheng Cainv was really dying or Shen Jieyu wanted to test him, Gu Youning had no intention of meeting a hysterical woman.

"Yes."

He'er responded and went out.

"With Concubine Shen, a vengeful concubine, here, we can only watch as Zheng's situation develops, but as for the Empress... I wonder how much longer our gentle and kind Empress can hold out."

"It won't be long, but that's okay."

Gu Youning smiled indifferently. At the promotion banquet that day, Cao Zhong was sent away. It was a trick done by the Queen's people in Qianming Palace.

After a thorough investigation, Xiao Heng discovered that many of the people in the imperial court were the queen's confidants.

Later, when Prince Liang started a rebellion, the Queen wanted to make preparations for both situations, which naturally exhausted the last bit of love that the Emperor had for his wife in times of trouble.

So after Prince Liang's defeat, Xiao Heng ordered the palace maids to spread the news, making his mother believe that Prince Liang and the Cui family's defeat was due to the Queen's betrayal. The Queen Mother, who had lost her beloved son, hated the Queen extremely.

The emperor then sent the empress to the empress dowager on the pretext that she was seriously ill and needed the Empress Dowager to personally perform filial duties.

In just three months, the Queen was tortured beyond recognition, and of course the Queen Mother didn't get much good out of it either.

However, for Gu Youning, the Cui aunt and nephew, who no longer had any support from the previous dynasty, were no longer a concern.

What she needs to consider is to make Jun En last long enough for her children to grow up.

As for love, if the emperor does not let her down in this life, then she can also be true to her love.